Here is the issue. Sent my Kimber 84M 7mm-08 back to the factory because it would not group less than 3" with factory ammunition. (also to have the 3-position safety installed) Kimber is replacing the barrel, but, now they say they don't know when the 7mm-08 barrels will be made. They have given me a choice of 243, 257 Roberts, 308, and 338 Federal as a replacement caliber. They have had this gun for 5 months now and I am about ready to be done with this ordeal. I had planned on using this gun for Texas White Tail and pigs. My preference would be between the 257 Roberts and 308. I would like to hear some pros and cons of each.

Thanks,

the roberts is an awesome round.
but not in a short action.
when you threw the pigs in there i went with the 338.
if you are trying to buy ammo then the 308 will do fine.

Ask for your money back and buy a better rifle.
If that does not work, go with .308.

Have them put a 257 barrel on it then sell it to me!

If this were my rifle and Kimber had been paid, I wouldnt let them give me a few calibers to choose from. You should be able to get any caliber you want that fits that action and bolt face. You have a lot more patience than I have. 5 months is more than enough time..Damned if I wouldnt get a little nasty. (had the same problem with browning 20 years ago)

Send them a list of premium barrel mfrs who can supply a chambered barrel w/contour.

quote:

Originally posted by Henry Hoover:
If this were my rifle and Kimber had been paid, I wouldnt let them give me a few calibers to choose from. You should be able to get any caliber you want that fits that action and bolt face. You have a lot more patience than I have. 5 months is more than enough time..Damned if I wouldnt get a little nasty. (had the same problem with browning 20 years ago)

Agreed....you bought the 7-08 for a reason...make them make it right.
Maybe some e-mails to the uppers will help get the ball moving.
Phone calls with customer service supervisors would be my first go around.

Tell them to find a dealer that has one and get it back and pull the barrel.
If they don't want to do that, tell them to send it back and you will send it to a gunsmith and have them order a barrel and have the bill sent to them......

quote:

now they say they don't know when the 7mm-08 barrels will be made.

Hopefully not where the got the original barrel.

quote:

.when you threw the pigs in there i went with the 338.

With Pigs in the mix I think this would be a great cartridge.

Sorry to hear about your dilema - hope this issue gets solved asap for you & your new boomer.

quote:

Originally posted by sdtdfw:
257 Roberts and 308. I would like to hear some pros and cons of each. Thanks,

There is no such thing as a "con" with respect to the 308. You can't lose with that one.

The con for the Roberts is minor, very minor...bullet diameter and weight.

I'd tell them to bbl it with the 308 and be done with it. You'll be glad you did as it is a FAR SUPERIOR choice compared to the 7-08.

+1 on the 308. Can't go wrong with a proven winner.

Well, I bought the gun from someone else,so I don't want to get too nasty with them. Thanks for all of the suggestions, I am still trying to decide. I think for pigs, the 308 would be a better choice.

quote:

Originally posted by Winchester 69:
Send them a list of premium barrel mfrs who can supply a chambered barrel w/contour.

X20

708, 358, or REFUND

Go with the 338 Federal this is a no-brainer, you can hand-load a 160gr TTSX for high velocity lighter big game. Or a 210gr partition, for biggger big game, with a ton of great bullets in between.

Go with the "Bob"

Take the .257 Roberts. Best all around cartridge.

Ain't democracy grand?

I assume you bought the 7mm-08 for a reason. The 257R is not a 7mm. I would insist on the same caliber, but failing that, the closest would probably be the 308, and, the 308 would probably be more accurate.
Peter.

Bite the bullet and install a Pac-Nor barrel
in the caliber you really wanted.

This will drive up your costs, but I'll bet it will be worth the effort!

I must admit, however, that for pigs I'd prefer the .338.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
708, 358, or REFUND

+1 jorge

I bought my wife a Super America in 308. It is a great little rifle, very light and fast handling and super accurate. She has taken Fallow deer and zebra with it. She let me use it for warthog, bushbuck and impala. You can buy 308 anywhere if you are on a trip and run short or a bag doesn't show up. You can load anything from 100 to 220 grain bullets. If you have your heart set on the 7mm, go ahead but you're not giving anything up with the 308.

sdtdfw,

Sorry to hear of the problems with your Kimber. I have four of them now and have been back to the plant myself to pick up a rifle there as I live nearby. I had a safety changed to three from two postions on an older one.

My son and I like the Kimbers for hunting. He shoots a 7-08 and I a 308 in the 84M. The two cartridges are about the same with the 308 being universal.

Get the 308 and enjoy it.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Don Slater:
Bite the bullet and install a Pac-Nor barrel
in the caliber you really wanted.

Then send Kimber the bill!

I have only dealt with one barrel manufacturer and that is douglas. Been to their shop twice. For 445.00 they will mount any barrel they make on your action. Any contour. That barrel is guarenteed for life If the work is done in their shop. Last year when I was there I personaly saw them rebarreling a winchester 30/06 that MR. G R Douglas built in 1959 free of charge. Something to think about. Send kimber the bill. (just stirring the kettle) I HATE to see anyone get jerked around.

Tell them to make the short drive to the other side of town (Kalispel, MT)and pick up a McGowen Precision barrel.

The .257 Roberts is a fine round in a long or short action.
But since you are going after pigs, I think the .308 might be better.
The .308 is probably my favorite all around hunting caliber.
I have 3 and My Kimber is simply excelent.
So sorry to he hear of your troubles...tj3006

quote:

Originally posted by sdtdfw:
Well, I bought the gun from someone else,so I don't want to get too nasty with them. Thanks for all of the suggestions, I am still trying to decide. I think for pigs, the 308 would be a better choice.

Hey sdtdfw, I'm not a fan of the current Kimber product, but... it appears they are trying their best to resolve your issue. Speaks well for the folks at Kimber.

If you want a 7mm-08, have a bit of patience and let them get you fixed up. The suggestions of you or anyone telling them who to buy barrels from is not something I would do.

The 308Win is an excellent option. I have both the 7mm-08 and 308Wins, either will do fine on Hogs with a good old Standard Grade Bullet or a Partition. I'd prefer the one with the shorter barrel between the ones I have right now if the Hogs are located in dense growth, or a swamp situation.

That 338Fed looks real promising if you reload. Not sure how big(weight wise) the Bullets we currently have would be optimum for it. Since some are designed for 338WinMag velocities, they might restrict your distance a bit with it. Never had one, so that is pure speculation.

Hang in there. Kimber is taking care of you. Best of luck with your choice.

Ask them if they will pay for you to have a custom barrel put on it, since they are being slow...

it is frustrating to pick up a new rifle and then not being able to use it, when your enthusiasm for it is so high...

Big +1 on the 308.

308

I have an 84M in 7-08 and when I bought it from the previous owner it wouldn't group under 1.5 inches @ 100yds. with anything, after 2 or 3 trips to Kimber and a test target from them with a group of 1.4 inches (from a machine rest)he sold it and I didn't have anymore luck at getting it to group until I decided to try Barnes bullets (I live on the Central Coast of the Socialist Republik of Kalifornia) it now groups under .75 inch @ 100 yds and 1.55 @ 200 yds.
Needless to say I love it now.

Steve E.........

I just find it hard to believe that they have barrels in every available caliber except 7mm-08. I am going to talk to them again at the first of the week and see if they will explain WHY they don't have the barrels. Based on that I will decide to continue to wait or not. If I switch, I have pretty much decided on .308. It is the closest to the original caliber.

I really appreciate everyones input. I will let you know what I find out.

The 308 will satisfy your needs and leave you feeling well served

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
708, 358, or REFUND

Sounds about right.

Landrum

Well, 308 it is. I asked them why they had every caliber but 7-08 and all they would say is "manufacturing issues". So, I took the 308. I was also having them switch the 2-position safety to the 3-position safety. They said they would do that at no charge. Now to get the gun back and see how it shoots.

quote:

Originally posted by sdtdfw:
Well, 308 it is. I asked them why they had every caliber but 7-08 and all they would say is "manufacturing issues". So, I took the 308. I was also having them switch the 2-position safety to the 3-position safety. They said they would do that at no charge. Now to get the gun back and see how it shoots.

Sounds like they were steering you away from another problem - manufacturing issues = bad 7-08 barrels, like your first one.

Good for them to "fess up" and try their best to make things right - by offering another chambering and by doing the three position free.

I would have chosen 257R, but you will love the 308.

Good luck!

JPK

I seriously considered that. I bet it would be a nice caliber in that light rifle. But, for me, I thought it was a little light for Texas pigs. The 308 should work good without too much recoil.

Kimber makes some awful nice guns,the 308 will be a perfect rifle for anything.I have seen and shot some that would strike a match at 100 yrds....Kimber is one of the most accurate rifles i ever shot right out of the box...all kimbers are not bad,you just got a bad one/luck of the draw/,hang in there,they will get it right....all companys have one that gets thru the quality inspection guys every now and then..Good luck & post a pic of your target when you get it back and try it out

While its possible to load down it is not possible to load up, the .308 is the only one of your choices that will handle 180 to 220 grainers at all.

Do they make .260 Rems? now thats a great cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by sdtdfw:
Here is the issue. Sent my Kimber 84M 7mm-08 back to the factory because it would not group less than 3" with factory ammunition. (also to have the 3-position safety installed) Kimber is replacing the barrel, but, now they say they don't know when the 7mm-08 barrels will be made. They have given me a choice of 243, 257 Roberts, 308, and 338 Federal as a replacement caliber. They have had this gun for 5 months now and I am about ready to be done with this ordeal. I had planned on using this gun for Texas White Tail and pigs. My preference would be between the 257 Roberts and 308. I would like to hear some pros and cons of each.

Thanks,