Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Anyone added bottom metal to a Kimber MT 84L?

So, in theory, water could have found its way into the mag well through the floorplate as easily as from anywhere else. And, of course, the Sako AV shares the same water slot (safety slot) that the M700 has.

Nice thing about the Kimber MT is that it's about as close to a "sealed action" as a guy can get. Safety on bolt shroud (no water slot) and no floorplate.

I prefer floorplates on some rifles, but not on the MT. And I have to say I've never had any issue with MT's function over the last 13 years in all kinds of Montana weather. Mine have been soaked in rain, covered in snow, hunted from -25*F to the 90's in dry, dusty weather.

I'll be curious to see how this all pans out with the Bottom Metal Mod for the the MT, but I can tell you I wouldn't do it. No way.

Well I guess some people just like to tinker with stuff.

Brad, the safety slot on the Sako AV is shrouded such that there isn't a direct path to the inside of the action, unlike a Rem 700.
The safety slot also had nothing to do with the issue I had as its well behind the magazine box.
I would also say that it's hard to compare hunting in a Upper MI cedar swamp with Montana. Assuming you are in black timber in MT the understory of a UP cedar swamp is such that your exposed to much more snow. Then there is the humidity, which is much higher in MI. Also our hunting season starts November 15 and runs until the 3Oth. In MT most guys are done hunting by this time and as such aren't exposed to the amount of snow we are. It's really hard to appreciate how nasty the climate is where I live until you have been here.

Ben, I will say it's true that only about every other year lately am I hunting in below zero weather and snow. But I can tell you going up and down mountains in deep snow can load up a rifle with snow. And we certainly do hunt in rain and freezing rain. At least I do. As to not knowing what the UP is like, would you consider hunting upstate NY's Adirondack's to be a good comparison? How about coastal AK?

If you want a project, far be it from me to tell you you shouldn't. But I also have been at this long enough to know it's not necessary. It's a want, not a need, and is not without risk.

As to water not being able to find its way through from the safety slot or from the gap at the bottom of the bottom metal... all I can say is water has a mind of its own and does logic defying things. Also, a rifle is not a static thing in only one position during a day of hunting.

I'd be far more concerned about a typical closed trigger (like the Kimber's) than a BDL vs ADL magazine setup. To me, the ultimate is a blind magazine Model 70 with traditional open trigger.

My question to you is, what's your experience with the Kimber MT in the UP weather you describe that makes you think the blind magazine will be a problem?

Here's a Kimber MT and a little eating sized elk I took a pic of on a typical snowy hunt. My rifle looks like this as often as not on a snowy day.



-28*F

Brad, I never said it would be a problem. I just prefer rifles with floor plates.
I can't comment on the Adirondack as I have never hunted them. I have hunted Alaska, but it was in the Brooks range and there were no trees to speak of.