Kimber Mountain Ascent .308 load data.....sweet shooter

[jrebel]

Finally started refining my load for the newest member of the family.  I have owned the gun for almost a year and, until now, have had little time to play with it.  Well first trip to the range with new loads was a huge success.  I loaded 165 grain partitions and 150 grain accubonds.  I also took factory 150 grain to test.  Long story short....it loves 150 grain and hates 165's.  The pics are of 150 grain accubonds pushed by Varget 44 grains and 45 grains.  The 44 grains appears to group ever so slightly better, but the 45 grains group is nothing to frown upon.  Both are 5 shot groups and both fliers were cold bore.  All shots were fired off bags at 100 yard bench with minimal wind. 

Rifle as stated above is a Kimber Mountain Ascent in .308.  It is topped with a leupold 4.5-14x50 with boon and crocket reticle.  As a quick review for this rifle.....it is simply amazing.  Super light, amazing trigger, low recoil with the factory muzzle break and one of the most accurate rifles I have ever shot factory out of the box. Anyone looking for a lightweight rifle should really consider this rifle.  Two thumbs up.   

[Duckslayer89]

I have the same gun and have had similar groups with the 165 accubonds but that's with factory nosler ammo. I went with a 3.5-10 leupold VariX-3. Sometimes I wish I would have gone with 14 power but I like the size and weight of what I got. I took the muzzle break off because it was so loud hunting made my ears ring
I noticed that if I let the barrel cool down completely cold to the touch my groups were much tighter. Any heat in the barrel spread them out further it was sensitive

[jrebel]

I have the same gun and have had similar groups with the 165 accubonds but that's with factory nosler ammo. I went with a 3.5-10 leupold VariX-3. Sometimes I wish I would have gone with 14 power but I like the size and weight of what I got. I took the muzzle break off because it was so loud hunting made my ears ring

I have yet to shoot it without ear plugs...but I have been told it is a loud little bugger.  I put this scope on it because I had it laying around.  If I buy a scope specific for the gun it would be a vx-r 4-12x40mm with a 30mm tube.  I really like my vx-r scopes...I love the illuminated dot for low light moments. 

[Duckslayer89]

I have the same gun and have had similar groups with the 165 accubonds but that's with factory nosler ammo. I went with a 3.5-10 leupold VariX-3. Sometimes I wish I would have gone with 14 power but I like the size and weight of what I got. I took the muzzle break off because it was so loud hunting made my ears ring

I have yet to shoot it without ear plugs...but I have been told it is a loud little bugger.  I put this scope on it because I had it laying around.  If I buy a scope specific for the gun it would be a vx-r 4-12x40mm with a 30mm tube.  I really like my vx-r scopes...I love the illuminated dot for low light moments.

I have a Vx-r 1.25-4x on my mini 30 it is sweet! I think the shorter barrel plus the muzzle break makes it extra loud. I've loved the gun but my one complaint is the sticky finish has peeled off in front of the trigger guard where I carry it with my hand all day. Was wondering if Kimber would put some kind of a textured finish on it instead.

[Westside88]

I've been looking at these rifles, thanks for the report. I haven't decided on caliber if I were to get one, but I sure like what I hear.

[Duckslayer89]

I've been looking at these rifles, thanks for the report. I haven't decided on caliber if I were to get one, but I sure like what I hear.

I went with the 308 because it's a short action so it's lighter then the other bigger caliber guns and most of my shots aren't going to be over 200 yards realistically. What calibers did you have in mind?

[firepin]

Got one in January, 280AI, got 10 rounds through it. Put a vx3 4-14x40 lr on it. Love the weight, just got to get out and work some loads up.

[Westside88]

I've been looking at these rifles, thanks for the report. I haven't decided on caliber if I were to get one, but I sure like what I hear.

I went with the 308 because it's a short action so it's lighter then the other bigger caliber guns and most of my shots aren't going to be over 200 yards realistically. What calibers did you have in mind?

30 06 or 270 are both appealing to me in a lightweight rifle, but so is 308 for the reasons you stated.

[huntandjeep]

2 buddies have them in .280 Ai. Extremely light , deadly accurate ( for 3 shots ) the 4 th starts wandering.

[jrebel]

2 buddies have them in .280 Ai. Extremely light , deadly accurate ( for 3 shots ) the 4 th starts wandering.

I have read similar reviews...but found that my 5 shot groups did not wander at all.  Matter of fact, my first shot cold bore was the only shot that did not group sub 1".  I imagine the guns will shoot better than I ever will be able to....LOL  I imagine the 280 Ai is a little faster bullet so that could make the difference. 

[coachcw]

I heard they like the Barnes 150 ttsx.