Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

I want a new rifle and quite frankly I onlywant the best. Usually it's a Remington and goes to the smith if I don't buy it from him.Are Kimber rifles really as good as it appears? Are the actions really Pre 64 Winchester designs or just maketing hype, kinda looking for something different from the model 700 collection I have. Trueth be told I would tear the barrel off the Kimber rifle and have it fitted with a heavier 280 barrel given my way. This year may be a great year for my fav smith the way I'm trolling the pawn shops for used cheep 700 actions

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

I hear that they are nothing short of decent...in other words, stick with your Rems. I was dissapointed when I heard the poor reviews and Im going to check them out for myself today.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

I got a kimber 8400 this year and I love it. I have never spoken to anyone who really ownes a kimber who doesn't like it. I have rems and they are good rifles. No complaints on them. In my HMO the kimber is really a step up. Ask a reputable gunsmith/ dealer which they wouldchoose if theyhad to choose between the remington and the kimberand they will comfirm the kimber. The people I hear bashing kimbers are people who dont have one. (rifle envy is a terrible thing)

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Oh yeah, if you do get a kimber dont take the barrel off untill you shoot it. Their barrels are good(made in house).

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

If you want the best,and are going to rebarrel it anyway,just go with a custom rifle the 1st place and have EXACTLY what you want.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

From the Kimbers that I have handled, the bolts were sloppy and rough, but the overall gun felt decent in my hands. As far as performance, I have read many mixed reviews. Some love'em some hate'em. You be the judge.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

The Kimber line just seems limited in it's cal's.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

If by IT you want a rifle that:
[ol][*]Has average fit and finish[*]One of the roughest bolts I have ever experienced[*]Has inconsistent finishes on it's fiberglass guns[*]Has varying tolerances on their bolts..work the action on two similar models and you'll see.[*]Has Moulded in Metal components except for the action and bolt body[*]Action that is advertised as pillar and glass bedded but not to the action that you buy.[*]Has no QA department that actually checks for quality. If they do they need to be fired.[*]Has Wood blanks that warp at the foreend(very common occurence)[/ol]

In short I think they have 500 dollar quality for a 1000 dollar price.


Not to rain on your parade but Remington,Winchester,Ruger make their barrels in house as do others.


Yes Rifle Envy is a terrible thing but my credit card statements showing the purchase of these rifles tells me what a mistake it was.

In short Kimber owners are frustrated people that never purchased or trieda Sako because if they did the Kimber would have been left at the store.:D I had a Sako prior to purchasing Kimbers and I just gave them a try to see if all the hype was worth it.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Just spend a little more upfront and get a Cooper M52;)

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Best thing to do is go check them out and compare, you will find thatSAKO istop of the line.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Here's my take. I've got a Kimber 84M wood stock. Its a very good rifle, lightweight and shoots well too. I like it alot. I've also got a Sako (75 not 85). It's a better rifle than the Kimber. It's smoother, has a better trigger and also shoots great. I like it somewhat more than the Kimber... but, to be honest, both serve my needs well. My last rifle purchased (ordered but not yet received) is a Cooper M52. I expect it to be better yet. Get the drift? Everything comes with trade-offs and +'s and -'s. Get what you like, feel comfortable with and can shoot. Then just practice and have fun. I don't think there is any such thing as a perfect rifle. To each his own.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

The perfect rifle does exist. It's made to order for the man who knows exactly what he wants and how it'll be used,everything else is a compermise,however good.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

If you just plan on barreling the action why dont you get a sako action and then get a H-S stock????

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Don't like Sako. I would rather hunt the pawn shops for 1984 and earlier Remingtons. My 1984 Remington 700 in 06 is leaps and bounds above the quality today, same with my Dads 1979 or there abouts 700. I do love stainless but can't seem to find an early stainless.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Last custom gun with a 1964 Remington 700 SA 6mm converted to a 308 cost me 1500 dollars complete. The action was better machined then some of the new Rems especially the SPS garbage in my opinion. Blueprint an old one and a new one and you end up with the same, its still a Remington. If you want a stainless barrel on an old remington look for a 1960's version 700 bdl in 7 rem mag...stainless barrel sprayed with iron oxide and then blued. They were all shooters. Don't want to mess with that get a custom built Remingtonor buy a Sako. If you like gambling buy the Kimber who knows you might end up with a great one.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

I looked at the kimbers long and hard several times. But even thru the recommendations of oldelkhunter (before he bought one) and others, I just never could pull the trigger on buying one.

People keep saying buy sako. I like my sako. I have a 75 in STW, but that is one sloppy bolt. With the bolt open, the bolt is extremely lose. Not a tight fit. Maybe all 75's are like that. But the newer 85's I have handled, were much tighter. But the gun shoots good, so what the hey. Even my several 700's have a much tighter fit with the bolt on its rails. Maybe the 75 was designed that way.

Next high dollar gun I buy will definately be a cooper. They are it.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

For many years, Kimber rifles have been about as good as they come. Recently, I have heard some complaints about quality control at Kimber too (just like all the others!!)

If I could, I'd buy an older one that I could inspect before buying. Yes, the action design is pretty much that of the pre-64 Model 70. (There have been a few quality control problems at Remington too!)

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Kimber was a mistake on my part to buy it is not a good gun in my opinion. I purchased one though and took the hit and learned a lesson. You on the other hand have no real lifeexperience with one correct?

I have handled a ton of 75,s and none had a loose bolt in fact they all felt the same since Sako has quality control. I won't even comment on the 700 has a tighter bolt. To even compare that POS to a Sako is blasphemy. Remember I used to own that 75 that I sold you the one with the "loose bolt" and it was a very well built rifle typical Sako quality, and no the bolt was just fine. Only benchrest actions will have very little play that's why they are called Hunting Rifles. You know dirt,Snow,Sleet get in the action.
BC your comments are at times just unbelievable. I am thinking you would complain about any gun you purchased.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

I didn't know that. Thats good to know. ;)

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Wrong. I spend alot of time at gun ranges. I know you said you usually do not shoot with many people.So I see, handle and shoot them all.I am just glad I didn't take your glowing advise to buy a kimber when you yourself didn't even buy one yet. I think I even got the PM still. I have seen some good shooting ones, but like others, rails need worked on. The ones I shot, just didn't feel like a 1000 dollar gun. But its an awesome looking gun.

Well, I have 3-5 posters on here who has shot that sako75. And everyone of them have commented how loose the bolt is. Ask Charlie, (mossyoak33) or Joe, (harley98). I have no issues with the sloppy bolt. I have the gun shooting excellent out to 300 yards and beyond. Cold bore POI, is right there with the rest of the groups. Trigger is great. Stock leaves alot to be desired. I have been meaning to replace but have worked on several other guns. So overall, I have no complaints about the gun. Just mentioning the bolt play.

Again, I am not sure you know what we are talking about. With the bolt closed, its tight. Just when you open, sliding on the rails, it has alot of play. I do have several older 700's where the lugs are very tight and smooth. They are 1980's guns.

Not at all. I just have a great gunsmith who does alot of work for me. I like my guns a certain way. Once I get them that way, I am happy. I love all in my safe. And I usually can get any of them shooting well within my personal desire. I know you have always told me you buy and sell alot because you have had trouble getting alot of guns shooting well. Last time we talked on the phone, I think you were complaining about remington custom shop rifles not being able to get them to shoot.

Browning BARs, 7400, 700's, A-bolts, marlin levers, encores, FN SPR's, I can usually get them all shooting. But I am very particular on my reloading. I think I have only 2 guns I complained about enough to send it back. One was a weatherby mark. But I think you have sent back alot according to your words on the phone. So I am not sure what you mean, by I would complain about any gun??? That makes very little sense. Are you sure your not saying, YOU would complain???

old, I am not a private person as you. Your more than welcome to come up to westminster, md and I will show you what I mean.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Ever hear of these accuracy gunsmiths that bush the bolt on a Remington to get the last bit of accuracy out of it? Have you ever heard of anyone doing that to a Sako ? Have you ever seen the play on a Mauser or a pre64 Model 70 ? Knowing what I know now I doubt I ever sell another of my rifles or shotguns to anyone on any board.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Sakos are a rarity to build a custom off of. But the 700's used on majority of customs these days. So it makes sense. Oh, yea, my gunsmith makes almost 80% of his varmit gun on WWII mausers. He loves em, and yes, he has to put some effort into. But it really depends on the age of the mauser. You get the ones at the beginning of WWII, they were great, but I owned a few K98's made towards the end of WWII, and you had do alot of work on them. But you have to realize the history of building mausers during that era. I mean you ought to see how little steel they used at the end. And stamped bottom metal.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

The reason that gunsmiths use non-sako is that they need the business. I like many have never heard of having to take a sako to the smith. Sorry, you dont need too. Some builders use Sako for customs, but no need to modify to shoot straight.

I for along time have looked at the Kimber Montana. I think its a well-though rifle, but check around, especially pawn shops and used gun stores. There are many Montana's for sale. And if you ever have a chance to shoulder one next to a Sako 75 do it. There is no comparison.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Then you should read your own statement and I quote "they are a good platform, after trueing and accurising, blah blah blah". Eventually, a camaro will run with a corevette, but its still a camaro.

You throw enough money at something and eventually something will happen!

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

I will add to your assessment RR. Brownells offers the action alone. There is probably close to 30 to 1 ratio of 700s to 75. Maybe 60 to 1. So donor actions are hard to come by. Sako barrles are pretty good, but lets face it, they are no krieger or Dan Lilja.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

RR:

Are you trying to say that Remingtons dimensions on their actions are comparable to a Sako? Is that what I am hearing? My gunsmith flat out says that he has had to do minimal to nothing to rebarrel "ANY" sako he worked on and I damn trust his word over the gibberish I hear on this site.

Remington definitely keeps "Remington" gunsmiths in business some of who have less knowledge of a lathe then I do and i only took metal shop one year in HC. There are gunsmiths that are very proficient at making any action work and a better action is worth more then any customized remington because at the end of the day it's still a remington. Last Scintilla of accuracy is not everything RR I thought you would have known that by now. I like reliability,function and then accuracy . They can be had but not by buying a Remington or if you do so heavily customizing it that it isn't a Remington any longer.

BC:
Now back to the original subject which was Kimbers...they are a crap shoot plain and simple you can buy one and it is all gold or it could be a lemon. Last time I checked BC no dealers let you test drive Rifles so if it is a dog you have to unload the dog.BTW please spare the BS when you mention the Sako I sold you. Everyone has made one mistake or another in their life and I made mine selling to you.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

if money was no option, i would buy a Weatherby Mark V and have Weatherby custom build it to suit your needs.

RE: Are Kimber Rifles IT.
 

Ed Lopez, grow up. It was business. Thats its. You wasn't doing me an ounce of favor. They were going for750-800 on gunbroker. Only thing extra you had was the bolt assembly without a key. And I could care less about that. You even said yourself, they are going for that on auction arms and gunbroker at that time.