Looking for opinions on shortening the barrel on a Kimber Montana

[Underthegun]

Has anyone shortened the barrel on there Montana? I'm going to buy a Montana in 30/06 and I would like to have the barrel cut down to 22". I'm wondering how much weight will I save, how much better in your opinion did it handle, or will it throw the balance off. I have a 84L Classic 30/06 and I feel the Montana would handle much better with the shorter barrel.

 

[Boomer]

Has anyone shortened the barrel on there Montana? I'm going to buy a Montana in 30/06 and I would like to have the barrel cut down to 22". I'm wondering how much weight will I save, how much better in your opinion did it handle, or will it throw the balance off. I have a 84L Classic 30/06 and I feel the Montana would handle much better with the shorter barrel.

A 22" .30/06 barrel isn't unreasonable. The downside often attributed to short barrel rifles, such as obnoxious levels of muzzle blast, increased recoil, and poor balance isn't obvious, in 22" rifles, and muzzle velocities though slightly reduced, remain high. The real question comes down to what it is you hope to gain. Weight saving is marginal, or balance would be adversely affected, and the rifle's handling doesn't dramatically change. Since the shorter barrel is stiffer, in theory accuracy might improve, but this, like many theories, might be difficult to prove since other elements can affect accuracy positively or negatively. Bore diameter at the muzzle is known to be important to precision, and some target shooters prefer a bit of choke at the muzzle. Chances are the crown will change shape, and changes have consequences. The slight velocity reduction with any given load could affect group size one way or another.

 

[Underthegun]

My main reason for the shorter barrel would be a better handling rifle.

 

[Slamfire]

Any thought about leaving your quality rifle as is to not affect resale value/appeal?

 

[Underthegun]

Any thought about leaving your quality rifle as is to not affect resale value/appeal?

I'm not buying it to sell it.

 

[Robmcleod82]

I know a pile of guys that cut them to 18" and love them that way. I wouldn't hesitate

 

[Underthegun]

I know a pile of guys that cut them to 18" and love them that way. I wouldn't hesitate

18" is definitely shorter than I would like to go, but it's nice to know they are fine with that much of a cut.

 

[todbartell]

I wouldn't be bothered by a 20" 30-06, would still push a 165gr to 2800 fps

 

[diemaco]

I can't speak to the montana specifically but I've often thought that my custom classic could benefit from a bit of a barrel bob. I have a few guns with 20" barrels and I find them to handle very well and don't find the muzzle blast objectionable (.308, .30-06, .223). I doubt the weight will change more than a couple ounces.

 

[PEKS]

18-20" barrel, compact, tight & fast, perfect for the bush

 

[cam1936]

With a .55" muzzle diameter and a .308" bore you should lose .74 oz per inch.

 

[9.3mauser]

I wouldn't hesitate to shorten it to 22" if it were mine. The 24" look ungainly to me, and it also gets rid of the stupid threaded muzzle.

 

[NolanOsborn]

Cut the barrel on my 338WM Montana from 26"-20" and had NECG Irons installed for a guiding rifle. Its bombproof, short, handy and I love it. As far as velocity loss, I honestly don't care because it's a worst case scenario bear gun for me, however one of the clients couldn't seal the deal with a bow this season and killed a nice bull moose at 200yds with it. The moose didn't seem to notice that a 225gr Barnes wasn't moving as fast as it normally would, or that the rifle lacked a scope