I've never owned a Kimber but the quality of my CZ 527, 18&1/2" barrel carbine with useable open sights seems pretty good. It's light, handy and routinely accurate with good bluing and decent checkered walnut. Mine's never been bedded or free floated but it's accuracy would seem to indicate quality stock inletting and a good barrel. It's not a pencil barrel so it's shot some, IMO, very good 5 shot groups with a 2-7x33 scope and old eyes. NEGC make a receiver sight that fits the integral scope base.
Some things I don't like about it are the backwards safety, the scope could mount a little lower and the set trigger was rough. I ended up adjusting out the set trigger and it was fine. It's not perfect but the quality's there for considerably less than a Kimber.
There is NOTHING redeeming in a CZ 223. Congratulations?!?
Hint................
