Kimber rifles

krshunter · #1 03-01-2005, 11:39 AM

Hey guys, what can you all tell me about Kimber rifles. Have read some real good things about them, but haven't talked to anyone who has actually owned one. Would like to hear the good and the bad. Thanks

Andy L · #2 03-01-2005, 01:37 PM

I have never owned one. Im in the process of trying to talk a guy into selling me one. I love em and havent heard any of my friends that have them say anything bad about them. I know the one Im trying to buy, I fell in love the first time I picked it up. That just dont happen with me.

I have heard that the older ones, the Kimber of Oregon is better than the newer Kimber of America.

Everyone that I have seen or heard of shoot like mad. Good guns all the way around. If I can talk this feller out of his, Ill let you know more.

You will most likely have to pay pretty good money for it, I do know that.

Andy

krshunter · #3 03-02-2005, 12:28 AM

AndyL

I've got one on order and was hoping I made the right choice. I can get them at cost plus shipping from an FFL here in Wyoming. Kimber supposedly had a promotion going too where you could get the same stock as on the Super America for the Classic price. He's trying to get me one of those still, but I'd be tickled with the Classic. Let me know if you get yours and what you think.

razmuz · #4 03-02-2005, 06:29 PM

I related this once before on this forum , but don"t remember where. One day I was at the range testing different loads in a Rem. ADL 270. About three benches from me a guy was shooting a really nice looking stainless rifle. I thought it was a Sako or Wincheseter. He was impressed with my groups and and stated I must really be a good shot. I told him to try three rounds in my ADL. He shot a perfect three leaf clover. I tried his, which proved to be a Kimber and got about a 1.5 inch group. What I'm trying to say is that big bucks may not get you the accuracy you want. However, he did have a beautiful rifle.

TreeDoc · #5 03-02-2005, 11:51 PM

They are excellent rifles....much better than some crummy old .308 Weatherby Ultra Lite. You need to get one right away, while I have money...I mean, while you can....hurry!

Brithunter · #6 03-03-2005, 02:35 AM

Hi All,

Now each rifle is a different kettle of fish

I have a certain rifle which when I shoot my handloads it regulary (if I do my part that is

) puts three shot touching at 100 yards, 5 shots into 5/8", however feed it Winchester factory 150 grn loads and it shoots about 2 3/4" groups

Now if I offered to shoot it with the Winchester ammo you would not be impressed, but on the other hand if I gave you three of my handloads using the 130 grn bullets you would be suitably impressed. As to why it does not like the Winchester loads

I have no idea at all, it's consistant with them and groups are rounded there is just a miss match between this rifle and that ammo. For short range hunting it's fine and I shot a nice red fox with it. Handloads it is most of the time though

for obvious reasons.

Andy L · #7 03-03-2005, 08:10 AM

Kimber of Oregon made a fine rifle. Hands down, IMO. Kimber of America makes a fine rifle as well. Just dont know if its as good as the old ones or not......

I know I want this old Hornet. Its a beautiful gun, and shoots great little bugholes.

As for the one at the range that wouldnt shoot with your ADL, each gun is different, as Brit said. Most guns, you can work up the right load for find the right factory load, then switch ammo and you wouldnt think it was the same gun.....

For example, I could go to the range with you and behind your back, load my 300 Win with 150 Core Lokts and let you shoot a nice little group. Then, behind your back, reload it with 180s and you would think I handed you a different gun.

I think you will be happy with your Kimber. I want this little Hornet I got my eye one, so bad I can taste it. Like I said, I dont fall in love with guns at first sight too often. Im pretty hard headed actually. But this one grabbed me the first time I held her.....

Andy

Cossack · #8 03-03-2005, 04:34 PM

I just got my second, this one in 7/08. It's called the Montana (84M)a stainless, 22" barrel, synthetic that weighs 6.5 lbs trailside. Trigger is fantastic, controlled round feeding but you can put one in the chamber and the claw will slip over the rim. Light, well balanced and very accurate. I load mine with 140 gr Barnes TSX and Varget to get 2950 fps.
This one has a McMillan stock and a blind magazine to keep weight to absolute minimum (5.5 lbs without scope). I see that the wood version, model 84, which tend to have very nice wood, has a magazine and cover much like Reminton's. I walk in quite a ways and am recoil sensitive from a "football shoulder" so this was just what I was looking for. I am not disappointed.

But, as long as you're checking things out...check out the new CZ Model 3. It's everything that the Winchester pre '64 model 70 was and more. And it's made here in the USA. Cheaper than my Kimber was and looks like to at least as much rifle. It comes in the Winshester short mags only for now (270, 7mm and 30) stainless of blue, wood, and weighs closer to 'normal' weight.
http://www.cz-usa.com/01.02.php

krshunter · #9 03-04-2005, 11:07 AM

Lots of good info. First to razmuz. I have to agree with a couple of the other posts. Almost any gun can shoot good if you find a load it likes factory or otherwise. Because your Remmy was shooting tight groups and the other gentlemans was not, doesn't mean one is the better rifle. I happen to have a Remmy 700VLS in .243 that will just about shoot same hole with my handloads. Great shooting rifle. I love it. I'm sure I could get a Kimber to do the same thing if I took the time to do it. 1.5" sounds more like an exception than the norm with a Kimber from what I've read.

I guess what I am looking at as much as how the rifle will shoot is how well it is made. As much as I like my Remington I'm positive it's not made as well as the Kimbers are. I was comparing the Kimber to a Win. Mod 70 Super Grade because they were within $20 of the same price. The Win. was a beautiful gun but everyone I talked to said go for the Kimber for the same money. Same bot and action, same length barrel, same safety, but the Kimber action, trigger and barrel are match grade. I was told that at the moment Win. is putting out the worst barrels on the market. Said you won't get near the gun for the same price. Doesn't mean the Win. wouldn't shoot well though.

I like the Mauser98/Winchester action and the classic lines of the Kimber. I've read that you get things on this gun that are generally only found in custom rifles for a fraction of the price. I want a well built rifle with the classic looks and features of something like the old pre 64 Model 70's but without having to go to the expense of a custom rifle. This is about as close as it gets as far as I can tell. Dakota makes a good one too, but more than twice the price. I can make the thing shoot once I get it. There may be somebody donw the bench that is shooting a little tighter group now and then, but that doesn't necessarily equate to a better rifle.

I appreciate all of your input and still would like to hear more. I ordered this thing in .300WSM to replace my Tikka so I'll post when I get it and start shooting it. Hopefully soon. Thanks to everyone.

razmuz · #10 03-04-2005, 06:59 PM

High dollar rifles are just like Rolex's. They may be made better or look better, but will they tell time or shoot better? Face it, your just buying SNOB appeal. I"ll take a Remington any day and spend the excess bucks on a quality scope. Don't get me wrong, I love a fine rifle and have owned a few. However, they've always ended getting traded off. Maybe because they had so much trade in value, I really don't know. What gun nut can really explain why he keeps on trying new rifles. I've got to go now an light some candles in hopes that CZ will make one of their new rifles in 6.5X55 rather than those ridicules WSM calibers.

Andy L · #11 03-04-2005, 10:56 PM

raz,
You said a mouthful. I love my Remingtons. I love my Ruger. I even like my Savage. But, I have never had a fine rifle. I know that little Kimber 22 Hornet wont kill coyotes any deader than any of my current calling rifles. Heck, I probably wont ever hunt with it.

But, I have never had a fine rifle. I have never held a rifle that I immediately fell in love with like this one. Never had one that caught my eye or gave me the feeling I got just holding it, never shot it. Your right, it may be snob appeal, or whatever you want to label it, but I still want it.

Lifes short. If something trips your trigger like that, and you can afford it, I dont see a thing wrong with treating yourself.

As I said, IF I can get this guy to sell me that little Kimber, it will probably spend more time in the safe than anything. May make it to the range, gunclub or backyard range. But I doubt it will ever be fired at an animal. It wont get 500 rounds put through it during my lifetime. But, Ill smile everytime I open the safe and pick it up.

Andy

Brithunter · #12 03-05-2005, 07:02 AM

Hi All,

There a re couple of things i do not understand from the previous threads

1) Don't Cz offer the 6.5x55 SE, because they sure used to! in fact I was looking at a CZ 550 American in 6.5x55 the other day in my local Gunshop

2) Err why not hunt with the Kimber ? after all that's what it was made for

my bespoke rifle cost a darned sight more than a Kimber yet it goes a field and in fact just before Christmas took a nice Roe Doe. That's what it was built for and I use it for that purpose

Now to answer the critique about costs, well yes I could have brought at least 2 Remingtons for the cost of the Medwell & Perritt and that's at our UK prices. With US prices I could have brought about 4 Remington 700's for the same price

however the thought never entered my head.......... why well it's simple I do not like the Remington 700 one little bit although I have never seen or handled the supposedly better made "Classic". As for top notch glass well the Medwell wears a 6x42mm Schimdt & Bender in Apel EAW swing mounts, so it does not get much better than that

and no I am not wealthy either.

The only thing I will not do with the Medwell is take it by airplane as I could not get enough insurance to cover it's replacement

I got a quote from the makers to replace it and the insurance folks did not like it one little bit

so I took a std production rifle instead not that anything happened to it but it's better to be safe than sorry

razmuz · #13 03-06-2005, 09:07 PM

ANDY L........ I can't argue with you. Your right, most of us on this forum suffer from the "I gotta have it" syndrome.

BIRD HUNTER.........Consider yourself lucky. Sound like you got a fine rig. I have the CZ 550 American in 6.5X55, all nine pounds with scope. But, they got a new stainless rifle called the C-3, I think? It's much lighter and is closer to being like the Win. mod. 70 of old, made better, lighter and more accurate. Suited out they say it weighs less than eight pounds. Some consider it having the strongest action made today.

Brithunter · #14 03-06-2005, 09:52 PM

Hi razmuz,

I am assuming the comment on the CZ's was aimed at me, although the name is wrong? any way, here is my Model 601 :-

The 601 weighs about 8 1/4 lbs with scope fitted, the 550 American was designed to appeal to the US market although the 601/602 sold quite well. You will notice that mine does not have that Hogs Back stock! My thinking is that dd hurt the sales some so why not just have this and the delux one they offere at the time?. Main difference with the 500 is the bolt shroud and the safety apart from the stock that is

And here is the other rifle :-

Taken 3 weeks before Christmas, Roe Doe. The rifle is chambered for 30-30 Winchester.......... yes you did read that right. I use handloads with Hornady 130 Grn Spire points, velocity is 2800 fps and it's accurate and effective.

Mike Moss · #15 03-29-2005, 02:09 AM

I have bought four new Kimber rifles since 10/2003 and I find that they compliment my battery. I got by with Featherweights but due to age and injury I treated myself to some lightweights.

The Kimbers have features that matter to me but at a good price. Pillar bedding, glass bedding and free floated barrels are a good way to make a rifle today. I also like the CRF and M70 type safeties.

Considering the light weight of these rifles they shoot as well or better than manyof the heavier ones that I have.

I consider Kimber to be the finest US made factory rifle today. To get the features that they have one had to go to NULA before.