Kimber Mountain Ascent if you already have a super lite Tikka?

[JBradley500]

So I have a variety of Tikkas so no need to recommend them (love them), but in theory I feel like a 6.5 Creedmoor Mountain Ascent would make a remarkable do it all ultralight hunting rifle to add to the collection. Has anyone owned both of these and felt like they were different enough to keep both?

 

[mtwarden]

The Kimber starts life out roughly a pound and a half lighter than the Tikka, so there's that.

It's also nearly a $1000 more than the Tikka, so there's that.

Some folks prefer a controlled feed, the Kimber has that (and a three way safety that some folks also prefer)

Both available in 1:8 twist, both offer a 22" barrel (the Kimber has a muzzle brake).

You can get a Superlite close to the Kimber weight, but you'll be shelling out $500-800+ for a stock to get close.

 

[passinggas33]

The Kimber Mtn ascent stock is about 25oz last I checked. So by putting the tikka in something like a stockys stock you could get the stock down to about 20oz which will get it close. And you can get one for about $400 right now I think.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I would never attempt to talk you out of buying more rifles.

 

[prm]

I have an 84M and a T3X Superlite. I like both, but the Kimber is the go to for the hardest hunts. If the 84M had the same detachable mags it’s the only rifle I would use. The Tikka feels very large and heavy after using the Kimber.

To your, question, absolutely they are different enough. Get a Kimber too.

 

[gbflyer]

Wish Kimber would sack up and build a lefty.

 

[ericmcd]

I have a mountain ascent in .280ai. It's a really nice rifle. Feels great and I love to carry it but I had to be honest with myself and I just don't shoot it well. I know ultralight rifles are all the rage here but if you haven't shot one before id recommend it before dropping 2k on one.
I'm having a rifle put together now aiming for around 7lbs bare and I'll be selling my Kimber when it's finished

 

[Alder_]

Let me know when this new batch of Montana's comes out in a 30-06.

 

[SamsonMan22]

I have had multiples of both and still own my tikkas. I would never buy another mt ascent, I can’t stand how rough the action is with the fluted bolt. I liked my kimber subalpine better with the unfluted bolt. My kimbers were decent shooters after some work but I could never shoot them as well as the tikkas. The tikka with a compact barrel and a stockys carbon stock is a nice small light package, mine with a 3-9 Swfa is around 10oz heavier than my dads 84m mt. ascent with an Swfa 3-15. I can live with the extra weight for a rifle that works flawless and shoots like a dream.

 

[MTMeatHunter]

I’ve owned/own quite a few Tikkas and have owned a Mountain Ascent, a number of Montanas, and a Hunter. For me, the Tikka is more of a generalist rifle that happens to be decently light and is easy enough for me to shoot as far as I’m comfortable hunting. The Kimbers I’ve owned have always been the ultralights that I appreciate when I’m really looking to go light. They’re remarkably easy to carry, but rather difficult for me to shoot at distance.

Personally, I feel like they’re easily different enough to own and enjoy both.

 

[MTSasquatch]

Have owned both. Sold one kimber to buy a tikka superlite. I haven’t used the other kimber since owning the superlite. That’s been years now. Tikka superlites are shooters, particularly when considering the difference in price. My two cents.

 

[leclairk]

I was in a similar situation as you about a year ago. I'm a huge Tikka fan but for some reason I tried to over complicate things when I wanted a new .308 do all riffle. I bought a Kimber Mountain Ascent. In my defense it was lighter and did already have a threaded barrel so I could run it suppressed. After multiple tries of different ammos I just could not get it to group well. I finally gave up on it and sold it. I need a rifle that shoots and I knew that gun was not reliable past 300 yards. I ended up buying a Tikka action and a Proof prefit that I installed myself. Should have done that from the start.

 

[Mojave]

Kimber is a "hunting" rifle and the Tikka is a shooters rifle.

I prefer the Tikka, but I like carrying the Kimber.

Never owned a Kimber that was a good shooter, or fed very well.

 

[willfrye027]

Put one of your 6.5s into a stockys, and get an swfa ultralight and that sucker is going to pack like a dream

 

[Pilsner]

I traded away an UL Kimber in 30-06 and I already regret it.
Buy the Kimber

 

[packgoatguy]

Just an FYI for the ounce counters, I've got weights on both kimber and tikka rifles:

Basically the difference between a kimber Mountain ascent and a tikka superlite barreled action (all else being equal) is about 10oz.

44.4oz Mountain Ascent barreled action (308win cut to 16 inches)

54.4oz Tikka Superlite 308win cut to 16 inches, with an aggressively fluted bolt and an mtngear ti bolt nob (the original stainless fluted, like you get at Sportsmans not the heavier fluted barrel in the roughtech stock).

57oz Tikka superlite 223rem cut to 16
56.1oz tikka superlite 6.5cm cut to 16.25

Kimber hunter vs Kimber Ascent (in the same caliber) adds 1.4oz for the non fluted barrel (assuming you can find a fluted bolt).

23.8oz Stockys VG Carbon tikka stock
2.3oz pure precious tikka bottom metal
1.5oz tikka mag
27.6oz tikka stockys stock/BM/mag

27.0oz kimber mountain ascent stock, including internal mag and follower (24.5oz bare stock)

23.8oz kimber hunter stock with gel removed
2.6oz kimber hunter detachable mag
26.4oz kimber hunter/mag+stock weight

8.4oz kimber mountain ascent SA bolt
9.3oz kimber hunter SA bolt

For kicks, I added a pic of a "modified" hunter stock, cut down to 18oz, with a foam vertical grip I carved and applied with gorilla tape for a temporary fit to see if I liked the grip angle... long story short, it doesn't look great, but it works so well and is so comfortable for my shooting style, and it improved my groups well enough with this lightweight rifle... that I just left it on there. I'll probably someday replace it with a molded epoxy of some sort... but for now it works great. Whole rifle including scope and suppressor only weighs 5lbs 12oz.

All else being equal, to get a superlite tikka as lightweight as possible, it would cost the $800-950 for the bare rifle, plus $389 stockys stock on sale, plus $60-$80 for bolt fluting, plus $90 for mtn nob, plus whatever your smith charges to cut and thread.

A kimber hunter will cost $700-$800, and be about 7.7oz lighter in just the barreled action alone without spending another dime, except to cut and thread the barrel.

However, with the tikka, you have a lot more chambering options including 223rem that you won't have with a kimber.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Just an FYI for the ounce counters, I've got weights on both kimber and tikka rifles:

Basically the difference between a kimber Mountain ascent and a tikka superlite barreled action (all else being equal) is about 10oz.

44.4oz Mountain Ascent barreled action (308win cut to 16 inches)

54.4oz Tikka Superlite 308win cut to 16 inches, with an aggressively fluted bolt and an mtngear ti bolt nob (the original stainless fluted, like you get at Sportsmans not the heavier fluted barrel in the roughtech stock).

57oz Tikka superlite 223rem cut to 16
56.1oz tikka superlite 6.5cm cut to 16.25

Kimber hunter vs Kimber Ascent (in the same caliber) adds 1.4oz for the non fluted barrel (assuming you can find a fluted bolt).

23.8oz Stockys VG Carbon tikka stock
2.3oz pure precious tikka bottom metal
1.5oz tikka mag
27.6oz tikka stockys stock/BM/mag

27.0oz kimber mountain ascent stock, including internal mag and follower (24.5oz bare stock)

23.8oz kimber hunter stock with gel removed
2.6oz kimber hunter detachable mag
26.4oz kimber hunter/mag+stock weight

8.4oz kimber mountain ascent SA bolt
9.3oz kimber hunter SA bolt

For kicks, I added a pic of a "modified" hunter stock, cut down to 18oz, with a foam vertical grip I carved and applied with gorilla tape for a temporary fit to see if I liked the grip angle... long story short, it doesn't look great, but it works so well and is so comfortable for my shooting style, and it improved my groups well enough with this lightweight rifle... that I just left it on there. I'll probably someday replace it with a molded epoxy of some sort... but for now it works great. Whole rifle including scope and suppressor only weighs 5lbs 12oz.

All else being equal, to get a superlite tikka as lightweight as possible, it would cost the $800-950 for the bare rifle, plus $389 stockys stock on sale, plus $60-$80 for bolt fluting, plus $90 for mtn nob, plus whatever your smith charges to cut and thread.

A kimber hunter will cost $700-$800, and be about 7.7oz lighter in just the barreled action alone without spending another dime, except to cut and thread the barrel.

However, with the tikka, you have a lot more chambering options including 223rem that you won't have with a kimber.

Looks like someone has done their homework…

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've had some decent kimbers and one that was a total nightmare. I'm down to just one at this point, a montana 308. I probably won't buy any more unless I get a great deal, even then, I'd probably just cut the BS out and send it in to double broom rifles for a full re barrel and bedding job.

 

[mtwarden]

It's kind of sad the Kimber deleted all caliber choices for the Hunter down to just .308 and 6.5. After a month or so of searching I finally found a Hunter in .243. This was after a dealer sent me the wrong Tikka and sent it back

I got the Kimber for roughly the same price as a T3x stainless. The stocks to get the Tikka down in weight are $500-700- the Hunter $0. So saved enough $ for a scope going with another Hunter.

It's only an ounce, but would love to get an Ascent bolt

 

[StupidLightweight]

As others have said, the Kimbers are for hunting. I have three now and love them. Kimbers carry and fit me better than any rifle I've owned, but that low weight comes at a cost, as they aren't easy to shoot well, especially at distance.

I don't know your finances, but if I were I in your position, I would not pay extra for the Mountain Ascent. I don't believe the weight savings is worth the added expense. If I were you, I'd do one of three options:

1. Buy a Kimber Hunter and have an MPI stock made. This is the lightest way to go. My MPI stock is on an ultralight switch-barrel. It will be so much cooler than a stock Mountain Ascent.

2. Buy a 6.5 CM Montana and chop barrel to desired length. I have a lot of cool rifles, and this is my overall favorite. The stock is superb and fits like a glove.

3. Buy a Kimber Hunter, remove the goo from stock, chop barrel to 18 inches, add suppressor, and give it a cool paint job. This would be a superb utilitarian hunting rifle that would sacrifice zero performance when compared to the above two. Even though its injection molded, the Hunter stock is well done.