Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Thoughts on Kimber Hunter

Thinking I need (well want) a new lightish rifle to pack over the mountains here in Idaho. I just saw a Kimber Hunter Black that looked pretty good. I have read where Kimbers were (maybe still are) a bit of a crap shoot in the accuracy department - wondering if they have the kinks worked out or if they are still hit and miss. Second item of considerations - caliber. I've been shooting things with a 30-06 for the last 30 years and am considering a lighter recoiling cartridge. The 6.5CM seems to be gaining popularity, there are always the classics 308 and 7-08. .243 is a little light but the others should be fine for mule deer and the occasional elk inside of 1/4 mile. What say you?

Have one in 6.5 CM and like it a lot. It's a bit too light for my liking but it's a hellova rifle. 3/4" groups at 100 with factory ammo.

I have one like tzone's. Same cartridge, etc. Anyway, mine shoots in the neighborhood of 3/4" as well.

My son bought one last year, and while I'm not a fan of the guard being part of the stock, it looks sturdy enough. It's pretty lively on the bench, but pretty handy in hand. Nice trigger too. Assuming no Kimberish problems, I think it's a nice one for the price, especially for someone allergic to DMs that stick out.

I have one chambered .280AI and I am thoroughly happy with the rifle. The first three bullets I tried were 150 Partitions, 120 Ballistic Tips, and 120 TTSX's. I found loads for all three that will consistently do 5 shots 1" or better at 100, and didn't have to work too hard or burn too much powder to do it. Earlier this Fall, I tried four more bullets, as well as new loads for the original three. I was playing and mostly just trying to find an even more better better-mouse-trap. I found several more loads that are close to or under an inch through two test groups each. It's kind of an embarrassment of riches to have the choices I've got for hunting loads.

It's light and easy to carry; probably too light for steady off hand shooting without a lot of specific practice, but I didn't buy it for those type hunts, so that doesn't bother me.

I shoot it a lot. I'd buy it again, no hesitation. No roulette experience here. Magazine design works just fine, no trouble. The barrel heats up FAST at the range, but that's not a big deal, and if it's my only complaint, it ain't much. Like most, I take another rifle or two and shoot them while it cools.

I got one a few weeks ago, in 6.5 creed. I haven't done a lot of load development yet, but it looks like this rifle will shoot the 140 gr. Nosler RDF and IMR4350 into about 5/8". It hasn't liked the two hornady factory loads I have tried. I love how light it is. Very handy. One of my buddies got one in .30-06 last year and he absolutely loves it. I was highly tempted by the .280AI version.

I have one in 6.5CM and shoots Fusions well under an inch. Very happy.

Still kick myself for selling my 260 Montana!

Thanks fellas - what's the recoil like in the long action calibers. Guessing a 30-06 with some 180's will probably get your attention.

My above noted .280AI with 150 Partitions and a top end charge requires a firm hand on the forend. Free recoil will bounce pretty good. But, in terms of felt recoil, it's not awful. The stock design keeps it reasonable, plays well with the light weight, to me. Maybe a slight cautionary note if you're the type that presses your cheek bone down on the comb. If so, that's different because the comb is narrow and might teach you new a new cheek-weld habit.

In 2018 I built 5 rifles and bought one factory rifle:
Win M70 280AI
Rem700 6.5-06
Sav 111 300WM
Sav 110 280AI
Rem 700 7mmSTW
Kimber 84L 280AI

I took them on a month long trip of target practice, shooting 3 antelope, and 2 mule deer.

That Kimber was way lighter and much cheaper than what I had in parts in the other rifles.
To keep it extra light, I put a Leupold rimfire lightweight scope on it.
It kept up in accuracy with the other rifles a 200y and 400y.

If the cheap and lightweight Kimber works so well, why am I bothering to build rifles?


140 gr NAB 56.2 gr IMR-4166

My Kimber hunter is also a 6.5cm and I really like this rifle!

Fusion 140’s have been one shot elk killers. Hornaday whitetail 129’s on deer and antelope.

I love the light weight and light recoil - makes it easy to carry and hit with.....

I’d buy another in a heartbeat.

My almost 50 year old .270 is languishing in the back of the safe.......

Bought a 308 for a friend when they first became available. He passed away last year and never had a chance to use it. Update. It shoots quite well and I have been hunting with it this year. Really nice to carry and I've yet to see any problems. Really like it.

I’m looking for another light rifle as well, with the Kimber Hunter the 308 and 7-08 weigh 5lb 7oz. But the 6.5CM weighs 5/9 and the 243 weighs 5/10 , so for me, I’d stick to 308 or 7mm-08. I’ve never owned one but have heard the same thing as well about the accuracy from Kimber, so I’ve also been looking at the Savage 16 Lightweight Hunter or the 10 Lightweight Storm. Little over 5.5lbs and a few hundred bucks cheaper than the Kimber.

What kind of price are you guys finding on the shelf for these rifles?

-Jake

If 2 ounces concerned me I would buy the Montana.

I like my .308 a lot...






First hunt with it tomorrow, wanted to use the .444 first. My grandson was VERY impressed with the “BANG — FLOP “ Built into the .444.

Though I am not in the market for one currently (If I was it would be a .280 AI), I believe the last one I was was $799. That was at the military BX last spring in Alaska. I'm sure they can be had cheaper, but $799 is what I remember as it's the only one I have ever handled. It was in .308 Win, and was the only Kimber outside of pistols I have seen in the place.

The squabble over 2 or 3 oz. is just funny...

Most I see are for $799 and up, but I have found them as low as $750.

As for which chambering to buy, I would root through the safe to see what’s missing.

With a 243 on one end and the .270 on the other......the Creed was an easy pick and one I’m very happy with.

If you are worried about weight you might consider the weight of 5 rounds is ammunition. Then figure the weight of the rifle. Might surprise you.

The Montana stock is 1/2 the equation IMHO.