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?

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...............

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]

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

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.

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

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.
Doug D

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

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.

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.

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

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...................

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".

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.

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="" />

Lefty

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="" />

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.

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

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="" />

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

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

I personally have had 6 Kimbers that shot great out of the box, maybe that will help skew the statistics back to where they should be. Most are superb and the few that aren't are being taken well care of by customer service. Right now they are probably the best American Firearms for overall quality, performance, price and customer service........DJ

Last year I was on a quest to buy a Kimber 84. I was determined to buy one, with money in hand. 4 of the 5 that I handled had the forend warped enough to touch the barrel on one side, and very rough moving bolts. The one that was nice was a Super America (Very Beautiful & Big $$$!)

These stats may be skewed, but they were enough to cure my itch.

av- Thought you might appreciate that...

BTW, my great-grand uncle was the starting QB at A&M for two years. He died in a car crash trying to get to an A&M vs. Oklahoma game.

I bought a Kimber 84M and have not had a chance to shoot it but the stock was closer to the barrel on one side. I sent it to Kimber and it was returned with a nicer stock with a good amount of fiddleback in it. It is a .260 and I will be shooting it soon. If it ain't perfect out of the box they fix it QUICK with no bitching about it, they are good enough for me.

I have bought four new Kimber CF rifles in the last 14 months. The main reason is that I wanted rifles lighter than the Featherweights that used to satisfy me.

The first was a 260 Classic and the dealer ordered it for me and I did not like the stock. It was sent back and I got a very nice stock. It's best however to see the rifle first as dealers don't like to send stuff back. I reported this rifle as one of the most accurate sporters I had ever seen. At that time I was using it as a walking varminter with the 95 gr VMax. Since then I tried to turn it into a woods rifle for deer and it has not shot better than 1.0 to 1.25 MOA. While I know this is adequate it's not all that interesting. I am working hard on this ordinary accuracy but so far I have not figured it out.

The next one is a 7mm-08 Classic that was pick off the shelf in a hurry as the 260 went back for the stock change. It shot about 1.25 MOA also out of the box and as it was only weeks from opening day I slapped a sling on in and went hunting as were I use it the shots average around 60 yds. When the season was over I noticed that the QD sling swivels had buggered up the stock as the studs are counterbored into the stock. I drove this rifle down to Yonkers as it's close by and they put a new stock on. I asked for one with black streaks in it to match the very nice 260 stock and they gave me what I wanted! The ejection on this one was iffy and that was corrected also all no charge.


While the 7mm-08 was there I left the 260 also and had Kimber install the new three position safeties on each. They charge $75 each for this and I like the feature.

I discovered that while the windage screws on the 7mm-08 seemed to be tight one did turn and since then the rifle has been under 1 MOA for up to three shots! I have replaced the mounts since then with Burris Signature Zee rings.

A 243 84M Kimber Montana was purchased last spring as a walking varminter. This rifle was perfect and remains perfect since then. It will put the first two shots very close to each other at 200 yds. Every load fired in it has been accurate. I am using the 58 gr VMax at 3750 as I can see the bullet hit with this load. What a pleasure getting a gun out of the box and then just hitting stuff with it.

Last in is the Kimber 8400 Montana in 270 WSM. This rifle has become a favorite as it's lighter than a M70 Featherweight and yet has real long range ablity. Both the Montana's came thru with the three position safety.

Some dealers will discount the Kimbers and others ask full or almost full retail. If one goes prepared and likes the stock (if it''s a Classic) then make an offer of $775 without the mounts. You don't want the factory bases and rings anyway. At the moment the Talley's are the only other game in town for the 84M's.

A 84M Montana should go for $900 or less with the factory mounts. A 8400 Montana was sold to me retail for $1000 in the height of the backorders.

Kimber took steps to upgrade their manufacturing a couple of years ago. They are still not always 100% perfect but it's an excellent design with a market niche that compares to rifles costing far more. When one looks at the carbon fiber/Kevlar stock, Decelrator pad, pillars, free floating, CRF, superb triggers, nice chambers and barrels all made in the USA the value is there what with the backup at the factory.

Don- Have you weighed your two Montana's and if so how much for each?

The 8400 Montana weighs 7.5 lbs with a 3-9 Conquest and Burris Signatures. This calculates down to 6.3 lbs sans scope or mounts.

The 84M Montana weighs 6.5 lbs with a Leu 4.5-14 Tac with lens covers and Talley mounts. This estimates at a weight of 5.4 lbs sans scope.

Savage, When you handload for your 7mm-08 are you able to seat the bullets to reach the lands. If not how far away are you. In my 84M I can't even get close to the lands given the length of the mag box. Some lengths to reach the lands are as follows for mine
1. 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip 2.933
2. 130gr Barnes XBT 2.934
3. 140gr Barnes XBT 2.933
4. 139gr Hornady SST 2.932
5. 154gr Hornady SP 2.895

FZY,

I expect that my 7mm-08 is the same as yours. That's a problem with the 84M's in the 260 also. I think that the lands can be reached in the 243 however.

The cause is the short magazine box that will allow a COL of about 2.825" at best. I wish it were longer too but that's it.

The 8400 in 270 WSM has a long box thats about 3.05" and the standard COL of that cartridge is 2.86". Most bullets will reach the lands at about 2.9" or a little more.

You make a good point and I might experiment with my 260 to see if single loaded rounds that reach the lands shoot better. I must have a thousand shots thru that one and it may have worn some. Have you done so?

Savage,

No I have not done that yet. That is the plan for this spring. Plan on trying some 120 TSX.
You got me thinking... wonder if you could have a 8400 mag box fitted to an 84M.

FZY,

You got me thinking too. Not the WSM box as that's so wide and for another action. First prove that a bullet you like will shoot better single shot. Then take the next step on the magazine box.

Keep in mind that Hornady spire point type bullets reach the lands easier.

Thanks! I couldn't find the bare rifle numbers on their website.

"You don't want the factory bases and rings anyway. At the moment the Talley's are the only other game in town for the 84M's."

Not entirely so. I emailed George Miller at Conetrol and he has the Conetrol setup with the 8-40 base screws in stock. On those little rifles that would be my choice although they are more expensive.

I 'm having a hard time not buying one right now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I've got sets of Talley low and medium Lightweights for 84M's if anyone wants to try em..........DJ

I can't stand the thought of aluminum on the wood stock Kimbers. On the Montana they'd be the cats meow. I may be strange.....

"May"?...............(grin)

Sakoluver & DJ,

Thanks for the heads up on what mounts are available. I have enough for now.

Least I admit it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well...at least you don't have the corner on that market..................

djp, sent you a PM on the Talleys.

Ok. My .308 was in a shop in town and I went nuts over the wood. I traded two remingtons for it cause the gov't don't like to pay us too much. (6 kids might have a bearing on that too though). The first 3 shots with 165 Gr. Sierra SPBT's and enough IMR4064 went into .6 inches. I was astounded and giddy. I decided that my kids needed a 7mm08 but couldn't find one. Eventually I got a hold of Sporty's in Clatskanie OR. and he sold me a .260 for $775.00 with the bases. After I got it I looked it over and was very disapointed with the wood to metal fit. Swivel studs were too deep, floorplate inletted too deep, and the front screw ground too short. A call to the custom shop assured me that they would make it right so off it went. Got back in the same shape w/the exception of a new front screw added. I called again and off it went. I told them I'd only be satisfied with a new stock with wood as nice or better. 2 weeks later (UPS ground-they told me they'd ship by air) I got it back and everything was perfect and the wood a chocolate streaked delight! Now the good part...factory rem. didn't shoot too well but 140 Nosler Partitions over 44.0g of IMR 4831 go into an honest inch (thanks Mule Deer) sometimes better if I do my part. I love this gun, almost wet myself when my 15 YO hunted w/ it and scratched the stock. (sorry Big Stick..I read about the Ti...I just can't do that to a gun!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> So, the end result is a happy customer but if I had been able to pick this one up in a store I would have rejected it because of the wood fit. Long live GUN SHOPS!!!!
Mike.
BTW Now I want a 7mm08 AND a .243 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> I am a gun glutton.

This kimber thing is a love hate relationship.

I have a 7mm-08 that you do not know is in your hand it is that light and shoots sub 1" with factory ammo. And a .22-250 Varmit that is an awesome shooter. But I tried three times for an 84m .243 with no luck, each one was not just right, stock not fitted well or not finished completely and the action was questionable, looked really tested with splotchy bluing. Kimber kept sending the same rifle back with a different stock. No real explanation and no where near as nice a stock as on my others.

On the quest again to find one............... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I have a kimber 84M in 22-250 that i absolutely love. It has gorgeous wood, proper wood to metal fit, great trigger and absolutely drives tacks with the 50 Vmax over 36.5 grs i think) of R15, it is a legitimate 1/2" gun @ 100 yds and has shot smaller several times. The only issue was the bolt was maybe just a tad stiff for my liking but became very silky smooth after about 200 rds and is still great.

I just bought a 8400 Montana in 300 WSM and am impressed, very light, great stock to metal fit, bedding looks great, trigger is 3# and breaks like glass and the thing just points like a champ. Although i only have 30 rds through it, im sure i will be very happy with it for along time to come. the first 3 groups ran about 1 1/4" @100 yds with the 180 gr powerpoints (all the gunshop had on hand), but the last 2 groups are a tad under 1" and it appers its still settling down as the barrel breaks in. Will be buying brass and loading some 150 gr loads soon as im strictly going to use it for deer and think a 150 gr at 3200 fps would be the cats ass for a light walking deer gun

Mallard,
I was just wondering what the kick was on that 300wsm. I just bought a Montana in .308 and have yet to fire it. Im used to a 7mag so Im not real worried, but I would like to eventually get a 300wsm or the 325wsm. I wouldnt mind putting a muzzle break on it, but just wondered what the lack of weight does to the kick of the 300wsm.
BTW, I put a 4.5x14 Leopold with tally lites and it weighs 6lb, 2oz. Compared to the 9lb I was carring before.
thanks.,
mike

Maestro, In a Kimber 8400 300 WSM, the felt recoil probably won't be any worse than your old 7mm Mag. I find that the stock fits me so well and the excellent recoil pad make the "felt" recoil less than you might think.
I sure hope you won't ruin your Kimber by putting a muzzle brake on it. I think that muzzle brakes are an abomination on a hunting rifle for many reasons. I hope you try your 300wsm without one before you think about defacing it with a muzzle brake..............DJ

maestro, im with djpaintless on this, dont muzzle break it. I would say the recoil is between my dads 06 ( ruger 77) and my .264 mag (win 70), certainly should be no problem if you used to a 7mm and shoot it comfortably. that said im not recoil sensitive and find my 300 wsm pleasant to shoot and have ran 50 rounds through it in a bench session with no problem.

I also run the VXIII 4.5-14 on it and my scale says 6 lbs 11 oz with leupold DDs

Youre definitely giving me something to dream about. Impressive. 300wsm is pretty good elk medicine and a rifle that weighs less than 7lbs with tolerable recoil. I dont like the muzzle breaks either unless the gun was unpleasant to shoot, but Im with you guys. Thanks for the info.
mike
p.s. Now how about the 325 in the Montana? Too much? The 300wsw does the job? Just asking.

I got to play with ( hold) a montana in 325 wsm the other day in the dunde MI cabelas. It is very nice I almost left with it!
I do think the recoil would be a little more out of the 325.
But man you talk about a go any place rifle <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
It is on my LIST now.

uhmm dont tell the finance department (A.K.A. wife) but as soon as our local gun shop has a .325 wsm in the montana its coming home with me. My buddy got one a week ago and i have shot it a few rounds and yes the recoil is a bit stiff, but certainly no worse then my 9lb .338. i am all into a gun that goes 6 lbs 11 1/2 oz all up with a 3.5-10 VXIII and approaches very very near the beloved .338 WM