Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Some Kimber Rifle Questions

I don’t use the floor plate when unloading a M70 or M700.

As I recall, the Classic trigger guard is square where it meets the stock, while the Montana is round. So are actions and stocks interchangeable?

Actions and stocks; yes. Trigger guard and bottom metal no. As 257 stated you would have to find a spare Montana stock and have someone inlet it for the BM that came with the wood stock. I'm not sure if it would be feasible or not; one of the beauties of the Montana stock is that like the brown/mcmillan ks pattern stock and the ula/nula stock it was designed as an adl and has a nice rounded shape (rather than a flat spot) under the action.

i love my Montana 308, it’s been nothing but a pleasure to shoot and own.

Yep, the 308 Montana is the “sweet spot’.

JK, I've had around 18 Kimber Montana's... of all of them, far and away the 308 is typically the easiest to get shooting well. I also prefer the "feel" of the 84M over the 84L.

Another vote for non-floorplate rifles.
Quite often when I'm still hunting, that's where I'm carrying the rifle and I prefer not to have that floorplate there.

Of the three calibers your deciding between.





I have to agree with Brad and Poconojack. The medium action Montana is a joy to handle and carry around. I have several 84M's and my friends have a few also. My buddies dad has a Mountain Ascent in .308 and it's unbelievable how light and handy it is. After watching him develop loads for it and chronograph it, it's so close to an 06 with 150 and 165 grainers that I can't see the point of the longer gun, and extra powder that comes with the 06.

You'll get used to not having the floorplate quickly enough, I did when I switched to the Montana's. The trade off was well worth it to me.

I bought a Kimber Hunter in 6.5 a few years ago when they first came out. I bore-sighted it. Loaded 3 rounds of federal fusion's and it shot 3/4" at 100yds for the first 3 shots ever.

I sold that rifle that year but have since bought 3 Montana's. A .223 Rem, a .243 Win, and a 6.5CM. The ergos on them can't be matched by a custom rifle IMO. They fit me perfect.

All of mine are the newer, threaded versions with the 100yd MOA guarantee. And all of them meet that with ease.

I didn't think I'd care for the blind mag at first either. But now after having a pile of them I'd rather have it than a floorplate. I do like a detachable mag though.

My experience is opposite Brad's.

I find the 84L, with its longer LOP fits me better, and therefore points better.

I owned 84M Montanas, needed to shift my head enough when I shouldered the rifle that I sold it, regardless of scope. Wanted to like them, didn't.

The 84L is a point and shoot weapon.

Currently have three, two of which are Montanas in the AI and .30-06.

JKPA,

Yes the 338 Fed is factory chambered and weighs 5.25 lbs with 2.5x leupold ultralight.

A friend that was a long time Kodiak bear guide would duct tape clients floor plates shut.
I just see no use for them for what I do. I have a CZ 9.3x62 that I like so I used JB weld
to secure the floor plate. I don't own any hunting rifles that have box magazines.

I bought a Kimber Hunter in 6.5 CM this year and love the three round magazine. I mounted a Leupold XD3i 3.5-10x40 CDS scope in Talley mounts and she is a pleasure to shoot and carry. As for floor plates and blind magazines I'll take a detachable box everytime. I own and shoot rifles with all three types of magazines so I'm familiar with them but find the detachable box more convent, drop the box mag., work the bolt once and your unloaded.
Once, several years ago I was hunting with a pair of thick winter gloves trying to keep my hands warm. A nice buck stepped out on the edge of a power line cut about 40+ yards away. I shouldered my rifle and was ready to slide the tang safety from SAFE to FIRE on my .308 Ruger M77 and as i slipped my finger into the trigger guard it hit the bottom door release and my shells fell out as the floor plate and spring flopped around. I was like "What the heck just happened??' The buck heard the shells hitting my metal climbing stand and more than likely the floor plate and spring rattling around, no buck for me that cold winter day!! I've never had that problem with a detachable magazine or a blind magazine!

My 1st rifle, and the one I used almost exclusively for most of my hunting was a 700 ADL. The lack of a floorplate doesn't bother me at all. I've never had an issue with floorplates in the field, but have once or twice at the range. It is just one less thing to go wrong.

If you go Kimber I will also recommend 308 over 30-06. My 308 is just over 6 lbs scoped and the recoil is almost identical to a 7 1/2 lb 30-06. I'm not sure I'd want to shoot a 6 lb 30-06.

The LOP is the same on the 84M & L

I agree with Brad. The 84L's longer action and 24" barrel is a turn off for me. I'll take a 84M anyday over a 84L.

And OP....if you're dead set on a 30-06, beware if buying used of the 8400 Montana. It's definitely not in the same weight class as the 84L. I've seen Montana's advertised, and the poster doesn't designate whether it's a 8400 or a 84L....probably on purpose.

Exactly what he said. With today's bullets the 308 does it all
Might do a 7-08 if I ever need a rebarrel.
Tune a Montana 308 and you have all the hunting rifle you will ever need

13.63 vs 13.75 according to Kimber.

I dunno, when I shoulder the 84L with eyes closed, then open my eyes, I am on target.

Not so with the 84M.

They all vary... but even if true, do you really think 00.12” makes a difference?

My guess is you actually like the 2.5” additional length and weight out front the 84L provides.

They're the same thing.