A local shop has a kimber hunter 308 on the shelf for $719. My initial thoughts are that I'm impressed. For a Tupperware stock it felt good and had a pretty stiff forend. The detachable mag seemed well executed for a detachable. However, it did look like the feed lips were part of the mag and not the rails of the action. I don't know that you could drop a hunter barreled action into a montana stock and have it work due to the feeding off the rails verses mag box but I'm not sure.

I still think the stock on the montana is worth the extra cash but if a guy has to stay in the $700 range I think the hunter may set the bar in that bracket. I was looking for a tikka T3 stainless in 6.5 swede but for the money I think I'd rather have a hunter in 6.5 creedmoor.

Has anyone else handled a hunter? What's your thoughts?

I'm still wishing I would have picked up a few more 2015 montanas when they were clearing out at $999. The montana stock and action are worth the $999 and then you can spend another $500-$600 to have it rebarreled to the cartridge and twist you want. I'm leaning hard towards rebarreling one of my 8400 montanas to 6.5 saum on an 8 twist Rock with a .298" neck .081" freebore reamer. Anyone have suck s reamer they'd rent?

Bb

I wasn't a fan. I didn't like the trigger guard that's molded into the stock and I thought the plastic detachable magazine was cheap but I didn't study it but a moment or two at the gun counter.

I think the one I looked at was $800 or more so I was comparing it to a $600 Tikka and for the money I'd either spend a little more for the Montana or a little less for the Tikka. Just my .02, different strokes for different folks

I'll take a little more time next time I check it out but at the MSRP of $885 I didn't feel it offered $250 or more in quality over the Tikkas which are tack drivers and I'd rather spend a little more for the Montana

To really be something, I think the Hunter is going to have to be down in the $600s range, to compete with a Tikka head-to-head.

To say the price difference between the 2 rifles is more than $100-125 is not comparing apples to apples. $720 and $620 are the best retail prices I've seen for the Hunter and T3x.

How are the dimensions of the stock compared to the montana? Is it as slim or chunkier?

You can buy Tikka T3's for under $500 at Whittakers right now

Here is a picture of that molded trigger guard on the Kimber hunter.

Not stainless.

Doesn't matter. You can't just compare the higher end Tikka to the bottom end Kimber. Tikkas at all price points just shoot.

Blued rifles shoot just as well as the stainless rifles. That's my point, at the price point Kimber is trying to tap into I feel there are too many other options that'll shoot just as well or better for significantly less money. The stock on the Kimber Montana makes it worth it to me, the stock on the Hunter was a letdown.

I'm a fan of Kimber rifles and own two Montanas and I was really excited to see the new Hunter model hit the racks. I just wasn't as impressed as I hoped to be.

Time will tell and maybe I'm wrong. There will always be those guys that didn't have the coin for the Montana that'll buy it over a Tikka just to say they have a Kimber

I haven't seen a Hunter yet, so I have no opinion either way on comparisons, but a rifle is a package, not just simply how well it shoots at a give price point. Otherwise people would buy nothing but Stevens. Ergos, feed/function, materials, etc all play a part, and if we're comparing rifles and their price points, they should share similar materials and construction. If the hunter is SS, then that adds value, and a Tikka needs to be SS as well to be comparable.

Well said!

I'm going to bring this back to the top....

I should have a Hunter in 6.5 Creed by the end of the week.

I really like the ergonomics of the whole rig - the detachable mag will work well for me and quad/truck usage.

This will be my drag it through the brush and icky weather rifle for deer, antelope and an occasional elk.

It'll wear a Leupold 2.5x8 with M1 ele, for sights.

I'm betting these will sell used for -$600 in a couple years because Kimber will tweak them next year to clean up the bottom of the mag box to color match and blend with the existing contour. Then they will put in an aluminum trigger guard.

I like the stocks color and the barreled action. Heck, I can even live with the injection molded stock but the magazine needs to look better and a molded in trigger guard for +$700 is wrong

Time will tell

I've been wanting a Kimber in 6.5 or .260 and thought the Hunter was a good bet. Looked one over a couple weeks ago and decided that I preferred the feel (balance, grip size) of my Montana stocks better. So I'll wait on the Kimber in 6.5. But the Hunter wasn't bad. Given a choice between a Hunter at say 6 bills, vs the Montana at twice that much I'd definitely give the Hunter a whirl.

Fondled a Creedmoor tonight and think it's fine all around. Although I'd prefer a standard metal setup, can't imagine that trigger guard breaking. The stock is slim and stiff. Would like it more at $650 than the $799 they were asking...

I also recently handled one of the new Kimber Hunters and it was a let-down, a rifle in this price range should never have a molded in trigger guard....it just aint right, it made the overall rifle reek of cheapness, all i could see was that ugly molded in trigger guard, the magazine didnt bother me at all, i actually like it better than any blind magazine rifle....If Kimber builds the Hunter rifle with an aluminum trigger guard I would consider one........Hb

I've handled a 6.5 a few times, 650-700.00 I might be tempted but HATE the molded trigger guard as well.

Think the one I've handled was around 800

Here you go

I get the strangest feeling that Fotis doesn't like Kimbers........

Still like to handle that Avatar!

Never go full retard.

I can slightly understand the molded triggerguard issue...but I fail to grasp the concern that the magazine is "ugly," and "doesnt match."

Its a gun, not a bracelet.

I'm guessing that you haven't handled one much?

The magazine has a flat bottom and sits below flush leaving a feel in my hand that I don't like. It's nothing like the feel of a rifle with a good fitting floor plate or a blind magazine.

The Ruger American has the right idea on how to blend the detachable magazine with the stock.

I actually have handled one...and saw absolutely zero issue with the magazine.

I am one of the folks who actually like the CZ527 magazine though, and could give a tinker's damn about the "feel" of gun while carrying it.

do not be so hard on yourself buddy!

But you shoot a Weatherby and that alone says enough.

Actually 13 of them!

I get the need for a magazine on the Tikkas and RAR due to the enclosed ejection port which is why I'm not smitten with either rifle but on a Kimber if they are trying to reach a price point why bother with the detachable magazine. I'm not a big magazine fan on rifles especially plastic ones. Just one of my hang ups.

Good observation on the ejection ports. A Hunter with blind magazine and pot metal trigger guard for about $600 please.

Now you're talking.

molded in trigger guards are gay as a sack of dicks.

I brought a 6.5 Creed home the other day.

Pillar bedded (2), very stiff stock - not at all like my REM SPS. The forearm is honey combed to provide that stiffness.

The detachable magazine is one of the options I wanted on this rifle and the trigger guard is a non-issue ( except for you homophobic's out there.... Ha! )

I have a 2.5x8 Leupold with an M1 ele turret that I'll drop in the saddle. Then I'll hit the stock with a bit of black web paint and clear coat it.

I've got too much on the table to do anything to it for a while, but will have it running for our blacktail season coming up.

My dealer can't keep them in stock and says that 6.5's and 7's are the most commonly asked for.

It's not for everybody.

I suggest "handling one in person" and deciding whether or not the options and handling egros are for you...

I sure wish that they would put an 8" twist on the 243. That would convince me to buy it.

Here's a couple of crappy cell phone photos of the 6.5 CM and the Leupold scope.

A bit of black web paint, a good cleaning and bore sighting and she'll be range ready. I wanna lighten the trigger a bit as well.

I'll use factory fodder this year, probably 140gr something since elk may well be on the menu. Then start loading for it this winter....

She fits and feels great. I think it's going to be a very practical shooter

FWIW, I ran into a guy at the range yesterday that had one in a 6.5 Creedmoor. At first I didn't recognize it as a Kimber Hunter. The guy that owned had masked off the trigger-guard and painted it a flat silver to closely match the S/S action, and had had the stock hydro-dipped in KUIU Verde. Looked pretty sharp. When I was talking to him about his 'customization' he mentioned that the molded trigger-guard, being the same color as the stock just drove him nuts and he had to do something about it. Likewise, he said that the 'call it what you will, calf-s**t tan, baby-s**t tan' stock color just didn't trip his trigger so he opted to have it dipped.

I'm happy with mine chambered in .308.

Shot mine in 6.5 CM the other day - Finally !

I did the black webbing paint job and clear coated all.
Cleaned bore and chamber, tightened everything, bore sighted and off to the range I went.

Factory Hornaday Whitetail 129 gr Interlocks were chosen to play with.

Three shots at 25 yards and minor scope adjustments - then out to 100 yards where she put two touching 3" high and a smidge right. Dialed down to 2" high and center.
Shot the rest of that box at rocks at 200 yards to rough check the 200 yard zero and cuz it's just plain fun!

I haven't even touched the trigger on her yet and may not. It has to be right at 3# and very clean.

Recoil... way less than I expected. Not even close to what my heavier .270 deals out. Sort of .243ish.... That made it very easy to control and a lotta fun to shoot!

I'm liking this rifle a LOT and can hardly wait to turn it loose on a blacktail this month and a cow elk later. I'll stick with the 129's for now.

The Hunter version may not be for everyone, but I can seriously see me picking up another ( .243 / .223 ) in the future.

I handle a couple yesterday. Not bad for a cheap light rifle.

I knew that the Hunter was also going to be released in a long action, but I just noticed that the 06 family cartridges have now been listed as available on Kimber's website. CP.

When are they going to release the Hunter in 223?

Well guys I saw the hunter in Creedmoor and since I already have a rifle so chambered it was an easy decision.
They are priced a little high. The molded trigger guard isn't too pretty.
But........ the lack of bottom metal keeps it simple. The trigger guard is strong and durable. It handled like a dream. As for accuracy.
Kimber seems to have a checkered past. I happened to get a good one. I have shot 85, 95, 123 sst and 120 bt bullets in it. It will shoot moa for three shots. Barrel heatup is quick but doesnt seem to affect accuracy for the three shots.
Of course it is difficult to shoot off the bag like all light rigles. The scope is a Leupy vx3 2.5x8.
The bore is smooth. It cleans up quickly just like my shilen select match or several other good barrels. Killed a coyote with it this week.
The gun is my favorite and as u will read I did not find any flaw I can't live with. Feel free to ask any question except is it for sale.
Hope u enjoyed this.
Greg

That's what I wanna know ! .223 and .204 should be offered, I would think.

gregharr-

Sounds very much like my own experience with the Hunter.

The "trigger guard" is a total non-issue to me. Like the rock guard on an outboard motor...it doesn't have to be pretty, it just has to work!

I noticed the barrel heating up rather quickly as well and gave it time to cool between shots. I didn't notice any real world difference in shoot-ability off the bags, though.

I think Kimbers hit a home run with this model....

I hope so. My name is on the first 280AI Kimber Hunter that comes in the door at the LGS.

So then the Tikka should also share a one piece bolt, metal magazine, metal shroud, steel recoil lug, and short action length to be comparable. Correct?

After all, it is a package, not just how well it shoots at a given price point, and should share similar materials and construction.

Wow.....

What is your deal with Tikka?


We use several (as in quite a few) as trainer rifles, match rifles, let alone hunting guns. We beat the crap out of them, they get literally thousands of rounds a year put through them by people who don't care a bit about breaking something. All it has resulted in is more Tikkas being bought by a bunch of dudes that shoot an azz ton of rounds and can and do have just about any gun they want.


Action length, recoil lug, bolt shroud, magazine.... None of it matters. They work. I've seen hundreds of hunting guns shot and Tikkas are the most consistently accurate guns out of them all.


They are not perfect, but they are no muss-no fuss. Load and shoot.

What the heck are you going off about??? Wow...

Deleted

Each time I handled one it seemed better and I caved on a Creedmoor today. Will have it next weekend. That babychit brown has gotta go!

I need a 243 at present and the dumb 1-10 twist is the only thing in the way of me owning the Hunter in that chambering.

Guess I'll just get a stainless RAR...

I was excited about this new offering from Kimber till I actually handled one, the rifle I looked at was $829 (reasonable in todays market for a hunting rifle) fit and finish looked OK, nothing special but the molded in trigger guard was a deal breaker for me, that thing reeked of cheapness!........I guess there are enough Kimber fans out there for a market but this rifle aint for Me..........Hb

Nice paint! How did you do that or did you have it done?