Kimber Montana 325 WSM

[GKPrice]

awhile back I purchased 3 - 325 WSM Kimber Montanas, 2 from the Salem OR SW store and 1 from the SW in Portland OR - I bought 3 because my son and son-in-law and I were booked for a BC moose hunt in grizzly country, the outfitter told us to expect to see bears on our trip and, since it's never a bad thing to buy a new gun, I got the nod to shop for Kimber Montanas and it so happened that SW was closing out handling them at that time - I cleaned them well using "my" method and mounted Talley 1 pc mounts and Leupold VX3 3.5 x 10 x 40's on them - I chose 220 Sierra SBT's because Swift had no 8mm bullets that heavy available - I used Winchester brass, 215M primers and IMR 4007, all three shot under 1" 4shot groups out of the box and 2 of the 3 did consistent 3/4" (as in multiple times) I was the shooter initially with all 3 and the boys took over after we'd ascertained that they were good loads - my son, who is normally a good shot in hunting field positions had much trouble getting good grouping at all, I would then sit at the bench and shoot a 3/4" group from the "warm" barrel - I took the worst shooter of the 3 because "I'm Dad" I guess .... we all killed mooses and didn't see a single grizzly on the trip - the boys decided a year later to sell theirs, which I did for them and I kept my original, still have it - the CRF blade flew off the bolt once, my fault (hot load) I called Kimber in Kalispell and admitted that I had been shooting handloads (which they say in the literature negates the warranty) but the rep assigned me an RMA#, sent it in and got it back 1 day short of 3 weeks from the date I shipped it FedEx, all fixed and no more said about it - I'll admit these 3 rifles were purchased for that hunt that took place in 2013 (so much for dates of manufacture being an issue) I will just say this, I had worked with 3 Montanas in 308 the year before and I had a devil of a time getting the hang of shooting a sub 6lb rifle but once I figured out "my" style for doing that MAN! would those guns shoot - they liked 130 TSX, 150 TSX, 165 TSX and Accubonds, nothing supersonic but accurate as all heck - In all those Kimbers I not once nor did the boys have a misfeed or fail to eject - I also had my 325wsm skim coat bedded with negative pressure full length (trying to emulate Melvin Forbes' bedding style) and it changed 0 in the way it shot, still sub 1" and shoots Winchester black box 200 Accubonds as well and to the same POI at 200 yards - all events witnessed and documented in my log book

 

[AK Troutbum]

I've had pretty much the same experience with Kimber's. I have 3, two Montana's and a Mountain Ascent (.300wsm, .280ai, and .270Win), and have shot (even killed a goat), with my buddies .325wsm Montana. Everyone that I've shot have been what I would consider "great shooters" and sub MOA, if I do my part. I did, on one occasion, have my .280 fail to feed while on a goat hunt last season but, after further inspection, I ascertained that if I fully load the magazine and don't pay particular attention when loading the last round, it will bind (for lack of a better term), and fail to pop up when the bolt is deployed. This is something that I've been able to replicate but it's also something that is easily avoidable, as long as I make sure that the 4th round is loaded properly.

 

[GKPrice]

I've had pretty much the same experience with Kimber's. I have 3, two Montana's and a Mountain Ascent (.300wsm, .280ai, and .270Win), and have shot (even killed a goat), with my buddies .325wsm Montana. Everyone that I've shot have been what I would consider "great shooters" and sub MOA, if I do my part. I did, on one occasion, have my .280 fail to feed while on a goat hunt last season but, after further inspection, I ascertained that if I fully load the magazine and don't pay particular attention when loading the last round, it will bind (for lack of a better term), and fail to pop up when the bolt is deployed. This is something that I've been able to replicate but it's also something that is easily avoidable, as long as I make sure that the 4th round is loaded properly.

roger that -it's a phenomenon that can occur with other magazines too

 

[GKPrice]

I personally think that Kimber has refined the model 70 in the correct direction - my O P I N I O N

 

[elkguide]

How do you think that the .325 compares to the .338 caliber wise?
I've been tempted several times to grab one but haven't gone there yet.

 

[AK Troutbum]

How do you think that the .325 compares to the .338 caliber wise?
I've been tempted several times to grab one but haven't gone there yet.

Ballistically they are very similar but the .338 win mag has many more bullets to choose from, and finding ammo for the .325wsm can be next to impossible at times. As far as killing stuff, I personally would have just as much confidence with a .325 as with the .338.

 

[GKPrice]

Ballistically they are very similar but the .338 win mag has many more bullets to choose from, and finding ammo for the .325wsm can be next to impossible at times. As far as killing stuff, I personally would have just as much confidence with a .325 as with the .338.

what he said ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ kicks less too, but not by much

 

[luke moffat]

I hunted with a browning Ti in 325 wsm for two years. Killed two grizz, a moose, a black bear, 3 caribou (between me and my wife), a dall sheep, and 2 mountain goats. I had it cut back to 18" for all this hunting so it's super handy. I only hunted with 200 NPTs at just over 2800 fps.

It's a great rifle and actually gave it as a gift to my dad along with 60 rounds of NPT and of course to let me know when he gets low and I will load up some more for him. The browning TI is roughly 5.5 pounds naked rifle when cut back to 18".

2 years ago i bought a Kimber Montana in 270 and bored it out to 338-06. With its 21" barrel it is well over a half pound lighter than the already lightweight browning TI. I shoot 210 sciroccos (with a much better BC than the 200 accubond from the 325 wsm) at 2830 fps and 250 grainers at 2500 fps. Couple the better ballistics and lighter weight the fact that the Kimber is 4+1 to the browning 325 wsm 3+1 pretty much meant I was never gonna use the browning TI 325 wsm again and thus gave it to my dad.

Comparing similar barrel lengths of a 338 wm to a 325 wsm isn't even that close IMO. 325 wsm with a 23" barrel can it 2900 fps with a 200 grain accubond with a BC of .450. The 338 wm shoots a 225 grainer at 2900 fps with a BC of .550.

I still have a 338-06 and a 338 wm, the 325 wsm is still in the family and I would use it in a pinch I just don't see burning more powder to get similar results in a heavier rifle (especially the clunky Kimber 8400 action that's a full 1.25 pounds heavier than my 338-06) and give up an extra round in he magazine. I mean I can shoot 2700 fps for a 225 accubond from my 338-06 which is about as fast as the 325 wsm pushes a 220 grainer with a longer barrel to do it.


A 3 are way more than adequate for killing anything on this side of the world. And all of the above really doesn't matter at the end of the day as a simple .308 will kill stuff just as dead as well

 

[Ryan Avery]

I hunted with a browning Ti in 325 wsm for two years. Killed two grizz, a moose, a black bear, 3 caribou (between me and my wife), a dall sheep, and 2 mountain goats. I had it cut back to 18" for all this hunting so it's super handy. I only hunted with 200 NPTs at just over 2800 fps.

It's a great rifle and actually gave it as a gift to my dad along with 60 rounds of NPT and of course to let me know when he gets low and I will load up some more for him. The browning TI is roughly 5.5 pounds naked rifle when cut back to 18".

2 years ago i bought a Kimber Montana in 270 and bored it out to 338-06. With its 21" barrel it is well over a half pound lighter than the already lightweight browning TI. I shoot 210 sciroccos (with a much better BC than the 200 accubond from the 325 wsm) at 2830 fps and 250 grainers at 2500 fps. Couple the better ballistics and lighter weight the fact that the Kimber is 4+1 to the browning 325 wsm 3+1 pretty much meant I was never gonna use the browning TI 325 wsm again and thus gave it to my dad.

Comparing similar barrel lengths of a 338 wm to a 325 wsm isn't even that close IMO. 325 wsm with a 23" barrel can it 2900 fps with a 200 grain accubond with a BC of .450. The 338 wm shoots a 225 grainer at 2900 fps with a BC of .550.

I still have a 338-06 and a 338 wm, the 325 wsm is still in the family and I would use it in a pinch I just don't see burning more powder to get similar results in a heavier rifle (especially the clunky Kimber 8400 action that's a full 1.25 pounds heavier than my 338-06) and give up an extra round in he magazine. I mean I can shoot 2700 fps for a 225 accubond from my 338-06 which is about as fast as the 325 wsm pushes a 220 grainer with a longer barrel to do it.

Post the Grizz video

 

[luke moffat]

Not sure you can handle the muzzle blast while you watch it

 

[GKPrice]

I hunted with a browning Ti in 325 wsm for two years. Killed two grizz, a moose, a black bear, 3 caribou (between me and my wife), a dall sheep, and 2 mountain goats. I had it cut back to 18" for all this hunting so it's super handy. I only hunted with 200 NPTs at just over 2800 fps.

It's a great rifle and actually gave it as a gift to my dad along with 60 rounds of NPT and of course to let me know when he gets low and I will load up some more for him. The browning TI is roughly 5.5 pounds naked rifle when cut back to 18".

2 years ago i bought a Kimber Montana in 270 and bored it out to 338-06. With its 21" barrel it is well over a half pound lighter than the already lightweight browning TI. I shoot 210 sciroccos (with a much better BC than the 200 accubond from the 325 wsm) at 2830 fps and 250 grainers at 2500 fps. Couple the better ballistics and lighter weight the fact that the Kimber is 4+1 to the browning 325 wsm 3+1 pretty much meant I was never gonna use the browning TI 325 wsm again and thus gave it to my dad.

Comparing similar barrel lengths of a 338 wm to a 325 wsm isn't even that close IMO. 325 wsm with a 23" barrel can it 2900 fps with a 200 grain accubond with a BC of .450. The 338 wm shoots a 225 grainer at 2900 fps with a BC of .550.

I still have a 338-06 and a 338 wm, the 325 wsm is still in the family and I would use it in a pinch I just don't see burning more powder to get similar results in a heavier rifle (especially the clunky Kimber 8400 action that's a full 1.25 pounds heavier than my 338-06) and give up an extra round in he magazine. I mean I can shoot 2700 fps for a 225 accubond from my 338-06 which is about as fast as the 325 wsm pushes a 220 grainer with a longer barrel to do it.


A 3 are way more than adequate for killing anything on this side of the world. And all of the above really doesn't matter at the end of the day as a simple .308 will kill stuff just as dead as well

Luke, actually I was trying to illustrate a small but meaningful snapshot of Kimber Montana's track record - my 325WSM doesn't get much use these days either and once I get off my butt and get that 338-06 done it will get even less consideration, I have only kept it to this point because a while back I got real disgusted with myself for continually selling very accurate rifles while searching for the "next big thing" (which means I'm a sucker for marketing I guess) but the 325 looks good in the safe ..... Not that it matters much for me, I just remembered that the Kimber Hunter magazine is a 3 round affair, oh well