So, this current craziness is good for my business (I sell stripped AR lowers) and I might be able to shake loose some cash I never thought I would have to spare. Ideally, I would love to have a custom rifle built on a nice G33/40 action I lucked into but I honestly (with a wife and a little girl and trying to have more kids) can't justify dropping the $$$ on what the full custom rifle would run me.

I didn't really have much time for Kimber rifles after reading some of the horror stories on accuracy issues with them and dealing with their [bleep] 1911's but just read a review on their new 84L in .280AI and it got me thinking.

I had already settled on the .280AI as Splattermatic is one of my best friends and I saw him kill the first elk ever with that nice SOB of a rifle he recently used to drop his Oryx with. So, sold on the caliber. I like Mauser controlled round feed style guns rather than push feed; no good reason, I just like it over any other style. Both the G33/40 and the Kimber check that box.

I like stainless guns, I like 3 position safeties that lock the bolt, I like lighter guns, I like drop floor plates with the release in the trigger guard and I do like a pretty stock. Other than the stainless, the G33/40 can have all the above but the Kimber has them right from the get go. In addition, even at MSRP, the Kimber would work out a LOT less expensive than a custom.

So, while it sounds as though I have my mind made up, are there any downsides to the Kimber that the collective have experienced? I have heard and read stories of so-so accuracy, horrible customer service but did I miss anything and if so, what? The Kimber really does meet all the criteria of my ideal hunting rifle but this is still a big chunk of change for me to lay out so I'm really interested in the experiences of others with the rifles, thanks.

Just my 2 cents,and I have shot only one lousy 84L in 270,but IMHO I think Kimber has worked past the gremlins and if wanting a 280 AI,I just would not hesitate a second to grab one.I think the SS with wood stock would be very cool and the fancier the wood the better..I love Karnis' rifle which is a beauty.

That said,I won't suffer delusions,and no Kimber is in the same category as a full blown custom on a G33/40 with top metal work and great stock work by someone like (say) James Anderson or Simillion or such....(and I would never hack at a G33/40 to get perfect feeding for a 280AI(they are too precious)and would go 280 instead)...but that's just me and the Kimber is a great bang for the buck,a lot less expensive by a whole lot of money, and is about the nicest looking factory BG rifle out there today.

I would not worry about getting it to shoot either.

I think they are a great choice and if wanting a 280AI I would never build one...I'd get the Kimber.JMHO

Agree with Bob on this one.
The Kimber, at less than 1/5th the price of a full blown custom, is a great alternative.

Sounds like the op has himself talked into Kimberly roulette.

Look into the new M700 mountain rifle, or a Sako

Oh No! A new Sako is too easy! They ALWAYS Shoot well out the box 700s, flip a 2 sided coin.

Kimber's - they look like a nice package. If they came w/an accuracy warranty...and esp. w/a #2 tube....I digress...

Sure Kimber owners are happy that decide they want one.

Sounds like an 84L classic stainless is coming soon...

I just picked up a Montana .280ai and while I haven't shot it yet, everything sure does look good as far as fit/finish.

I have a 1000.00 plus shipping in mine and for that money compared to what else is out there I can't complain. Waiting on my scope to get here (hopefully today) and I'll get it mounted and ready to go.

Nope. I hate the Remington 700 with a passion. They might be accurate but they are cheaply made crap IMHO. The safety is dog crap and the push feed system isn't my preference or did you happen to blow by the list of requirements in my post?

Similarly, the Sako, while undoubtedly a fine rifle (I have a couple Tikka/Sako rifles already, one of which I am re-barreling to .22/243) does not have the controlled round feed I seek. This isn't a question about which rifle to buy for about $1200; it's about how I can get what I want from a custom rifle in something close to a production rifle. Looked at the Win 70 SS featherweight but it's considerably heavier and not available in .280AI from the factory and I'm not sure the action is stainless as well as the barrel?

Just to clarify; I don't HAVE to buy another hunting rifle. I have several safes full of guns from .22 Hornet thru .375 H&H to belt fed full autos. I had pipe dreams and plans for this G33/40 action but the reality is, unless I win the lottery, it will remain a pipe dream until I am way too fuggin old to take advantage of it. I had never really considered the Kimber based on stuff I had heard but after reading the article (and yes Virginia, having worked in the gun industry for quite a while, I am very aware of the happy horse crap some gun writers put out for the sake of continuing to get guns to review) it piqued my interest in the model.

Ergo, I would like some comments from those with experience with the specific rifles rather than brick bats from the sidelines from people who can't even be bothered to understand what it is I am wanting.

Re-read what the OP detailed regarding the features he wants:











Why not help him find a rifle with the features he wants, instead of suggesting rifles that don't offer all of the features on his list?

Mebbe I did miss that (frankly my eyes glazed over at about the second paragraph), but with his obvious dislike for a couple of established gunmakers, Kimber included, and his curious requirements (controlled feed, really?).. I'm just seeing a fishing expedition.

Good luck with your brick bats.

PS, just a suggestion, if you're worried about paying for a custom with a couple of kids, sell something out of your several full safes. I suggest your full auto belt fed.

PSS.. Do you know someone by the name of Lee24 by chance?

My Montana 84L 280 AI is on the way now and will shoot it by this weekend.

That Kimber Roulette schit is for people like Take_A_Knee. TFF!

I bought a Kimber Montana 84L 280AI this summer. I've only developed one load that it shoots inch to inch and quarter. If powder becomes available again after this scare I'll try a few other rounds this summer.

I like how the gun shoots and handles. I have another Kimber Montana that shoots under half inch.

I just bought a Kimber 84L Montana in 30.06. I have been to the range 2 times. The gun wants to shoot. I have several targets between an 1" and 1 1/2" and several bigger than that......this is all with factory ammo. The days I went out were very windy and I have a little work to do to get used to shooting such a light gun (6 1/2 lbs. with a scope). I feel that with a little more time and better weather (and maybe handloads)I will hit my goal. I would buy another Montana!!!

While 1/2" groups are always nice I would be happy with 1" to 1 1/4" groups. I bought this to hunt with and am willing to sacrifice a little accuracy for the weight savings!!!

The only problem with a 280 or 280 AI is that you can never justify purchasing another gun.

I'd be surprised if you could get a wood stocked custom from either of the guys Bob mentioned for less than 10 grand. I believe a McMillan stocked "Myth" from Gene Simillion is 7-8 K.

You're right of course and some charge probably 20 times what a Kimber costs.
If I only breathed that rarified air!

I am an 07 manufacturer FFL with an SOT hence my post 1986 dealer sample belt fed cost considerably less than this Kimber is likely to. Most of my guns are working guns and therefore, not terribly valuable but treasured none the less. My .375 H&H is built on a P17 action and came from a dear friend on his passing but it is practically worthless, being stocked very plainly, no provision for scope mounting and has the original barrel bored out and re-rifled. It would make a great Alaska guide gun but might fetch $350 at best.

It's not so much selling the guns to afford the custom; its being able to justify to the family that I have to spend $5,000 (or more) on a rifle to kill animals just as dead as my .300 Win Mag or .270 or 7mm Mag or even my old sporterized by Parker Hale .303 Enfield.

I never said a bad thing about Sako rifles other than they did not meet my requirements and last I looked, I'm the one spending my money. I stated I had read and heard some things about Kimber rifles that concerned me. As far as Kimber 1911's? Well, a former employee worked there for several years and if you saw the crappy 1911's he built, had seen half the failures of their parts and inspected as many Kimber 1911's as I have, you might have a grasp of why I am biased against the Kimber 1911.

The only truth in your mangling of my post was that I stated I had no time for Remington rifles and I stick to that. The 700 was designed to be cheaply and quickly made. Nothing about it was made to be quality, it was all about quantity and economy from stamped trigger parts to tubular receivers to brazed on bolt handles to a cheap extractor. You can put lipstick on a pig but a pig it will remain.

This is my rifle, my ideal of what I want and nothing whatsoever to do with you unless you have something more to add than showing your arse. I am 45 years old, grew up hunting and shooting in the UK and have probably killed more things that fly, run and crawl than you have ever seen. During the summer months in the UK, I was out every night and weekend with my father as we were part time gamekeepers. It was not unusual to shoot 40 or 50 rabbits in a single night with suppressed .22 rifles with a spotlight from our Land Rover.

Ever sat at the side of a freshly sown pea field shooting wild wood pigeons with a shotgun until your head ached from the recoil and you were almost ankle deep in shell cases cuz you were the only thing stopping those flying rats from wiping out the farmer's entire crop? How about being laid on a foam sleeping mat on a Scottish hillside culling red deer hinds and having to lay the .270 down in the snow to cool the barrel off cuz it was getting too hot after shooting 37 deer to your own gun? Or standing in a butt on a Yorkshire grouse moor shooting driven red grouse flitting across the heather at over 60mph? Ever crouched in a makeshift tree stand in below freezing weather with snow crawling down your neck waiting for the fox that has been decimating your stock of pheasants? Not to mention hunting men as an anti terrorist team commander in the military and spending 40+ hours a week as a full time police officer serving my community.

No? I've done all of those things and more so when I say I have a list of requirements for MY ideal rifle, its based on what I have done, seen and experienced. I didn't realize MY ideal of what I want in a rifle had to match some self appointed Camp Fire Bwana's idea of what was acceptable. Hey, if what I want makes your eyes glaze over then move on to the next thread and keep your unwelcome, irrelevant comments to yourself. However, with as many posts as you seem to have, I'm guessing that is pretty impossible. Almost 12,000 posts in 8 years works out to be about 4 posts a day, every day. You either have a whole lot to say about everything or a big mouth or both......

I also have no idea who in the hell the guy is you are referencing; I know a total of two other folks on this forum and that would be Splattermatic and Huntr both of whom are top notch folks with whom I have had the pleasure of hunting with on several occasions.

I am very grateful to those who have shared their knowledge and experiences with Kimber rifles with me and hope that others will add others, both good and bad.

yada yada yada.. I've seen death, I've saved a life. I've run into burning houses and blowing up wildland and not get paid for it. I've been to the top of mountains, the bottom of the ocean, and gotten dinner off of both. I've ridden the power of this earth and held it's beauty in my hands. I've almost died a bunch of times, and have lived every day.

and your posts don't mean chit to me.

g man; take a breath brother. You are in imminent danger of being named The English Hunter1960!

I understand getting angry; been a cop 20 years myself.


Heck, the real hunter1960 was a dipschitt who worked at my department and got fired because he was a whacko. His anger killed him earlier this year.

Life is too short to get pizzed at guys on here, my friend.

I used to envy you local boys who got to hunt in GB; did several TDYs to RAF Mildenhall with the Blackbird in late '70s and early '80s. Woulda given the left testes to go hunting there.

Just chillax. Every MFer on here wishes they had access to a belt-fed. You got it made in the shade.

Have a happy New Year.

BTW, I too am teetering on the edge of a Montana in .280AI. But my left brain says the .308 would be more practical.

G can more than handle himself here.
He just doesn't put up with people who can't read or comprehend.
We do play with some cool toys.
Why should he or anyone else sell to buy? If one has the wants to add another and keep it in the budget, why not get reviews on a production rifle that can be had now, instead of piece mealing a custom that may take years to finish to stay in the budget?

Rancho, just remember he is a Brit, and speaks his mind, while pulling no punches. He meant no foul.

Guess my 280ai made an impression! !!

I have an 84L Classic Select in 280 AI. I have owned it for over a year and a half. It is not stainless, but it is a shooter. I have a half dozen loads that shoot well under an inch at 100. It would be the last rifle I would sell. I own two Tikkas that are fantastic shooters but they don't feel the same in hand and in the field.
Get it.

I'm not angry brother. That is a wasted emotion. I was unimpressed by the musings of someone who is too arrogant to read and understand what it is I want in MY rifle and has to interject his irrelevant BS while ascribing certain characteristics to me that I do not possess. Splat nailed it; I have little patience with folks who can't read what you write and proceed off on a tangent and yes, my English upbringing means I often come off harsh. My American wife says I need a filter on my words as I am apparently too straight speaking for Americans at times...... Fortunately, its never got me in trouble at work, yet....

I'm about as chilled as it gets; I have a lovely wife and almost 3 year old daughter, a great job, wonderful friends and looks like I found a new rifle to buy I can really enjoy!

Now if you were a sled driver, it's my turn to be jealous. I loved the look of the SR-71 from the first day I ever saw a photograph of that bugger. Looked cool, smooth, yet deadly, even though it carried no weapons. It was and is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made IMHO.

Yep, the UK is a hunter's paradise. Almost got hired a few years ago to run a high end pheasant lodge in ND. Saw the prices they were charging for a 5 day hunt and worked out you could fly to UK, rent a vehicle, stay at a nice hotel, go with a decent guide and shoot 10 or 20x the birds (as well as other species) and still have change left over. I do miss that aspect of the UK; politics, gun control, expensive prices not so much!

The belt feds don't get shot much; too pricey on ammo. I used to work for a major manufacturer of AR's and got to shoot full auto all the time on demo's and overseas trips. That, coupled with 12 years in the Brit Army has kind of jaded me to full auto unless someone else is paying for the ammo....

Practical schmatical; I have a bunch of 'practical' rifles already. This a dream rifle, one you pull out and look at and go "ah, my beauty." This bad boy is gonna do a bunch of hunting with me over the next few decades. Already busy planning the next year's applications in NM and WY, maybe CO and UT too. All will be for does or cows as I'm a meat hunter rather than a trophy kind of guy. That's just how I grew up; we hunted to put food on the table rather than for bragging rights. No insult intended to the folks who like trophies, that's just not where I'm at.

Thanks for your kind words, Splat's .280AI did indeed make an impression and I am sold on the round. Why put up with a boomandclackingthumping magnum when you can get by with so much less? He and I both have a bunch of magnum rifles that we have shot animals with but the .280AI seems, well, so much more refined. Happy New Year and goodwill to all here.

What are you doing up already? !
Its 3 outside, and windchill of -7.
Rethinking duck huntin this morning. Ice chunks will be big and i really am not up to it. Alarm went off and i did get up!

Thinkin fort bliss for oryx for us and wsmr for wifey.
Oh, and i have enough brass for 2 ai's.

Happy New Year brother.
I'll call ya later.

I've had exactly one .280AI and a more perfect hunting cartridge is very hard to imagine.
A coupla suggestions if you reload.
Magpro powder 64-65gr behind a 162gr Amax makes a very impressive package.
RL22 also rocks but the Magpro meters so well it has the advantage.
The Nosler .280AI brass is very good stuff as well.

Heck, you could buy the Kimber, and if it doesn't shoot have it re-barreled to a shooter, have everything you want and still be ahead on money spent, vs. going custom.

Damn graveyard shift has me all screwed up with sleep my friend! Went to bed at 2300, woke up at 5am, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Looked out the window, opened the door, shuddered at the thought of you and Trap out duck hunting and turned the heater up.....

Lord, I am so glad I am moving to swing shift in a couple weeks.....

Gman:

I purchased an 84L Select Grade last year and it was one great purchase. No muss, no fuss. Tweaked the bedding a bit (as I always do on any rifle). Shoots Accubonds, TTSX's and I'm sure other untried bullets.

if you want to spend some money on a fine rifle, but want to spend less than what a full custom would cost, consider a Dakota 76 Alpine in .280 AI. Dakotas are semi-customs, shoot well and have excellent factory support.

I have had the privilege to own several full custom rifles from reputable makers. Most had a (correctable) problem when they arrived and had to be sent back. My Dakota 76 African in .416 Rigby arrived beautiful and flawless in every respect. It shoots <1" @ 100 yards consistently and in the 400+ rounds I've put through it so far, has never missed a beat. We have taken a lot of game together, that .416 and I. It will be with me for the rest of my days.

So consider a Dakota. You won't regret it.

That is one beautiful rifle. Caliber?

.280AI

Thanks. I like Kimbers a lot and have a .375 Caprivi. Kimbers are not easy to find and fly off the shelves quickly.

Lordy, that is a lovely looking rifle. Thanks for the pic and the info. Now all I need is my buddy to ship me some more lowers and I am set to order that bad boy.

[/quote]

Now if you were a sled driver, it's my turn to be jealous. I loved the look of the SR-71 from the first day I ever saw a photograph of that bugger. Looked cool, smooth, yet deadly, even though it carried no weapons. It was and is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made IMHO.

Yep, the UK is a hunter's paradise. Almost got hired a few years ago to run a high end pheasant lodge in ND. Saw the prices they were charging for a 5 day hunt and worked out you could fly to UK, rent a vehicle, stay at a nice hotel, go with a decent guide and shoot 10 or 20x the birds (as well as other species) and still have change left over. I do miss that aspect of the UK; politics, gun control, expensive rices not so much!

[/quote]

Nope, not a pilot or RSO, just a boy sergeant working on ECM and ELINT systems, and pounding room temperature beer at The Bird In Hand Pub and Motel several times...we always spied on the Russians when they were doing naval ops in the North Sea.

Hey send me a pm if you got any hookups for inexpensive hunting in Scotland or Ireland. My brother's been talking about a family pheasant hunt in ND, but if we could go to one of those other places, shoot more and pay less... Plus, I could get wife off my back about a trip to her ancestral homelands.



,

+1 For the Kimber. I recently sold my semi- custom 280 AI that was stocked in a McWoody KS. Rifle shot great, looked great but a nice wood stocked Kimber keeps screaming out to me! Never even bloodied it, but know the 280AI is a keeper. I'm in the hunt for one now.

Carlos' 280AI is a knockout......I'm gonna put him on ignore if he keeps posting pictures of that beauty

We are sitting at the river g. Its COLD. 4 so far.trap is an icecicle.

Karnis, that the factory finnish on that beauty or did you redo it? I have an 84l select in 30-06 and a 257 Bob in the same, both purdy but not quite what you have there. 280 AI is calling, was thinking Montana but now rethinking after seeing that beauty.

Shoot straight Mark! Couple mo hawgs down with the lil 7....

Are you behind G's hunt for a 280AI??

Sorta. He was with me when it drew it's first blood on a cow elk.
It impressed him.

Yep, that 7mm Barnes blew right thru the cow and kept on trucking. She didn't...... ;-)

Been pondering and considering what to build/buy for the last couple years and chewed over ballistics tables. Was thinking .264 Win Mag (I really like the 6.5 caliber too) but then got to looking at .280AI as well. Have a Savage in 7mm Rem Mag, Mod 70 in .300WM and .270, numerous rifles in .308 and 6.5x55 as well as .303, 7.5, .30/06 and 7x57 etc. Have a new favorite in 6x57 (marked on the barrel but really a 6mm Remington) for pronghorn built on a G33/40 that I got from the same dear departed friend I got the other G33/40. Have a .338 Lapua that really needs wheels to move it around but is deadly accurate.

Finally figured that the .280AI would do just about everything I wanted to do with a hunting gun but I wanted it light and trim and to meet all the criteria I listed in the first post. Seems the Kimber does. Just hope I can get more lowers in the door in time to take advantage of the panic. I haven't raised my prices but the demand is through the ROOF! Craziness for sure....

The scope is the next thing; going to be a Leupold for sure. Never had a bad one, can get custom dials and reticules at reasonable prices and the guarantee is awesome. Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

You are crazy man! Just about to light the fire at my place, snuggled on the couch in a blankie with my little girl.....

I sincerely appreciate the input Sir but the Dakota's are not available in stainless (from what I could see) and at $6,000 starting price are as completely out of my reach as having my G33/40 action turned into a custom rifle. Thanks for providing some additional food for thought.

Truth be told, I scratched it down and added some oil. Mo'betta on the contrast.

gman-I'll add a couple of comments. I've had the pleasure to own and run a G33/40 for 2 decades now. And though I have a find piece of Tessier for it I've always run it with a Brown stock as for me it's a pure plain hunting machine tool. Plus to be honest I've never had the interest in sinking the kind of cheddar into the wood handle that it would take to get it nice.



I'm of the opinion that if I'm gonna run a wood gun that's it's gonna be nice (by my way of thinking)..something like my 7 Mashburn Super here



I've been around the various Montana's quite a bit including the 280 AI. 4 me the 84L action just doesn't do anything for me. Does it work, it sure does but it just doesn't feel right to me.

I own a Montana in .308 and it's nice but once again the diff between how a Montana runs and how a fine Mauser runs is night and day. To me it's kind of like ones a quarter pounder with cheese and the others filet. Both will fill me up but there is a diff.

For the money the Kimber is a lot of gun, plus it's readily available and people don't have to wait for it. Nor do they need to stretch their imagination and or pocket book to get one. It's nice but to me it's a cookie cutter rig. But it will do the hunt job just fine It's a darn adequate rifle is what I'm trying to say.

I wouldn't turn a fine action like the G33 into an AI and I love AI rounds. I've known it done though so if that's the way you choose then Powder River Let er Buck and get after it.

Sounds like you're leaning to the Kimber and it'll do you just fine.

But, if you wish to go the way of the G33 you could always stick a fine piece of African Walnut on it for now (fiberglass) and then find a good stick later on. Chic Worthing would do a mighty fine job for you. I came darn close to sending him mine.

Best of luck to you in your decision and have a super 13!

Dober

Dober, that Mashburn is pretty enough to make a nun drop her drawers.... ! Damn, that is a FINE looking rifle...

Interesting thread, am in a similar position myself. Really want to get a Kimber, but still sounds iffy as far as accuracy goes. If it doesn't shoot under and inch, more often than not, I don't want it no matter how good it looks or how light it is.

Might end up going to a Cooper with guaranteed accuracy rather than guessing on a Kimber.