hi all,

i've got a chance to pick up a kimber BGR in 375H&H for $1500. the rifle is in superb condition, 98-99%. the owner of the shop said it was his friend's gun and he barely shot it.

i have no first hand experience with kimber rifles other than hearing the usual "aww they're real nice", so i need some input.

the bolt and action looked like they were some kind of mauser derivative. win70 style horiz wing safety, the mauser style bolt release, integral cuts for scope rings.

i don't know the whole story behind these guns, only was told that its the same kimber thats making the 1911s now (had the same logo on the action) except they're not in oregon anymore. i don't believe kimber makes these rifles any more, so how tough is it to get replacement parts?

thanks in advance for any input-- i got a decision to make on a new rifle-- my choices were a pre64 375 or a new ruger mkII in 416 rigby-- now i guess i've got 3 possible choices

PPK1911,

I have a Kimber M89 BGR in .375 H&H. They were made by Kimber of Oregon, who is now out of biz. The current Kimber bought the name, and does make rifles -- but no long action calibers.

The action is a derivative of the M70 Winchester design.

I have shot mine on hunts in Africa, including a Cape buff and leopard this year. It is a good shooter.

I bought mine new and paid $1,800 for it some year ago.

jim dodd

ppk1911,

Look at this:

http://www.champlinarms.com/gundetail.cfm?id=648

Also check out Gunsamerica, they have two for sale (one for $1,395 and one for $1,895). I don't know how Champlins can be asking almost $5,000. Champlins describes theirs as a "Kimber African" maybe that is different than the Kimber BGR. (I remember a few weeks back, Gunsamerica had another one for sale for $1,400).

Griffin & Howe has a .416 Rigby "Kimber African" for $3,850.

Regards,

Terry

[ 11-17-2002, 09:09: Message edited by: T.Carr ]

ppk1911

"Kimber of Oregon" was a business started by two Australians, the Warne brothers, who shifted the business from Australia to the USA. The name "Kimber" in fact is from a small town in the mid-North of South Australia.

They started their business making extremely high quality .22 rimfires and later expanded to centrefire rifles such as the one you are referring to.

Unfortunately I believe they financially over-extended themselves at some point in time and required the addition of a partner. In the end the partner's plans and their were not compatible and they split off.

The "new" Kimber makes pistols and also "converts" basic ex-military rifles into pretty ordinary rifles eg new stock, bolt bent, new safety, scope and mounts, new trigger and mil barrel cut shorter. These rifles are nothing like the original high quality Kimber of Oregon rifles.

The Warnes now manufacturer Warne scope mounts having purchased the rights to make the original Buhler QD mounts which for a while were called Kimber and now Warne.

Some knowledgable persons I know regarded the Kimber as superior to the pre-64 Winchester (note this was before Win brought its new CRF actions out). If I can across the rifle I think it is well worth the money being asked for it.

[ 11-18-2002, 08:02: Message edited by: NitroX ]

The new Kimber also manufactures a new rifle, short action, that isn't a surplus derivative. I haven't shot one yet but they look nice. - Dan

guys, thanks for the info! i got a chance to examine it again and i think i'm going to pass on it-- stock didn't quite fit me and it seemed a bit on the light side even though the scale said 8.5lbs it didn't feel as heavy as my win m70 in 458win which weighs in at 8.25lbs-- must be a balance thing.

i'll probably end up with a m77 in 416 rigby if my dealer can find one.

If the Kimber 'feels lighter' while weighing more, then it has the better balance.

You can always re-work the stock contours, and at $1500, it's not a bad price.

Unless it was made in Kimber of Oregon's final days, the BGR is a much better-made rifle than the Ruger.

George

hey george,

that's what i thought about the balance thing, but i just couldn't get over the skinny fore-end and just didn't like the way the stock fit me...

...good thing i passed, because my new ruger fits me like a glove!! guy at the gunstore said, "geez this things heavy and it doesn't fit me well." then i hefted it to my shoulder and it fit wonderfully! could be cause he was ~5'8" and i'm 6'2" (which works out to 14" LOP if you use the old formula-- exactly what my ruger has)

took it to the range with my first handloads and it was shooting into the same hole! (i'll post pictures of the targets as soon as i get a chance) i also shot my first whitetail (~160lb doe) with it yesterday.

best damn rifle i've ever owned! 'nuff said

[ 11-27-2002, 03:07: Message edited by: ppk1911 ]

Some people talk of Kimber's last days. Is it true that some were made in Japan? And if so how would you know? Maddog

I had a chance to buy one of these in pristine condition a year or so ago for $1200 and PASSED. They are nice guns but just didn't strike me as anything special.

JMHO,

JohnTheGreek

They are nice, but a pre 64 M-70 is nicer and will hold it's value better.

ppk1911,
If it's an "African", BUY IT. Kimber only made 10 375's in the African model, I am told. I have one and I really like it. But then I collect Kimber of Oregon rifles so I am biased. The 505 Gibbs is also RARE. The 416 Rigby's are fairly common.

Jim Miller

My problem with Kimbers is they use swamp wood (Claro) on them...Now there is some very nice claro around, but it is the exception rather than the rule....I never saw the good stuff on any of the Kimbers, some is pretty but good wood goes beyond pretty...Just my opine and some may not put as much emphasis on wood as I do. Also I have only inspected about 25 Kimber give or take 5 one way or the other...the metal work was always impressive and the ones I played with were pretty slick...

Jim,

What are the receiver markings on the Kimber African model?

My M89 BGR .375 H&H looks good and shoots well, so my experience has been positive. The photo in my sig is of the Kimber.

jim

jim,

My Kimber 375 is marked African on the left side of the action. All African's have a drop box magazine, quater rib with one standing and one folding leaf, barrel banded front sight and barrel band sling swivel. My African has a nice dark striped English Walnut stock.

Jim

The Warnes, Jack (Father) and Greg (Son) operated Kimber of Oregon. This business went bankrupt in 1992.

The Big Game Rifle (BGR) was fist shown at the 1988 NRA Convention. The first 5 shooting prototypes was not made in their shop. They where a 270 Win, 300 Win Mag, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 505 Gibbs. Darwin Hensley made the stocks for these rifles, which became the patterns for the production rifles.

The BGR has a M70 trigger system. a mauser type extractor, a modified Rem 700 breech, a hinged floor plate and lever bow release, along with a reshaped M 70 type safety.

The reciever was designed around the 416 Riby case.

Hey 470fan I have a kimber 89 SG-Serial # 6??
Ebony forend tip, Blondish stock with dark grain, quarter rib , 2 leaf rear sight, warren QR rings, Shadow cut cheek piece. What do you think its worth???? Thanks MD

470Fan Jim,

Thanks for that answer, I have pictures of the African but they are all of the "other side" of the action. My M89 BGR is the smooth barrel, round top configuration and holds three in the magazine.

Jim W.

Thanks for that input, it tracks along with and amplifies an article on the Kimber rifle that Finn Aagaard wrote some years back. Do you recommend any changes to the basic M89 to make it more reliable? I call it my North American .375 (as opposed to my BRNO, the African .375).

In talking to a Kimber sales rep from their rifle group, he asked for a picture of my buff with the M89BGR for their gallery, and told me they would be bringing out long action rifles. No times noted. I had my Press badge on, but he didn't say their plans were confidential.

jim dodd

MADDOG,
What cliber is your 89 chambered for? Some chamberings will bring more $$ than others. I have a M89 Super Grade in 300 H&H which is supposed to be rare in that chambering. 300 Winchester are common while the 300 Weatherby are not. Just depends on your chambering.

Jim Miller

470 Fan, It is 375 H&H...MD

btt