Kimber Mountain Ascent. The ultimate???

G

Greg Nolan

Handloader
Nov 25, 2004
2,144
20
Am I the only one drooling over one of these 4lb. 13oz Kimber Ascent rifles. I mean 280AI or 270 or 308 or 30-06. Muzzle brake included. A 280AI and a 30-06 or 308 could be all you'd ever need for everything on the continent. They are taking back orders on a couple of sites. $1790 or so. If I were to sell every other rifle and buy 2 of these they could keep me hiking the Rockies into our 80s.
Would the idea work or is it just another wild panacea dream? Just think, you could carry both of them at the same time and have an instant backup at 10lbs 12oz. total with ultralight Lupey 3-9x33 scopes. I've carried a heavier rifles than that. Crazy for sure but it exemplifies just how light we're talking here. WOW :shock:
What are your thoughts?
 
Greg, I am alot younger than you and think it is a great idea. Rifles over about 8.5/9lbs are too much for me to carry into and out of the places I hunt. Not saying I won't carry them, if I had to, but a lighter rifle makes that next hill, that much easier to get over. Your right though, a 280AI or 30-06 would be a pretty nice package to really allow you to hunt and carry that rifle all day long. I think it comes down more to balance than actual rifle weight sometimes. If the rifle balances well, it seems a little lighter in the hands too.

I think Kimber hit a home run with those. Be interesting to see what they do once they are released.

Are you thinking on one?
 
Yeah...I never knew how much I like a lightweight until I got one...that's a bunch lighter than my current LW.

Where will it end? I don't know but my heavy rifles feel extra heavy now.
 
I'm thinking on one. The trouble is the cost. I'll have to sell 2 or 3 good rifles to afford one. So I'm just thinking. Your right Scotty that balance makes a big difference and it helps. Most of my rifles run 8 to 8 3/4 lbs loaded and that's not bad but about day three and 4 miles back I have to start switching shoulders every half hour or so and I wonder if it's worth it to have the extra reach of the RUM since I havn't seen a legal elk or mule deer and may not. It's funny but all my planning include this big 6 point bull at 350 yards and reality is all about does and cows at half that range. So I'm thinking.
Greg
 
That's a heck of a rifle, and certainly lighter than anything I own. Closest I can get is either my Win94 30-30WCF at about 7.75lbs ready to hunt (which isn't remotely for the same use) or my Colt Light Rifle. The CLR was supposed to be 5.5lbs, but it turned out about 6.25lbs. Mine runs roughly 7.5lbs scoped, loaded, and ready to hunt. I suspect with a 4.75lb rifle as a starting point, one could maintain that weight savings and end up with a "ready to hunt" rifle in the 6lb range. That's pretty light, and would be welcome as altitude increases and the topo lines get close.

My only concern is, based on my experience with a 7.5lb rifle, recoil and accuracy. My -06 CLR is easily manageable, but it has a noticeable amount of recoil. It is, in fact, in line with my 8x57 Rem700, which is a full 1.25lbs heavier, which is shooting heavier bullets than the -06 (180gr v. 168gr). As it appears from Kimber's website the Mountain Ascent is short action, I'd be looking at the 260Rem, 7mm-08, or 308Win, and leaning heavily to the 7mm-08. I don't imagine I'd feel undergunned for much on the North American continent with a light rifle in 7mm-08. I wouldn't take a 600yd shot at a 1000lb bull elk, but then again, I'm not taking that shot with my 300Wby. The only chambering I could find listed for the Mountain Ascent is 308Win. That would make a dandy all around rifle, but again, recoil is going to be noticeable, and it's likely 150-165gr bullets are going to be the best choice in such a rifle, due to recoil and barrel length.

As an aside, 2" of barrel length would add only about 4oz or so. I'd much prefer a mountain rifle to have that extra 100-150fps to get across those canyons, if I could. Maybe the 22" is to keep from catching on limbs, but then again, I don't have that problem with my 26" barreled Mark Vs here in the eastern woods, so I doubt it would suddenly become a problem out in the mountains.
 
Very nice, Scotty. I see they moved to a 24" barrel on this model. Between this and the new Forbes offering (around $1400 retail) there will be some surprised shoulders in the field in the next few years, I suspect!
 
dubyam":2n2way98 said:
Very nice, Scotty. I see they moved to a 24" barrel on this model. Between this and the new Forbes offering (around $1400 retail) there will be some surprised shoulders in the field in the next few years, I suspect!
Click to expand...

Dub, you have no idea how much I would love to get that rifle for my wife. In a 280AI, recoil would be very mild, and the lightweight would be very comfortable for her to carry as well. It is just about exactly what I wanted to put together for her. I was thinking of an Model 70 EW with a brake on it, but I kinda went another direction. That Ascent would be right up her alley, and I wouldn't feel shy about her hunting anything, anywhere with that set up.
 
At the suggested price, one might be as well off looking at the Forbes rifle. It is a good time in history for anyone looking for a light rifle. The advantage of the Kimber is the chambering in 280AI. The price differential tilts the field toward the Forbes. Great problem for someone to have.
 
SJB358":36dlww8o said:
dubyam":36dlww8o said:
Very nice, Scotty. I see they moved to a 24" barrel on this model. Between this and the new Forbes offering (around $1400 retail) there will be some surprised shoulders in the field in the next few years, I suspect!
Click to expand...

Dub, you have no idea how much I would love to get that rifle for my wife. In a 280AI, recoil would be very mild, and the lightweight would be very comfortable for her to carry as well. It is just about exactly what I wanted to put together for her. I was thinking of an Model 70 EW with a brake on it, but I kinda went another direction. That Ascent would be right up her alley, and I wouldn't feel shy about her hunting anything, anywhere with that set up.
Click to expand...


I shouldn't do this but you could get her a M70 SS FW in 6.5X55!!! :twisted: that would work 140's at 2950!
 
Does anyone know what the long action weighs? I thought the 4lb 13oz was for the .308 version...
 
As typical for a new release they only mention the lightest weight. Probably 308. Impact guns is taking back orders and lists the 280AI as 4lb 13oz. Based on the kimber 84M (308) vs 84L (25-06) the difference is about 4oz I'm not familiar with Forbes. Who carries them?
Greg
 
According to the Kimber website, the long action version runs 5lbs 5oz. Right in line with the Forbes rifle in the same action length.

The Forbes is the culmination of attempt #3 on behalf of Melvin Forbes to create a lightweight production rifle based on the specs from his action. Attempt #1 is a little fuzzy on the details. Attempt #2 was the Colt Light Rifle, which Colt managed to screw up royally. Dave Petzal said it best - Colt at the time could screw up the recipe for ice water. The Forbes rifle will be built in Maine, by a defense contractor group who have significant knowledge of how to assemble firearms, apparently. Initially, only right-hand 30-06 and 270Win rifles will be available, for a probable street price of about $1400. Plans call for eventually making other chamberings available, and adding a left-hand action to the offerings.

If you don't just have to have the 280AI, the Forbes is really a terrific rifle, it sounds like. I'd take one in 270Win or 30-06 at the drop of a hat. A 270Win would make a dandy all around rifle with little comparative recoil. A 30-06 in a package that came in under 7lbs ready to hunt would be just about the most perfect all-around game rifle for North America I could imagine, except, of course, my Mark V in 270Wby.

You can see the Forbes rifle here:

http://www.forbesriflellc.com/Home.aspx
 
I had a Colt light rifle in 7 mag for a few years. It was a great shooter with 140-160gr accubonds, even put them in the same group. The bad about it was the safety. It was very easy to push into the fire position, I had my gunsmith drill a larger detent and it was still to light for me. It kept rubbing into the fire position on my pack. Also the stock was pretty flimsy and the firing pin spring was to weak for cold weather. Wolff makes one for them that fixed that right up. If I could have gotten a different safety I'd have kept that rifle, it really shot. I'd lean toward the Kimber if I was buying another one just due to the 3 position safety.
 
Greg,

A 280 AI would be just about perfect! Excellent all around high country rifle.

JD338
 
I would be worried about accuracy
Several times I have got the bug for a Kimber but I have just read too many accounts on them being not consistently good shooters to take the gamble.
 
To answer the OP's question, my answer would be yes. It is the ultimate. We eradicated Elephants and Cape Buffs around here long ago so...
Seriously My wife's Kimber in 7mm-08 is fine accuracy wise, light weight and a joy to carry and shoot. If money were no object she'd either own one in .280AI or at least be on the list.
Personally I'd love one in .338 WM, sans muzzle brake.. Twenty six inch barrel.
 
JD338":jwksksbp said:
Greg,

A 280 AI would be just about perfect! Excellent all around high country rifle.

JD338
Click to expand...

I whole heartedly agree, for sure it wouldn't kick you off the side of a steep mtn., as a .300 RUM might (I said MIGHT) ! :grin: .
 
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