17 months from now, my son and I embark on one of those dream hunts, Dall Sheep in Alaska! Of course that means a new rifle, in this case two new rifles. A visit to the Alaskan forums shows the Kimber Montana series getting high marks for reliability and light weight. Accuracy seems to vary with the majority shooting accurately and some really bad ones that had to be sent back to Kimber for rebarreling. We bought two, mine in 270 Winchester, an homage to O'Connor, my son's in 270 WSM.

These are functional rifles with carbon/kevlar stocks, stainless actions and barrels. Barrel length is 24" in both chamberings. The actions are smooth and the three position safety bolt is easily disassembled for cleaning. Controlled round feed is standard. They have blind magazines. They are pillar bedded and glass bedded as well as free floated from the factory with match grade chambers and triggers that break cleanly, in both cases, at 3lbs 10ozs. The receivers are drilled for 8-40 screws and the Kimber bases were ordered to match. Both rifles were mounted with FXII, 6X Leupolds along with the Aluma rain caps on low Leupold rings.

Accuracy? I started with the 130gr TSX in both chamberings and followed the Barnes recommended seating depth. Loads were developed, as per their recommendation, observing case head expansion. We, also, got use of a piezo strain gauge to verify operating pressures. After thoroughly cleaning the barrels and using a breakin proceedure, the rifles were set for their first accuracy/velocity series.

Both rifles are shooting subMOA at 100 and 200yds! Since I had to sell two other firearms to get my Kimber, I was relieved to see cloverleaf groups! The 270 WSM, slightly lighter than the standard length action of the 270Win, did equally well, although, at equal operating pressures there was no significant velocity difference.

Now, getting the epoxy off the the barrels and receivers from the piezo was another story (heat gun and judicious use of a razor blade)! But, the rifles are superb and, for us, justify the higher than normal pricing. In fact, I am well pleased with these Kimbers!!

Guns acquired, now the challenge is to get great boots and backpacks, but, that's another story.

Are you going to be coming through Fairbanks?

roklok: we will be hunting the Brooks Range, so I believe Fairbanks will be our main landing point. Too, I might be in your neighborhood this June.

Any advice on Dall is always welcomed.

I was looking at a Kimber Montana in .243 and was quite impressed. A delightful little gun. Sorry, dont have any advice for sheep hunting, I havent hunted them yet myself. Hopefully next fall.