Kimber Mountain Ascent. The ultimate???

[bullet]

I love my 7mm08 M48 TGR with scope 7.8 pounds and it is a tack driver and launches a 160gr Speer at 2802fps out of a 24" barrel. I never thought I would like a cartridge and rifle like my 7mm08 after a life time of Magnums in the field. It is light, powerful and extremely accurate. There is a lot to be said for a light rifle in the mountains.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Further to an image that I think I have posted here before (on another thread), here are a few Kimber Montana's, from a hunting trip a month or so ago.
Personally, I can't see the purpose of the Mtn Ascent, other than as a "Pocket Pisser" (you know,"Oh, I've have a Kimber Mtn Assent rifle, what is yours") for those that need to do that kind of thing.

Personally, I went thru the "Jenny Craig" type rifle craze 3 decades ago now, and sure it is nice not to have all the extra weight on a hard slog around the hills but......
In reality, if you are fit enough and your muscles are toned just enough, a standard weight rifle shouldn't be a burden to carry!

By the way, my most anorexic "Jenny Craig" rifle, is an old Rem 600 Mohawk in .308Win.
It has (yes I still own it), a 20" heavily fluted #3 profile match grade barrel, HS Precision stock, Leupold 2.5-8 x 36 scope, and many light weight component parts.
With a sling fitted and a mag full of ammo, it weighs in at 3 Kilograms or about 6 1/2 pound!
Oh yes, and it constantly shoots, 1/2" to 5/8" groups!!!

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

 

[Vince]

I'm not a fan of "light" rifles.

My reasoning is simple, I like to shoot, and shoot a lot during the course of the year. I tend to focus on one gun at a time, developing a load and getting to know my rifle, so that I'm prepared for hunting season and whatever I may realistically encounter. This makes me want a rifle that has some heft to it.

In days of yore rifles were carried by men. They had heft. Today we go to the gym to get in shape where in days past we just lived our lives and were in shape, just saying.

My "lightweight" all around rifle, .300 Win Mag, weighs 8 pounds, or so, sans optics and bipod. My preferred rifle, same caliber, weighs ten pounds. To me weight has advantages sometimes. Just my opinion but I think too much emphasis is placed on "lightweight" for my taste but my days of hard backcountry hunting is over unless I opt for a horse and mule, but that's another story.

As for Kimber, they are purty, no doubt.

 

[bullet]

G'Day Fella's,

Further to an image that I think I have posted here before (on another thread), here are a few Kimber Montana's, from a hunting trip a month or so ago.
Personally, I can't see the purpose of the Mtn Ascent, other than as a "Pocket Pisser" (you know,"Oh, I've have a Kimber Mtn Assent rifle, what is yours") for those that need to do that kind of thing.

Personally, I went thru the "Jenny Craig" type rifle craze 3 decades ago now, and sure it is nice not to have all the extra weight on a hard slog around the hills but......
In reality, if you are fit enough and your muscles are toned just enough, a standard weight rifle shouldn't be a burden to carry!

AMEN!!! Well said. Two of the best rifles I have ever owned were a Kimber Montana in 30-06 and my Nosler TGR in 7mm08 as far as purer do it all hunting rifles from thickets to mountains to gas lines, open fields and dark timber.

 

[Guest]

I'm not a "go light at all costs" kind of guy. In fact, I lugged a 9.75lb 300Wby all over my mountain lease this past season without much trouble. In fact, I can't think of a single time that rifle ever got heavy during a day afield. Now, granted, hunting in the mountain west is far different than scampering up and down our 1500' of elevation, but most of our lease is constantly up and down, 200-500' at a time. It makes for some good hiking, even on the two-rut loop road through the main section of the property. I've carried everything from a Win94 to my 300'bee and never really felt as though I was carrying too much weight in a rifle. I also generally keep a pack full of gear, as I tend to over-prepare, but then again, I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. That pack weighs in at about 15-18lbs, depending on how long I'll be out.

I do own a couple of rifles that could be considered "light," especially in comparison to my 'bees. My Win94 is about 6.75-7lbs with the 4x32 he's wearing. My Colt Light Rifle comes in at 7.25lbs with a 3-9x40 scope, synthetic sling, and a full magazine of 30-06 ammo. I have a Rem673 in 350RemMag with no scope, coming in at just over 7.5lbs, loaded and slung. Any of these are suitable for longer treks up and down mountains, I suspect. I hope to find out if the 'bees are too heavy in Montana in just a few years. I'll need to figure out how to pay for that, too.

I think light is good, in some cases, and I'd like to get one of the new Forbes rifles (or have my CLR reworked by Forbes) but the reality is, a couple of good, light rifles built for the purpose of long hikes in steep country, would easily suffice for me. Beyond that, I'd be hesitant to give up any rifles I currently own, despite their weight, because they are all appropriate for most of the hunting I do. One other bit of wisdom to which I always adhere comes from a friend with many years of western hunting under his belt: If you really want to be a better hiker, don't worry about the two pounds of rifle you're toting. Worry about the 15lbs of extra 'you' you're toting.

 

[bullet]

Lot of good rifles out there and I think Nosler is right there at the top of the list with one of the best. The only complaint I have with the Nosler M48 TGR is the new price, it really is too much to ask for the rifle. When they had it on sale for $1495.00 which is what I purchased it for is a fair price for what you are getting, but the new price of $1995.00 is way to much. I understand making a profit but in my opinion it will actually cost Nosler in profit because less will be inclined to buy the TGR or other Noslers.

 

[longrangehunter]

I've owned two Kimber's, a Montana 300 WSM that is now a 6.5/300 WSM and an older BGR Kimber of Oregon in 280 Rem. Both were nice shooting guns, great triggers, and handled well. Honestly the 280 AI does have an advantage over the 270 Win. and the 30-06 (heaver for caliber bullets 175-180= High S.D. and higher BC's in bullets). I met Melvin long ago, my only concern would he still be in business and resale value later.....? But the Kimber BGR's went through the roof in price, which is why I sold mine and ended up with the Montana.

I had came very close owning one of Melvin's guns a long time ago..... he's the guy that went to Kimber of NY and showed them how to make their light weight stocks. So he has his hand on the gun as well!