Finally got my new (to me) Kimber Montana 7WSM

[Jordan Smith]

Well, I finally received the rifle that I bought about 4.5 months ago from a guy in Alaska.


When it arrived I gave the stock a little paint, dab-bedded the recoil lug, applied DBC to the bore and DGS to the non-Cerakoted exterior metal, adjusted the trigger to ~2.5lbs with no creep or overtravel, and touched up the crown. As soon as the Talley LW mounts arrive we'll see how she shoots!

 

[chuck nelson]

You have been waiting four and a half months for the rifle and don't have the mounts?!

Nice looking rifle.

 

[Jordan Smith]

Haha, they were supposed to arrive with the rifle, but got lost somewhere between the exporting FFL and my house. Prophet River sent me a new set right away once I realized they were missing, but they haven't shown up yet.

Did your barrel finally find you?

 

[chuck nelson]

It did.

 

[Rembo]

that's nice,...the only WSM chambering I'd care to own too...
What's she weigh?

I see Winchester is chambering the Model 70 in 7WSM this year,....that's one rifle I'll have to have.

 

[The Kurgan]

Very nice work. Can't wait to hear the range report.

 

[pete dobinson]

Nice job, it sure pretties it up. I got the same rifle and chambering, Im sure you'll be happy with it. The weight is 6lb 3oz. My rifle likes 140 gr accubonds and h4831sc, good luck with it and let us know how it shoots. cheers pete.

 

[Jordan Smith]

This one weighed in at 6lbs before the paint and bedding, and now it sits at 6lbs 2oz as you see it. The scope w/ BC caps weighs 13oz, and the mounts are 2 oz. All up it should come in at just a hair over 7lbs.

 

[TangoKilo]

Good looking rifle.
Who did the Cerakote for you?

 

[archie_james_c]

Very nice shooting stick Jordan! The 7mm WSM seems to be making a slow steady come back.

 

[Jordan Smith]

That's because it's the best of the WSM's

The metal was Cerakoted by Eddie Fosnough when it was still a US resident...

 

[pete dobinson]

Vince Bottemley has the most accurate rifle in the UK and its chambered in 7mm wsm. It seems to be one of the favorite chamberings among the F-class shooters.

 

[Jordan Smith]

Here it is all done up. 7lbs 1oz as you see it:

 

[slick39]

Now that is a sweet rifle! Did you get an amazing deal in the US on it or was it just impossible to find here in Canada? Either way great looking rifle, let us know how she shoots!

 

[Jordan Smith]

A little bit of both. Couldn't find any in Canada, and I ended up getting a very good deal from "Calvin" over on 24hr. It came with some goodies, so I ended up paying less than $1000 for the rifle itself, by the time I factor the value of the other goodies.

I took the rifle out this morning and got the scope on paper. I then fired a few 200 yard groups with test loads to see if I could get the gun to perk. It shot the 140gr PH over IMR4350 into 0.586" for 3 shots, and the 162gr A-Max over a charge of IMR7828ssc into 1.027" for 3 shots. These groups were at 200 yards. I didn't get a chance to chrony the loads, but I will run them over the chrony next time I go out. I fired the 3 shot groups rapid-fire, without giving the barrel a chance to cool in order to simulate accuracy under hunting conditions. I also threw a folded towel over the sandbags in order to help with the barrel jump on such a light rifle. Shooting groups at 200 yards ain't as easy as you might think with a 6x scope Seems to have worked okay regardless though...

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

Kimber Montana's are alot of gun for the money. I've had some problems with 84M's but never the 8400s. It's a warm and fuzzy feeling when you get a shooter, and a factory CRF magnum at 7lbs all-in is no joke.
BTW I like the look of your rifle.

 

[Jordan Smith]

Thanks, man. They really are a good bang for the buck. A 7lbs 7Mag is just about perfect for an all-around killin' rifle. *grin*

 

[Jordan Smith]

Got out again this morning.

162gr A-Max is doing 3105fps ave, and the 140gr TTSX is doing 3295fps ave.

Groups were shot at 205 yards. The AM shot into just over 0.5MOA again this morning, so I think I'll call her good and stick with 7828ssc for that bullet. The TTSX was pretty incredible with RL17.

Forgive the iPhone camera...

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

The mountains in the background are calling...please snap a picture of the rifle when you're up there. I never get enough of the Rockies.

 

[Noel]

Jordan,
you best hope my wife doesn't see pics of your rifle or she'll be showing up on your door and not leaving until she leaves with the rifle.
Looks good, look forward to the field report.