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Just to let people know that all is not skittles and beer in the world of Kimber owners...

I just bought a M84 Montana in .260 Rem and loaded up a batch of handloads to start developing from. Ten different handloads were prepared in new Remington brass using 100gr partitions, 125gr partitions and Sierra 140gr SPBTs. Powders were IMR4350, IMR and H4831, RL19 and H1000. Seating depths were all close to 2.75-2.78. Scope was a known Leupold VXIII 2.5-8 in properly installed Leupold rings and Kimber bases. Shooting conditions were perfect--dead calm and 70-75 degrees. Groups of five shots each at 100 yards were fired over 20 minute intervals, and the barrel allowed to cool completely between groups. Velocities were high and in some cases exceptionally uniform (s.d. of less than 10fps), and pressures moderate to moderately high with neatly flattened but not cratered WLR primers. The barrel did not foul with any of the bullets.

Best group of the day was 2.5" for 5 shots, running up to 4", and a solid majority were over 3". My target looked like I had shot it with buckshot by the end of the day.

Wow. The trigger letoff is a heavenly 2lbs. The rifle is tightly seated to the bedding, the scope mount is correctly installed, and I know how to shoot. I've got four other rifles in the safe that routinely shoot 1/2 moa with my handloads. There is nothing obviously wrong with the crowning of the rifle or anything else, except that the bolt head sits rather loosely in the lockup and may not be engaging evenly. There is nothing systematic in the groups that I can see to suggest a cause--no linear stringing in any particular direction--and the barrel appears to be amply floated back to the breech swell.

I'm stumped. I'm sending the gun back to Kimber to see whether they can figure it out. Any ideas from the readership?

BP-B6

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I'd take her apart and reconfirm that all fasteners are tightened in accordance.

Then I'd shoot Re-15 and 95gr V-Max,to establish a baseline...............


Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Fireform,

This happen to a customer at my local gunshop. The gunshop sent the rifle back to Kimber. Whatever they did, the gun came back shooting around an inch.
I'd try and send it back.
Good luck!
[bleep]

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I'd bet that they just screwed on another barrel. RS

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Fireform,

This happen to a customer at my local gunshop. The gunshop sent the rifle back to Kimber. Whatever they did, the gun came back shooting around an inch.
I'd try and send it back.
Good luck!
[bleep]


That's what I'm hoping for. I spoke with the Kimber custom shop, and they told me to send it in. They also imparted an interesting bit of information that I almost forgot to mention: the FAQ on their webpage implies that their centerfires are test fired for accuracy, but the guy at the custom shop told me that that is not so. They are checked for feed and function, but no accuracy firing is done.

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My buddy had a Kimber 22-250 that was shooting in the 1 1/2 inch range. Kimber asked him to sent in in. It came back recrowned and now shoots sub 1/2 MOA. Be glad that you own a Kimber instead of a Winchester, Remington, Ruger, Dakota etc. They would just tell you that 3" groups were acceptable hunting accuracy. Kimber actually cares to make their rifles shoot well........DJ


Remember this is all supposed to be for fun.......................
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I have a 84 Classic in 7-08 that shoots way beyond what I would have ever hoped for. Always under 1/2" if I do my part, with just about anything fed through. Youngest brother same rifle in 308 and the results were less than impressive. The rifle was sent back at their request, when she retuned what a difference. Kimber does seem to care, what a marvel in todays market place.
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I think my next factory rifle,is gonna be a Kimber Montana,for my daughter..........................


Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Same experience. They fix and send them back all better, better than expected. A 7-08 that likes every load thus far. It does shoot 1/2" groups.

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Any manufacturer is going to let one slip from time to time. The test is whether they stand behind their product or not. I'll post back here when it comes back from the factory and let you know how it goes. It's such a sweet little rifle, ideal for my needs in a walking whitetail/hog and even turkey gun if it shoots up to its potential, so I really hope this works out. I hunt on a ranch lease where shots can range anywhere from 15 to 400 yards, so accuracy counts.

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I think my next factory rifle,is gonna be a Kimber Montana,for my daughter..........................


A crf rifle in the Stick household? Say it aint so. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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Oh...I've had lotsa CRF stuff,still have some.

Always could like the aesthetics of the dainty Kimber and it just might could be the reason why I named my daughter same...................


Brad says: "Can't fault Rick for his pity letting you back on the fire... but pity it was and remains. Nothing more, nothing less. A sad little man in a sad little dream."
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Thought you were having an identity crisis for a minute there. You must be a better man than me. I couldn't even get the wife to let me name the dog "Ruger".

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I have an 84 in 7-08 with exactly the same problem. 5 shot groups are about 3-4 inches. The primer strike is very light, so poor ignition may be the culprit. In any case, the rifle will be going back to Kimber.

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Lets see, If my math is right on this post there were 6 guys that have or had kimbers and five of them have had or are having problems..some fixed when they went back to the factory and add mine that had a buldged chamber a few years ago. Thats about 86% of them that are bad give or take a percent or two. Factory support or not theres not going to be any money from my household going to Kimber.

Lefty <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

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I think my next factory rifle,is gonna be a Kimber Montana,for my daughter..........................


There must be some kind of glitch in the time/space continuum.
Who are you and what have you done with Big Stick?
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


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Thats about 86% of them that are bad give or take a percent or two. Factory support or not theres not going to be any money from my household going to Kimber.


Me thinks this is hardly a fair sampling and any statistics drawn from it can be considered moot, given the topic of this thread. But it is your money and you can spend it anyway you see fit.


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Stick,

I can't remember exact dimensions but I do remember that the LOP on the Kimber is longer than standard. May have to get out the saw for Sissy.

Roads

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Quote

Me thinks this is hardly a fair sampling and any statistics drawn from it can be considered moot, given the topic of this thread.


Good point. If the thread topic were "Kimber 84 Success!" I'd reckon a bunch of folks, probably at least 86% of the respondents, would chime in with how great their Kimber rifles were right out of the box. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


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I hate statistics. Excel & SAS are making my eyes cross...

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