Instead of messing up kenatis thread, I thougtht id start an own.
My question is simple; If you could give me the pros and cons of the Kimber montana 84M, I would appreciate it. Also, what do you think of the caliber, 7-08Rem?
It`s meant to function as an allround moutain/walking rifle.

Best regards from Sweden.

I dont have the montana...probably nothing wrong with it but I am a walnut man. I think the 7mm 08 is as good as it gets in the short action class I do own one in a kimber 84m. Low recoil..plenty of kinetic energy with 140 grn. loads and a prety flat shooter to boot. It has also killed everything DEAD!!! that I have shot with it. The Kimber is also a pleasure to cary it is light light light!

My only complaint so far with my Walnut Kimber 7-08 is that it shoot Factory Federal Fusion ammo (relatively inexpensive over here) as well as any of my handloads. If I do my part it will shoot 3/4 MOA with this factory load with what should be an excellent bullet.
I just need to spend more reloading bench time with it, it's a fine rifle. I hope that you really enjoy yours....................DJ

All right, thanks so far!
Anything I should look specifically for, I mean any details that usually can be poorly made or so?
I can take that the cycling can be a little rough, and the safety may not handle slick, but except for the shooting part I also want the rifle to really work.

Hope you understand what I mean.

Kimber get mixed reviews over here - some people have trouble with them and others counter that since theirs work fine, the ones having trouble must be (1) lying, (2) mistaken, or (3) unable to shoot lightweight rifles. I had trouble with an M84, and I don't fall into any of the three categories above - the rifle itself was problematic. My impression is that Kimber's quality control was spotty, but is getting better. Still, if I had to buy something from across an ocean, I might wait a bit.

Jaywalker

I had one in 270 wsm
It shot 3" groups, with multiple load combinations.
Sent it back to the factory.
They said it was fine.
It still shot 3" groups.
Sold it.
Had a custome 270wsm built on a Rem 700 action.
It shoots several loads well under an inch.

Jaywalker and df06; Thats not fun to hear!
One thing though, I`m not paying til I`ve tried it! It`s a good store.

The Kimber Montana rifles have blind magazines. If they had a floorplate like their wooden cousins I would probably own one. I love the 84M dimensions.....



Cheers,

Dan

asti,

In that case, then be sure to load the entire magazine and ensure that each round feeds as it should; work the bolt both slowly and rapidly. The rear bridge is a bit shorter than some other rifles, so ensure the scope allows you a full field of view at your normal shooting position. Also, I have seen a couple of of Kimbers in which the barrel is not quite centered in the barrel channel, so check that. Oher than that, if it's accurate, it's likely a keeper.

Jaywalker

The Kimbers have been updated like many products. Check that the one there has a three position safety and 8-40 threads for the mount bases. There also was some feed ramp change but I would not worry about that as my old ones fed well.

The 308 Kimber Montana I have is right here by the computer and it has a SN of 14,xxx and it has the features I mentioned above. Mine is almost two years old now.

The 7-08 is an outstanding cartridge. I don't know if you handload or not but its not super popular and I doubt it is in Sweden.

Overall the Kimber 84M Montana is the lightest reasonably priced factory rifle with a high end stock. I like them a lot.

I gave my 84M Classic 7-08 to my son. Thats his rifle now and he got his first buck with it.

Thanks Jaywalker!Good info.
Thanks too, savage.
Oh yes, I reload, so its not an issue..

Good luck with your new Kimber Montana. Since your dealer is going to let you try it out your way ahead of most of us.

I suggest locktite or some method to hold the mounting screws tight. Mount screws coming loose was a problem until I did that.

The trigger is easy to adjust if it needs it. Just download the manual and look at the names of the screws.



Deer taken with Kimber 7mm-08.

Savage_99's post caused me to recall the Kimber scope bases - so-called "standard" (or "Redfield" bases). Those are the ones with windage adjustment screws on the rear one - I don't care for them. They don't give much support to the rear ring at all, which means all the recoil stress is on the front ring. Use something other than "standard" mounts.

He's also right about how far ahead of us you are in being able to test-fire before purchasing. What a concept!

Asti, Jaywalker brings up a good point, Avoid the factory rings and bases.
IMHO the Talley 1pc rings and bases are simply perfect for Kimber rifles- lightweight, simple and very strong. Over here they are also inexpensive. But inexpensive or not I think they are the best rings available for the Kimbers. If you have trouble locating them PM me and we might be able to help you.............................DJ

Thanks alot, all of you! Appreciate all info and offers of help.
I`ve been considering the Talley lightweights, but I`m kind of allergic to aluminum mounts...
They do get good critics though, also I dont believe Talley sells crap...

You are right, this is a REALLY great dealer!
Not many of them lets you do this with a new rifle. However, this dealer has also made a fair amount of money on me, I figure he wants to keep me as a customer...

If the factory mounts bases come with the rifle and rings are handy then I could not wait but try the rifle out. I have used the factory bases and the screws are not soft like the old Redfields. I don't like the design either but they will work until you get the mounts you want.

Warne may have started making Weaver style bases again for the 84M 8-40's if thats the kind of mount system you like.

If a steel Talley is what you want check in with DJ Paintles above.

Had an 84m in .308. Shot 3" groups. Bolt throw was not smooth, trigger was creepy, walnot had sanding marks going across the grain. Sold it, bought an A-bolt, never looked back.

Okey, there seem to be two different "beliefs" regarding Kimber. Some think they suck in general, while others seem to think they are actually really good rifles. This is not just based upon reading the answers in this thread, I`ve read quite alot, here and on other sites/magasines.
Another thing I`ve noticed is, the real early ones and the recent ones seem to be more appreciated than the ones in the middle, so to speak.
Is this correct, and if so, why?
Qualitycheck or what?
This is just the feeling i`ve gotten, would be fun to hear what others think. I have never owned one myself, just handled a couple and I think they are REALLY neat! Hopefully I will find a sample that is good.

Thankful once again for any input, good or bad.
Best regards.

Have heard mixed reviews of Kimbers.A Norwegian hunting magazine recently did a test of 3 Kimbers a 223 and a wood 30-06 and a montana in 30-06.suprisingly none of these rifles impressed the tester with presision(average 40-60mm).However,last week at the range I saw a wood stocked 308 that shot tiny groups,the only thing that the new owner wasn't happy with was the position of the sling studs(wrong place for recoil)I think as others have mentioned that the quality control and customer service may be lacking?

With a couple of exceptions, I don't think the manufacture date has much to do with the quality. There were a couple of things, however, early on. Apparently, the factory set their CNC machine wrong, and the feed rails on the earliest of them were terrible, but you'll be able to tell that just by feel. For a time after that Kimber continued to use the two-position safety until they changed to the three-position one they use now. (I liked the two-position safety, but the marketplace spoke and they're all three-position, now.) Also, at some point, they changed the feed ramp angle, so they must have had trouble with something. Personally, I thought the trigger was always good, but maybe that's changed, too.

I've learned from another board recently that Kimber doesn't really bed each rifle, in the sense that each rifle is an individual. Kimber apparently beds each stock to a general male form, instead, even though the action to go into the stock will likely have very slightly different dimensions. I do consider this a quality lack, and it may well answer the questions we have about some of them working well while others - don't.

buy an 8400 for the bigger action.

I HAD a Kimber but traded it for a Nightforce Scope, and I dont regret doing it

As a rule, I like wood and blue rifles,
But I could certainly make room for a Kimber montana.
Nothing wrong with the cartridge either, but I personaly prefer the .308.
I had a 7mm08 in a browning micro hunter and it was a decent rifle, but I never could see the use for the round. Any balistic difference beetween it and the .308 exists on paper and in shooters perceptions.
If I wanted somthing smaller than the .308 I would take another step down and get a .260.
That being said there is really nothing at all wrong with the 7mm08, and if I won a kimber montana in a raffle chamberd in that round I would by dies and probably love it.
But If I was buying, it would be a .308 or a .260
...tj3006

Ok, thank you all for the comments!
The rifle will arrive in a couple of weeks, then I will look at it and try it. If I buy it I will post and tell you all how it works.

If anyone has any more info, other then what has already been said, please post!

Oh yes, djpaintles, the Talley lightweights, are those the one made of alumina or what?
Someone was writing about steel and that got me confused...
The only light talley I can find are the alumina ones.

Never owned a Kimber rifle, but I do dig the 7-08. It serves as my squirrel shooter, but it really does have enough juice for game up to black bear and elk. A reliable, effective, and easy recoiling round.

asti,

I wouldn't worry about the strength of the Talley aluminum rings - they are very strong. Melvin Forbes, who makes the New Ultra Light Arms (NULA) rifle, uses Talleys and tells of their capability - apparently one of his clients got too close to a non-shootable rhino in Africa and had to drop his rifle and climb a tree. The rhino stepped all over it, smashing the scope, but doing no damage to the rings. The client installed his spare scope and continued hunting, though I suspect he checked the zero first.

In addition to being strong, they're very accurately machined, as well. Steve Timms, an American gunwriter, tells privately of a caribou hunt he and Forbes took in which Forbes was late due to a family emergency. Fobes brought a brand-new NULA and a brand-new scope, installed them at camp, and fired for zero. The point of impact was only an inch or so away from the point of aim, he says.

Talley rings are the last thng I'd worry about when buying a Kimber...

Jaywalker

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:

I've learned from another board recently that Kimber doesn't really bed each rifle.... Kimber apparently beds each stock to a general male form, instead, even though the action to go into the stock will likely have very slightly different dimensions. .

I just bought a Montana and it was not shooting as well as it should. When I checked the bedding I found it was not bedded properly and there was contact in only a few spots.

My impression was that the bedding was done with a form.

I'm one of the ones that has a problem with my Kimber that can't seem to get right - I love the 7mm-08 buy it in a Rem 700, Tikka, etc and save yourself the extra money. I have a 700 in 7-08 that shoots sub-moa out of the box - I use it for hunter class high power silhouettes and have done nothing to it from day one. My Kimber Montana in 300WSM has been back to Kimber twice for a bolt binding issue and is currently at my own gunsmith - if he can't figure it out on my dollar then I am demanding a replacement from Kimber.

asti.
Any news about your Kimber project?

Thinking of buying one in 308 Win myself, but got second thoughts after reading this thread and also the test report by the Norwegian hunting magazine.

As now they are prized in the same leauge as Ruger Hawkeye and a bit less than Rem 7 and Tikka T3 Lite in the same caliber (308 Win).

Arild, nothing new in a while now. Last I heard, was that they would get the rifle in mid december.
As for you, this, and other threads has gotten me on second thoughts... However, I will try the rifles, but if nothing works I will customize and try to lighten up my Sako instead.

Will post when something new happens.
Best regards.

Hey asti, I have no horse in this race, but I seem to remember someone posting some flicks of a rather pronounced Kimber Termite Food warpage concern. I believe that is the link, but will check.

Consistent accuracy does not "grow on trees".

Best of luck to you.

I find that most forums have an annoying member.

New update:
My 7-08 hadnt arrived with this shipment. The dealer had received a 243 though, and it was SMALL! As a matter of fact, I found it too small.(Meaning, the rifle was too small. If I would have bought an 84, it would have been either a .308 or a 7-08.)
Therefore I decided to try the larger 8400, in .30-06. I`ll be doing a brake in on the barrel, while waiting for the Talleyrings.

The rifle cycles really smooth, maybe I have had luck, who knows?

The "bedding" on the other hand, looks a little suspicious, but I will have to shoot the rifle first before judging it.
After I`ve done so, I will report.
P.S If The rifle doesnt shoot sub moa, the dealer will; fix the rifle, if they cant they will replace it with first another Kimber, if that doesnt work, another rifle will replace it...
Pretty good deal, huh?

Quick question:
Does anyone KNOW whether one can turn the Talley-one piece rings around, in order to be able to adjust eyerelief more?
I`ve only seen them with the front base "ring" pointing forward...
Hope you understand what I mean, otherwise, Ive only seen them as they are in Kenatis thread about the stock issue.
Very thankful for response, as I otherwise have to order others.

My 7-o8

I certainly could find a space in my clooection for a montana in 7mm08. But I prefer the 308 myself.
I had a couple 7mm08s and they were decent enough, I just think the .308 with 165s and 180s is a better round than the 7mm08 is with 160s and 175s.
You did mention general purpose. Including in my neck of the woods at least, mule deer elk black bear. I,ll take a .308 with a 168 grain tripple shock .
...tj3006

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Jones:
I certainly could find a space in my clooection for a montana in 7mm08. But I prefer the 308 myself.
I had a couple 7mm08s and they were decent enough, I just think the .308 with 165s and 180s is a better round than the 7mm08 is with 160s and 175s.
You did mention general purpose. Including in my neck of the woods at least, mule deer elk black bear. I,ll take a .308 with a 168 grain tripple shock .
...tj3006

The 7-08 is not designed for those large bullets (160 or 175) it best performs with 140 grn. bullets anything bigger is takeing away from it's case capacity.

With 140's it passes 2600 ft.lbs at 2900 fps and drops 21.7" at 300 yrds from muzzle zero.

The .308 with 168's reach's 2700 ft. lbs at 2700 fps and drops 24.8" at 300 yrds from muzzle zero.

The .308 is a more versitale round indeed but to compare the 140 grn from a 7-08 to a 168 from a .308 I would say it's a wash.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:


My 7-o8

That kinda looks like a Muley whitetail mix.

I experimented with my 7mm-08 and 175 grain hornady bullets, spire point. I got about 2450 fps with less that maximum load of H4350. Both my 7mm-08's have a 20 inch barrels. This load has plenty of energy out to 300 yards (at least according to Hornady)

I looked at a Kimber 8400 in 25-06. The inletting was less than perfect, but the action was very smooth, and the trigger was excellent.

That kinda looks like a Muley whitetail mix.

Her in South East Missouri the only Mules we have pull logs out of the woods.

I have now done a decent brake-in, and I really think the barrel seem ok. It hasnt fouled a lot, and after only 18 rounds I think the brake-in is over.
I`m expecting the Talleys to arrive this week, that is if the postal service do their part...