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Having issues with getting this rifle settled in, and can't help but think that it is, indeed, the rifle. I have another Kimber Montana chambered in 300WSM that took about 225 rounds to really settle down. Currently, this gun is shooting 1.5" down to about 1". I've tried 160 AB, I've tried 150 ABLR, and I've tried 150 AB. I've tried 139SST, I've shot 154 Interbonds. A couple of Sierra's as well. They're all about the same: two and a flyer that opens me up to about 1.5". Without a doubt the 150ABLR pushed by 60.1 Grains of H4831SC has been the most consistent, and the best holding. That said, I'm lost thinking that this rifle is far more capable than that at 100yds. Am I expecting too much? Based on the WSM holding very, very consistent .5" at 100, and accurate to 600, I don't think that I am. Anyone else had any issues getting a Montana in an AI to settle in? I've tinkered with seating depths, and COAL. Most consistent, across the board for this rifle has been COAL sitting at 3.37". Using a gauge,I'm sitting off the rifling by right around .040". Baffled right now, and can't figure this one out for the life of me... | ||
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I presume it is a Kimber Montana & you have done all the basics like checking the action screws etc. I have a similar rifle in 7mm08 & it is beded & free floated. What is the seating depth? Have you tried other powders? In my Sako L61R 280 Ack Imp, I had no luck with H4831SC or Re22. I good great results with Re19 & VVN160 with the lighter bullets & N560 with the 160 gr Accu Bond using the Nosler manual loads. I have taken game out to 350 meters with no problems. I also got good groups with plain old Rem 150 gr PSPCL, 145 Gr Speer BT & also the 150gr TSX. ADI 2209 (H4350) was also fine with the lighter bullets. Great caliber - my shooting buddy envies my rifle as it does better than his 7mm Rem Mag. "When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick." | |||
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My 280AI preferred MRP then RL22. I was using 140 & 160 Nosler BT at the time. As usual just my $.02 Paul K | |||
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It took me a bit to get my KM shooting,, it's a 308 and the ONLY powder it likes is Varget. Once I figured this out it turned out to shoot way better than me. That and it prefers 150gr bullets for best results. I tend to use more than enough gun | |||
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There is an entire thread on 24 on Kimber tweaks to help them shoot ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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Hooli, How fast are you shooting your groups? The reason I am asking this is if you were to try shooting a 3 or 5 shot group with the barrel completely cool between shots, it could very well indicate what might be the issue. I have a Win. M-70 in a 270 WSM. At 200 yards, It will put the very first shot in the bullseye virtually every time. If I shoot a group quickly, the second shot will hit within a 1-1/2" radius of the first, usually low and left at about 7:00 o'clock. With the third shot, all bets are off. It will go 4" out and hit at either 11:00 or 5:00 o'clock. If I let the barrel cool COMPLETELY between shots, it will generally put 3 within a 3/4" to 1" of each other. This all tells me that my bore is not running true in the center. As the barrel heats up the POI changes. You might try shooting several slow strings to see if it makes a difference.. It could help you decide what direction to take. "The right to bear arms" insures your right to freedom, free speech, religion, your choice of doctors, etc. ....etc. ....etc.... -----------------------------------one trillion seconds = 31,709 years------------------- | |||
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What's wrong with 1 - 1.5" groups? I'm assuming 3 shots at 100 yds - correct? That good enough for hunting. | |||
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My wife shoot a Mel Forbes UL in 280AI used Kreiger barrel so it's not original one. With 150gr TSX/BT using H-4831sc and IMR-7828 is best in that rifle and being so light it can takes long time to develop a load. If my best was with 150gr ABLR I just settle for that and hunt with it. Well good luck VFW | |||
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The sad truth is, not every rifle is a 1/2" rifle.. But that said, keep trying and you may find the right recipe for your 280AI. AK-47 The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like. | |||
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My 280 AI has a kreiger barrel my load of choice 150 gr scricco H4831sc 59.5 sub min past 300 yds shoots just as good with barnes tsx 150gr | |||
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Rae59 likely has the answer. Those Kimber Montana barrels aren't very heavy and so will heat quickly. Your fix may be as simple as slowing down your rate of fire. If, however, you are already doing so than you may just have a 1 MOA rifle and that's that. I have this problem in a Marlin 336C. Fire five shots in close succession and get buckshot groups at 100 yards. Fire one shot every 1-2 minutes with the exact same load and watch the groups shrink to about 1.5" at 100. | |||
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Thanks all. I have been sitting a little closer to the 3/4" mark of late. I've been able to get the gun settled down nicely, something that I'll live with. It just took tweaking powders and messing with seating. I'm seated to 3.345 with is right at .015 of the land. I ended up with 58.5 grains of H4831SC with a Nosler 160 Accubond. I finally got some 150 ABLR, those are loaded and ready to go. Incidentally, I was shooting a pretty long string initially, at least as long as I would take with my Superamerica in 300 Win, and my Montana in 300 WSM. After talking to a couple people at Kimber, they said give that 280AI even longer than what I had been, around the 12 minute mark for a 5 shot. Regardless, I appreciate everyone's input- genuinely helpful bunch of folks! | |||
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Two together and the other out to make it a 1.5 inch group is very acceptable accuracy in the REAL WORLD. I would check the bedding and see if that helps and work with the gun from an investigative stand point and try to make it better, if not then its the barrel and that's all it will do, and that's fine, it will kill a deer is you do your part at up to 400 yards are better in that technically 1.5 at 100 is 3" at 200 and 6 inches at 300 and 12 inches at 400. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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My Kimber Montana in .300WM is VERY finnecky about loads, bullets, etc. It doesn't like anything less than 180 gr. bullets. It can tell the difference in makes. It won't tolerate changes in lots of factory loaded ammunition. It will shoot, but virtually demands handloading. | |||
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