Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 84L vs 84M

with respect to Kimber Montana, there are some who prefer the 84M over the 84L... curious to know why? is it a "fits me better" thing, or more the function of the platform, or something else?

I have been under the impression that the 84M was a SA length action, and the 84L a LA action, with little if anything else, different. I could be wrong . . . . .

That's correct......84M=308 84L=30-06

The 8400 is a larger bolt diameter and fatter magazine well for WSMs and Mags etc.

24” vs 22” spouts

As the others said, plus the 84L is about 8oz. heavier

Good post. I always wonder what the differences were.

When I shoulder them the Lop feels shorter on the 84m as well, almost too short for me.
Put a my nose right by my thumb.

FWIW, 84M top, 84L bottom.

the wrist/grip looks thicker on the 84L... perhaps its the shadow on the 84M

Those 2 are very similar other than long action vs short. The original long actions were built on the 8400 action which was far different from the 84's which were on a short action. Given the option of the 8400 in a long action and the short action 84 I'd take the 84 10 times out of 10. With the newer 84L, I could live with ether one depending on the desired cartridge. I think that a lot of the complaints about the long actions go back to that. And they were a viable complaint.

Perceptions are funny sometimes.....the wood feels like it fits me waaay better on a kimber than the synthetic. Don’t know if that’s any dimensional differences or just that it’s wood. MOF, that’s what keeps me indecisive about a kimber....which version?.....more than L or M or caliber even.

interesting, i did a search by cartridge on Kimber's website for 25-06 and they came up as 84L and 8400 in various configurations... why would someone want a Kimber in 25-06 in an 8400???

well belay that, headspace and timing error on my part... i don't see 8400s in 25-06... just 84Ls

According to the specs on the Kimber website, the LOP on the 84M is 13.63" and the 84L LOP is 13.75" along with the longer action and barrel is a slightly longer LOP which appeals to some.

I've had a pile of 84M MT's (currently have three), but have only had four 84L MT's.

I prefer the 84M. It just feels and looks "righter" to me. I find the 84L MT's shank too long (it's an additional 1/2" longer for no good reason), and I dislike the 24 spout. With the short forearm I think it looks a bit goofy. I cut all four of mine, three to 23" and one to 22.5." If I had another, which I have no plans to do, I'd cut it to 22".

If I were limited to one MT it would be a 308...

Obviously your preference in caliber is going to dictate which model you purchase. But having many of both, I find either model easy enough to adapt to. Good luck.

Most if not all 84L Kimbers are 2 1/2" longer then the 84M

how is the gas handling on the Kimber rifles?

Gas?

You know, when a case ruptures or a primer gets pierced. The hot expanding gases have to go somewhere. Where they go is fairly important.