The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Why do you hate the Kimber 84M?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| One of Us |
I have a sincere question for those of you who've had strong negative experiences with the Kimber 84M. Were the problems you had primarily to do with barrel quality, the assembly of the barreled action, stocking and bedding, or some essential flaw in the design? Details welcome. | ||
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I have two of them. Strongest impressions are that it takes a while for the gun to settle in, about 100 rounds or so, then a 7 pound full up rifle is more difficult to shoot than a 9 pound full up rifle especially if it has a 5 pound trigger pull. If you relax your focus or hold it shoots off, if your consistent it does not. | |||
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I have never owned one but have shot a couple. My opinion is they were way over priced. I felt that a Remington or Winchester shot just as well for a few hundred less. I would not say I hate them, I just think they are overpriced, but nice rifles. | |||
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I don't hate, still own one, but I have had issues with chamber fit, bedding/stocking, safety, and poor trigger. I like the light weight and aesthetics of the gun, and the one I still have has a nice piece of wood on it.....I think the overpriced statement is probably pretty accurate. | |||
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I don't believe the Kimber's deliver $1200.00-$1500.00 worth in their rifles. If I spend $300.00 on a Savage or a Marlin, I can expect to have to pay more for a new barrel, new trigger and new stock. $1000.00 is going to get a rifle that is extremely accurate, stable and of course ugly. If I spend $700.00-$800.00 on a Remington, Tikka, Weatherby I can expect to do a little work on the barrel and action, a new stock and a new trigger. I can approach or be at the Kimber price point with a far superior shooting weapon in consistency and also a custom stock. If I have no interest in doing any work to the gun myself or simply have no time to research aftermarket product, I would put my $1500.00 into something like a Steyr Pro-Hunter vs. the Kimber products. | |||
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I have one Kimber that I bought recently. Shot like complete crap. I sent it back and they replaced the barrel. Now it shoots like a dream. From what I've heard, my case not uncommon except many people just sell them instead of sending them back. I would NEVER buy a used Kimber. Are they worth the money? I think so BUT they really need to get much better quality control. There are too many bad stories ruining their reputation. When I spend $1200 on a rifle, I shouldn't have to send it back because it has a bad barrel. | |||
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here is the deal. Scott is right in that one should not have to replace a barrel on a brand new $1200 rifle period. On the other hand I just ordered another Kimber Montana in 308Winchester. What do you like? Are light guns favored in your hunting style? Do you like to tote 8 pound rifles? I do not. Unless you buy a $3000.00 NULA there is not a good choice for a 5 pound 30 caliber rifle on todays market. With a set of Talley LW rings, a Zeiss conquest 2.5 x 8 x 32 at 14 ounces, sling and 4 rounds you are under 6.5 pounds. This appeals to me as I climb trees to hunt, walk quite a bit at times with a 22 pound summit climber, 10-15 pound pack and I bet 20 pounds of clothes and boots sometimes, + binocs etc etc etc, then climb a tree to ambush bambi. My Garmin gets a good workout at O'dark 30 you might say.... to me a light powerful rifle is perfect, the kimber Roberts I just bought will be a sunny day rifle, the Kimber Montana 308 with 130 grain TSX bullets will be my rain gun for a while. | |||
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I guess everyone has a "go to rifle", It is the rifle you always hunt with, It is the rifle that it doesn't matter the situation, i.e. rest, distance, etc. it always kills what you point it at, my wife calls an item like this "your wooby". Mine is a Kimber 8400 Classic .300wsm, It has been with me in 6 different countries and killed countless animals, It has spent more time with me many hunting seasons than my wife and kids (sorry Dear). No one would probably ever give me anything for it as it looks exactly like the life it has been subjected to, even if they did it would be grossly undervalued (no matter how much they gave me). It is the same as it was the day I took it our of the box (except for the scope), I have never turned a screwdriver on it. I couldn't afford it when I bought it and could buy one in every caliber available now but never will because it just wouldn't be the same. It fits me perfect, it has never jammed, misfired, or not held a 1/2" pattern on paper, I have complete and total confidence in it. My point is, this is what a "good" rifle is, it doesn't matter the brand or what it cost, it is the gun you have confidence in. And remember, your "wooby" may not be worth 2 squirts of piss to some other guys, but does it really matter?  | |||
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I guess Kimber quality control has deteriorated over the years because I bought a 308 Super America for Mrs Blacktailer in 05 and it has always shot like a dream as well as being very pretty (important in a wife's gun). I believe it was an older rifle when I bought it (although it was not used) because although it had a model 70 style safety, it was only 2 position (safe with bolt locked and off safe only). As I understand it, the early models were built like this. I sent it back to the factory and for about 50 bucks they updated it to a 3 position safety. No problems since then and did I mention it is pretty? She let me borrow it for some PG and it handles like a dream. Have gun- Will travel The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark | |||
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I am very happy with my Kimber Montana 8400 .300 Win.  W. | |||
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I would add that Kimber made things right with me and I would buy another new Kimber. I think they are absolutely beautiful rifles with really nice finish and balance. I couldn't be happier with mine now that it was repaired. | |||
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Jimmy B: Steyr Scout (308 or 7mm-08) weighs in just a bit over 6.5 w/Leupold or Burris IER scope. Way under 3K...nice used ones seem to run a bit over half that. "Jeff Cooper trigger" almost always extra. So is a bolt that will not cause you to ber laughed at. | |||
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Mine had major accuracy issues and the factory refused to repair it. NRA Patron member | |||
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What sort of accuracy were your experiencing and what did Kimber say about the problem precisely? Thanks. | |||
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I'm not sure quality control has deteriorated. Opinions about Kimber rifles seem to come in three flavors: Can't afford one, love mine, and absolutely regret ever getting involved with one. My son and I have had good experiences with his 84M in 308 but I want to learn from those who had negative experiences. | |||
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I can't tell you why I hate them, but I can tell you why I didn't buy one. About six or eight months ago, I wanted to buy a nice rifle. I finally reduced my list down to a Kimber and a Cooper. I eliminated the Cooper from contention out of concern that Cooper would benefit from the purchase, even though he had sold the company; typically sales involve lingering interest, and I was unwilling to give a dime to an Obama supporter in the firearms industry (like a chicken giving money to Col. Saunders). I eliminated the Kimber because of the persistent reports of QC issues. I didn't want to spend $1200+ and end up with a problem; there were simply too many reports of problems for me to ignore them. Ultimately, I bought a 30 year-old Mannlicher of known quality; quite frankly, I couldn't be happier with my decision. analog_peninsula ----------------------- It takes character to withstand the rigors of indolence. | |||
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I've had 3 Kimber rifles within the last 4 years. The first two were nice and shot 1 to 1 1/2 inch groups; however the last one was a real peace of trash. It wouldn't feed or shoot the best group I could get was about 3 inches. I sent it back to Kimber and found out the firing pin was off center and the chamber was out of spec. Next rifle I'll try will be a Sako | |||
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Kimbers are good looking rifles but as we say, handsome is as handsome does and some times Kimbers don't. I've owned three. First a 308 wood blue was an acceptable with 1-1.5 inch groups. The second a 7mm-08 wood blue shot 3 inch groups at 25 yards. The last one was a s/s 260 shot like a dream but would not feed rounds from the left side if the magazine. I would not buy another Kimber. At half the price the Tikka T3 is a better rifle,they aren't as handsome as Kimbers however the do do it. | |||
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Had one in .308 before I handloaded. Went through several different brands of ammo (and in .308, there's plenty) and never go a group better than 2". Ad that was for 150 gr BT's, which were expensive and not optimal for elk and bear. Besides the accuracy, the bolt had a sticky spot that never wore in. Drove me nuts that my expensive rifle had a rougher bolt throw than a rack Ruger or Remington, or Savage for that matter. Sold it,bought an A-bolt, never looked back. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the 270 won't do it the .338 will, if the 338 won't I can't afford the hunt! | |||
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Can't say as I hate them, per se. I just plumb don't like 'em. The Montana feels like crap in my hands. That's as far as I got.....picking one up (I was convinced that was what I went to the gunshop to buy). Felt like a club. Didn't shoulder well. Ugly as a mud fence with that nauseating primer gray finish. Picked up a Mark V Ultra-Lightweight and the rest is history. Founder....the OTPG | |||
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I have a love-hate relationship with mine. One is 84M 7-08 the other is a 22LR classic Like blacktailer mine are the older New York made 2 pos. saftey. I love the safety and will not have it changed to the 3 pos. I hade accuracy issues right from the get-go with the 7-08 I sent it back only after exausting my loading efforts. My rifle was purchased not only because I wanted a 7-08 84M but this one had above average wood, very stiking curl in the but. This accuracy issue, Kimber stated was a bedding issue and they scraped the stock for a new one. This has been a sore issue for me ever since. I contacted them and talked to Dennise the head of PR/QC and he told me it is an issue of cost and he was sorrry. The gun did shoot better but given a choice I would have kept the stock and re-bedded myself. My two Kimbers have many possitives. Light, point like a dream, fit and finnish are above average and they have very good triggers. I find myself picking up the 7-08 day after day because it carries like it's not there. The 22LR goes with me everytime I go to the range because it is the perfect practice rifle to my 84M and is almost the same rifle front to back. ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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Mine shoots just fine...I made sure the bbl was well floated and added a pressure pad.    Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Gidday Guys, Because they aren't European. You just seem to get better quality and craftsmanship out of Europe. Thay are also more consistent. Now watch the fur fly  Happy Hunting Hamish | |||
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| one of us |
I do not have any thing agenst the Kimber 84M its just that I think I have enought rifles. | |||
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I bought an 8400 classic from them once. Never again. The stock was green and had huge gaps between the wood and metal everywhere. The forend was twisted and the barrel was almost out of the stock at the forend tip. I was afraid to get it wet, it might sprout a branch! I called Kimber and they sent the UPS guy by the house to pick it up. They replaced the stock but scared up the metal doing it! The new stock had a big dig in it and the barreled action was scrtched up. Looked like it had been dropped. At this point I had all I could stand out of Kimber and sold it at a big loss. Never even shot the damn thing and I'll never own another. Beautiful!  This is a $1000 rifle.  What's that gapping hole for? It touches on both ends  If the forend was any longer the barrel would be completely out if it.  That's why I don't like them. Not the 84M, but anything with the Kimber name on it. Terry -------------------------------------------- Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? | |||
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Looks worse than a Rem 798 stock. ----------------------------------------------------- Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26-4 National Rifle Association Life Member | |||
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Please explain. Ruger, Remington, Savage and Winchester put out very high quality products. Just because a small American firearms company has some quality issues, doesn't mean they all do. Does a new $2,000 Sako have a little nicer wood than a $800 Remington 700? Probably. Does it shoot better? I doubt it. | |||
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If you want the nice piece of artwork with a beautiful oil finish then buy a Kimber. If you want a functional, accurate weapon then buy another brand or build your own. $1200.00 builds a very nice rifle. | |||
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I had a kimber 8400 montana in 300wsm. it was an ok rifle but a bit expensive for what it is. the barrel fouled pretty bad and took 200rounds to start shooting OK.the bedding wasn't any good either, but the trigger adjusted alright for something out of the factory. shot 150gr bts the best. I eventually traded it in after 500rounds on a nightforce 5.5-22NXS and ive never regretted it. | |||
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I know there are many shooters who like their Kimbers, my son for instance. He loves his Kimber 84M 308 (and his Hunter 22). Apart from a hankering to get one myself my interest in why some folks swear at their Kimbers instead of by them is largely technical. I'd be happy to hear more about your positive experiences. | |||
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I dont know if this counts i have two kimbers both shoot under minute of angle they are originals 89bgr just alittle more money and worth every penny about 1400-1600 there out there. | |||
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One more time | |||
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| One of Us |
I had an 84m in 308, with a 6x40 scope it weighed 6.5 lbs. I had a 700 Ti 7mm SAUM, it weighed 7 lbs 4 oz with the same scope. The Kimber felt like a nice SXS shotgun in my hands and the Ti felt like a club. I shot the Kimber better offhand than any rifle I've ever owned. I don't think I ever fired it anything that didn't die from the shot. I wish I'd never sold it. | |||
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First, I have never owned a Kimber and really don't care if they are good or not. I know some people have good luck and some have bad luck, with any product. No flame is intended, However... Funny thing happened to me. I was browsing the local gunracks and happened upon a kimber and it looked just like TC1's. The metal to wood fit was horrendous. The gaps looked ragged and uneven, and they were everywhere. The wood was a beautiful piece of walnut, however, they totally botched it. The forend was warped in a similar manner to TC's. Now I am no stockmaker, but I have tried my hand at such projects. The first stock that I inletted and fit by hand looks better than the Kimber. For $1,000 you get a barreled action, MHO. ----------------------------------------------------- Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26-4 National Rifle Association Life Member | |||
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Cruel but true!    | |||
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Guess I've been lucky. The 8400 "Classic" .270 WSM I bought two years ago shoots exceptionally well, has nice wood and is well fitted. Yes, I have seen some of the 84 series that really were poorly fitted. One in particular was a new 7-08 "Classic" that had beautiful wood, but the inletting looked as if it done by a drunk, or a guy with a really dull "boy scout" knife. No, I don't think I would ever buy a used 84 series without really close inspection. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" Hamlet III/ii | |||
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Well shite JimmyPCoaltrain; you don't need a light rifle, you need a 4-wheeler or a 3/4ton diesel P/U. Somebody please explain this "I can't carry a rifle that weighs over six pounds" thing to me. Skip one Big Mac a week and you lost 13 pounds in a year. Make that your resolution for 2010!! Rich seriously! | |||
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I'm guessing you bought this one sight unseen? I think at one time or another, I've seen poorly fitted versions of quite a few brands of rifles on gun racks at retailers. Wouldn't have bought any of these either. Troy | |||
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I had heard some of these quality control issues before I bought mine . . . but I took the plunge anyway and mine is a nice one. I have an 8400 Montana 300 WSM. Not sure that if I'd call it a tack driver compared to some of my custom-barreled Encores, but its shoots better than "minute of deer" and is a light, easy-handling HUNTING rifle for sure. On our Mule Deer hunt this past October, we were walking around 7-8 miles per day (or more) and my Kimber was much easier to carry at the end of the day that my wife's Custom Encore . . . meaning that I had it in my hands for a much longer period of time than she had hers, and had we the need for a quick shot at jumped game, I'd have been ready to shoot and she wouldn't. I'm thinking that I'll be getting her an 84M Montana in 308 soonish . . . that said, I'll probably buy it at the retailer outlet rather than online. Wouldn't want to end up with Rub Line's gun LOL Troy | |||
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The Kimber debate always illicites a strong response. I have had more than my share of Montana's and presently am down to five. I consider each one a different "animal" and have had a couple of problems over the years. But in general, they are a lot of rifle for the money. From my .204 to the 375H&H, they are a no nonsense all weather tool that I have a lot of faith in. That being said, Kimber should not be let off the hook for quality control problems. Sooner or later they should get the idea - put out an acceptable product the first time and your reputation will precede you. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Why do you hate the Kimber 84M?
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