Rifle flaws/faults Winchester etreme weather SS vs Kimber Montana vs Montana X2

[MatukaJoe]

Hopefully this will be a different kind of thread and helpful to some besides just me. I'm trying to decide between the rifles in the subject. I know what I like about them. So I'm hopeful people can tell me what they dislike about them. Or what their flaws are. As example no rifle is perfect in my opinion. I own a Kimber Hunter that i love but you can Google or i can tell you about time to time magazine feed issues. So what says the group? Of the Winchester extreme weather SS, the Kimber Montana, and the Montana Rifle CO X2, what are the weak points you feel these guns have if you own and or have shot them. I'd rather find out about something like this now than once I've made a purchase. And I hope people can find these type of threads useful. If you have questions on the Kimber Hunter I've owned mine for two full seasons and I'm happy to answer any. Thank you in advance.

 

[Crapshoot]

I have owned all 3 of the guns you have mentioned. Below I will list the my findings.

Winchester Extreme weather. Nothing to dislike unless you want a brake on the barrel. Well build, accurate and balanced. Best stock out of the 3 mentioned. Also Winchesters resale or hold value better then most rifles.

Kimber Montana. Hit or miss with quality issues. Had 2 with feed issues and another with a bolt lock up problem. Accuracy so so IMO.

Montana X2. Terrible balance, gun is in dire need of a diet. Montana rifles might want to start weight reduction with fluted barrel. Had 1 with safety issue.

 

[armyjoe]

I have the Winchester Extreme Weather SS and second what was said above. It's hard to find a fault in the rifle. Balances great and is a shooter. By far one of my best rifle purchases

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[MatukaJoe]

Thanks both this is exactly the type of feedback I'm hoping for. Just to be clear I'm not looking to bag on anyone rifle I think they all have pluses but I do want to know in advance if people have found flaws. As example I actually love my Kimber Hunter and will continue to use it for deer as it's in 7mm 08.
That said the detachable magazine has some challenges as its too snug on the rounds and if you aren't careful you can get a bullet to slide forward just minutely during loading and create Jam issues

 

[skaldugwas]

I have an extreme weather and love it.

Mine was super picky about which load it liked. Turns out it will shoot clover leafs with the cheapo $15.00 a box PPU loads. Too bad I spent a small fortune on other more expensive rounds, many with terrible results before giving the ppu a try. Another argument for reloading

The barrel heats up rather quick and accuracy goes to hell, your groups look more like a pattern... except with those damn PPU’s they just stayed together round after round.

The paint/coating on the trigger guard and bottom metal doesn’t hold up to much abuse. Mine has some pretty big flakes missing.

One season with it and much of the grip webbing on the bell and carlson stock is worn off -not a big deal and barely noticeable.

These are just minor negatives though. I beat the heck out of that gun, took a good spill with it and it still held zero.
I will be buying another soon in a different caliber.

 

[skaldugwas]

Winchester Extreme weather. Nothing to dislike unless you want a brake on the barrel. .

Why can’y you put s brake on it?

 

[Crapshoot]

Just to clarify, these guns don't come with a break. Of coarse you could add a break but now your into the price range of a LAW or close to a Seekins. I even saw Cooper 52 Excalibur's for $1699 this year.

 

[wannakillabigbull]

Montana X2. Terrible balance, gun is in dire need of a diet.

Like you I’m in the market for a rifle in this price range. I was super happy to see that Sportsman’s started carrying the X2 and drove all the way across town to go hold one. Unfortunately I had the same reaction as C-shoot. It just didn’t feel right in my hands, so it’s off my short list.

 

[MatukaJoe]

Thanks all again am heavily leaning Winchester extreme weather ss in 7mm mag

 

[Phil4]

Thanks all again am heavily leaning Winchester extreme weather ss in 7mm mag

I just got this exact gun. Have not fired it yet, but real happy with the build quality and how it feels. Should get out to a range next month. It took me a while to find one in 7mag but the place I got it said their distributor had multiple so maybe they are more plentiful than I thought.


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[MatukaJoe]

I just got this exact gun. Have not fired it yet, but real happy with the build quality and how it feels. Should get out to a range next month. It took me a while to find one in 7mag but the place I got it said their distributor had multiple so maybe they are more plentiful than I thought.

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Fortunately handled 300 win mag in store. 7mm mag had to be shipped from alt store but I should have in a day our two.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I should jump in here since I own 2 of the 3 rifles mentioned and have previously owned the 3rd. Here’s my thoughts:

My kimber Montana and mountain ascent have been perfect, I havknow had no issues with them and easily found a few loads for each one of them with very little if any trouble. Sometimes I just grab cheap Ammo and go ring steel at 300yds with my Montana 308. I found the trigger feels as good or maybe better than my timney, and the stock is very nice. I have zero complaints about my kimbers.

The mode 70 extreme conditions is a great rifle, mine is in 30-06 and currently has a meopta meopro 3-9x40 mounted with Talleyigtweight rings, like the bomber I’ve found several loads that work well enough in it but it’s currently sighted in for some 200g trophy bonded bear claws, it also shoots federal hot core 220g rounds very closely to the 200g. It’s an awesome all around rifle. My one complaint was the trigger on mine was pretty creepy and difficult to get adjusted to my liking so I replaced it with a timney MOA trigger which took about 15 minutes and improved things dramatically. It’s pretty easy to shoot nice tinney groups with that rifle, it’s my all around rifle.

The Montana x2 was my dream until I got it. I couldn’t get it to group or even make single shots very accurately, it was heavy and Montana rifle co wasn’t very helpful so it went down the road, the guy who bought it from me has since also sent it down the road.

I’d not hesitate to get a kimber or a Winchester. Both are really nice guns, the big difference is the weight with the Winchester about 2lbs 3oz heavier than my kimber. If I had to pick one, I’d take the kimber since it’s lighter but still perfectly adequate for everything that the winch after does.

 

[wyodan]

Hope I'm not highjacking here, but does anyone know how much weight you can drop off of the Winchester by just changing out the stock? It seems the Winchester stock would be quite a bit heavier because of the bedding block compared to the one used in the Kimber.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Hope I'm not highjacking here, but does anyone know how much weight you can drop off of the Winchester by just changing out the stock? It seems the Winchester stock would be quite a bit heavier because of the bedding block compared to the one used in the Kimber.

Ive looked into this a little bit. My rifle is 30-06 so...

-7lb 2oz for the rifle
- 2.1oz for my rings (actually contacted talley)
-15.17oz for my scope

so all up about 8lb 3oz. I've looked a the McMillan edge stocks and it seems like I could lose about 10oz or so but thats about where the buck stops unless you want to get a lighter scope and and start cutting barrels and machining stuff out. Awhile back I actually sat down and did the math and it came out to a lot of $$$ to drop ~ 1lb off the thing. the fact is he Kimber is a smaller action, thiner barrel and lighter all around, a m70EW probably never really going to match it for weight. It is what it is, its not that the EW is heavy, its that the Kimber is light. My EW goes along on snow machine rides, float trips, etc while my Kimber is what I carry in the mountains.

 

[wyodan]

Ive looked into this a little bit. My rifle is 30-06 so...

-7lb 2oz for the rifle
- 2.1oz for my rings (actually contacted talley)
-15.17oz for my scope

so all up about 8lb 3oz. I've looked a the McMillan edge stocks and it seems like I could lose about 10oz or so but thats about where the buck stops unless you want to get a lighter scope and and start cutting barrels and machining stuff out. Awhile back I actually sat down and did the math and it came out to a lot of $$$ to drop ~ 1lb off the thing. the fact is he Kimber is a smaller action, thiner barrel and lighter all around, a m70EW probably never really going to match it for weight. It is what it is, its not that the EW is heavy, its that the Kimber is light. My EW goes along on snow machine rides, float trips, etc while my Kimber is what I carry in the mountains.

Thanks, that is the info I am looking for. I am wanting to fix up a 338-06, and really just would like to keep it under 8 lbs.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Thanks, that is the info I am looking for. I am wanting to fix up a 338-06, and really just would like to keep it under 8 lbs.

That seems doable, you would only need to lose a few oz to get it there. you could achieve it by using a lighter scope or stock....or both.

 

[MatukaJoe]

Kimber are an excellent rifle! The reason I went with the Winchester was the weight as a positive for higher caliber and long range rifle, the bc cheek weld felt amazing, and yes I liked the look too on the stock. For light weight backcountry I can't imagine much better than my kimber hunter at the cost.