Kimber Mountain Ascent .... what would you do differently ?

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DAJA

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Been reading all the reviews I can find on the Kimber Mountain Ascent.

This rifle has really caught my eye. Been follow the evolution of the Kimber stuff since the 8400 and its issues through to this model. Something about this "ultra light weight Mauser" I've always been intrigued by and want to jump into the UL game.

I'm interested in .308 only.

General opinions on the rifle seem to be:

- many hate the paint job (doesn't bother me)

- most say lose the muzzle brake (moot point since its a screw off with suppled thread protector)

- price is too high compared to Kimber Montana or Adirondack for the X ounces saved. (can't totally disagree with that, however a custom built ultralight is gonna coast a fair bit more than an off the shelf rifle like the KMA)

I'm not interested in comparing this rifle to other brands or calibers, nothing is lighter off the shelf than the KMA.

This rifle is pretty feature packed and reviews seem like it shoots well. Barring the points above my first thought would be to have the barrel cut down a couple inches but I do understand with ultralights the forward balance point is important and the longer 22" plays a roll in how it points so might not want to chop down.

Guess my main question is beside the points above, how would/could you make this rifle better?

Many guys spend a good deal of money on custom ultralights and I'm sure have great suggestions on improvements. Lets say in theory you were going to make a custom version of THIS RIFLE IN .308....what would you change?

Again, I've watched the improvements from the 8400, 84m to the KMA but wondering how you'd actually take it even further?
 
I hate the blind magazine; it really needs a hinged floorplate. Quite apart from the convenience factor, it's possible to get things jammed up in the magazine, and the easiest way to sort it out is to dump everything out the bottom and start over.

Otherwise, considering it's intended purpose, I don't have any issues with the rifle. I would pick a long action in .270 if it were my money, and the muzzle brake is superfluous. Again, if it were mine I'd have the threads cut off and the barrel recrowned.
 
9.3mauser said:
I hate the blind magazine; it really needs a hinged floorplate. Quite apart from the convenience factor, it's possible to get things jammed up in the magazine, and the easiest way to sort it out is to dump everything out the bottom and start over.

Otherwise, considering it's intended purpose, I don't have any issues with the rifle. I would pick a long action in .270 if it were my money, and the muzzle brake is superfluous. Again, if it were mine I'd have the threads cut off and the barrel recrowned.
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Ok, blind mag is a good point.

Pretty much anything else would add weight though unless there's an option I'm not aware of.

yup, cut threads and recrown is about all I can think of as well.
 
Reading that some guys are getting titanium bolt handles made for their Kimber Montana's but not sure that would save anything weight wise over the Mountain Ascent's fluted/skeletonized bolt handle.

This doesn't seem like a realistic "improvement" for the KMA.
 
Cut and recrown as mentioned.

Really I can't see any way to get it lighter unless you cut the barrel length down. Maybe a few tenths of ounces to be saved by further machine work on trigger guard and a titanium bolt handle. You could sand off the paint, apparently it weighs an ounce or two.
 
I would have given it a 20 inch barrel sans brake.
The steel Kimber floorplate wouldn't be in keeping with the lightweight theme.
I've carried a 700 ADL quite a bit and have no issues with the blind mag style.
A flat dark green paint job would be nice....and mine would be in 7mm-08.
 
My neice is a sweet little girl, she has very delicate wrists and very little upper body strength, so I bought her a KMA in .308... she says she likes it just fine as is.
 
The only issue I have with this rifle is that it's unavailable in coyote calibers such as 223 or 22-250. I think it would be a great walking varminter.

Through google search, it looks like CDI was offering a DBM conversion on Montanas in the past.
 
A custom would be pricey but it would be custom. The Kimbers are a crap shoot and none of their ultralights fit me worth a sh*t. They have zero drop to their stocks and almost feel toy like.
 
Thanks for the thoughts and opinions so far.

Many seem to comment on the cost increase of the KMA vs the Montana for a weight savings of only 9 oz's. But if you look at the extra machining involved to gain that 9 oz. it has to add up fairly close to the cost difference.

9 oz. might not seem like much but realistically its not like you can remove whole pounds from a Montana ! Small amounts of weight/metal removed turns into larger and larger money.

Compare that to anything custom and you would be STARTING at 3 grand easily and no doubt it would add up beyond that quickly.

Taking all that into account the KMA seems right in line cost wise. I would't say a good deal but in line.

The only thing that doesn't make sense to me on the KMA is the slight weight increase for the finish. I don't care about the pattern but the 7 oz. increase for the finish over the Montana is a little strange.
 
Held my buddy's yesterday on a day trip bear hunt. Jeez, I'd love to have that on an alpine hunting trip despite the paint job.

Blind mags don't bother me one bit. Been using them since 1967.
 
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DAJA said:
Thanks for the thoughts and opinions so far.

Many seem to comment on the cost increase of the KMA vs the Montana for a weight savings of only 9 oz's. But if you look at the extra machining involved to gain that 9 oz. it has to add up fairly close to the cost difference.

9 oz. might not seem like much but realistically its not like you can remove whole pounds from a Montana ! Small amounts of weight/metal removed turns into larger and larger money.

Compare that to anything custom and you would be STARTING at 3 grand easily and no doubt it would add up beyond that quickly.

Taking all that into account the KMA seems right in line cost wise. I would't say a good deal but in line.

The only thing that doesn't make sense to me on the KMA is the slight weight increase for the finish. I don't care about the pattern but the 7 oz. increase for the finish over the Montana is a little strange.
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No way they paint job weighs 7 oz. Looking at 1.5 ounces or so. Even so it is odd that they wouldn't go plain and save the ounce or two. Guess they had to make it look different than the Montana.
 
cam1936 said:
No way they paint job weighs 7 oz. Looking at 1.5 ounces or so. Even so it is odd that they wouldn't go plain and save the ounce or two. Guess they had to make it look different than the Montana.
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Yeah I thought that was high too.

Got it from here: (scroll about 1/2 way down)
http://www.thealaskalife.com/guns/kimber-rifles/

The writer compares the two empty stocks on the scale and speculates as to the difference.

The one plus apparently to the camo finish is the slightly rubbery grippy texture to it.
 
Rugdoc said:
Held my buddy's yesterday on a day trip bear hunt. Jeez, I'd love to have that on an alpine hunting trip despite the paint job.

Blind mags don't bother me one bit. Been using them since 1967.
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Blind mags don't bother me either. Both my Mohawk 600's have em and no issues to date.
 
DAJA said:
Blind mags don't bother me either. Both my Mohawk 600's have em and no issues to date.
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Exactly. I always had to shuck cartridges out the top of my first rifle, a Ross, then my next, a Remington ADL 243, then my 1953 FN Mauser 270, no big deal.
 
only thing I would change is stop talking about it and buy one... all kidding aside, I wouldn't shorten the barrel any - they're perfect the way they are especially if you are sans brake...
 
cleo said:
only thing I would change is stop talking about it and buy one... all kidding aside, I wouldn't shorten the barrel any - they're perfect the way they are especially if you are sans brake...
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HA, I'm working on it cleo. Like most I'm a wage slave so it doesn't come over night. Getting there.
 
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