338 federal

If you have a skinny contour barrel, you may need a pressure point in the stock to settle the harmonics down. Worth a try anyway before buying more bullets. Is it a Kimber?
 
What exactly is the problem?

Recoil too obnoxious?
Poor group size?
Groups opening up with round count?
Groups gettin smaller or larger when barrel heats?
The rifle just doesnt feel right?

All of the above problems can be tweaked......

Cheers!
 
Blargon probably has the answer......

That said you still should be able to find a load eventually...... But the trial and error may drive you mad.

I have had to do this in the past.

Find a factory offering that is about the right (bullet weight and velocity) for your application. Then hit the range and after each 3 shot group add a playing card at the very tip of the forend. Record the differances in group size. You should have a good idea of how high a pressure point you require.

I have had a few rifles that had a differant pressure needed for each ammo I shot out of it....... Now that was annoying!

I have also read an artical recently in the "Shooting Times" (if memory serves). The author suggested that even a simple thing like a tight fitting mag box can throw out a rifles accuracy....... I will have to look through my old mags to see if I can find the article......

Cheers!
 
I found the artical.

March 2011 edition of Rifle magazine issue # 255. Page 48. Accuracy problems, Finding the cure for the obscure.

I can't seem to find the artical online. If I had a scanner I would do that.........

PM if you want the details,

Cheers!
 
Hi. A Montana? You may be expecting too much from a light barrel. Think hunting accuracy, not target accuracy. Even though it has a match grade barrel, a light barrel will be 'whippy'.
What kind of groups are you getting? What bullets?
 
This may not be a mechanical (rifle) problem. In my experience, light weight rifles, such as yours, with their forend configurations, are challenging to shoot well from the bench. It was never a matter of load development but practice that made my groups with these rifles get smaller.
If you reload, try some reduced loads to build up your capability with the rifle.
Also, what size of groups are you getting and at what distance? Everyone has their own expectations, and your 1 inch group might be too large for you, but not others.
What kind of scope, and what kind of range setup do you have (do you have a bench, rests)?
 
I have a Kimber Montana in .338 Federal as well. I have only shot it with factory Federal ammo with groups averaging about 3". That being said it does have obvious chamber issues that I am still waiting to get fixed. It was still accurate enough for the bull elk I shot last fall, dropping him on the spot. Once it gets the new barrel I hope to load 185 TSX and IMR 8208. Hopefully I can acheive groups under 2".
 
i had better luck with the 215 sierra game kings, the 180's didn't do good at all.

I usually get 2.5 inch 5shot with a fixed 4 x scope on a tikka. thick cross hairs cover an inch of target so i cant complain.
 
I would remove the rifle from the stock,check the bedding.I had 3 kimbers all 3 were not great shooters.I installed a small card(business card) under the front of the action to completely float the barrel and accuracy increased a lot

good luck
 
I have a tikka in 338 fed and I've had the best luck using RL 15 and 215 sierra game kings. Not too much luck with 180 noslers or 200gr sst. I've only tried varget and rl 15 though. As far as factory stuff the 185 barnes works the best. The reload 215's and the factory 185's get 1.5" groups 5 shot@100yrds (somtimes better)..
 
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