Kimber Montana 338 Win Mag

[BigTimber]

Hello

Does anyone have any experience with a Kimber Montana in a 338 Win Mag ? I own a 3006 in a Montana which is a pleasure to carry and shoot but to pick up one of the big boys I figure that would be a nice addition to the Kimber family, any experiences?

 

[GKPrice]

I agonized for a couple of months about one at a local gun shop for sale, could not get my head around it - the 338 and 300 win mag kind of break from the pack in weight though, I think they are as nice as any other Kimber Montana but just a little heavier (which might not be such a bad thing in a 338 Win Mag ??)

 

[Ted Sterner]

I love my montana 338 win. Very accurate and has anchored everything I've shot it at

Moose 2012


Brown bear 2014

 

[MountainSide]

Ted....I know that this thread is over two years old now, but I'm curious whether you're still using your 338 win Montana still. Just picked one up for a steal of a deal and was wondering about loads, setup, etc. I'm thinking about lopping of 2-3" of that long barrel too. Thoughts?

Anyone else out there have on of these?

 

[GKPrice]

Ted....I know that this thread is over two years old now, but I'm curious whether you're still using your 338 win Montana still. Just picked one up for a steal of a deal and was wondering about loads, setup, etc. I'm thinking about lopping of 2-3" of that long barrel too. Thoughts?

Anyone else out there have on of these?

I think 23" is about right for a "hunting" 338 win mag, very efficient cartridge - I never did buy the one I was so tempted by but have been "thinking" (JUST thinking) about what a Tikka SL 7mm RM would be like changed to a 338 Win Mag by J.E.S. reboring - It would be light for sure ....

 

[deadwolf]

Mountainside, I have a montana in 300win, it weighed in at 6lbs 12ozs when I got it home. I had the 26" barrel cut down to 24", and a few months ago installed a titanium bolt handle. It sits at 6lbs 6 ozs now. Those two items cost me $155 total, not bad. I could get the aluminum trigger guard as well, but in 300wm I don't know how light I really want to go! : ) I've actually had this rifle for sale, and almost had it sold or traded a couple times, but it's so nice and shoots great so I can't bring myself to do it. Shoot, even GK and I almost had a trade for it at one point (apologies for being indecisive). It's a redundant caliber for me but I can't let it go.

So while it's not a 338 like yours, I would have zero reservations in chopping it to 24" or 23" as GK said above, you will not lose a thing and will only gain in having a lighter, handier rifle.

 

[coiloil37]

I've got a Montana in .338 with a 23" barrel and it now sits in a Pendleton stock with bottom metal. Initially I was worried about such a lightweight in this caliber but it's easier to shoot/ less perceived recoil then my old browning X bolt in .338
I'm still whittling away at the weight but with aluminum bottom metal and the titanium knob I should be sitting at 7lbs 2 oz total. I thought I could have it under 7 lbs but I sent the stock back to have the LOP increased and it put on a little weight.
I've only shot 250 accubonds over RE19 but I've got some 225 ttsx loaded to try and a couple hundred 225 interlocks for playing with this summer.

That Pendleton stock was a great way to lose the pregnant feeling of the 8400 stocks. It feels as slim now as an 84l.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I'm also considering one of these. Not sure I need it but I want it.

 

[luke moffat]

I've got a Montana in .338 with a 23" barrel and it now sits in a Pendleton stock with bottom metal. Initially I was worried about such a lightweight in this caliber but it's easier to shoot/ less perceived recoil then my old browning X bolt in .338
I'm still whittling away at the weight but with aluminum bottom metal and the titanium knob I should be sitting at 7lbs 2 oz total. I thought I could have it under 7 lbs but I sent the stock back to have the LOP increased and it put on a little weight.
I've only shot 250 accubonds over RE19 but I've got some 225 ttsx loaded to try and a couple hundred 225 interlocks for playing with this summer.

That Pendleton stock was a great way to lose the pregnant feeling of the 8400 stocks. It feels as slim now as an 84l.

That is cool. Didn't know you could get a Kimber stock with bottom metal...I wanna see more pics of that project!

Hard to justify an extra 1.5-2 pounds for a 338 WM over my 338-06 Kimber (mine is 4 pounds 14 oz) but a stock change would be pretty sweet for bottom metal.

 

[MountainSide]

Thanks for the pics coiloil37...that gives me an idea of what chopping a few inches will look like.

To be honest, it's hard to justify anything over my 308 Montana, but I couldn't pass up the deal. $750 out the door, with a scope and rings to sell, might bring the rifle cost down to $675. Have a 223 Montana as well, so this one was more to round out the stable All set up to load 338 win mag as well, so no extra components needed.

I know I could dig to find where to get an aluminum trigger guard and ti bolt handle, but does anyone have the links or numbers handy?

 

[coiloil37]

That is cool. Didn't know you could get a Kimber stock with bottom metal...I wanna see more pics of that project!

Hard to justify an extra 1.5-2 pounds for a 338 WM over my 338-06 Kimber (mine is 4 pounds 14 oz) but a stock change would be pretty sweet for bottom metal.

Your at 4 lbs 14 oz scoped?

The only problem with putting bottom metal on a Montana is kimber only makes steel bottom metal and it's heavy at 6+ ounces. My plan is to buy some Winchester 70 aluminum with the oberndorf style release from PT&G and modify it by 1/8" to fit. If it works I'll save over 4 ounces.
When I had this rifle sitting in its factory stock I was 7lbs 2oz scoped with the tally rings and 2.5-8x36 I've got on it. The only thing(s) I hated was cycling the bolt to clear the magazine and that perch belly. It's hard to tell from a set of pictures but here's the factory stock vs the Pendleton around the action where it felt prego. If you've held a 8400 and a 84l or 84m you already know what I'm talking about.

I got the stock with bottom metal for less then I sold the factory Montana stock. It lost the perch belly but it had a 12.5" lop when I got it. As I'm 6' tall the lop didn't work. I contacted Wayne and he told me he could take it out to a 14" lop for $50. His turn around was about two weeks and it came back looking perfect.
It still balances and fits very well and if I get it to 7lbs 2 oz it won't be that heavy considering what it is but part of me wants this in the 6lb range. If I could modify a wildcat stock to work I should be able to drop her to about 6lbs 8oz scoped.
If a guy wanted bottom metal he's going to be money ahead starting with a kimber hunter and adding a stock like this vs modifying a Montana.

For a barrel comparison here's another pic with a half grown fawn and a 13-27" Harris bipod.

 

[luke moffat]

Your at 4 lbs 14 oz scoped?

The only problem with putting bottom metal on a Montana is kimber only makes steel bottom metal and it's heavy at 6+ ounces. My plan is to buy some Winchester 70 aluminum with the oberndorf style release from PT&G and modify it by 1/8" to fit. If it works I'll save over 4 ounces.
When I had this rifle sitting in its factory stock I was 7lbs 2oz scoped with the tally rings and 2.5-8x36 I've got on it. The only thing(s) I hated was cycling the bolt to clear the magazine and that perch belly. It's hard to tell from a set of pictures but here's the factory stock vs the Pendleton around the action where it felt prego. If you've held a 8400 and a 84l or 84m you already know what I'm talking about.

I got the stock with bottom metal for less then I sold the factory Montana stock. It lost the perch belly but it had a 12.5" lop when I got it. As I'm 6' tall the lop didn't work. I contacted Wayne and he told me he could take it out to a 14" lop for $50. His turn around was about two weeks and it came back looking perfect.
It still balances and fits very well and if I get it to 7lbs 2 oz it won't be that heavy considering what it is but part of me wants this in the 6lb range. If I could modify a wildcat stock to work I should be able to drop her to about 6lbs 8oz scoped.
If a guy wanted bottom metal he's going to be money ahead starting with a kimber hunter and adding a stock like this vs modifying a Montana.

For a barrel comparison here's another pic with a half grown fawn and a 13-27" Harris bipod.

Nice man...it looks really good. I can live with the blind magazine for now but cool to know the option. Pretty darn neat and looks great! I know exactly what you are talking about with the 8400s feeling preggo compared to a 84M or 84L....one of the reasons I sold my 300 WSM 8400 Montana, just felt so "Fat" and I am not talking about weight even compared to my .308. Cool to know that stock slims down the feel of it.

No my 338-06 is 4 pounds 14 oz naked. 6 pounds 2 oz with a 17 oz VX-6 2-12X42 on it. Thinking about going to a 2-7X33 VX-2 mainly due to the fact that I don't shoot beyond 400 yards with my rifles and 7X is plenty for that work and that would get me down to under 5 pounds 10 oz scoped.

But I am not sure I need to go that light....already got a rifle in the works, a Kimber, that should go 4 pounds 4 oz or so scoped.