Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Thinking about a Kimber, yea or nay

David
I have a 89 BGR in .280 Rem that I have never shot. It is just too nice for me to carry around. I was going to list it in the classifieds if you want to take a look.
I have 4 Montana’s and an Open Country that I shoot and carry all the time. No problem with any of them.
Just let me know and I’ll be happy to meet you somewhere in the area.
Thanks
Dave

That sounds like a sweetheart.

I imagine you can understand why this is hard to believe since a lot of guys posted on having multiples and never a problem.

100% failure rate at one lgs would make me question if maybe it's just the clientele.

I’ve had two Kimber 84M rifles. A classic and a montana, both in 308. Both shot and carried well and didn’t have any issues with function. I have a couple friends that always drooled over them, so I sold them. They still use them with no issues.

However, I did go Tikka when I wanted a 223.

I am happy with the 7-08 and .325 WSM Classics I own. Never had the first issue with either one. Only owned their rifles, two Clacks (82 classics) and three of the Yonkers rifles. Never had any interest in the their handguns.

Kimber focuses heavily on form at the expense of function.

It is, Dave sent me some pics, gave me a good price, gonna meet up with him next week, never owned a 280.

Yes I do for my Kimber. And the head stamp doesn't match the barrel marking either. Zero issues.

Again, I know of no mfg that would recommend reloads. Regardless of how good/bad the rifle shoots with/without them. Which is all I said.

I'm 46 years old, started hunting when I was about 6. Of all the guns I've owned, my dad has owned, brother has owned a grand total of 1 gun has ever been "sent back". A Browning 425 whose wrist cracked. Browning replaced the wood and it shot 10's of thousands of rounds after. 1 gun out of 100+?

I'm generally not that "lucky" in life.

How many Kimber 89 BGR rifles were manufactured??

Had a 325 WSM Montana that shot half inch groups with factory ammo and a 300 WSM 8400 classic that also shoots factory ammo in half inch groups at a hundred yards. Sold the 325 to my brother who fell in love with it. still have the 300 and love the thing.

Ran across an article that claims 5000 were made, includes all models, all grades.

My .30-06


With half an antelope worth of quarters in the pack


My Roberts

The M89's were beautiful rifles. I have owned a couple, and had no issues with them. They are a lot like a M70 Supergrade, and weight is around 8lbs.

They are quite a bit different than the current 84M and 84L.

The 84M Classics are about 5lbs 10oz, and the 84L Classics are about 6lbs 2oz.


If I'd never had a 280, that might push me to the M89 since I don't walk miles while hunting.

I’m 12 for 12 on Kimbers (Montanas, Mountain Ascents, Adirondack & Classics) - not a single one with any problems. I still own most of them and wouldn’t hesitate to add another.

One issue with one of the earliest production runs of the Montana 325 WSMs. The feed ramp was cut at the wrong angle. The rifle shot so well, before I had it fixed I bought another of later production. It had/has no issues. No issues with my wife's 7mm-08 or 338 Winchester either. We still have all 4 and no plans to part with them.

I just sold the only one I ever had. It was a mid-2000s Montana 325. No real complaints. It could have feeding issues, but it wasn’t what I’d call chronic. It did its job, it was light and tough.

I can’t speak for other Kimbers, but the Montanas are workhorses. They can be very solid guns. Don’t expect custom quality fit and finish and you should be happy. I think you’d only ever be disappointed if you expected something incredible from it when that’s not what it’s suppose to be. It’s more of a Chevrolet that gets unfairly measured against Ferraris.

I have an 84-M 308 Winchester.
This is a very nice-looking rifle, and it shoots great too.

It's the only Kimber I've ever had my hands on.

Take care.

If you have a problem with occasional flyers, but it otherwise shoots great, rather than chase your tail for, oh, over a decade 😂 put some sharpie on the end of the front action screw, run it in fully tight, take it back out and make double-damn sure it’s not contacting the barrel shank. If the sharpie is marred, it it contacting. Shorten it if it is.

I am a tinkerer by nature so I have a well-slapped forehead. Anyone who actually “does” things, occasionally does STUPID things <grin>. My forehead is still stinging from not checking this many years ago. I used up at least half the life of a very good Pac Nor 7 WSM rebarrel chasing ghosts caused by this. D’oh!

I have had 7 Kimbers all shot good after i learned how to shoot them from the bench. They do have thin barrels that heat up quickly. Fire 3 shots and let them cool. Also at the bench make sure you hold done the forearm. If you just let it set like a heavy barrel groups will go all over the place. I had a 257 Roberts select classic the after I held it down it would shot 3 shots almost touching. Sold it because the stock was to nice to be bouncing around a truck or utv coyote hunting. Still have 2 Montana's 22-250 and a 257 Roberts if I do my part they take a coyote every time. Had a Model 7 Remington that had a thin barrel and no matter what i did would not group. Changed the stock to H-S Precision, bedded the action, still wouldn't shoot. My vote is for Kimbers

I've bought 6

I own 2

Nay