Kimber Mountain Ascent questions

[Villreinjeger]

Does anyone know which thread for the brake?

I´m planning to get this rifle, but want to replace it with a silencer of titanium.

Anyone know which is the best and lightest 1" mount for this rifle? Putting either a Z3 3-9x36 or a Leupy VX3 2,5-8x36 CDS on it.

 

[kaboku68]

There is a hunting fanatic on here named stid2677. He is an awesome guy who would give the shirt off of his back. He buys every one that comes into Fairbanks. He will know your answer.

 

[Stid2677]

Does anyone know which thread for the brake?

I´m planning to get this rifle, but want to replace it with a silencer of titanium.

Anyone know which is the best and lightest 1" mount for this rifle? Putting either a Z3 3-9x36 or a Leupy VX3 2,5-8x36 CDS on it.

I bought 2 of these last year and did extensive load work with both this spring and hunted with both. My wife used hers in 280AI and I used mine in 30-06, very happy with both. Was going to sell which ever I did not like best, but she has now claimed the 280AI, so I guess both will stay.

First off, I have never NOT used the brake, so I don't know what the thread size is, if I had a thread gauge I would check it for you but I don't have one. When I received mine in the mail since I had to buy them online the first one did not have the grey (KIMPRO) finsh. I called Kimber CS and asked about it and they said to send it back that it should have the finish. Well, after 6 weeks I called to ask when I was going to get it back and they said, they made a mistake, that the finish was not holding up to their standard, (falling off in other words) and that they were no longer using it and all the ones currently shipping were only offered in Stainless Steel. During this conversation, the muzzle brake subject came up and the rep told me that the brake was not to reduce recoil as much as it was to improve accuracy with the thin barrels. So I have left mine on and both are very accurate and not that loud.

I would use the Talley Light Weights that come with the rifle. I use them on all my light rifles and have never had any reason to use any others. I took a 500 foot tumble down a hill on Kodiak while goat hunting and tumbled end over end with my rifle ending up sticking out of the ground up to the stock, the entire barrel was driven into the ground like a tent stake. I cleaned the dirt out and it shot dead on.

For scopes I have a Leupold VX2 3x9x40 CDS on the 06 and a VX2 2x7x33 on the 280AI, will replace the 2x7x33 to a VX2 3x9x40 CDS on it as well next season once the Long Range Accubonds become available so I can work up a load for it.

Your scope recommendation would depend on how you plan on using the rifle. For shots out to 300 yards and a lot of dusk and dawn hunting I would go with the Swaro any day.

However, if you plan on long range hunting I would lean towards the Leupold, I could not find smaller than a 3.5x10x40 listed in a VX3 with CDS, but I really like the CDS system. Swaro has a similar reticle system but it is in the 1k range for price.

I chose the 3x9x40 over the lower power because there was only about an OZ difference and I can see more in low light with the 40mm over the 33mm I have both scopes on other rifles and the weight difference did not factor in more than the extra zoom and low light ability.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me if I can help and I will send you my phone number.

Kaboku68, you are too kind Sir....

Happy Holidays

Steve

 

[Stid2677]

Can't have a thread without a couple photos. Oh and we made kills with them at 200, 380,422, 528, and 400 this year.

280AI load

30-06 Load

280 on the bench.

Both at the range.

Dialing in the CDS on the 06

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Sweet rifles! I've got a Montana in 300WSM I think this will be my next light Weight rifle. What's total weight on them with scopes and rings?

 

[Stid2677]

7.2lbs with scope, cover, sling and rings and 9 rounds of ammo in the stock holder, ready to hunt.

 

[Villreinjeger]

Thanks!

I´m planning to use a silencer rather than the muzzle break. It´s constantly ringing in my ears, so don´t want to make it any worse, and I do not fancy carrying ear muffs around (suppose to save weight...)

I suppose the recoil will be as low as with the brake.

The silencer in mind:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151996820704113&set=oa.470714933047044&type=1&theater

or go to "Te Titan" on Facebook.

A small norwegian firm has started to 3D print silencers out of titan...! Price around USD1000 give or take a little.

211mm long 110mm in front of the muzzle.

Weight is guesstimated to around 250grams..! I can live with that!

Thinking of .308win, so weight of the silencer will partly dissappear compared to long action. I don´t reckon I´ll be able to out-shoot a .308s capability on longer ranges in such a light rifle.. what do you reckon?

 

[husky390]

I finally had a chance to look at these and they look awesome. Makes my Kimber Montana in 300wsm feel like I'm holding a wood stocked .375H&H.

 

[belly-deep]

I finally had a chance to look at these and they look awesome. Makes my Kimber Montana in 300wsm feel like I'm holding a wood stocked .375H&H.

Be careful what you wish for. Light rifles are tough to shoot at longer distances. Not impossible, but tougher. I have a .308 Montana and love it for packing around the timber, but its not the gun I would want to make a longer shot with.

 

[Villreinjeger]

How is the recoil without the muzzle brake in .308 or .280AI? I already have ringing ears, so contemplating a titan suppressor. i the meantime I´m thinking of going without the brake.

 

[luke moffat]

My custom .308 Kimber Montana is actually 2 oz lighter than the Ascent. It will thump when shooting 200 grain partitions at around 2500 fps. But mainly used 130 TTSXs last year and it is more pleasant to shoot. That said neither the 200 grain or the 130 TTSX is overly uncomfortable and I don't flinch at all. But I also shoot a 325 WSM in a 5.75 pound rifle with scope and rings so apparently I just like being kicked by a mule.

 

[husky390]

But I also shoot a 325 WSM in a 5.75 pound rifle with scope and rings so apparently I just like being kicked by a mule.

That has to be, uh, interesting to shoot. Definitely wouldn't want to creep on the scope with that one.

 

[thru-hunter]

I have a standard 280AI Montana (no brake) and it is a kitten to shoot. I doubt that shaving another few ounces off it would change that. I love the 280AI and mine tosses 160 Partitions at 2850 into 1moa. Throws 145 TTSX's at 3225 into volleyball size groups but I'm working on that...

 

[Stid2677]

I have a standard 280AI Montana (no brake) and it is a kitten to shoot. I doubt that shaving another few ounces off it would change that. I love the 280AI and mine tosses 160 Partitions at 2850 into 1moa. Throws 145 TTSX's at 3225 into volleyball size groups but I'm working on that...

I shot 2 boxes and burnt 3 lbs of powder trying to get 145 LRXs to shoot and they would never group smaller than a softball, the 165 LRXs made one ragged hole, but they were key-holing. I have a couple boxes of 150 Long Range Accubonds to work on next. Mine likes the 160 grains Accubonds, sub moa.

 

[thru-hunter]

I also have a couple boxes of the 150 ABLR to work up. Keep me updated on your development and I will do likewise.

 

[13bonatter69]

I am in the process of buying a new montana or mountain ascent in 280AI in the next couple days. Could someone fill me in on how the 150 ABLR worked out? Thanks for the info

 

[Brianb3]

280 AI Mountain Ascent my best group was 1 inch at 300 but always with in 1" MOA and the same at 200 with Factory 140 AB. I tried 150 ABLR and did not group well. Tried 160 partitions with similar success as the 140 AB.

Out of the box the trigger needs work and barrel break in but after 60 rounds it started coming around. I feel comfortable with a good rest out to 450 and was sub MOA at 500

My plan is to bed it, have taller basses then the tallies that come with them then have the scope mounted professionally by my G Smith.

Couldnt be happier... feel like i got a Red Rock for 1/3 the price. Id never shoot past 500 on any animal.

 

[bradmacmt]

I'm one that finds the Mountain Ascent too much of a good thing... the Montana's (84M/L) are right on the ragged edge of too light. And I wouldn't use a muzzle brake. Death on your ears and even worse on those around you. If you need a muzzle brake, you need to step down in power IMO.

But to each his own, differences make the world go round... but I like my hearing just fine.

 

[Stid2677]

I'm one that finds the Mountain Ascent too much of a good thing... the Montana's (84M/L) are right on the ragged edge of too light. And I wouldn't use a muzzle brake. Death on your ears and even worse on those around you. If you need a muzzle brake, you need to step down in power IMO.

But to each his own, differences make the world go round... but I like my hearing just fine.

The brakes on the MAs are more to control muzzle flip and improve accuracy than to reduce recoil. I was told this by a Kimber rep and my own experimentation has proven this to by true.

 

[bradmacmt]

We'll have to agree to disagree... it's a very typical brake, designed to reduce recoil. Those designed to reduce muzzle flip have directional ports upward (ie, magna-port), not all the way around like the Kimber.