I just bought a new Montana in 260 Rem (along with a Leupold VX-III 3.5 -10x)with the expectation that it would be a highly accurate shooter like my Kimber 22-250. So far I have shot 60 rounds of Federal factory ammo (140 grain bullets), and I have been disappointed with the results. Tried sand bags and a bi-pod, each off of a concrete bench at the state range, and there was no difference in the outcome. The rounds land in a uniformly scattered pattern on the target, and I would bet the best group is 5" - 7". Anyone else had a similar issue? Suggestions?

Dump the bipod, especially off a concrete bench. Use sandbags front and rear. I would make sure all the receiver bolts are tight, and check the scope mounts and rings. If that doesn't work, call Kimber!
Peter.

X2. Even with a load that the rifle just doesn't shoot well it should do way better than that.

Something is wrong. I bet checking all the screws and all the mounts, including the bases, will solve the problem. If it doesn't try swapping out a proven scope for the one on the rifle and see if that isn't the problem before contacting Kimber.

JPK

Kimber's seem to have a reputation for occasionally turning out a dud. When they are made well they are very nice rifles. But you are not the first person to have this problem. Hill Country has stopped accepting Kimbers for their accurizing service since Kimbers didn't respond as well as other rifles. I think that says a lot.

After checking to make sure all the screws are tight and the scope is working, I would look at the bedding and crown. The bedding is done with a "mold" and not the actual action. If those don't work than you need a new barrel. Once again Kimber is very hit or miss on customer service. Good luck and I hope you find that it's a simple fix.

I have a Montana in 260 Rem. I have never shot factories in it (mainly cause no one stocks them in Australia & you have to pre order). But it never shot as bad as you described either.

Digesting what I have read in this forum & over at 24hourcampfire this is what most people do in terms of accurising a Kimber:

1. Adjust trigger - quite easy to do mine is less than perfect but better now than how it was set at the factory. Could not elimintate creep in mine so I compromised & reduced sear engagement but increased the pull weight.

2. Check lug contact. You can do this by putting texta on the rear surfaces of the lugs & working the action a couple of times. Not perfect on mine but at least both lugs contacted. I left mine as it.

3. Check the bedding. The Montanas are pillar bedded but not with your particular action. I used lipstick over the bedding surfaces and found that most contact was on the chamber part of the barrel not where the action screws were. I rebedded mine with Devcon Steel Putty. I have full contact the full length of the barrel knox form like kimber intended, on the front part of the action and at the rear tang. The rest of the barrel is floating.

3. Most recommend recrowning. I bore scoped mine & whilst not a bad job I figured there was nothing to lose so I had my gunsmith recrown regardless. Saw him do it & he indexed it with a plug in the barrel which he told me is important. He also made sure the whole barreled action was rotating centrally in the lathe relative to the bore.

This is how it shoots now. BTW feeding & extraction were perfect from new.



Good luck with yours, but if you live in the US and it shoots as bad as you describe the best solution would be to send it back to Kimber. I don't have that option, not that my rifle warranted it anyway.

regards,
JohnT

i have a kimber 260 (wood stock) that wasn't shooting right. problem ended up being that the magazine box was a bit to tall and when the screws were tightened up the action was bearing on the box magazine. a bit of file work and problem was solved.

Try different bullet weight ammo. I have had some guns that will not shoot certain grain bullets. I have a Kimber in .204 Ruger that shoots alot better than me, but I have heard horror stories about some Kimber Rifles. Plan B send it back to Kimber.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check all of the action screws first, move to the scope mounting, and then swap the scope out for another that I know works. I called Kimber, and told them about my experience. I asked if they had any record of similar problems with this model/cal, and they do not. The service manager told me to ship the rifle back with an explanation of the issue along with a shot target (if I had one available), and that they would do a full analysis. If I do not get the problem sorted on my own, the rifle will be heading to NY. I will let you know the outcome. Thanks again.

I have a Kimber 260 Montana and had a very difficult time also. In the 120 gr it didn't like rl 19, IMR 4064, Varget, Ramshot Hunter and H 4831sc. I was about to sell it. Then I tried Ramshot biggame.

120 gr nbt 42 gr of Biggame 2800 fps and 1/2 inch at 100 yds.

120 Barns TSX and 43 grs of Biggame 2800 fps and 1/2 inch at 100 yds.

Maybe Rl 15 will work but I didn't try it, it likes a fast burning power.

Enjoy it, its a wonderful rifle when you fine the right load. Have killed one black bear and one buck with.

Let me add a couple of other things I forgot. I even sent mine back to Kimber and they shot it with factor ammo, three rounds about 1 3/4 inch and said it was good.

COAL for th nbt 2.784

COAL for barns TSX 2.705

You get away from those COAL and mine starts spreading out, my rifle is not very forgiving like so many other 260's.

Sorry for long response.

I had the same gun in 270WSM. The best I ever got out of it with multiple bullet, powder combinations was 2" three shot groups, but most groups were muck worse than that.
I sent it back to Kimber. They returned it to me with a target they shot that showed a 1.25" three shot group, "at 50 yards". They said it is in tolerance.
I sold it.

Holy s--t! I thought Kimbers were supposed to be accurate? That is Mini 14 accuracy standards!
Peter.