Sako Kodiak vs Kimber Talkeetna in 375 h&h

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hunt'n'fish

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Hey guys I've narrowed down my decision between these two guns. Does anyone have any experience with them, pro's/con's to help me make my decision. It will be used predominantly in Africa and will accompany me on a buffalo hunt next spring in Mozambique.
 
Gunslinger said:
Sako is quazi CRF, Kimber is CRF, slam dunk Kimber if it were me. CZ550 is nice and in .375H&H it can hold many in it's belly. I've also heard first hand from a PH they're simply solid guns.

http://www.africahunting.com/firear...bwe-professional-hunter-proficiency-exam.html
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Hmmm, odd how things change when you go up in caliber. I have never once experienced a jam with my Ruger M77 Mk II due to working the bolt too fast, and I regularly work the bolt very rapidly while shooting. I've also owned a FN commercial Mauser, and while very nice, I find the Ruger to cycle more smoothly and reliably. The Ruger sends brass flying, while the FN ejected far more half heartedly.
 
The Kimbers had a sketchy reputation for accuracy. I do not know if this plagues all models, nor if they have rectified these issues, but it is a complaint I have heard many times. This is not first hand though - I have only owned Kimber of Oregon rifles, not the current ones.

I have not heard any complaints about the Sako Kodiak rifles.

I think the purists out there may prefer the extractor set up of the Kimber, but I have run my Sakos through some gross conditions with absolutely no issues. To be fair though, none of mine have seen extremely hot climates, but have seen extreme cold/ice/mud, etc.

Between the two, I would choose the Sako, but that is simply a personal preference (and I really like their iron sights). You might also want to check out the Ruger express rifles, and the CZ line up.
 
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Though I personally love the CZ, it would be best to get to a gun shop and handle the rifles that
you're interested in or better yet, get out and shoot a buddies' rifle at the range to really help
your decision.
 
I keep hearing about all these Kimber's that don't shoot, but I've got 4 now and they all seem to shoot. Besides, 50 yards is a long shot on buffalo. I'd take the Caprivi and stuff it full of A-Frames. It'll look better in the pictures.
 
Same here, my Kimber shot wonderfully. Talkeetna is damn near my idea of the perfect rifle, without question or hesitation I'd take it over the Sako. The Sako makes a great rifle but I like CRF in a .375, old fashioned, and while they call the Sako 85 CRF it's not. A Win Model 70 isn't going to mislead you either, or a Ruger RSM. I'm softening on the CRF argument as of late but it's certainly something I'd look for on the bigger rifles.
 
I had a Kodiak in 375 H&H and really liked it. It handled great and shot really well. My only criticism is that recoil was a bit stout...even for a .375 but overall it was a great rifle.
 
Sako has manufactured many models of firearms flawlessly, Kimber on the other hand has a reputation of accuracy and feeding issues. I wouldn't roll the dice on a Kimber just in case a lemon shows up on the range or in the field. Ask your PH what he would recommend of any rifle.
 
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Don't pay too much heed to the Kimber accuracy rumours (feeding is a new tack on I hadn't heard yet). Once in Blue moon Kimber made a rifle that wouldn't shoot bug holes, today that's generally a fallacy repeated by people who haven't owned them. Some guys did indeed get lemons about five years ago from what I read here, seen two accounts of Kimbers performing poorly, both ultralights which a .375 is not. That is one challenge with making the lightest barrels in the industry, a Talkeetna is a standard weight rifle however.

As for asking PH's, I know they're out there, but I've yet to meet a push feed equipped PH outside of South African tame game ranches, come to think of it even the South African guys' big rifle was controlled round feed (Kimber style). This said if dangerous game and Africa's not on your .375's menu the two rifles are equals and it's personal preference, I like the Kimber and CRF. I believe you'll also prefer the Kimber's bolt handle and safety especially, best safety in the business; Model 70 style.
 
track said:
Sako has manufactured many models of firearms flawlessly, Kimber on the other hand has a reputation of accuracy and feeding issues. I wouldn't roll the dice on a Kimber just in case a lemon shows up on the range or in the field. Ask your PH what he would recommend of any rifle.
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Considering sako has a Garantee of 5 shots @ 100 yards under an inch,it's not a tough decision to make....lol

I wonder how many PH's out there are running Newyork built Kimber Rifles compared to Sako's?

If I was a PH for a living I would be running a sxs Rifle,like that S2 blaser you had.
 
Ardent said:
I believe you'll also prefer the Kimber's bolt handle............
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Except for the fact it's threaded into the bolt body. Not a big deal, but if we're nitpicking I'd prefer a one piece for a true DGR. Sticky extraction in hot climates is common, and I've had to ram the handle of an open bolt against wood or something hard to get the casing out. I like Kimbers a lot, but that part has always bothered me a bit.
 
Whitetail Junkie said:
Considering sako has a Garantee of 5 shots @ 100 yards under an inch,it's not a tough decision to make....lol

I wonder how many PH's out there are running Newyork built Kimber Rifles compared to Sako's?

If I was a PH for a living I would be running a sxs Rifle,like that S2 blaser you had.
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Quite a few, first time over there my first dangerous game hunt the Zimbabwe PH was very impressed with Kimber (Caprivi version, though he still carried a Win Model 70 .458 Lott conversion), and I went home and bought a Kimber as a result, haven't seen a Sako yet though but I'll see what I find when back in February. Many PH's rifles were gifts from their principal clientele, Americans, so you see a lot of CRF Win Model 70's, Rugers, and other associated American CRFs like the Kimber. Haven't seen a Talkeetna in Africa but it's popular in Alaska and every indication points to it being a damn good working rifle.

This all said, and I'm more guilty than almost anyone, the PH preference and opinion stuff holds little water here. Almost anything of mediocre and better quality is going to serve a guy well here. Hate to admit it but much as I slag the Remington 700 it's going to work as well as my RSM for literally everything and may even out group it. Yes the Ruger's far tougher, but how tough does a guy need, I prefer Ruger and CRFs but going to try not to push my opinions so hard anymore. So the opening poster will be happy either way.

Bearkilr, fair enough re; the handles, I think the Kimber's threaded handle is going to be tougher than the Rem 700's soldered handle (not in discussion here, I realise), or perhaps even the Win Model 70's pressed in splined handle. Likely all the options are tougher than what we ask of them, and the Sako 85 does have a one piece bolt to be fair.
 
Whitetail Junkie said:
Considering sako has a Garantee of 5 shots @ 100 yards under an inch,it's not a tough decision to make....lol

I wonder how many PH's out there are running Newyork built Kimber Rifles compared to Sako's?

If I was a PH for a living I would be running a sxs Rifle,like that S2 blaser you had.
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Couple of nitpicking points, the Blaser S2 is widely regarded as the worst design of quality doubles among the African crowd, good rundown (less grammatical errors) on the issues by DUGABOY of Africahunting.com quoted below. Not many PHs actually use doubles anymore either in reality, the big controlled round feed bolt gun is the mainstay, doubles are often chosen for aesthetic purposes in my opinion. And as for 1" guarantee, a Talkeetna will do that easily as well, and even if it shot 1.25" instead, as a guy who hunts a lot you know it means zilch. I am often bemused by the concerned over a gun shooting .25 inches wider and it being downtrodden for hunting as a result, in hunting we're not worried about benchrest stuff unless the differences are glaring, at least that's my opinion. Nickel or loonie accuracy, no matter, pick what fits best and the features you like. :)

There are a couple of things that, IMO, make the Blaser unstable for use on dangerous game. First off the so-called safety system is, in this case, anything but safe. Let me explain! The system "IS" safe as a loaded rifle can be when placed on the safe (de-cocked) position. So far this system is the same as the Krieghoff rifle, but that is as far as it goes in that comparison.

The K-Gun can be carried loaded exactly the same as the S-2, and when the switch is pushed forward the rifles both are cocked and ready to fire. That is where these two rifles part company.

Now let's do a hypothtical!

Your walk in on a cape buffalo and he charges from 25 yds! You fire the right barrel, then the left, the buff is still on his feet, and continues on to take you on. Now you break the rifle re-load one or both chambers slam the rifle closed and fire three and four on the closeing buff. If you are shooting the K-gun then that is the way it will be.

However if you were fireing the S-2 Blaser you had better not have forgetton to re-#### the action or you will not fire the rifle again, because that rifle automaticlly de-cocks the rifle when opened for any reason. That is a feature I certainly do not want on a double rifle I'm useing to stop a mad buffalo. The auto safety makes no sense at all on any rifle used to hunt dangerous game. It makes no more sense on a double rifle than it does on a bolt rifle. I don't think anyone would want an auto safety that re-set the safety every time he worked the bolt!

The K-gun, once cocked, and fired, re-cocks it's self when opened for the re-load just like all hammerless double rifles, and is ready to fire as soon as the rifle is closed. To place the rifle back on safe if the rifle is not fired again, simply push the switch (safety button) forward slightly , and release, and it is de-cocked and safe again.

The other thing on the S-2 that is a potential problem is the hooded barrel breach, making it difficult to remove a stuck case if the extractor doesn't pull it out enough so it falls from the chamber.

You may use what ever you want, as long as you are willing to live, or die for that decision! I will not reccomend the Blaser S-2 to anyone who hunts anything more dangerous that a whitetail deer.
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Sako makes quality, and Kimber makes quality, I put them both side by side in Tier 1.

You'd need to get your hands on them to decide what feels best for your intended use, then take a look at the price tag and go with your gut. Awesome rifles.
 
track said:
Sako has manufactured many models of firearms flawlessly, Kimber on the other hand has a reputation of accuracy and feeding issues. I wouldn't roll the dice on a Kimber just in case a lemon shows up on the range or in the field. Ask your PH what he would recommend of any rifle.
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I can almost guarantee your PH won't care which one you shoot, he will say whichever one you shoot your first shot most comfortably and accurately from field positions (sticks). When I was in Africa our PH told us story after story about clients that couldn't shoot.
 
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