Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kimber Montana Buy New vs Used

Looking for opinions on whether to wait for a new one through a Master Dealer (who knows how long) or seek out a used one. I’m leaning towards the new option because of the 3 position safety as well the probability (possibility maybe) that the latest generation has some improvements.

I bought a Montana years ago - has 3 pos safety.

What improvements are you looking for?

I got a 7-08 after they stopped making them - been flawless in every regard.

I'd fret neither new nor used. Buy, make sure the action isn't binding, bed the lug and shoot. Done.

I’d buy a used one if I had the chance. The new ones will not be the same. A different stock will be one change I won’t like. Nothing fits like the original stock made (I think) in Costa Rica. And I would want the older one even if I had to re-barrel to get it to shoot like I wanted. And a lot of the older ones had 3-position safeties. Mine does, manufactured in 2014.

never liked to buy used...unless collectable

Some chamberings are only available in the used market.
All of my Montana’s have the three position safety.
I prefer non-threaded barrels.

Reading some of the threads here, I got the impression that the earlier versions had some issues. Accuracy, stocks cracking, feeding problems... but it does seem like there are a lot of positive reviews in spite of that. I don't need a threaded barrel so that's a minus for a new one. People probably sell the ones on that have problems, so I guess there could be a greater possibility of getting "bad" one if I go used.

Of the 3 Montana's I have, the one I bought used is the most accurate of the 3. It's also the newest since it has the green stock instead of the grey.

I thought all Montanas had the three position safety from the begining.....I would not be afraid to buy a used Montana as I have buddy that will only buy used rifles (he gets some great deals) and he has purchased at least 4 used Montanas with zero issues.....good luck...Hb

I love buying kimbers that “won’t shoot”.

Guess I've been lucky also buying " used " Kimber Montana's. Shot my 308 today. Great rifles!!!!!!

I have 4 Montanas and 3 other Kimbers and bought ‘em all used. No issues with any of em. All shoot at least acceptable and some shoot outstanding. All also have 3 position safeties.

I’m yet to see a Kimber without the 3 position safety.
All of mine do, I have 84M, 8400 and Montana.
Where does the notion of them not possessing the 3 position safety stem from?
Anyway, I have bought Kimber's that ‘do not shoot’ and have got them shooting or built exquisite lightweight hiking rifles from them.
I have had only ONE that had issues, a quick chamber polish got it all fixed up and shooting in no time at all.
I would not hesitate buying used, but new is nice.

Cheers.

I bought a Kimber Montana in .280 AI a couple months ago at a gun show. Looking forward to shooting it and see how it works. Honestly, I am expecting it to not shoot well. Seems like the only reason I would sell one if I had it.

The original 84Ms only had a 2 position wing safety. I bought a varmint in the early 2000s and it only has two positions.

I’ve never seen one that dosent have a 3 position safety but that dosent mean anything. All of mine have the 3 position safety. I’ve had excellent luck with kimbers and currently have:
-Montana 308 ~ 2017 (awesome shooter no issues)
-mountain ascent 300 mag ~ 2018/19 (no issues, shoots great)
-mountain ascent 30-06 ~ 2017 (no complaints)

I’d buy another right now if the price was right and it was in a caliber I wanted, like a talkeetna 375, I’d buy one on sight.

I've owned 3 used Montana's. Saved myself a bunch of money. All 3 shot very good. One extremely good.

Does anyone know the serial range or year when Kimber revised the feed ramp on the 84M ?
Thanks
CD

You can call Kimber customer service with the serial number and find out when your rifle was made. The general consensus amongst Kimber 84 owners is that the post 2011 guns are pretty good. and the post 2015 guns even better in terms of accuracy.

I have a 2014 vintage 84L Montana in 30-06 it was purchased used(but near mint) last fall for a good price. The action is slick and the safety works as well as any pre 64 M70 I have owned and better than some. The factory Montana stock is one of the best factory synthetic stocks I have ever handled. Fit and finish was near perfect.

The gun has only been shot with cheap factory loads so far but is grouping a lot like two other factory 30-06 rifles that I eventually got down to well under 1 MOA without much effort.

It has now been glass bedded and the trigger adjusted to 2.5 lbs. Handloads will be tested in the next few weeks. If the gun does not shoot MOA or better, I will be surprised.

Don't know the year, but feeding was balky on mine when the bullet tip hit the ramp. A little smoothing with about 400 grit paper (also the feed rail undersides) and it feeds slick.