Kimber rifle parts
- Thread starter Slimbo
- Start date
I know this thread is 4 year old, but I recently came into a Kimber Hunter and it was followed closely by an aftermarket stock (MPI) with blind magazine . As per the OP, the Kimber parts are non-existent in Canada at the moment; as such, I was reading every post I could on alternatives to Kimber parts that would work with the new stock and 84M action. I tried a short action Ruger M77 MkII mag box but it was wider than the mag well opening (intended for a factory Kimber mag box). In the end, I took a chance on a Remington 700 SA BDL magazine box follower (these are kind of nice relative to the factory magazine or other modern plastic units). The magazine box was not a perfect fit but it was quite close, so after some very light filing at the rear split in the box to reduce the rear width and top edge (narrowing the thickness of the magazine box from the outside so as not change feed lips) and some plastic shims (mag well shaped pieces of yogurt container lids) in the bottom of the mag well to raise the height of the box, the gun feeds fairly well (and doesn't seem to be binding)...or a least a lot better than it did from the brand new factory magazine. An ADL magazine box might have worked better because I gather they are taller but the BDL worked fine with shims and it still holds the max capacity of the mag well (3 down). One note though, you have to be extremely careful to align the box/spring correctly when assembling the parts (I like putting the mag box in the action and putting action and mag box over the spring (in the well) to achieve correct alignment. I probably took apart and reassembled the gun 50 time to get everything working, but it was all a good learning experience. Now to test if there were any impacts to accuracy from my fiddling.
As an aside, I want to try to make a short range peep sight gun out of it and in my sight option research I determined that, although very nice, the NECG banded front ramps would require a bit more metal work to make it fit than I was interested in. Revelation - a Lee Enfield No.1 MKIII banded front site is a pretty well perfect fit for the 0.56" muzzle diameter of the Kimber Hunter.
As an aside, I want to try to make a short range peep sight gun out of it and in my sight option research I determined that, although very nice, the NECG banded front ramps would require a bit more metal work to make it fit than I was interested in. Revelation - a Lee Enfield No.1 MKIII banded front site is a pretty well perfect fit for the 0.56" muzzle diameter of the Kimber Hunter.
About a year later I thought I should provide comment on the testing previously mentioned.
The mag box fix is pretty well perfect now. It is notably better feeding than the factory setup (and actually is feeds as smooth as any gun I have). I did take it all a part and retried the original stock during various iterations of working up a load to see if the stock changed that accuracy (no real change but had to try it). I didn't change much other than reducing the number of yogurt shims to ensure that there was no binding at the mag well (making sure I could wiggle the box just a little). I also had electrical tape holding the rear mag well split together, which I took off because I didn't think I needed it, but I did need it because it is too hard to assemble the mag spring and follower in box without that piece being held firmly together. Once it is in the gun, I don't need it but during assembly the tape keep the mag well tightly together is important. Once I have access to the little 110V mig welder I often borrow, I will put a small tack on box instead of the tape. All in all it is a pretty great gun. Shoots less than an inch with 180 grs, feeds and ejects perfectly, and I can swap my scope for a NECG peep sight and back without much more than 2" PoI at 100 m. The only aspects that are not great are:
the stock comb height is intend for use with a scope and I have to squish my face against the stock to make it work;
the gun is about 4.5lbs with the peep sight and just a little under 6lbs with the scope, which results in a pretty hard gun to shoot well (if it is just one of those days when you aren't on your game, the target shot with the Kimber really tells you so;
the barrel is so pencil thin that you have to shoot groups very slowly and 3 fast shots always results in a third shot that blows the group to hell (it's just fine if you give it 5 minutes every shot); and
because the gun is so light it means that the 308 Win might as well be 375 H&H when shot prone (I am going to save the original stock and shorten it for my kids. I might even add weight to the original stock to keep it a little less vicious for them).
The mag box fix is pretty well perfect now. It is notably better feeding than the factory setup (and actually is feeds as smooth as any gun I have). I did take it all a part and retried the original stock during various iterations of working up a load to see if the stock changed that accuracy (no real change but had to try it). I didn't change much other than reducing the number of yogurt shims to ensure that there was no binding at the mag well (making sure I could wiggle the box just a little). I also had electrical tape holding the rear mag well split together, which I took off because I didn't think I needed it, but I did need it because it is too hard to assemble the mag spring and follower in box without that piece being held firmly together. Once it is in the gun, I don't need it but during assembly the tape keep the mag well tightly together is important. Once I have access to the little 110V mig welder I often borrow, I will put a small tack on box instead of the tape. All in all it is a pretty great gun. Shoots less than an inch with 180 grs, feeds and ejects perfectly, and I can swap my scope for a NECG peep sight and back without much more than 2" PoI at 100 m. The only aspects that are not great are:
the stock comb height is intend for use with a scope and I have to squish my face against the stock to make it work;
the gun is about 4.5lbs with the peep sight and just a little under 6lbs with the scope, which results in a pretty hard gun to shoot well (if it is just one of those days when you aren't on your game, the target shot with the Kimber really tells you so;
the barrel is so pencil thin that you have to shoot groups very slowly and 3 fast shots always results in a third shot that blows the group to hell (it's just fine if you give it 5 minutes every shot); and
because the gun is so light it means that the 308 Win might as well be 375 H&H when shot prone (I am going to save the original stock and shorten it for my kids. I might even add weight to the original stock to keep it a little less vicious for them).
Good update tfs
Thats a lot of fuss to get a MPI stock set up how you like
I hear you about the NECG/Kimber setup. I had a Hunter trimmed back to 20" and still am between sizes of the offerings for a banded front
so went with a reflex sight as a b/u
Thats a lot of fuss to get a MPI stock set up how you like
I hear you about the NECG/Kimber setup. I had a Hunter trimmed back to 20" and still am between sizes of the offerings for a banded front
so went with a reflex sight as a b/u
I had a set of NECG sights installed on a 338wm montana by Corlanes. It worked but I had to squish my face down a bit to get a good sight picture.
Thanks for the nudge. I had forgot to update previously but you reminded me that I was still owning the post-testing info.
It was a bit of trouble. I was leaning towards a Wildcat stock originally but another member here gave me a pretty good deal on the MPI so I went that direction. I have bought a few of Stuart's stock over the years and he's pretty good at adjusting the various dimensions to make other guns or non-standard bits fit. I am sure that if I bought a Wildcat (probably the Rem Model 7 version), Stuart could have saved me a lot of fiddling but it wouldn't have been quite as much fun and bit more money. If I was to do it again, I would probably go with a Wildcat (simply a nicer stock).
I think the reflex is probably a better option in both weight and ease of use. However, my eyes never work well with illuminated reticles or reflex sights (never a sharp dot; always blurry on the edges) so I was stuck with the iron sights. The NECG sights always have nice lines and a classy look but it would have turned into a much a larger project fitting those to the Kimber. I figured that if I wanted to use a NECG sight I would have had to buy second smallest band and do some redneck milling (a combination of drill bits and sand paper) to thin out the band wall to make it fit right. Obvious the folks at Corlanes could do a better job than me (and the 338 WM probably has a little heavier diameter barrel due to the bore), but it is hard to get the stock comb to work. I guess the trick would be to try and use the tallest sights possible but that could cause other issues too. The non-trick option would be to get a Kimber wood stock and just adjust where required but that sounds both expense, hard to find, and not in keeping with the light weight theme.
...and a 338 WM in a Montana configuration would be a handful. Mike123, you are brave soul.
It was a bit of trouble. I was leaning towards a Wildcat stock originally but another member here gave me a pretty good deal on the MPI so I went that direction. I have bought a few of Stuart's stock over the years and he's pretty good at adjusting the various dimensions to make other guns or non-standard bits fit. I am sure that if I bought a Wildcat (probably the Rem Model 7 version), Stuart could have saved me a lot of fiddling but it wouldn't have been quite as much fun and bit more money. If I was to do it again, I would probably go with a Wildcat (simply a nicer stock).
I think the reflex is probably a better option in both weight and ease of use. However, my eyes never work well with illuminated reticles or reflex sights (never a sharp dot; always blurry on the edges) so I was stuck with the iron sights. The NECG sights always have nice lines and a classy look but it would have turned into a much a larger project fitting those to the Kimber. I figured that if I wanted to use a NECG sight I would have had to buy second smallest band and do some redneck milling (a combination of drill bits and sand paper) to thin out the band wall to make it fit right. Obvious the folks at Corlanes could do a better job than me (and the 338 WM probably has a little heavier diameter barrel due to the bore), but it is hard to get the stock comb to work. I guess the trick would be to try and use the tallest sights possible but that could cause other issues too. The non-trick option would be to get a Kimber wood stock and just adjust where required but that sounds both expense, hard to find, and not in keeping with the light weight theme.
...and a 338 WM in a Montana configuration would be a handful. Mike123, you are brave soul.
Jonnyofalltrades
Regular
- Location
- North-central Saskatchewan
A 4.5 lb .308 sounds interesting to shoot!
I want to do something like that at some point. The Kimber recievers are such a good starting point for a lightweight rifle.
Thanks for the updates!
I want to do something like that at some point. The Kimber recievers are such a good starting point for a lightweight rifle.
Thanks for the updates!
