Kimber Hunter
- Thread starter Waterfowler
- Start date
Probably going to take some flack from someone for this but here is my Kimber experience!
I wanted a stainless synthetic CRF action rifle in 7mm08 and was torn between the Kimber Hunter and the Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather. I couldn’t find either one in that caliber, let alone any non magnum Extreme weather at the time so I ended up with a Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor. I was pretty pleased with my purchase until my first range trip where I found out it would not chamber a round from the magazine..... I was baffled. When loaded one at a time it shot well enough but obviously it was not functioning properly.
I contacted the retailer by phone, then drove out and they observed the issue and were also at a loss, unfortunately they wouldn’t help as it was past 30 days (closet to 2 months actually) since purchase when I noticed the issue as I had difficulty sourcing Talley lightweight rings to mount my leupold scope (rifle was pretty new to the market at the time). They even had a second one on display while I was there...... Without retailer assistance the long and short of it is good luck with Kimber warranty up here.
I believe my specific rifles downfall was the caliber and the steep shoulder on the cartridge. I would think a more slender cartridge would feed better, but then again I’m sure every other rifle on the market feeds the 6.5 well too.
On top of feeding issues I found the stock to be a little flimsy, the magazine was finicky and believe it or not did not hold the advertised amount of rounds as advertised without modification (well documented online), and lastly the rifle was too light for comfortable shooting at the range from a bench. I held Kimber very highly until my experience and would not own one after what I went through. That’s saying a lot because I got a Remlin that needed repair out of the box and would buy another Marlin without hesitation due to the Custer service and positive warranty experience I had.
In the end the rifle was sold at a heavy loss, I liquidated the reloading components and die set I had acquired for the caliber as well. To say the wife was pretty displeased would be an understatement!.... especially when I tried to sneak in the door with my first Extreme Weather. Everything about the Winchester is nicer, although it is a bit heavier but I don’t mind that at the bench. I now own two of them.
Hopefully you’ll hear some more positive things from other ‘nutters to balance my negative experience.
I wanted a stainless synthetic CRF action rifle in 7mm08 and was torn between the Kimber Hunter and the Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather. I couldn’t find either one in that caliber, let alone any non magnum Extreme weather at the time so I ended up with a Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor. I was pretty pleased with my purchase until my first range trip where I found out it would not chamber a round from the magazine..... I was baffled. When loaded one at a time it shot well enough but obviously it was not functioning properly.
I contacted the retailer by phone, then drove out and they observed the issue and were also at a loss, unfortunately they wouldn’t help as it was past 30 days (closet to 2 months actually) since purchase when I noticed the issue as I had difficulty sourcing Talley lightweight rings to mount my leupold scope (rifle was pretty new to the market at the time). They even had a second one on display while I was there...... Without retailer assistance the long and short of it is good luck with Kimber warranty up here.
I believe my specific rifles downfall was the caliber and the steep shoulder on the cartridge. I would think a more slender cartridge would feed better, but then again I’m sure every other rifle on the market feeds the 6.5 well too.
On top of feeding issues I found the stock to be a little flimsy, the magazine was finicky and believe it or not did not hold the advertised amount of rounds as advertised without modification (well documented online), and lastly the rifle was too light for comfortable shooting at the range from a bench. I held Kimber very highly until my experience and would not own one after what I went through. That’s saying a lot because I got a Remlin that needed repair out of the box and would buy another Marlin without hesitation due to the Custer service and positive warranty experience I had.
In the end the rifle was sold at a heavy loss, I liquidated the reloading components and die set I had acquired for the caliber as well. To say the wife was pretty displeased would be an understatement!.... especially when I tried to sneak in the door with my first Extreme Weather. Everything about the Winchester is nicer, although it is a bit heavier but I don’t mind that at the bench. I now own two of them.
Hopefully you’ll hear some more positive things from other ‘nutters to balance my negative experience.
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I have 3 Kimber a Montana a Mountain ascent and a Hunter I find them fabulous I feel the Hunter is the Best value mid priced rifle I have a Tikka also and would say the Hunter is more accurate and better ergonomics I have not had a single bad experience with them maybe I’m lucky but I would hesitate to buy another if needed only thing I am really not keen on the Hunter is not being able to top up the magazine without removing it
My Kimber hunter in .308 was a good buy...accurate and smooth feeding and functioning.
Can't think of many other Model 70 type CRF actions that are sub 6lbs with a full length barrel and detachable magazine in any price range.
Can't think of many other Model 70 type CRF actions that are sub 6lbs with a full length barrel and detachable magazine in any price range.
Kimber warranty is excellent, if you think different then you didn’t contact them directly.
My Montana in .270 developed a crack in the grip area a few months after I got it. Contacted Kimber direct and they sent me a prepaid ups label to ship it back to them in New York. Three weeks later I had my new stock and it cost me nothing.
My Montana in .270 developed a crack in the grip area a few months after I got it. Contacted Kimber direct and they sent me a prepaid ups label to ship it back to them in New York. Three weeks later I had my new stock and it cost me nothing.
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pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
Maybe I've been lucky but Im happy with my kimber's . I have a montana 7mm wsm and a 84L mountain ascent 270win. No problems here.
I can't comment on the Kimber Hunter in 270, but I can on one in 308. I was waiting until I received mine before I had any input.
I bought it off the EE here and it came today. I installed my medium height talleys, and my leupold vx3 2.5x8 and ran to the range to try it out.
I read all the stuff I could about Kimbers online and a lot of guys make it seem like you are taking a big chance buying one. If you believe everything you read, they sound like crap. Well, here is my opinion, based on only one trip to the range, with only two brands of factory ammo:
It groups one inch three shot groups with either federal 150 grain blue box or hornady whitetail 150 grain ammo. Keep in mind, this is my first time to shoot this rifle, and I don't know the trigger yet. I am confident it will shoot even better once I get more time with it and try a few more brands and weights of ammo.
The trigger seems very crisp, the fit and finish is good, it feeds and ejects as it should and it sure is light.
Feeding the magazine was different than any I have had, as the lips are very close together and you have to insert each round from the front and slide them under the lips. This is a non issue, I just commented on it because it was different. Unloaded, it weighs 6 pounds 3.3 ounces with the scope and rings. If I remove the goo in the stock I can shave another 8 ounces off it and if I put on a flip flop sissy pad it will be down another 3 ounces.....that was my original intention, but even as it is, the thing is super light.
The recoil is not bad at all, infact it feels less than my 1953 model 70 featherweight in 308, and my ruger 77 hawkeye 308. Possibly due to the soft sissy pad and that it fits me very good.
I bought this one used because after reading all the negative comments online I didn't want to risk huge money on a Kimber. Well, now I have my own opinion on Kimbers, and I will definitely be buying a montana, adirondack, or mountain ascent down the road.
I bought it off the EE here and it came today. I installed my medium height talleys, and my leupold vx3 2.5x8 and ran to the range to try it out.
I read all the stuff I could about Kimbers online and a lot of guys make it seem like you are taking a big chance buying one. If you believe everything you read, they sound like crap. Well, here is my opinion, based on only one trip to the range, with only two brands of factory ammo:
It groups one inch three shot groups with either federal 150 grain blue box or hornady whitetail 150 grain ammo. Keep in mind, this is my first time to shoot this rifle, and I don't know the trigger yet. I am confident it will shoot even better once I get more time with it and try a few more brands and weights of ammo.
The trigger seems very crisp, the fit and finish is good, it feeds and ejects as it should and it sure is light.
Feeding the magazine was different than any I have had, as the lips are very close together and you have to insert each round from the front and slide them under the lips. This is a non issue, I just commented on it because it was different. Unloaded, it weighs 6 pounds 3.3 ounces with the scope and rings. If I remove the goo in the stock I can shave another 8 ounces off it and if I put on a flip flop sissy pad it will be down another 3 ounces.....that was my original intention, but even as it is, the thing is super light.
The recoil is not bad at all, infact it feels less than my 1953 model 70 featherweight in 308, and my ruger 77 hawkeye 308. Possibly due to the soft sissy pad and that it fits me very good.
I bought this one used because after reading all the negative comments online I didn't want to risk huge money on a Kimber. Well, now I have my own opinion on Kimbers, and I will definitely be buying a montana, adirondack, or mountain ascent down the road.
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The only Kimber I owned I had issues with. Early on before Korth was a service centre for them. I called them with my issue and once they heard I was in Canada the guy literally laughed on the phone and said too bad you’re on your own. They would even help me out at all. Sorry won’t ever own another or recommend them. Piss poor service IMO
Just a heads up. The Kimber trigger is adjustable and it's on par with any aftermarket trigger I have tried.
