So, how light can a Kimber Hunter be? A build thread.

[ChrisAU]

Looks great!

 

[mtwarden]

agreed, nice looking rifle

 

[JonnyB]

I’ve got a mountain ascent in a montana stock that I have been eyeballing every time I open the safe. Luke started my wheels turning on that rifle with his featherweight build. Been thinking about doing 338 federal though but I love the idea of 358 as well. I really didn’t want to start another project but… haha


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[JonnyB]

Your rifle looks fantastic by the way. It could pass for factory based on the pictures


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[ElPollo]

That’s a neat looking little beastie. How is the muzzle flash and recoil with the 358? My first bolt gun when I was a kid was a 18.5” 243 that I called the “fire-breathing dragon”. It would throw a 2-foot diameter fireball every time you touched it off. Also, does the stock make a lot of noise without the filler? Have you been tempted to add expanding foam to it to deaden the sound? Anyway, great job on it. Hope you fill your freezer with it this fall.

 

[BigWoods]

That’s a neat looking little beastie. How is the muzzle flash and recoil with the 358? My first bolt gun when I was a kid was a 18.5” 243 that I called the “fire-breathing dragon”. It would throw a 2-foot diameter fireball every time you touched it off. Also, does the stock make a lot of noise without the filler? Have you been tempted to add expanding foam to it to deaden the sound? Anyway, great job on it. Hope you fill your freezer with it this fall.

With nothing in the stock, it was a bit loud. I stuffed closed cell foam in mine to quiet it down and have been happy with it since.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I’ve got a mountain ascent in a montana stock that I have been eyeballing every time I open the safe. Luke started my wheels turning on that rifle with his featherweight build. Been thinking about doing 338 federal though but I love the idea of 358 as well. I really didn’t want to start another project but… haha


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The 338 Fed is pretty sweet. I just had an Adirondack re chambered and barreled in that caliber. Good factory ammo available for it as well.

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[robtattoo]

I'm a huge fan of the .358 I'm fairly recently converted (put this together 4 years ago) but I'm 100% certain that if I had to sell all but 1 of my guns, it'd be the one I keep! It just seems like the perfect fit for a shorter barreled rifle, even a lightweight. This 700 comes in a C-hair shy of 7lb & the recoil impulse is far more pleasant than you'd expect. I'm shooting Speer 220s in the mid 2500fps range & the recoil is much closer to my .62 flintlock than my .308. It's a slower, steadier push; not at all sharp & violent.

In my mind, it's the ideal under 500yd caliber.

 

[ChrisAU]

Took mine to the range this weekend, burned through too much ammo trying to hit an 8" steel plate at 425 yards with no success lol, was all over it about a dozen shots but no ding. Little tough with the 1.5-5 scope ha. My shoulder made me quit.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Took mine to the range this weekend, burned through too much ammo trying to hit an 8" steel plate at 425 yards with no success lol, was all over it about a dozen shots but no ding. Little tough with the 1.5-5 scope ha. My shoulder made me quit.


I had a Nightforce NX8 1-8 on my little 338 Fed, so similar setup to yours. I felt it struggled at 400 plus yards, mostly due to the reticle, but partly to the low magnification as well. I ended up putting that 2.5-10 on there, just so that it was more versatile.

 

[ChrisAU]

It now has entered another optic iteration, wanted some more X’s and toughness, and now it’s an unbearably heavy 5lb 10oz all up lol!

 

[roosiebull]

Barreled action is on the was to JES, supposed to get there Monday. Decided to do fore end surgery tonight. Pre surgery:

View attachment 249855

Post surgery, pre-sanding:

View attachment 249857

Apologize for side way pics btw...

Didn’t lose a ton of weight, probably net another 0.05oz after sanding later I’d guess. But, it will make it look a little less crazy with the 16.5” barrel ha.

I think the proper term is “stock circumcision”

Dig the project!

 

[roosiebull]

It now has entered another optic iteration, wanted some more X’s and toughness, and now it’s an unbearably heavy 5lb 10oz all up lol!

View attachment 389330

Heck yeah! 450yd steel target revenge!

Super cool rifle

 

[Trackselk]

Thanks for the write-up! These uber light builds have me inspired to build a 6.5 CM that's lighter than my .308 kimber MA specifically for deer out to 600 yards (if conditions are perfect).
My ascent is my elk gun, and it shoots .33 MOA, and kicks enough as is with a loopy 3x9 ultralight, so I'm not going to mess with something that shoots that well.

So, I have a few questions for you all. What's the best platform to start with for this? Do you gain any significant weight loss and accuracy by starting with a Montana vs the hunter? I'd like to have 1/2 moa for 600 yards as I don't like taking chances, or want to make sure it's a relatively easy shot.
I could start another thread, but figured that after a few months of inactivity, this thread made sense.
.

 

[mtwarden]

The Montana in 6.5 weighs 5# 2 oz, the Hunter 5# 9 oz

same actions, same barrel lengths- remove the 8 oz of gel (about 30 minutes of work) from the Hunter and you're at the same weight

 

[ChrisAU]

Thanks for the write-up! These uber light builds have me inspired to build a 6.5 CM that's lighter than my .308 kimber MA specifically for deer out to 600 yards (if conditions are perfect).
My ascent is my elk gun, and it shoots .33 MOA, and kicks enough as is with a loopy 3x9 ultralight, so I'm not going to mess with something that shoots that well.

So, I have a few questions for you all. What's the best platform to start with for this? Do you gain any significant weight loss and accuracy by starting with a Montana vs the hunter? I'd like to have 1/2 moa for 600 yards as I don't like taking chances, or want to make sure it's a relatively easy shot.
I could start another thread, but figured that after a few months of inactivity, this thread made sense.
.

When they are building the rifles they grab actions and barrels from the same bin whether it be a Montana or a Hunter. Cost difference is all in the stock, barrel threading, and with a few models the fluted bolt.

 

[Trackselk]

The Montana in 6.5 weighs 5# 2 oz, the Hunter 5# 9 oz

same actions, same barrel lengths- remove the 8 oz of gel (about 30 minutes of work) from the Hunter and you're at the same weight

Thanks, Both of you! Sounds like the hunter is the way to go then. I just plan mostly on the big ticket weight items. I wonder if fluting ever affects accuracy?

 

[Unckebob]

Thanks, Both of you! Sounds like the hunter is the way to go then. I just plan mostly on the big ticket weight items. I wonder if fluting ever affects accuracy?

If you want a threaded barrel, get the hunter pro. It allows you to run a brake if you want.

 

[Trackselk]

Well, I went off the deep end and ordered a new hunter 6.5CM, and got my place in line paid for for the lighest stock MPI makes. Thanks for the brake suggestion, but I'm not a fan of them. I never use the one on my MA, but it's not fun to shoot either.
I'm going to start with the stock, and then go from there. I'm going to keep the full length barrel for reaching out there, as I find my MA pretty handy at about the same length. Hopefully I can get under 5lbs with my heavy 6x swfa (20 ounces), without spending a fortune. Although just the stalk and rifle were about $2100, prices are up there currently I guess. Maybe I can sell the factory stock for a little recoup of funds.
Crazy question, can my .308 MA bolt fit my 6.5 hunter? I'm guessing it's a dumb question, and when the 6.5 arrives it's an easy check.
Fluting sounds risky, but I wonder how much weight I can lose?
Really looking forward to the 6.5CM ft/lbs way out there with high BC bullets. My .308 would not be fun with no brake and the bigger bullets. Luckily it loves factory 150 grain barnes

 

[mtwarden]

You might want to weigh that Hunter stock before spending money on a aftermarket one. Also keep in mind that you can lose an additional 8 oz out of the stock with 20 minutes of your time.

There is a guy on 24hourcampfire that was selling titanium bolt handles that shaves a little weight.