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Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: jetjockey on January 25, 2023, 07:00:42 AM


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Title: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on January 25, 2023, 07:00:42 AM
I leave the end of May for a 10 day Zambia Cape Buffalo and plains game hunt.  I love tradition, and while not an old 7x57 or Pre-64 30-06,  at least my Kimber will look the part.  I’m of the belief that when you hunt someplace like Africa, you take a gun worthy of the African tradition.  I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.  My Father in Law is bringing a Dakota in .416 Rigby for the Buffalo, and it fits the Africa mold as well.  Eventually, I’ll rebarrel my Kimber with a Lilja Barrel in the same contour and cartridge, but I won’t have time before we leave.

Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: BeerBugler on January 25, 2023, 08:02:38 AM
Very nice, what bullet are you planning on using?
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on January 25, 2023, 08:38:53 AM
Very nice, what bullet are you planning on using?

My plan is to shoot 200gr Federal Terminal Ascents, but if they don’t restock them, I can get custom loaded 200gr Accubonds. 
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on January 25, 2023, 03:27:13 PM
First coat of finish.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: pianoman9701 on January 25, 2023, 03:33:36 PM
That's a beautiful stock. You've made a future family treasure.  :tup:
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Gettin Birdie on January 25, 2023, 05:44:17 PM
Wow, that is cool looking!  What did you use for a finish, looks glossy like polyurethane?
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on January 25, 2023, 05:55:40 PM
Wow, that is cool looking!  What did you use for a finish, looks glossy like polyurethane?

Oil hadn’t dried in that picture. It will be dull finish.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on February 03, 2023, 02:07:16 AM
All finished.  Now it’s time to get some practice off shooting sticks.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: HntnFsh on February 03, 2023, 05:47:12 AM
Beautiful!
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: CaNINE on February 03, 2023, 06:19:02 AM
I miss that classic look.  Beauty. And Kimber action too. Wow.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Utah on February 03, 2023, 07:18:25 PM
All finished.  Now it’s time to get some practice off shooting sticks.

Just a perfect rifle!   Let us know how it shoots!!!  Very cool.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Mulie87 on February 03, 2023, 08:04:53 PM
Great looking rifle👍. Looking forward to your Africa hunt stories. I plan to do a plains game hunt when I retire in 3yrs.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on February 03, 2023, 08:14:12 PM
Beautiful work mister  :tup:
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Jpmiller on February 03, 2023, 08:28:27 PM
What's the wood species? Very striking grain pattern!
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on February 04, 2023, 04:25:22 AM
What's the wood species? Very striking grain pattern!

Turkish Walnut.   This is the 2nd blank I’ve had turned into a stock.  No matter how confident you are about the grain, it never turns out how you’d think. I thought the right side would have more of the darks like the left side does.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Fidelk on February 04, 2023, 08:03:23 AM

I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.

At what distance will you be shooting from the sticks, at the range? Any idea of anticipated distances (from the sticks) in Africa?  I shoot at 300 yards from a bench rest to test zero and like to finish up by shooting from my Bog-Pod tripod for an actual hunting simulation. I'd read that 150 yards was kind of a limit on their effectiveness  but accuracy from 300 yards seemed OK.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on February 04, 2023, 09:24:29 AM

I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.

At what distance will you be shooting from the sticks, at the range? Any idea of anticipated distances (from the sticks) in Africa?  I shoot at 300 yards from a bench rest to test zero and like to finish up by shooting from my Bog-Pod tripod for an actual hunting simulation. I'd read that 150 yards was kind of a limit on their effectiveness  but accuracy from 300 yards seemed OK.

I want to be comfortable up to 300.  For game, 250-300 at the most for plains game, probably no more than 100 for Cape Buffalo.  You really don’t want to wound a Cape buffalo.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Fidelk on February 04, 2023, 10:38:26 AM

I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.

At what distance will you be shooting from the sticks, at the range? Any idea of anticipated distances (from the sticks) in Africa?  I shoot at 300 yards from a bench rest to test zero and like to finish up by shooting from my Bog-Pod tripod for an actual hunting simulation. I'd read that 150 yards was kind of a limit on their effectiveness  but accuracy from 300 yards seemed OK.

I want to be comfortable up to 300.  For game, 250-300 at the most for plains game, probably no more than 100 for Cape Buffalo.  You really don’t want to wound a Cape buffalo.

You should be able to get comfortable fairly easily. Definitely a difference shooting off sticks than from a bench rest, I use a Bog-Pod HD (several years old) with the larger yoke to rest the rifle on. Suggest several practice sessions at 300 yards just to get the feel at the longest expected distance. I'm using a 2-10x42 scope, which is enough for hunting accuracy at that distance.......but you are not going to get MOA accuracy. Have a great trip!
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jdb on February 04, 2023, 01:58:55 PM
I’m hoping the new barrel will have express sites…
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on February 04, 2023, 02:11:34 PM
I’m hoping the new barrel will have express sites…

Im not going to have time to rebarrel it before we go, but it was a pretty good shooter before the new stock.  After we get back, it’s getting a Kimber contoured Lilja.  It’s my elk rifle as well, so I’m keeping the barrel clean to keep weight down.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on February 27, 2023, 06:54:45 AM
All finished.  Can’t wait to get it to the range.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Alchase on February 28, 2023, 07:36:57 AM
I leave the end of May for a 10 day Zambia Cape Buffalo and plains game hunt.  I love tradition, and while not an old 7x57 or Pre-64 30-06,  at least my Kimber will look the part.  I’m of the belief that when you hunt someplace like Africa, you take a gun worthy of the African tradition.  I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.  My Father in Law is bringing a Dakota in .416 Rigby for the Buffalo, and it fits the Africa mold as well.  Eventually, I’ll rebarrel my Kimber with a Lilja Barrel in the same contour and cartridge, but I won’t have time before we leave.



What caliber is your rifle you are taking? Did I just miss that?
Beautiful job on the Kimber. Love that blank, I want to try this so bad. What does a decent turning cost?
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on March 01, 2023, 03:14:46 PM
I leave the end of May for a 10 day Zambia Cape Buffalo and plains game hunt.  I love tradition, and while not an old 7x57 or Pre-64 30-06,  at least my Kimber will look the part.  I’m of the belief that when you hunt someplace like Africa, you take a gun worthy of the African tradition.  I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.  My Father in Law is bringing a Dakota in .416 Rigby for the Buffalo, and it fits the Africa mold as well.  Eventually, I’ll rebarrel my Kimber with a Lilja Barrel in the same contour and cartridge, but I won’t have time before we leave.



What caliber is your rifle you are taking? Did I just miss that?
Beautiful job on the Kimber. Love that blank, I want to try this so bad. What does a decent turning cost?

300wsm.  The stock was about $2600, not including the blank.  Most guys are more, and some are a lot more.  Most guys I had spoken with were around $3k, plus they charged for every little extra thing.  My stock is pillar and glass bedded, with a freefloated barrel, and 100% filled oil finish.  Plus is has M70 two screw sling studs.  The oil finish alone was a $400+ add on at many stock makers.
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: Alchase on March 01, 2023, 06:13:41 PM
Sweet  :tup:
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: mountainman on March 02, 2023, 07:26:31 PM

I should have my Kimber back in a few weeks, then it’s off to the range to start shooting of sticks like will most likely occur there.

At what distance will you be shooting from the sticks, at the range? Any idea of anticipated distances (from the sticks) in Africa?  I shoot at 300 yards from a bench rest to test zero and like to finish up by shooting from my Bog-Pod tripod for an actual hunting simulation. I'd read that 150 yards was kind of a limit on their effectiveness  but accuracy from 300 yards seemed OK.

I want to be comfortable up to 300.  For game, 250-300 at the most for plains game, probably no more than 100 for Cape Buffalo.  You really don’t want to wound a Cape buffalo.
My trips for plains game only one shot (wildebeast) was 300 yards. All the rest 100-200 yards, but you never know😊
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: jetjockey on March 03, 2023, 09:58:24 AM

[/quote]
My trips for plains game only one shot (wildebeast) was 300 yards. All the rest 100-200 yards, but you never know😊
[/quote]

I don’t expect to shoot much further than that either, but if a monster kudu pops out at 300 yards, I want to be comfortable off sticks.  300-500 I’ll want a good rest, and beyond that, I’m not shooting.   I’m hoping the Buffalo is really close, but not too close. 🤣
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: mountainman on March 03, 2023, 10:25:31 AM

My trips for plains game only one shot (wildebeast) was 300 yards. All the rest 100-200 yards, but you never know😊
[/quote]

I don’t expect to shoot much further than that either, but if a monster kudu pops out at 300 yards, I want to be comfortable off sticks.  300-500 I’ll want a good rest, and beyond that, I’m not shooting.   I’m hoping the Buffalo is really close, but not too close. 🤣
[/quote]
Up close is when it gets exciting, and not in a good way!
Title: Re: Kimber 300WSM almost ready for Africa
Post by: OutHouse on March 03, 2023, 03:04:58 PM
Is it too pretty to hunt with now?   :chuckle:

Get after it and report back to us!
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