Kimber Mountain Ascent/Forbes Rifles/etc/??

[shrek]

Kimber hands down.

I'm with BH, never seen the allure of a tikka, plastic cheap garbage... Funny thing is most guys that run em are probably making $600 a month truck payments and running sourced bino's !

[grundy53]

I was pretty sure the Kimber Ascent was only available in .308?

Outdoor emporium has one in  .308 and one in .270.

sent from my typewriter

[jackelope]

I was pretty sure the Kimber Ascent was only available in .308?

Had one in my hands that was a .270.

.270 .308 .30-06 and. 280ai.

[actionshooter]

  The LA calibers are 5# 5oz.
  Only the .308 is 4# 13oz, that was the 1st mountain ascent.

 Not a big difference, but for ounce counters it would drive them nuts.
 For what its worth I have had 2 kimber Montanas one in .308 and one in 7WSM. I love them but they are NOT 1 hole guns. I sold them both b/c I just couldn't live with the accuracy, or lack of.
 I have only read about the Forbes rifles, everything good so far.

[jackelope]

I just read a thread on the campfire where a guy was getting .9-1.9" new gun groups working up a load shooting a brand new gun. The Kimber a curacy issues are a concern for sure.

[j_h_nimrod]

I have had a Montana for a few years in .325 and really liked it. Same shop I bought mine at had some problems with the early Montanas not feeding well but mine has done what I ask of it. Accuracy has been acceptable but not great with factory and have not come up with a good hand load yet. It is consistent though and a good 400 yard gun.

I have a .280 AI that weighs right at 8lbs ready to go (rifle, scope, sling, bullets) and is not all that pleasant to shoot. Almost 3lbs less would probably be even less pleasant.

I find it laughable when people are worried about a few pounds in a rifle but buy an 8+lb pack (Eberlestock, Badlands, etc.) and load it with worthless gear but cannot abide a reasonably heavy rifle.   

I like light weight but my rifle is usually an insignificant portion of my total load.

[jackelope]

Yup agreed. I don't have the lightest of the lightweight gear, and I don't like plinking with my 7# .280Rem either, but I'm not gonna lie ...there's a certain cool factor to those rifles. They're a lot nicer to carry than a 14# full-on custom that would be miserable to carry.

[mountainman]

Yup agreed. I don't have the lightest of the lightweight gear, and I don't like plinking with my 7# .280Rem either, but I'm not gonna lie ...there's a certain cool factor to those rifles. They're a lot nicer to carry than a 14# full-on custom that would be miserable to carry.

Agree!  have owned Rem 7's, mtn Ti's, and have shot many Montana's and Rem Ti's and Weatherby lightweights. I spend much more time then most above 7,000' every year. Yes, I watch ounces in all my gear, and can "hack" it probably better then most. I take conditioning and gear very serious!! Part of that dedication is finding light, accurate, potent rifles for those2-3 week jaunts up where the air is thin. Have never shot any of Melvin's guns, but everything I have read and heard, they are also a fine tall country rifle. No need to pack my 18# rifles in this country..people that do, we'll, all I can say is "try to keep up"

[RadSav]

I just read a thread on the campfire where a guy was getting .9-1.9" new gun groups working up a load shooting a brand new gun. The Kimber a curacy issues are a concern for sure.

I am encouraged by the new barrel design on this Kimber.  With the flutes it seems to have a much better taper and I expect much stiffer barrel.  The standard whippy Kimber barrel is the only reason every gun in my safe is not a Kimber!  With the new barrel I will probably be getting the MA in .308 to replace my older heavy model.  22" stiffer barrel and I actually like the 308 quite a bit.

When I first bought my Montana it was one of the worst grouping guns in my arsenal.  And it did not take long to realize, like the older A-Bolts, the whippy barrel was the reason.  I had just finished reading an article about the NULA rifles and decided I would full length bed the barrel in the factory Montana stock.  It had done good things for my old A-Bolt and with the positive results in the NULA I had high hopes.  It worked!!!  Took that gun from 3" to about 3/4" in three shot groups.  Even five shot groups stay under 1.125".  In .325 WSM it still kicks like a freakin mule!  But so far it has only required a single shot for every animal I have pointed it at.

My only complaint with the Montana is the Pachmayr Decelerator pad is a piece of garbage.  If it were not glued to the stock that gun would have a Sims pad on it.  I will probably take the risk this off season and cut it off.  If that doesn't ruin the stock it will have a new Sims on there next season.  And it will have a lightweight Optifade little brother keeping it company in the safe too!