Anyone have any personal experience? Since I have more money than cartilage in my knees I picked one up in 280 AI. My ejection issues in my tikka lite still annoys me although it’s very accurate. 5 lbs 6 oz in believe long action. The 280 interests me as well. Will get it Friday and try it out

The .280 AI is impressive. I don’t have one, but my father has at least 5. I do t know why, but that’s just how he is...

The Kimber sounds pretty cool. Good luck with it!

Heard it was an accurate combo. We shall see but the package sounds pretty handy. And no ejection issues I’m sure

I've owned and dumped more Kimbers then I care to admit.

I wont ever buy another

Thanks for the detailed explanation......You talking rifles? Handguns? Models? Issues?

I am with Ted on this question.

Personally I have owned four different Kimber Montana rifles in three different calibers. I guess you can say that I am a slow learner. While I never had any problem with ejection, I have had feeding problems and the best of them was not much of a shooter.

Spend a little bit of money on your ejection problem and get it fixed. You will be far better off in the long run.

Ok not a glowing endorsement. But a trade off for a superlight rifle maybe. It has an moa guarantee but those can only be worth the paper it’s printed on sometimes. Will follow up more later

Just checked and I have a 14 day inspection period. While I can’t shoot it I can check feeding. Interesting most all internet web board feedback was positive. If it feeds I guess I’ll shoot it.

I could get detailed but don't feel like writing pages of grief in an attempt to save you some.....

They don't have a reputation of standing behind what they sell and I can vouch for that

My advise.....don't buy a Kimber product

If you do.....you were warned

My Montana seems to resist all of the normal things that should make it shoot better. It has been re-bedded, magazine box is not rubbing, etc. Many combinations of handloads have been tried and the blasted thing is still a 2 moa performer.

It is a nice looking rifle but it just does not shoot well. My choices seem to be putting a new barrel it, or just learning to live with it.

I'm with Ted on this one. I had one in 308 that would not shoot better than 2-3" at 100 yards. If a 308 won't do that, it is gone. Kimber said, NOPD....Not Our Problem Dude. Never again.

Kimber seems to suffer from "hit or miss" syndrome (pun intended).

My daughter's Mountain Rifle" (I forget the real name) in 270 WSM shoots 130 TTSX abd 130 Accubond bullets into sub-MOA. It's a keeper now I've moved the front sling stud forward, bedded and repainted the thing.

I built one like you're asking about but on a Rem 700 with a Lilja #2, Brown Precision Kevlar stock, 280 AI. It shoots!!!!!

Zeke

Buy a Fieldcraft instead.You will be very happy.

I solved the inconsistent group problem on my featherweight 7mm-08 by bedding 6lbs upward pressure on the barrel at the front of the stock to eliminate barrel whip. Now it’s shoots tiny little groups all the time with ttsx bullets. I wonder if a similar issue is going on here. So sub moa guaranty and they said pound sand? Hmmm not good. How old are these? Are they mountain ascents? They have several models. (The expensiver ones are the ascents).

“Mountain ascent”? Yeah building one is an option as well. How old is your daughters gun?

quote:

Originally posted by ZekeShikar:
Kimber seems to suffer from "hit or miss" syndrome (pun intended).

My daughter's Mountain Rifle" (I forget the real name) in 270 WSM shoots 130 TTSX abd 130 Accubond bullets into sub-MOA. It's a keeper now I've moved the front sling stud forward, bedded and repainted the thing.

I built one like you're asking about but on a Rem 700 with a Lilja #2, Brown Precision Kevlar stock, 280 AI. It shoots!!!!!

Zeke

I’ll look at them. Are they “super” light?

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:
Buy a Fieldcraft instead.You will be very happy.

How much does the one you made weigh? Barrel length?

quote:

Originally posted by ZekeShikar:
Kimber seems to suffer from "hit or miss" syndrome (pun intended).

My daughter's Mountain Rifle" (I forget the real name) in 270 WSM shoots 130 TTSX abd 130 Accubond bullets into sub-MOA. It's a keeper now I've moved the front sling stud forward, bedded and repainted the thing.

I built one like you're asking about but on a Rem 700 with a Lilja #2, Brown Precision Kevlar stock, 280 AI. It shoots!!!!!

Zeke

Appears they weigh about the same as the kimber but don’t offer the caliber I want. I got an inspection period so I will call kimber and if they don’t stand behind it I’ll send it back and use an existing rifle and make a 280 AI down the road as I am interested in the caliber

If you are on the hunt for a light rifle look at Forbs but if you want a sub moa rifle Kimbers are notorious for poor CS and poor QC with bad accuracy thrown in to boot

There is a guy on 24 hr campfire as I type this telling a tale of his brand new Kimbers safetey not working.....AT ALL!!

I have a 270 Win Montana and it is a great rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
I have a 270 Win Montana and it is a great rifle.

I have more then one Kimber rifles that are great.....(3)

But I have owned more then one that had severe issues....(4)

Not counting my K22 Kimber Classic 22LR that is a great rifle and a collector's piece

The more I read the internet woes with kimber it seems I am not sure what to think. Good thing I got an inspection period 14 days and can look at all the obvious around that supposedly are issues. I do believe a auperlight rifle poses issues to shooting especially if the shooter is not used to it. I have many rifles. I am looking for an Ultralight one. Mauser claw and 3 position safety. I’ll know this week if the visual inspection is passed

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
The more I read the internet woes with kimber it seems I am not sure what to think. Good thing I got an inspection period 14 days and can look at all the obvious around that supposedly are issues. I do believe a auperlight rifle poses issues to shooting especially if the shooter is not used to it. I have many rifles. I am looking for an Ultralight one. Mauser claw and 3 position safety. I’ll know this week if the visual inspection is passed

All of mine looked great

quote:

Not counting my K22 Kimber Classic 22LR that is a great rifle and a collector's piece

Yep, me too!

How old are these ? Time frame?

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
The more I read the internet woes with kimber it seems I am not sure what to think. Good thing I got an inspection period 14 days and can look at all the obvious around that supposedly are issues. I do believe a auperlight rifle poses issues to shooting especially if the shooter is not used to it. I have many rifles. I am looking for an Ultralight one. Mauser claw and 3 position safety. I’ll know this week if the visual inspection is passed

All of mine looked great

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I could get detailed but don't feel like writing pages of grief in an attempt to save you some.....

They don't have a reputation of standing behind what they sell and I can vouch for that

My advise.....don't buy a Kimber product

If you do.....you were warned

Unless they were the earlier Oregon rifles, they were very good.

While I've never owned one of the new New York guns I have heard enough to not want to roll the dice in hopes I got a good one especially for what they want for one. Instead either get the Tikka fixed or maybe look at a Winchester M70 Featherweight or Weatherby Ultra Lightweight. Very appealing rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
How old are these ? Time frame?

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
The more I read the internet woes with kimber it seems I am not sure what to think. Good thing I got an inspection period 14 days and can look at all the obvious around that supposedly are issues. I do believe a auperlight rifle poses issues to shooting especially if the shooter is not used to it. I have many rifles. I am looking for an Ultralight one. Mauser claw and 3 position safety. I’ll know this week if the visual inspection is passed

All of mine looked great

Based upon your responses, you've already made up your mind regarding the Kimber. You realize that by "looking at it", you cannot gain any knowledge regarding the rifle itself, other than looks.

I hope your Kimber shoots for you, but I've personally heard enough problems with them, I'll never think about owning one.

I'd save a little more money and purchase a Cooper over a Kimber.

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
How old are these ? Time frame?

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
The more I read the internet woes with kimber it seems I am not sure what to think. Good thing I got an inspection period 14 days and can look at all the obvious around that supposedly are issues. I do believe a auperlight rifle poses issues to shooting especially if the shooter is not used to it. I have many rifles. I am looking for an Ultralight one. Mauser claw and 3 position safety. I’ll know this week if the visual inspection is passed

All of mine looked great

Based upon your responses, you've already made up your mind regarding the Kimber. You realize that by "looking at it", you cannot gain any knowledge regarding the rifle itself, other than looks.

I hope your Kimber shoots for you, but I've personally heard enough problems with them, I'll never think about owning one.

I'd save a little more money and purchase a Cooper over a Kimber.

This ^^^^^

You can see if it’s free floated or bedded correctly. If scope base holes are centered. If it feeds. These are some of the many complaints I’ve read about. I understand that extremely light weight barrels can be temperamental. But nothing I can do now except look at it and decide whether to send back or shoot it. Many people have had great shooters. But if their customer service sucks that is a problem. I’ll look at coopers to see if Winchester style action

Ive owned one and it was fine, but considering the cost I will always opt for a pre 64 fwt Win. in a 270, 30-06, or a good Mauser 98..

I bought 2 Montana’s last year. The 270 Win was crap and the 6.5CM was total shit. Kimber did nothing to fix the issues with accuracy or the safety.

you will never get a light,thin, whippy barrel to shoot well. The physics and barrel dynamics are just not there.

quote:

Originally posted by bentaframe:
you will never get a light,thin, whippy barrel to shoot well. The physics and barrel dynamics are just not there.

Rifles Inc. will, but that’s a different league.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:

quote:

Originally posted by bentaframe:
you will never get a light,thin, whippy barrel to shoot well. The physics and barrel dynamics are just not there.

Rifles Inc. will, but that’s a different league.

I've used my bud's Rifles, Inc. .270 on most trips out west and killed a pile with it. As light as it is accurate, trigger is as light as you'd ever want one.....learned that when I shot right over the back of a big deer.....NEVER put your finger on that trigger until it's on the target.

So how did they address their “accuracy guarantee”? Say sub MOA with factory ammo and skilled shooter. So you are saying you had a defective safety and they did not fix it?

quote:

Originally posted by TREE 'EM:
I bought 2 Montana’s last year. The 270 Win was crap and the 6.5CM was total shit. Kimber did nothing to fix the issues with accuracy or the safety.

I owned a 270WSM that wouldn't feed, and a 257 Roberts that wouldn't shoot.

A friend of mine, has 5 of them and has never had a bad one. He lives in Australia, he told me that Kimber only sent good ones to Australia.

I don't believe that, but it is interesting to note that his rifles are rare in that I knew other folks in Australia that had the shit Kimber disease.

I don’t own one, but have heard good things about the Barrett Fieldcraft. I have a Cooper Back Country in .300 Winchester, but would think hard about buying one again knowing what I know now. The Cooper shoots sub MOA groups with 165-grain Accubonds, but is very finicky about loads. Of the six loads with four different bullets I have tried, only the one shot consistently better than 1-1/2 MOA. Also, the pin that holds the magazine release is too short so can back out and shear off (I replaced mine with a longer one I made after this happened to me) and the magazine spring needs to be stronger or it is easy to accidentally eject the magazine (I also fixed this on mine). The rifle does balance well and looks good for a stainless synthetic gun. Still, at the price point, were I to do it again, I would spend a bit more and look at a true custom like a Rifles Inc. or spend less and buy the Barrett.

quote:

Originally posted by bentaframe:
you will never get a light,thin, whippy barrel to shoot well. The physics and barrel dynamics are just not there.

Hmmm...Just shot my 308 NULA(well under 6 lbs) at 300 yards 1.5 inch group. Lucky I guess? Anyway Im a NULA man. Only problem 6-8 month wait,and I have the patience of 7 year old on Christmas morning....But highly recommend

quote:

Originally posted by gunslinger55:
So how did they address their “accuracy guarantee”? Say sub MOA with factory ammo and skilled shooter. So you are saying you had a defective safety and they did not fix it?

quote:

Originally posted by TREE 'EM:
I bought 2 Montana’s last year. The 270 Win was crap and the 6.5CM was total shit. Kimber did nothing to fix the issues with accuracy or the safety.

They sent me the rifle back with a target showing .01 under MOA with target ammo, not hunting ammo and claim that’s within spec.
They claimed the safety was within spec also. Even though you could not find the middle setting and it would not pass a 1 foot drop test before I sent it and after I received it back.
I passed it on to a friend after explaining all of the issues with it. He thinks he can get it right.

I hear the term Kimber lottery used quite a bit. From now on I’ll waste my money on scratch off tickets.

quote:

Originally posted by bentaframe:
you will never get a light,thin, whippy barrel to shoot well. The physics and barrel dynamics are just not there.

That is absolutely not true. I have a pile of ultra light rifles that shoot fantastic.
None are Kimbers however.