Thread: Kimber Montana 7mm-08

I've always had a bit of a fancy for the Kimber's especially the actions which is basically a Winchester Model 70 controlled fed action as my first centrefire was a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7x57 albeit a push fed action but I've always loved those control fed three position safety actions of the Winchesters and often dreamt of owning a Model 70 in 375 H&H.

A couple of different friends have Kimber's and I've just always liked them so last year I saw a second hand Kimber for sale at H&F for $1800 which I bought and haven't done much with it since owning it.

One of the main reasons for wanting the rifle is to have something a tad less recoiling than the .284 for the kids but really... I just wanted one and yes I know the 7mm-08 is the Jaffa latte drinking sort of caliber but it's got the same ballistics as the 7x57 and from the ones I've shot, they go bang and stuff falls over.

I finally got around to getting the rifle sorted where I put on my old Leupold VX2 2-7 scope. This is a treasured scope having also been my first ever decent scope on the 7x57 which accounted for a few deer.

Next I tried to get my DPT suppressor threaded on but the local gunsmith down here said the threading was all wrong especially for a pencil barrel that it is so I knew I needed to get another suppressor but in the mean time I tried getting some Remington 7mm-08 brass but that's hard to source so I just bought a packet of Remington ammo to run through the rifle to see what the potential is.

Buying centrefire ammo isn't cheap as it cost me $50 for a packet of 20 which is why I like to reload!

After going to the local range and playing around the groupings were just over an inch at 100 mtrs so the rifle showed potential.

I was planning on buying another packet so I'd have at least 40 cases but I ended up in coming across 50 cases of PPU brass which is also the same brass I've been reloading for in my .243 and find that brass awesome to reload and use.

I'm planning on running some 120 gr Sierras (#1900) through the rifle as we're been running the same projectiles through mates T3 7mm-08's to great effect on big Reds with the recoil being lighter especially for the kids.

Last week I sent the rifle up to Darren at DPT where they cut the barrel to 20 inches, threaded and put on one of their new Mark 2 suppressors and sent the rifle back to me where I received it this afternoon.





As always I'm stoked with the threading job as DPT have cut and threaded a few rifles for me now and their machining is just AWESOME!

Comparing the two different version suppressors I see the newer model is slightly longer but also slightly narrower but there's really not too much difference, weight feels the same but as always it's just a great product and I know my ears will be a lot better off in using the suppressor and so will the kids for that matter!





Looking in the safe I now own four DPT suppressors. One for the T3 .284 Win, one for the Kimber 7mm-08, one for the .223 / .222's and the last for the .17 HMR where all of them are going strong. I also have a MAE stainless suppressor for the .22 LR



Next thing is to sight the rifle in with some of the 120 gr projectiles and see how it shoots with the reloads.

I have the same rifle in 243, it is still my favorite after all this time.
I have a vx6 2-12 on mine but have forever thought a vx3 2.5-8x32 would be more fitting.
Im guessing its harder to shoot them when they are larger cal but 243 is great in this weight same DPT set up as you have too

If I have to walk any distance that is for sure the rifle I take, it carries like a .22 rifle

Yes the DPT Mk2 is longer and thinner, but also 1/2" less muzzle forward. Comes back further over the barrel.

If you need some brass I have a bit of hornady .308 I could send you some John..it should size down ok.

Wonder why dpt changed their design?any advantage to the new one?

I have a Q Re SUP's

Why - or what is the main reason most of you have one on the end of your once balanced rifle now making it feel like a fence post ??
If range shooting - prob now mandatory to have ??

But I am talking hunting ?
I have 2 SIP's one on exact above rifle and my Baikal 7.62x39
Both of which have been shorten to keep balance as good as can be expected with such an intrusion to origin style/make

Only reason I have - is wherever or whenever I shoot - there will be 10-20 residents within hearing range without - some still hear with :-(

But I see near everyone now - walking the Alps - Urewera - Kaweka etc with one and think - why ???
Most times you will only shoot one animal (if lucky) and not worried about around the corner like a culler would ??

Interested to hear remarks or barks

Forgot the wind up bit

You quoted
"yes I know the 7mm-08 is the Jaffa latte drinking sort of caliber"

Maybe (mainly because the Cal was here way b4 the SUP) you should have inferred towards the end bit not the lead bit :-))

Originally Posted by Sarvo

I have a Q Re SUP's

Why - or what is the main reason most of you have one on the end of your once balanced rifle now making it feel like a fence post ??
If range shooting - prob now mandatory to have ??

But I am talking hunting ?
I have 2 SIP's one on exact above rifle and my Baikal 7.62x39
Both of which have been shorten to keep balance as good as can be expected with such an intrusion to origin style/make

Only reason I have - is wherever or whenever I shoot - there will be 10-20 residents within hearing range without - some still hear with :-(

But I see near everyone now - walking the Alps - Urewera - Kaweka etc with one and think - why ???
Most times you will only shoot one animal (if lucky) and not worried about around the corner like a culler would ??

Interested to hear remarks or barks

Probably because people don't want to end up like me with a head full of singing locus's and half deaf. Plus, I like my dog and respect other people's quiet enjoyment.

On a range Bruce - yes !!
Although earmuffs would sufice and did for many years before

In the bush - no
I hoped it was not going to be an oldie like me to use the "hearing protect" reason - as that is not true
1 shot "occasionally" does nothing to you or your dogs ears if not 2m forward of muzzle which NO person especially self would be

My hearing is perfect - the ONLY part of me that is and I have been shooting for 55 years
Used muff 1st time on Trap shooting
Only use SUP now because of above - and it ain't their hearing I protecting !!!

Originally Posted by Sarvo

On a range Bruce - yes !!
Although earmuffs would sufice and did for many years before

In the bush - no
I hoped it was not going to be an oldie like me to use the "hearing protect" reason - as that is not true
1 shot "occasionally" does nothing to you or your dogs ears if not 2m forward of muzzle which NO person especially self would be

My hearing is perfect - the ONLY part of me that is and I have been shooting for 55 years
Used muff 1st time on Trap shooting
Only use SUP now because of above - and it ain't their hearing I protecting !!!

All the evidence shows this is entirely untrue man.

Every time you pull the trigger on a rifle you are causing incremental permenant damage to you hearing.
This is true even when shooting suppressed, although the damage is drastically reduced.

My ears ring if I let rip in a gut with no can, they don't when I let rip with a suppressed rifle.

You may be an outlier but that does not mean 1 shot occasionally does nothing. Im not goi g to gamble with my hearing to find out

Suppressors also just make rifles plain nicer to shoot. With good technique I can spot shots with my 284 suppressed, no hope when I don't have the can on

There’s a number of reasons for suppressors which I’ve found to be beneficial but you do raise a good point re shooting in say the Alps

1. Rifle is naturally quieter where it doesn’t impact upon your hearing as I’m already a bit deaf from shooting in one ear!

2. I’ve found suppresssors reduce recoil & improve accuracy where that in itself has been great for my boys.

3. Game are less spooked even when bush hunting so the next gully over game isn’t spooked. It also confuses animals where on open land I’ve had deer run towards me where they thought the danger was from the other direction.

After using suppressors, using a rifle without one feels like a step backwards

I watched a UTube clip just last night hunting Tahr in the Landsborough River - great vid
All Tahr were down low in the bush/scrub guts etc
One guy had no SUP and the other guy had one that must of made his rifle like a post - he was young and was also very fit and he hauled that thing through some awful tangles
I did notice on last day it was off.

If I was in that country an was using my Kimber - even given the fact its been shortened and SUP is right back near against forestock - I would have it off
Most times you have enough time to screw it back on

I do not go along with the hearing thing sorry (unless on range) my hearing is perfect and have had 1000's of shots around my ears.
What about all the WWII - Nam guys etc - as far as I recall the only ones who suffered hearing prob after were from artillery? My father died with perfect hearing at 90 and he spent over 4 years on the front lines in N Africa and then Europe in WWII
There is no way anyone should get damage from an occasional shot - unless they forward of muzzle
Game scare - yes SUP make a diff there - but who these days is after more than 1 animal unless you are a culler
Recoil - was unaware of that - but do know if you shoot with it off (and it sighted in on) aim at the knee cap

it looks like a budget howa

Originally Posted by Sarvo

I watched a UTube clip just last night hunting Tahr in the Landsborough River - great vid
All Tahr were down low in the bush/scrub guts etc
One guy had no SUP and the other guy had one that must of made his rifle like a post - he was young and was also very fit and he hauled that thing through some awful tangles
I did notice on last day it was off.

If I was in that country an was using my Kimber - even given the fact its been shortened and SUP is right back near against forestock - I would have it off

You are quot
Most times you have enough time to screw it back on

I do not go along with the hearing thing sorry (unless on range) my hearing is perfect and have had 1000's of shots around my ears.
What about all the WWII - Nam guys etc - as far as I recall the only ones who suffered hearing prob after were from artillery? My father died with perfect hearing at 90 and he spent over 4 years on the front lines in N Africa and then Europe in WWII
There is no way anyone should get damage from an occasional shot - unless they forward of muzzle
Game scare - yes SUP make a diff there - but who these days is after more than 1 animal unless you are a culler
Recoil - was unaware of that - but do know if you shoot with it off (and it sighted in on) aim at the knee cap

You are quoting exceptions here. What you say is not supported by the science or general practical experience. Talk to any farmer about noise induced hearing loss - but you will need to shout. Me - I was a farmer and commercial hunter - 50% hearing loss at age 70.

And, if you can go a life time of hunting without some Wally firing when you were in front of the muzzle you have led a charmed life.

If you reply, please shout (use the cap-lock).

@Seventenths

Good choices in caliber, projectiles and suppressors :-)

I use the Sierra 1900 in my bush pig 708, and 162 ELDM in the gong version. Also playing with some Speer Hot-Cor 160s for subsonic at the moment.