Rifle bedding issue?

[callturner]

A buddy had the same problem and sent it back. They said nothing wrong and sent him a target that was supposedly shot with his gun. Same problems so it went to a gun show. He bought a xbolt and never looked back.

[timberhunter]

I would hate to wait 2 or 3 months to get it back and it shoot the same. For the money it takes to buy one of these rifles no one should have to send one back.

[opdinkslayer]

Look up Kimber Roulette

[Rick]

Free recoil isn’t your friend when shooting flyweight rifles like a Montana.  I generally rest my free hand on top of the scope when trying to shoot small groups with my Montana. Grabbing the fore end and pulling it down into the bag or rest accomplishes the same thing.  There’s definitely a learning curve to shooting small groups with such light rifles

[timberhunter]

After scouring the web for possibilities I have ran across the kimber roulette. I’m still hopeful to get it shooting!

I have not tried resting a hand on the scope yet. I did shoot it from a lead sled today which was a little better than the nest rest. I haven’t spent much time behind a rifle quite this light. That may be contributing to it but I have dry fired some on target and don’t get much movement.

[Caseknife]

Agree totally with Rick.  Any rifle under about 8 pounds you better hold onto while shooting.  I just worked up loads for my buddy's Montana in .308, 130 TTSX powered by AR-Comp, three shots pretty much touching.  My 8400 Montana in 300 WSM shoots great.  My Howa Alpine which is not quite as light, shoots well under an inch, Howa Superlite which weighs less than your Montana also shoots very tight groups.  I use a Caldwell front rest and a bag at the back, shoot three shot groups, grip the pistol grip firmly and either lay my hand over the scope or grip the fore end securely.  If you shoot a light rifle like a heavy rifle and just rest the fore end and buttstock and hardly grip the rifle when the shot is fired, the gun will move before the bullet exits the barrel.  My 2 cents.

[JWBINX]

Timber, if your Kimber is relatively new (under a year) let Kimber handle the accuracy issue.
Trust me, yours will not be there first!
Buckfvr is correct about lapping Tally rings, especially if there lightweight alloy. Not recommended.
I've had guys have to purchase another set of rings because of lapping.
If you want to watch a good shooting video for the right way to do it, check out
Mark Bansners shooting tips on Youtube. He really is a premium rifle builder.
Try not to do too much so that it voids your warranty with Kimber.
Good luck.
The .308 should shoot well.

[timberhunter]

I appreciate all the tips and ideas from everyone. I will try some different form while shooting next. I do have a Ruger  m77 compact that Will easily shoot sub Moa groups with. I’m not sure of weight on the rifle but should be in the ball park of the Montana? The Montana was bought from Gunbroker. It was purchased a little over a year ago now. I’m not sure of the manufacture date though.

What is the idea behind not lapping the rings?

[JWBINX]

On the Lightweight alloy one piece rings-- when you lay the tube in the bottom half of ring it does not touch
the bottom of ring until you start tightening the top cap. The ring actually wraps around the tube during the tightening
process. If you start removing the slightest amount of material during lapping, the rings will not properly hold the the tube.
I have seen guys lap the rings and have the top caps tight against the bottom and the scope tube will actually spin, leading me to sell
them another set. Ca-ching Ca-ching. I have had dozens of conversations with Dave Talley and Gary Turner. They know what their doing!!
Give Kimber a call, tell them it was a gift and it does not shoot. Press the issue with them!
If you need to lap a ring, do it on a Burris or a Chinese made Vortex, not on a Talley or Leupold!
 

[timberhunter]

I don’t have the caps bottoming out on the lower half of the ring/base. I can see how that would be a big problem. I did have a set of Ruger stainless rings I had to file to make sure there was a gap between top half and bottom half. They were on a .338 win mag. That was slipping the scope forward in the rings when shot.  They were a pain to get enough contact to hold the scope since they were stainless. As far as the talleys go it  has been the very bottom of the lower half that made contact last which leads me to believe they needed it. I am not a gunsmith thought, so I may be missing something. I do like playing with rifles though.

[MeatMissile]

If you decide to sell, let me know!