kimber montana 338 win mag

[newfie bullet]

about to buy a new rifle, was looking for a montana in 30-06 but haven't been able to find one. so i decided to settle for a winchester 70 extreme weather in 30-06. problem is the dealer who got the winchester got a kimber there in 338 wm . who of you has experience with a kimber in 338 . how is it for recoil , i have a sako deluxe now in 338 and it is stout , but then again recoil pad is not very good and i find this rifle to be a little to heavy to carry hunting. how do the stock and recoil pad tame recoil on the 338 montana.

 

[bizyrok]

I have had two Kimber Montanas in the past decade and found them to be very tolerable on the bench. My typical handload is with 225gr bullets.
The recoil is more of a push than a sharper jab like in a Montana in 300 WM.. Certainly both the 30-06 and 338WM will handle everything in NA even the brownies if you do your part. Good luck.

I should add that I do not have any 338's right now as I float around with calibers and models. Nothing against the model or cartridge.

 

[mfllood3800]

Pretty sure these have threaded barrels so you can use a break or suppressor ?
a 338 will have evidence of a pulled trigger for sure.
Everyone reacts differently based on their tolerance

 

[philos]

I currently have a Montana in 338. It has stout recoil. I've shot a few magnum 12 gauge loads in light 12 gauge guns so I've had my share of hard kickers and the Montana is right up there with the magnum 12 gauge loads. The 338 in the Montana is going to push you harder than your Sako I believe. I honestly am on the fence about keeping it but I m going to shoot it more and decide.

I believe it to be a quality gun and since you do own a 338 now you should be able to handle it. If I am right your Sako is about 8 lbs and the Montana is under 7lbs so that will be a difference in recoil although not a huge difference. I've never shot any other 338s so I can only compare to smaller caliber rifles and shotguns - take that into account.

 

[GKPrice]

I used to be a "338 Win Mag" only guy - Have owned and hunted quite a few over the years - The best one I ever wound up with IMO was

a Tikka superlight 7mm RM I had rebored to 338 Win Mag by J.E.S. in Cottage Grove OR - It was lighter than the average SL, bore was cut

rifled, simply easy to clean and accurate as all get out with 200's, 210's and 225's (which I ultimately used 225 Accubonds exclusively) and with a Limbsaver aircell

pad surely did not need a brake, for me at least - I'd offer it up for sale but you'd have to fight my son for it

Finished I had less than what a NIB Kimber would run into the entire project and had it at the range faster too most likely

 

[newfie bullet]

i also shoot a marlin 1895 45-70 with 430 grain handloads at about 1800 fps , a pretty good recoil here too

 

[coiloil37]

We've already discussed my opinion of the Montanas recoil in .338 so I'll leave that alone but between my Montana .338 shooting 250's and my 450 Marlin shooting 390 grain hardcast the Marlin is much more punishing. The Montana is a kitten compared to my guide gun.

 

[hodgeman]

My hunting partner has used one for quite a few years. Very nice rifle and he's pounded a lot of critters with his. He really prefers the 180AB and the 210 NP to the 250gr bullets.

Recoil is stout, but manageable and the stock seems well made with a sufficient recoil pad. It's certainly in the "carried a lot, shot a little" category.