Kimber

Kevan

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Does anyone have/had a Kimber rifle ?
I'm considering an 8400 Classic in 300WSM, but I'm not too familiar with either the rifle or the cartridge.
I'd like to hear any comments on either or both.
 
300 WSM is an excellent cartridge, one that shoots flat enough and hits hard enough to take almost anything in Canada out to distances further than most people should be shooting at critters. Lots of factory ammo options, and if you handload, there are endless components to choose from. One downfall is it may recoil quite a bit if you're not used to shooting anything bigger than a 270, and that will take some time to master at the range.

From what Ive heard, Kimber rifles are very nice. Ive never seen one though.
 
I've seen one. Kimber basically copied every good thing about the Pre-64' Winchester M-70 and in a nutshell, they re-invented the Pre-64' Winchester.

It's a nice, but very expensive rifle.

If you want one buy it, but IMHO they are too expensive.

Did I mention they are expensive...



Oh yeah, all the .30 cals are all fine calibers... all except the 7.62x39...
 
Thanks fellas...I appreciate the input...I have over 50 different sets of loading dies on the bench and I'm sure I could make room for another set.
I've read a bit about the rifles, but I think its a lot better to find info from the users instead of a gun writer.
Bottom line is...I'm more than grateful for any comments from fellow CGN'ers...:rockOn:
 
Kimbers

Kimbers are nice rifles, real nice. My buddy picked up a .338 WM Montana a couple of weeks ago. Good fit and finish. Seems to be quite accurate, I've only put maybe ten or so rounds through it though. Kind of takes some concentration to shoot a Kimber in that round.:eek::)

Also, while they function and appear similar to the M70, they aren't an M70 clone. Much of the innards are completely different, especially the trigger group. Still nice rifles though.:D

I'd say go for it, if they came in a backwards model I'd have one in .260 Rem.
 
One comment...they seem like really nice rifles, but if you have any problems with the gun you can have problems in Canada. Harv3589 had some safety issues and Kimber wont service the gun in Canada on warranty. That could be a problem if you're unlucky enough to have problems.....just figured its something worth mentioning.....
 
I played with a 84M Classic at Wholesale last week.

Now I can't eat, can't sleep, and my Savage isn't talking to me.

Kimbers Ruin you. And I only handled one -- imagine if I'd shot it.
 
Oh yeah, all the .30 cals are all fine calibers... all except the 7.62x39...

the 7.62x39 is a cartridge, not a caliber ;) and its probably not a bad cartridge, just gets a bad rap for the rifles its chambered in

in a good bolt action like a CZ 527 or Ruger 77, and handloaded with a 125 grain Ballistic Tip, its probably a pretty good 200 yard deer cartridge.

hijack off! :D
 
the 7.62x39 is a cartridge, not a caliber ;) and its probably not a bad cartridge, just gets a bad rap for the rifles its chambered in

in a good bolt action like a CZ 527 or Ruger 77, and handloaded with a 125 grain Ballistic Tip, its probably a pretty good 200 yard deer cartridge.

hijack off! :D


Ironically I was at WSS Edmonton today and handled one of those CZ carbines in 7.62X39. A handy little rifle, it would be great starter rifle as a trainer, and I suppose if you were just after racoons, deer or paper it would be okay.
 
Each of those Rugers would need a trigger job or a new trigger ($50-200 each) and glass bedding ($100-150 each) to come to the level of the Kimber, not to mention some work to smooth up that gritty action ($50-75), and likely some fiddling with the extractor ($0-50).

And even after all that work, you'd still be stuck looking at a pot-metal canoe paddle. Kimbers are expensive because they're worth it. Wouldn't you rather hunt with something you can be proud of?
 
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I go hunting, I'm not out there to worry about what my gun looks like. :slap:
Whatta ya' think of my sling swivel?

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An' here's what I did wit' it... :)
 
...and all the money you saved on the swivel you bought a new tooth!!



I watched a guy with a kimber in 260 pull his hair out at the range because it would not shoot, he was down there a fair bit with it, groups were crappy. He ended up taking it to a gun smith and getting some work done to the BBL, don't know if he got a new BBL or what but the point is it was no better than any other rifle when it came time to actualy hit something.

Nice small, light CRF action though....but not THAT much better than anything else.

Sometimes I wonder if gun manufactures don't send thier crap up to Canada, knowing how hard it is to get warranty work done.
 
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I got a Kimber 84M Classicin 7-08 last weekend. So far only put 50 rounds through it, managed to get 5-3 shot groups just under an inch with 139 hornady btsp and 40 gr varget, most everything else was 1.5 -2" but only tried 2 other loads. Seems like a well built rifle, light 5lb.10oz. Tiny little action and skinny little bolt. Will know more when I get some more shooting with a few loads to figure what it likes. Right now I'm thinkin it's a keeper.


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