Have been here talking with a lot of you guys about my new Kimber so thought I would post this link to my recent range report. Didn't want to cut and past the whole thread this makes it easier.
AC, Thanks for your report. I have a twin little brother coming to me a week or two. A Montana in 7mm WSM. I have been waiting for your report. I live in Tampa Fl so it will be interesting to see how each shoots with the temp difference. I have decided to try the same ammo brands that you have, plus maybe the 160 grain Fusion. This rifle will be set up for Manitoba Whitetail hunt in Nov 2007.
Mine doesn't like the fusion 165's the only reason I know is because thats what I used to break in the barrel and sight in the scope. Now I just use them for fouling shots. The TSX so far is the bomb!
AC a few questions about your Kimber please, How long ago did you buy yours, How long did you research 8400s, how much info did you compile, and lastly what was the ratiao of positive reviews VS negative. I have made several posts here and at other websites concerning Kimber 8400s as I was 100% set to buy one untill I started seing all the negative posts about 84Ms and 8400s.
I had my heart set on buying one till all the bad posts I have seen poping up lately in the last month.
Arthur, I was in the same shoes as you. I bought this rifle 3 weeks ago (or so)I have been looking at the Kimber Montanas for over a year, the biggest problem that I had in buying one was some of the negative feedback. The two primary things I read negative was that they wont feed, and wont shoot accurately. I am told by several sources that the feeding issue was relevant to models with serial #'s up to 10900. After that the production rifles had the improved(machined) rails that allowed them to feed well. As to accuracy who knows what people were complaining about I think recoil has a lot to do with some folks shooting abilities. This is not a 7 1/2 lb 270 Win. When you squeeze the trigger she lets you know it and I would attribute that this has a lot to do with some folks accuracy issues.I think that the QC processes at Kimber really hurt them. They would have people buying them up like crazy if they had prevented some of their known problems, especially the feeding issue, but what do I know. I have owned every brand of rifle in the big makes, several of each, with each and every rifle there is good ones and bad ones. I have gotten a few bad ones myself over the years. This rifle meets my needs and desires for an all weather tough mountain rifle in a compact package in every way. It shooting as well as it does is the ultimate perk. I guess mine was a Tuesday morning rifle instead of a Friday beer-thirty model!
Thank you AC for a honest and unbiased reply to my request for information. I guess I will just have to take a longer than desired ride to a gun shop about 65 miles from my home who has 8400s in stock. I will keep alook out for rifles with the serial# you listed.
Best of luck with your Kimber and be well. Arthur.
Arthur, another little tid bit, the guys at the Sportsmans Warehouse told me that Kimber had them send back all the models they received with the bad rails (low serial numbers) so Kimber could fix them and then sent them back to Sportsmans Corrected. Just food for thought. If you can I'd get whoever it is to fill it and feed em so your sure you wont have to deal with that problem.
As to accuracy who knows what people were complaining about I think recoil has a lot to do with some folks shooting abilities. This is not a 7 1/2 lb 270 Win. When you squeeze the trigger she lets you know it
got that right. after 21 shots on the bench my 300WSM I had lightly bruised my shoulder. okay, I may have been using 'hottish' loads in this rifle.
I have also done some pleasing groups, around the .3" for 3 shots @ 100 yards and i have some that have been around 2". averagely it does about an inch.
Posts: 735 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 17 August 2006
Bought one in 300 WSM last fall and just got the 338 Winchester. The 300 will routinely cloverleaf three 180 Accubonds behind a max load of H4350; the 338 was broken in last week with a proven handload and placed all shots into 1.5" at 100 yards, clean barrel, first shot groups for the first three and then three shot groups, then clean, afterwards.... Needless to say, I have been impressed with my two. No feeding problems whatsoever... I hold them tightly on the bags and let the barrel cool between shots, while not moving the rifle on and off the bags. I think bench technique is especially critical with light-barreled rifles like these. The recoil of the 338 is not nearly as punishing as that from a 45/70 Guide Gun I was shooting in conjunction with it....
Posts: 128 | Location: western PA | Registered: 02 October 2004
