I have come across a couple of Kimber of Oregon BGR 89 rifles. They certainly look nice.

Were they any good? What were the attributes of the action? Is it identical to a Win pre-64, or a Dakota 76?

What were the flaws?

Do a search of Dogzapper's posts about the old Kimber. Very interesting.

Nice looking rifles, but they had their share of problems.

The good ones are good, but you have to be sure you buy a good one (don't buy without right of return). They are definitely spotty in quality. My .375 H&H Kimber M89 BGR was a good one, very pretty and it would shoot its favorite load into .5" for three shots at 100 yds.

I sold it when I made the move to .375 Ruger...jim

I've read DZ's posts about the spotty quality, but that applied mainly to the 84 series. It sounds like the 89 series was also spotty.

What type of qualities (or lack thereof) would I be looking for in the 89 series? what things were potentially wrong with them?

Are those issues "cheaply" fixable, or do they involve a rebuild of the entire gun?

I met a collector of such rifles in Odessa Texas that suggested many had problems if you were to "actually shoot them". These included headspace problems that he noted in many rifles that he owned and was aware of. I swapped into a dandy of a M82S in 22 Hornet with him that included very, very fine walnut, quarter rib, checkered and tear-dropped butt plate and grip cap that was a fine, fine shooter. I just could not take it out in the bush after my first attempt. It slayed a number of jack rabbits and prarie dogs on the one trip though. I'd be darn cautious given what this experienced gent advised.

I thik taht the basics were that they shopped out every darned thing, and they were a bit spotty in thier build quality, so some were great and others were not.

DD: FWIW, I bought a new 89 in 280. It was a beautiful rifle, but not particularly accurate, and it had serious feeding, extraction , ejection issues. I as glad to see it go.

Well, maybe I'll have to let them pass at the prices their asking.

One has been rebarrelled already by someone. I suppose that indicates a problem.

I have a copy of the article Finn Aagaard wrote on the M89 BGR, the first test rifle Kimber sent him had the rear sight base hole drilled into the bore.

I bought mine from a shop that sells high end guns and has several gunsmiths on staff, plus the owner stands behind anything he sells. If the rifles are pretty and you get a gunsmith to clear them and they shoot, well go for it.

I understand from DZ that the outfit that cast the actions is the same one that does the Nosler actions. The design follows the M70.

jim

I have 1 with a broken safety, does anyone know where I can find another?

Thanks. DZ has gotten in touch with me via PM to discuss this. Many thanks to him and others here willing to share their knowledge (and probably prevent me from wasting a lot of money).