Acurizing my Kimber Montana

[Stevo539]

I recently purchased a slightly used Kimber Montana in 300WSM.  It came with some factory premium ammunition.  Bought a nice Leopold VXIII in 3.5-10x50mm for it.  With the factory loads I couldn't get a group smaller than about 1.5".  In fact they were more like 2" groups.  For handloads I've tried two different bullets with several different powder loads.  180 gr Nosler partitions and 180 gr Sierra BT.  Didn't seem to get any better.  I'm pretty particular with my handloads and regularly get 1 inch groups or smaller with other rifles.  I'm starting to think it's not the ammo but maybe the rifle.  It has the lightweight synthetic stock and the thin whispy barrel typical of a lightweight "mountain" rifle (free floated).  Am I expecting too much from this barrel?  I'm thinking of glass bedding the action next.  Anyone else have one of these models?  What is accuracy like? Any suggestions for tightening up the groups?

Steve

[WA Redneck]

I don't have a lot of experience with Kimbers but, I think 1.5-2" groups are about the norm.  I don't really think they were built to be tack drivers.

[GoldTip]

When I bought my 325wsm I looked at the Kimber Montana.  Main reason I didn't get the Montana was the blind magazine, which I did not like.  The secondary reason was that I found when simply doing a Google search, what seemed to me to be a not insignificant number of people who were unhappy with the accuracy of the Kimber Montana despite trying many things.  I certainly found more that thought they were very accurate, but their was quite a number of people who simply could not improve better than 1.5" groups despite trying many different load combinations.

[jackelope]

i've heard the same about those kimbers. some shoot lights out and some don't. unfortunately i wonder if thats why the guy sold it slightly used??

[Coasthunterjay]

not that i want to point fingers at the scope because i love leupold but have you been able to rule out a bad scope? I had a friend put a brand new leupold on his 300WM and it was shooting about a 2 inch plus group and it was pissing him off so he tried changing scopes to a cheep scope he had on a different rifle and with a different scope he shot a 1 inch group....

also might want to do a copper check....sometimes another thing is a guy wont shoot it alot, but with that he wont clean it properly either, so you can get some copper fouling where you usually wouldnt think there would be much....take a copper solvent swab and see what the barrel looks like. if its black your good, if its blue you may want to do some more swabbing. I said swab....

Good luck man, i hope you figure it out. Need any more ideas let me know i can think of a few more things that might help.....Jay.

[HawkenBob]

Steve, you joined up. Awesome. I work with Steve guys. I've seen his targets and know his frustration. Jackalope I mentioned it in another thread and you stated that same thing. After Looking up more reviews after your mention of that it seems some arnt that happy with em.

Too bad because Steve is a tack driver and a half and knows more about rifles and what not than most would ever know. He's a serious shooter.

He's used to a Ruger that will drill the same hole over and over. Dident mean to talk ya up too bad Steve. Just wanted everyone to know your way above the obious. Now he is throwing things over the wall at me. Ouch, just got hit with a moniter. Lol.

[cully]

A few things maybe or a combination. Have you played with the action screw? tighten it -shoot a group, loosen -shoot a group. Trigger feel stronger than what you like? Maybe the bedding itself.  How does the bore look?

[Huntboy]

I believe it is already glass bed, maybe it is copper fouling. I would also look at screw torques.

[Huntbear]

If it is a pencil barrel, are you letting it cool properly between shots?  That barrel will heat up quickly, especially shooting a .300wsm.  That will affect accuracy.

Maybe try one of those barrel resonators that controls the vibrations.

[Stevo539]

Thanks all for the tips.  Keep 'em comming.  Trigger is exceptional so rule that out.  If I remember right, I don't believe the action is bedded.  I believe there are aluminum pillars so at least there's a good foundation.  I had thought about action screw tension too but wanted to get some bedding in there first.  One reason for thinking that is the groups tightened a bit when I quit holding it with a death-grip. 

I'll run some Sweet's through it too and see how green the patches come out.  That is my primary solvent though and considering the round count (100?) I'm thinking it's not copper.  But I'll clean her good.  Better to check the easy stuff first. 

I'd like to hear from some other Kimber owners.  God knows their 1911's are THE sh*t!  I expected the same from this rifle.

If bedding the action and "de-fouling" don't fix it, I'm thinking single point contact barrel bedding (can't remember the term exactly).  Whadaya think?

Jakalope wrote;
"unfortunately i wonder if thats why the guy sold it slightly used??"

I'm wondering the same thing!  Keep those ideas comming.

Steve

[Stevo539]

"are you letting it cool properly between shots?"

Yea, I was alternating rifles.

Steve

[Coasthunterjay]

Maybe try one of those barrel resonators that controls the vibrations.

good idea....could just be the fact thats its a lighter weight rifle.....could have a lighter weight barrel...which would make it shoot like a mini 14.....

[jackelope]

steveo...you might look at this thread for a little info. i don't think there are too many kimber guys on this board, but there are a few on the fire...
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2905343/page/1

[cully]

I have a feather weight that shoots sub moa. There is no reason this one can't either. Besides what has been suggested. Check the crown closely for damage and double check the bore, maybe some jb's borepaste to smooth out roughspots? Maybe you are seeing larger groups due to your grip on the fore end as you said, have you tried just laying in on the rest and only using your trigger hand on the rifle? I know sometimes just a finger over the barrel or a slight pull on the fore-end can significantly open a group.

[Stevo539]

Wasn't holding the forarm.  It was on sandbags.  I use the left hand under the butt to squeeze the rear sandbag to adjust elevation.  By death-grip I meant pulling the rifle tight against my shoulder with the right hand (trigger hand). 

When you say barrel resonator are you talking about one of those rubber doghnuts or a device like the browning BOSS?

I'll check the crown tonight.