You can get those same problems with a Remington or anything else, but you can get away with a lot more when theres enough steel in the barrel to make 3 Kimber barrels. I've got 4 Kimbers and I don't even know how many Remingtons. I've spent enough money fixing Remington's mistakes to buy a few more. Thats not to pick on Remington though, you can find something wrong with just about any factory rifle.
Kimber Montana
- Thread starter roche1982
- Start date
You can get those same problems with a Remington or anything else, but you can get away with a lot more when theres enough steel in the barrel to make 3 Kimber barrels. I've got 4 Kimbers and I don't even know how many Remingtons. I've spent enough money fixing Remington's mistakes to buy a few more. Thats not to pick on Remington though, you can find something wrong with just about any factory rifle.
Fair enough, I was hoping this just isn't a wide spread problem. I am very interested in the KImbers. Although the 8400 Magnum is not a lot lighter then the XCRII, it seems to be much better mae. I love my Remington, but I want something different and the Montana really has my eyes
As long as I'm not getting a rifle thats inherently inaccurate. The whole reason I want a Kimber is the better quality of the stock and barrel
My inaccurate .308 Montana was bought several decades back, whatever year it was that they first appeared for sale in Canada. I haven't really followed the Kimber company or comments about their products since then, so I suppose there may have been a change in them since then. But at the time I was very experienced both accurately shooting and successfully hunting with very lightweight rifles and I'm sticking to my story. By the way, I did "tinker" with it...but to no avail. A poor experience with one rifle can really put you off, perhaps unfairly, from buying another from that company...but one tries to learn from ones own mistakes, and as far as I knew at the time, buying that Kimber was a mistake.
Last edited:
Completely understandable, My grandfather had awful times with Winchesters and it threw me off Winchesters as well. I'm sure they are great but my experiences with my grandfather were not good. We had great experiences with Rem's and have loved them since. I may try Kimber, it seems many people like them, I may just have to hope I get a good one
I currently own and hunt with a Kimber 84M in 7mm-08. Accuracy is "OK", at about 1.5-2" with factory ammo and 1-1.5" with hand loads (3 shots @ 100). I have not done extensive load development yet and would expect MOA if I find what it likes. I like this rifle a lot and its a joy to carry in the woods.
I also owned an 8400M in .270. It shot sub-MOA with the first bunch of factory ammo I fed it. I bought it with dreams of a mule deer hunt out west or some other adventure, then realized I'd likely never be able to afford that and sold it before ever taking it to the woods. It was a very nice rifle but, for my taste, I found the long action really changed the dynamic of the rifle and it just didn't feel as "short and sweet" as my 7mm-08.
I also owned an 8400M in .270. It shot sub-MOA with the first bunch of factory ammo I fed it. I bought it with dreams of a mule deer hunt out west or some other adventure, then realized I'd likely never be able to afford that and sold it before ever taking it to the woods. It was a very nice rifle but, for my taste, I found the long action really changed the dynamic of the rifle and it just didn't feel as "short and sweet" as my 7mm-08.
Sure about when I bought it? No. It was about 20 years ago or so, maybe more, maybe a bit less, that's all I remember. I bought it at The Shooting Edge in Calgary when they first brought them in. Maybe someone from there knows when that was.
I picked one up from the Shooting Edge in 2008 and I think you are right that they'd only been a dealer for about 4 or 5 years at that point but could be wrong. Mine was chambered in .338WM and I quite liked it but the best it would ever do was about 1.5MOA. I think Korth took over as Canadian Distributor in about 2010.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Yes, but the wood stocked models came before the 84M Montana.
But the 84M was introduced in 2001 so wood stocked or not, there were no 84Ms before 2001.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Correct on the 84M.
The first Montana I handled was a 300 WSM which would be an 8400 and that was probably 2002 or 2003, shortly after the WSM was introduced as a cartridge.
I'm not sure if they introduced the magnum Montana's before the slimmed down 84M action.
Regardless, Kimber of America rifles produced in NY, which would include the Montana, started production in 1998, and I doubt the Montana was one of the first.
Last edited:
The 8400 was introduced in 2003
- Location
- AB foothills
- Location
- AB foothills
Exactly! Buy enough rifles and you will find problems with every brand. I know I have! For myself, Remington's especially.
I have tinkered my Kimbers and have been extremely happy with every one. The model 84L being my favourite by far.
Last edited:
I had to break down and buy a Select Grade .300 Wissum to go with the .270 WSM Montana. It was shooter right of the box.A little tweaking and tuning is just a labor of love.
