Also posted in the Medium Bore Rifles forum.
Anyone who's got any experience with this model from Kimber? It's pretty new, but hopefully someones been able to test it. Not in Norway yet, but probably some time in 2013.

Been looking for a lightweigth mountain rifle for a while, and almost bought a regular Kimber Montana. Maybe I will anyway. It's only 5 ounces heavier and cheaper

This is going to sound like a K-Mart purchase compared to the Kimber Mountain but I ended up getting a Tikka Superlite (flutted barrel only available at Sportsman Warehouse and Cabela) in 7mm Rem mag, put Talley alloy rings and a Swarovski Z-3 3-9 with BHX reticle on it. Final weight without sling or Ammo on the scale - 6 pounds 2 ounces. Total cost $750 for the rifle, $45 for rings, Scope I had already.

After break in the rifle shot a .626 group at 100 yards.

None have shipped yet.

I know folks that have 2 or 3 Kimber rifles they are happy with and folks who have had 2 or 3 Kimber rifles and got bad ones.

My closest friend here in Australia has a Montana in 7mm-08 and a Classic in 7mm-08, he wants to expand his collection to a Talkeetna, a Caprivi and a 257 Roberts Super America, so he likes them a lot.

I have been told that if you inspect the bolt face and everything is very clean and square they usually work out well.

I have also been told that a higher number of rifles with problems have been WSM cartridges. Problems have been both with feeding and accuracy with all cartridges, not just the WSMs.

I personally owned a 300 Winchester tactical rifle, the one with the laminate stock painted black, and it was ok but not great in the accuracy department. Some glass bedding helped a bit, at the time I didn't have the knowledge or access to a lathe to square up the action and reinstall the barrel. I would be tempted to do that now.

Not sure if you have any big gunshops that would have more than one of those rifles in stock or not. If so I would look at them very closely and not buy any that are really rough.

If not, I think it is worth buying if you have access to a really good gunsmith that can work on M70/Mauser type actions.

For what this rifle will cost in Norway, I think you could upgrade a Tikka T3, with a carbon fiber barrel, and a fiberglass stock and end up with as light a rifle in a cheaper/(better?) package.

Thanks for all the input! Your comments are in the same alley as others I've heard. Some are great, some seems to face problems, especially in the accuracy departement.

I do also think this will not be a cheap rifle here in Norway, and no gunshops will have rows filled with Kimbers.

What's the barrel length on the Superlite in 7mm Rem Mag, Frostbit?

quote:

Originally posted by Anders:
Thanks for all the input! Your comments are in the same alley as others I've heard. Some are great, some seems to face problems, especially in the accuracy departement.

I do also think this will not be a cheap rifle here in Norway, and no gunshops will have rows filled with Kimbers.

What's the barrel length on the Superlite in 7mm Rem Mag, Frostbit?

24 inches

That .626 inch group was with off the shelf Federal ammo with 160 grain accubonds. I haven't taken any time to work up handloads and with that accuracy I may not bother to.

I have a Tikka T3 Varmint in 30-06. With my handloads and a 190 grain Lapua Scenar it shoots .300-.400 of an inch, 5 shot 100 meter groups.

With the 165 grain Accubond we knock about .15 of an inch off that size.

I have 6 Kimber rifles, in 300 Win, 2 in 300 wsm, 270 Wsm, and 2 in 30.06. All shoot under an inch, and some considerably better. I did have one 300 WSM that was about an inch and a half, so that went down the road. One of the 300 WSm's is a MT, the other a Super America. The MT shoots as well as the SA.
Like all production rifles, occassionally a dog slips through. My expereince has been that they shoot better than any other production gun. 6 out of 7 sub MOA guns is pretty good in my book.
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by llamapacker:
I have 6 Kimber rifles, in 300 Win, 2 in 300 wsm, 270 Wsm, and 2 in 30.06. All shoot under an inch, and some considerably better. I did have one 300 WSM that was about an inch and a half, so that went down the road. One of the 300 WSm's is a MT, the other a Super America. The MT shoots as well as the SA.
Like all production rifles, occassionally a dog slips through. My expereince has been that they shoot better than any other production gun. 6 out of 7 sub MOA guns is pretty good in my book.
Bill

That is outstanding. how many llamas does it take to pack out an elk?

A large bull will require three llamas to pack the boned meat, cape and antlers. A spike or cow will usually go on two llamas.
Bill

My brother really wants an ascent in 280AI.....which means he'll have one when they're actually available.
My daughter's Montana in 270WSM is a stellar shooter and a joy for her to carry. We just returned from 11 days of backpacking with it on her Dall sheep hunt.
Sweet gun!

Zeke

BTW: Llamapacker, I think I bump into you on the MM site, right?