Kimber Montana in .300 Win Mag as a LR hunting rifle?

[magnum]

I am thinking of a new long range hunting rifle and am considering a Kimber Montana 8400 Magnum in .300 Win Mag.

The reason for this is that I have set a top rifle weight of 8.5 lbs all up and have decided on the .300 Win Mag as the caliber. Must be stainless and synthetic and I like the M98 CRF action (on the Kimber). Rifle will be used mainly, but not exclusively, with the 210-225 gr high BC bullets at 2,900 to 3,000 fps MV (and possibly working up to the 240 gr SMK) out to 1,000 yards but mainly (and ultimately) in the 600 to 800 yards range on big game. Accuracy desired is consistent ½ to ¾ MOA.

Anyone had experience with this rifle with such a mission that they would like to share or have any comments on this project.

[shortgrass]

I recently bore scoped a 8400 in 25-06. Definately NOT lapped. Visual inspection isn't the last word in accuracy potential, but, it can give you some good indications of what you might expect. Bottom line,, I think your asking a bit much from a factory, production rifle/barrel that's not been lapped.

[magnum]

Shortgrass,

Thank you for your input and expert comments.

I am also considering a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in .300 Win Mag for this project.

[Nikolakangrga]

I own the exact rifle you are interested in...

Kimber Montana .300WM
VX3 4.5-14x40 LR
Talley onepiece lightweight rings/bases
Trigger dropped to 2.5lbs

I have been shooting factory rounds averaging .75 moa. Federals seem to shoot the best but I would like to try some HSM bergers. I will handloading 200gr accubonds and partitions to see how they shoot.
My rifle feeds great, and shoots great. My goal is to make it a 50-800 yard rifle for my backpack hunts. So far it is looking pretty good!

Nick

[magnum]

Originally Posted by Nikolakangrga

I own the exact rifle you are interested in...

Kimber Montana .300WM
VX3 4.5-14x40 LR
Talley onepiece lightweight rings/bases
Trigger dropped to 2.5lbs

I have been shooting factory rounds averaging .75 moa. Federals seem to shoot the best but I would like to try some HSM bergers. I will handloading 200gr accubonds and partitions to see how they shoot.
My rifle feeds great, and shoots great. My goal is to make it a 50-800 yard rifle for my backpack hunts. So far it is looking pretty good!

Nick

Nick,

Awesome.

1. Did you/your gunsmith do anything special to the rifle to get it to shoot like that or is it just straight "out of the box"?

2. Love the rife scope combination. I am a Leupold fan too and like the scope you have chosen

3. The Kimber action, is it long enough (in the magazine) to handle the long bullets 208 and 225 Hornady match and A-Max without the need to seat them deep in the case (i.e. is there excess room/length with the Federal factory loads you have been using)? From their website the overall length seems to indicate that the action is the same length as the .375 H&H in Talkeetna.

I will PM you some specific questions on performance

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[Nikolakangrga]

My rifle is "out of the box" except for the trigger work I had done to it. I dropped the trigger to 2.5 lbs. I might have it re-bedded soon but have not yet.

I have not tried loading the 200gr + bullets for it yet so cannot respond to that question although I plan on taking a measurement of the magazine within the next few days. I will let you know what I come up with.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Well I have one of the new winchesters and between the 2 you mentiond the Winchester is the clear choice in my opnion.