Kimber 84M ? Any info??

[Scout]

Just read an article in American Rifleman about the Kimber 84M..Pretty nice rifle - Anyone with Kimber rifle experiences out there??

[Zachary]

I recently received a brochure from Kimber which also contained a copy of that same article.

I recently ordered a Kimber 8400 Montana in .300 WSM.  It won't be available until after Jan. 1st, but the new 8400 series is based on the same design as the 84.  The 84 is for short actions, while the 8400 is ONLY for WSM actions.

I must say that I was a bit disappointed in the accuracy as stated in the article.  The 84 got groups of about 1.5" which, in my book, is horrible accuracy considering that all of my Remington 700s and Tikkas shoot sub inch all day.  On the other hand, I do understand that these rifles are VERY LIGHT with very slender barrels.  As such, apparently 1.5" groups are to be considered "good" as far as accuracy standards are concerned.

Still, when I spoke with someone at Kimber, he told me that the 8400 Classic (wood/blue) that they tested in .300WSM shot .71" groups with Factory Winchester 180 grain Fail Safes.  Kinda interesting (or coincedental) that these same bullets are pictured throughout the Kimber brochure in the 8400 section.  Granted, this is certainly not to say that all of the 8400s will shoot the same, but at least its a good sign.  I bought this gun as an Elk/Mule deer gun while hunting and hiking the mountains where weight is a definite factor.  So the fail safes would be a good choice, and the light weight will be pleasant on my back.

Other than that, I have never even HELD a Kimber (ANY Kimber) in my hands.  I too wish that someone out there could tell us something about these rifles.  Apparently everyone in the magazines and the net have nothing but good things to say about them.  But I wish that I could hear info from people on this forum - whose opinions and experiences I have learned to trust.

Zachary

[freddogs]

I looked at a couple in a Sporting Goods store in Appleton Wisconsin last winter. They were short action 308 or maybe 7mm08 and extremely light. They looked very nice but I have never shot one. The price was under $700.

[coug2wolfs]

Hmmmm, this is queersome, the Coug with first hand info on a bolt gun??

But sure as shootin, I got what you guys are lookin for

I did some hoss tradin up in Whitefield this past weekend. Looked around at what must have been an easy 500 guns, nothin floated my stick. Had em all at one time or another.

Then I saw that Kimber rifle in 308.  Picked it up (mistake #1), looked it over (Mistake #2), carried it around the shop like I was huntin (mistake #3).  There was no way I was leaving without it!

Got home and put my favorite 1.5 to 5 Leupold with heavy duplex rets on it.  Man does that little rifle look sharp!

Sunday morning I went an lit it up.  Standard Remington 150 Core Lokts from Wally World, nothing fancy.  50 yards, ONE hole. Hundred yards, under an inch more times than over.

All poppycock in the world of hunting. Set a deer target out at 50 yards. Offhand, 1.5 inch groups right where you want em!

I'm being dead honest when I say this is the FIRST rifle I ever owned that didn't stretch the livin daylights out of the case when it was fired.  These guys know how to headspace a rifle.  Matter of fact, these guys know how to do it right clean accross the board!  The trigger breaks crisp at what I would guess is 3 to 3 and a half pounds. No creep, no backlash.

Just how well do I like this rifle you ask?  Well, he had another in 7mm-08, going to pick it up Saturday!

It's hard to explain, and you won't "feel" it in pictures, you have to pick one up and handle it. You do, and you'll buy it if you know rifles.

Heck, it comes with pillar bedded match barrel and chamber as well as trigger. The claro is done with clean sharp handcut checkering, All the steel is matt blued and the stock is a hand rubbed oil sheen.

To me it was a breath of fresh air in amongst the glitz and non functional gold triggers.  This is a hunting rifle that will put the fun right back in woods stalking.

And the best part...It's made right here in the USA, Yonkers New York!  I felt so good buying American, it just wrapped it up for me.

A set of bases will run you $45, but they are a PERFECT fit to the breech. Takes standard Leupold rings.

Ina pulled a moose tag this year up here in NH, guess who the Alternate is  And GUESS what this Ole Coug will be totin to the clearcut.

Geez, don't you guys let this one outa the bag, the bigbore lever boys will disown me

[Ol` Joe]

I agree with cougs` impressions 100%, but have to add my M84 in 260 rem went back to Kimber with a badly binding bolt. Kimber loosened it up some but it still feels rough.
I`ve talked to a couple others that have looked at them and it seems they also felt the bolt travel needs work. I took mine as I had it on back order for 2 yr and was tired of waiting,(ordered it in Jan of 2001 got it last Nov they brought them out one cal at a time and 260 was the last to be produced) and sent it back after the first range session for repair.
I can`t say the problem hasn`t been amended in the newer production, or that all early rifles had it, but the few I`ve seen or heard of did.
They are a sweet lookin`& handling rifle, I just don`t feel for the price they should need this type of work.

[Zachary]

'Ol Joe,

I am both sorry and surprised to hear about your experience with Kimber rifles.  Virtually everyone that I have spoken to about Kimbers had experiences similar to that of Coug - nothing but praise.

Just out of curiosity, did you buy your Kimber new or used?

Zachary

[coug2wolfs]

The Kimber rifles are TIGHT all over, including the bolt.  That's what precision is all about.  It would seem quite pointless to have a match grade barrel and a match grade chamber with a sloppy bolt.

Sure, she's stiff, I expect in about a few thousand rounds things will become slicker  :lol:

I didn't fall in love with the Kimber for fire power, I have pumps and levers for that game.  No Sir, I bought the rifle because it appealed to every aspect of what I believe a true rifle should be.  It's a dandy rifle to carry into the quite places where a man becomes one with the woods, a way back in.

There the game is not spooked, the shots are close and deliberate.  I'll enjoy getting there with the little Kimber, and I won't be worn to a frazzle when I get out

The folks at Kimber stock these rifle right for use with a scope. You get a firm check weld and if you shoot a lot off hand, you know that GREATLY improves the score.

I'm probably the fussiest man alive when it comes to guns.  I am being dead honest when I say, there ain't a single thing I'd change on that Kimber.

I descibe it as a hunting rifle with class!

[Scout]

Hey - Thanks for the reponse to my initial post on the Kimber ! It took a while but responses started rolling here just recently.

Coug2Wolf - I am too a LEVER LOVER and very picky about rifles and take your positive comment as a hint for me to get one of these.  308 is what I want and I want a 19" barrel,  Do you think Kimber would reasonably make one up for me in 19" or is it a waste of $? Was the 22" handy enough?

I just bought a Tikka Whittail and will likely pick  it up Saturday.  At the shop I will check out the Kimber prices and start my saving.  

I am like you in that I like a 1.5 to 6 X scope.   Real shootin is not bench shootin and Hubble's don't belong on hunting rifles.

Regards Scout

[coug2wolfs]

Scout

The 22 inch barrel is quite handy, and it balances well on the rifle.  Too, keep in mind that a 22 inch barrel will deliver higher velocity than a 18 or 19 inch jobbie.  Not that high end velocity is where it's at, but if the powder don't burn complete the rifle will never shoot its best.

I keep telling my Bro-In-Law that 3 to 9 scopes on brush guns don't get it but he just won't listen  :wink:

I did like the Tika, but the Kimber won out!

[Zachary]

The Kimber rifles are TIGHT all over, including the bolt.  That's what precision is all about.  It would seem quite pointless to have a match grade barrel and a match grade chamber with a sloppy bolt.

I'm probably the fussiest man alive when it comes to guns.  I am being dead honest when I say, there ain't a single thing I'd change on that Kimber.

I descibe it as a hunting rifle with class!

Coug,

I have never held a Kimber in my hand, but it seems that virtually everyone tells me that they are super high quality in every respect.  Yea, in the short time that I have known you over these posts, I DO know how fussy you can be when it comes to guns - ME TOO. :grin:   As such, the comments you make about the Kimber come as a comfort to me.  I never quite thought about a "tight" bolt as being necessarily a good thing, but, when you compare it with the loose bolts of other factory rifles, I guess that I too would think that something is wrong with it.  Thanks for giving us a true first hand impression.  I'm really looking forward to receiving my Kimber 8400 Montana. :-D  :-D  :-D

Zachary

[Ol` Joe]

"I am both sorry and surprised to hear about your experience with Kimber rifles. Virtually everyone that I have spoken to about Kimbers had experiences similar to that of Coug - nothing but praise.

Just out of curiosity, did you buy your Kimber new or used?"

Zachary,
I bought the rifle new. I ordered it when they first listed them in their catologe in late Jan / early Feb 01 and picked it up Dec 22 02. They built them in the varmint modle first then followed with 308, 708, 243 and finally 260. I almost dropped the order as they kept telling me it would be about 90 more days every time I called Kimber and asked about the rifles status.

You will notice I did agree with Coug I just added a problem that I experianced with mine that I`ve heard repeted by others.

"The Kimber rifles are TIGHT all over, including the bolt. That's what precision is all about. It would seem quite pointless to have a match grade barrel and a match grade chamber with a sloppy bolt."

Coug,
I didn`t say the bolt was "tight" I stated it was "binding". This was in the rear reciever ring and was bad enought that if you didn`t push the bolt dead straight in to the reciever it would lock up until pressure was released and you reapplied pressure to it straight. There is no anti bind on the Kimber action as there is on Win and M98 bolts. Rapid manipulation of the bolt was almost impossible.

Kimbers customer service was 1st rate and took care of the problem ASAP, The turn around on the repair was ~7-8 days from time sent, untill it was back in my hands.

I agree with you that the rifle is very tight toloranced, but the bolt has to lock up tight with relation of LUGS to RECIEVER to aid accuracy not be tight in its` travel. Accually, and more importantly, it needs to have a even bearing of lugs to the bolt resesses with even pressure. How it rides on the rails has zero effect on the guns accuracy or lock up.

That said the bolt is still rough in its travel and will take quite a bit of working to smooth up, although the bindings is pretty much gone, unless you look for it you don`t notice it since the factory played with it.

I`m not knocking the rifle I still have mine and do like it. Again, if you reread my post I agreed with your evaluation of the rifles. Very accurate, lots of custom features, great wood, light weight, best trigger I`ve felt on a factory rifle.

I just noted a beef I have with mine, that others have noted on them, that may not bother you or be present on your rifle. I`m simply reccommending that someone looking to buy one work the action  and make sure it functions smoothly.

[Zachary]

[quote="Ol` Joe] I`m simply reccommending that someone looking to buy one work the action  and make sure it functions smoothly.[/quote]

That's gonna be a problem for me - seeing that I have the gun on order and won't hold it in my hands until after I buy it.  If you look around the net and local dealers, you can find NIB Kimber 84s, but not the new 8400s as they will (hopefully) be produced around the first of January.

Also, I too have heard that Kimber is notorious on slow orders, but I guess that's the price we pay for getting a semi-custom rifle.  I don't mind waiting a little bit, but I sure hope they don't keep on saying 90 days about 10 times - I really don't want to wait over a year.

Zachary

[coug2wolfs]

Ole Joe

I want jumpin on ya man, and being honest, my Kimber is tight in the bolt as well.  Matter of fact, you gotta be firm with the workins or the cases want to hang up.  Figure that was my fault on account of I was babyin it.

Once I treated it like a Weatherby and worked the piss out of it, it worked without a hiccup. Reckon it will smoothout in a few hundred rounds or so, metal does hone in after a fashion.

I am glad to hear that they jump right on an issue if one should occur.  Sounds like we got the only two so far

Don't ya feel like a pioneer

[Scout]

I will find out personnally Saturday - Pickin up my Tikka Whitetail 308 then.  Have not got a scope yet, but will probably decide on one Saturday when I pick up the rifle.   I have read that the bolt is smooth !  I hope it is tight and smooth.  


Will look for a Kimber to handle at the next show I attend.

[Zachary]

Scout,

The Tikka actions are VERY smooth, but certainly not tight.  In fact, believe it or not, you can work the action with your pinky finger!!  Compare that with a Remchester where you need about 100 pounds of force to lift and close the bolt.

As for scopes, go to either www.theopticzone.com or www.swfa.com.  They are our sponsors and have some of the lowest prices around!  Sure, you can go to the store and look at the scopes, but I wouldn't buy one there.  Buy it from the net and you don't pay taxes, just a small shipping fee - usually about $10.

Take a look at the "Optics" section of this forum - I'm also the moderator there too.  Once you read some of the posts, you will quickly learn that I and many others, including Jon, the owner of theopticzone, strongly recommend the Bushnell Elite 4200s and Nikon Monarchs.

Zachary