Anyone familiar with Kimber? I see different comments about Kimber of Oregon, Kimber in New York. What is the deal with this company? do they make a great product?

I cant resist this one! I purchased an 84m classic two years ago in 7-08 and it had the most imaculate wood I ever seen on a production rifle. I was not familular with the 7-08 but the wood was 10X better than any 100+ Kimbers I have seen in the past. I picked it up and it just plain didn't shoot good my dealer sent it back they kept it 4 weeks and when it returned to my shock!!! IT HAD A DIFFERENT STOCK!!! I called they told me it had a bedding problem and it as economicly better for them to throw my stock away and bed a new one from scratch. I left a note with the gun with 3 phone numbers and instructions to call me with any and all questions. I didn't get a call. The Cust. service man told me they researve the right to do whatever is the most econamical fix i.e. cheapest. The stock I now have is good but not what I had before my gun stiil doesnt shoot great and I found out they DO NOT !! test fire the center fire rifles for accuracey only function and they are not 100% USA made the stocks are built 100% in Costa Rica. I can name the Kimber people involved if anyone whants. When I tried to submit a grievence I just kept getting the same guy even when I e-mailed and wrote a real letter. The rifle in my picture is the Kimber by the way.

HHuu??

I bought a Kimber in 7mmRM about 6 years ago used. It had a nice, stainless fluted barrel on a blued VZ24 Action in a nice piece of wood. I tried everything to make that rifle shoot, but it totally resisted everything I tried.

I finally took it to my gunsmith, Walt Sherman, who specializes in building rifles on Mauser Actions. He looked at it, and checked the head space, and found that it was out. I left it with him with instructions to make it shoot and parkerize it in a light grey.

About six weeks later, Walt, who has built about six guns for me, called and said he'd finished working on the Kimber and had finally gotten it to shoot; however, he said, we were going to have to talk about the price!

We hadn't talked greatly about price when I took the rifle to him because he has always been really fair and delivered good value for the money. When I got out to his shop, Walt summed up his experience with the Kimber saying, "That Kimber you brought me wasn't a rifle, it was a parts kit!"

In addition to the expected rechambering, he had to work on the bolt, true the action in addition bedding it and parkerizing it. We ended up at a price that was more than fair, but I'll never forget his discription of that Kimber as not a rifle, but a parts kit! Kudude

I had an 84M in .308win. It was a shooter.

I do have to agree however that Kimber of Yonkers customer service SUCKS!!

They are standoffish, defensive, rude and totally unable to admit it when one of their guns has a problem.

I had some issues with them on a different rifle.

I think it may have something to do with the indigenous population of Yonkers New York. But that's just a guess.

My experience has been far different. I have two Kimbers, a .243 Montana that is 2 years old, and a .300 WSM special edition with a beautiful french walnut stock, that I bought last spring. When I shot the .243 at 200 yds two weeks ago, I had four 3-shot groups that measured from .74 to .97. The .300 seems to want to shoot consistent MOA, but I haven't done much load development with it yet. I sent them both back because I didn't like the way they fed. Now they both feed smooth as silk. When the .243 came back there were two 3-shot groups included that they had shot with two different factory loads that both were MOA. I am nothing but happy with mine, and plan to buy the first .338 Montana I can get my hands on.

i'm not even sure how many kimbers I own right now, lets just say its several. I happen to prefer classic rifles with wood stocks and blued finishes, and kimber gave me what i wanted. I did geet a couple of 270's that would'b shoot, but both of those were kimber of oregons. I can't comment of service, because i've never had to call for any. i do know with the warne family running the old kimber, that they did some custom things for me that were exceptional. So far as a parts gun goes, when the factory reopened in yonkers they made some out of the parts left over from the old factory. I am fortunate to have one, they are quite the collector items.

338 Montana? Is that a 338 Federal or WM? OR something else?

.338 WM. I spoke with a guy at Kimber a couple of weeks ago, and he told me to look for them in late spring.

I recently seen a wood stocked long action at my dealers and to be honest the inletting around the action and barrel was about the worse I ever seen on any factory rifle.

You guys have convinced me, I am not buying a Kimber.
Thanks for the help on this.

dogcat,

Don't give up so quick. Do a search here and on 24hr on Kimbers and you will find many very satisfied owners. I have four new Kimbers and they are my favorite rifles.

Link to 24 hr "kimber"

AR Kimber link

I agree. I bought my wife a Montana and it is nice. Shoots and feeds well. I just wouldnt order one. I would buy something the dealer had in stock to make sure it was put together nicely.

i have one and it is the most accurate rifle i have ever owned. wood to metal fit is great, and the action is quite smooth. never had a problem with mine. lucky i guess!