High end rifle

NHSHOOTER · January 19, 2015, 08:30 PM

I was looking at used rifles and a Kimber caught my eye, are they really worth the extra? Is there that much more attention to detail? I am sure there are other rifles out there at or about the same price range as Kimber. I guess my question is, are they worth it?

Doyle · January 19, 2015, 08:53 PM

If you Google "Kimber Quality Control" I think you may find the answer you are looking for. You'll find lots of discussion both ways but if I were going to pay out that kind of money for a rifle I'd want to find very little in the way of negative experiences.

Rob228 · January 19, 2015, 09:03 PM

I just sold my Kimber 8400 Classic to my father, but not because I didn't like it. It is a really sweet little rifle, incredibly well made and very accurate (right around 1" at 100, from a 7 pound rifle in .325 short magnum). The only reason I sold it is financial, I was standing in my gunroom, saw on that I hadn't shot in 8 years and put it on the market, my dad picked it up before anyone else could. Honestly, if I'd bought that same rifle in .308 I never would have sold it.

jmr40 · January 19, 2015, 09:54 PM

Kimbers niche is extreme light weight. If you want a well built rifle that can weigh under 6 bs with scope and mounts they are a bargain. The only thing lighter, and possibly better is a NULA which will be 1 or 2 oz lighter and 2 1/2 to 3 times the cost.

You can't build a custom rifle and get it that light without spending at least double the cost.

If you don't want to pay a premium for an extremely light rifle there may be better choices. A Kimber will average 2 or 3 lbs lighter than comparable rifles

I have one in 308 that shoots great. In fact I'd bet money that at least 90% of the poor accuracy claims are not due to anything wrong with the rifles. It simply takes a lot more skill to shoot a 5 lb rifle off a bench than it does an 8 lb rifle. A lot of people don't have those skills and won't put in the effort to develop them.

FrankenMauser · January 19, 2015, 10:47 PM

Quote:

I have one in 308 that shoots great. In fact I'd bet money that at least 90% of the poor accuracy claims are not due to anything wrong with the rifles. It simply takes a lot more skill to shoot a 5 lb rifle off a bench than it does an 8 lb rifle. A lot of people don't have those skills and won't put in the effort to develop them.

I'd say it's more about proper technique and simply being willing to take a little more abuse.

There definitely are some adjustments that need to be made by the average shooter, to handle light weight rifles, though.

reynolds357 · January 19, 2015, 11:02 PM

The Kimber rifles made today are probably worth the money. They are not really all that expensive. I have seen the actual dealer cost on them and there is a huge markup with most dealers. As a side note, the early Kimbers were a joke.

Scorch · January 20, 2015, 12:02 AM

Every wood-stocked Kimber I have ever seen was absolutely beautifully done, with high-grade wood and cut checkering. I have not shot a Kimber lately, but the early ones did have some accuracy issues unrelated to weight. I mounted a scope on a 8400L last month, and I must admit I want one now.

Savage99 · January 20, 2015, 12:07 AM

The Kimber rifles are very light in weight yet have high quality synthetic stocks and retain the control round feed of the mauser and a three position safety that works better than a M70's!

We have a number of Kimbers and I enjoy hunting and shooting them.

Kimber is made right here in the USA!

mete · January 20, 2015, 05:43 AM

There has been some QC problems with some Kimbers .So it's a hit or miss.My Montana , .223 has some problems I'm working on .They are not serious but shouldn't be there for that price. Otherwise excellent trigger and I like that Win type 3 position safety .
As a used gun see if they will let you shoot it to check accuracythat one

BoogieMan · January 20, 2015, 07:32 AM

I would not consider Kimber as high end, more of a mid grade. They start at around $900ish the same as Sako, CZ etc...My experience with the company has been very good. High end would be more like Blaser, Sauer, Schoenauer, etc..

January 19, 2015, 08:30 PM	#1
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	High end rifle I was looking at used rifles and a Kimber caught my eye, are they really worth the extra? Is there that much more attention to detail? I am sure there are other rifles out there at or about the same price range as Kimber. I guess my question is, are they worth it?

January 20, 2015, 12:02 AM	#7
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Every wood-stocked Kimber I have ever seen was absolutely beautifully done, with high-grade wood and cut checkering. I have not shot a Kimber lately, but the early ones did have some accuracy issues unrelated to weight. I mounted a scope on a 8400L last month, and I must admit I want one now. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 20, 2015, 05:43 AM	#9
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	There has been some QC problems with some Kimbers .So it's a hit or miss.My Montana , .223 has some problems I'm working on .They are not serious but shouldn't be there for that price. Otherwise excellent trigger and I like that Win type 3 position safety . As a used gun see if they will let you shoot it to check accuracythat one __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

January 20, 2015, 07:32 AM	#10
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I would not consider Kimber as high end, more of a mid grade. They start at around $900ish the same as Sako, CZ etc...My experience with the company has been very good. High end would be more like Blaser, Sauer, Schoenauer, etc.. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown Last edited by BoogieMan; January 20, 2015 at 07:40 AM.

January 19, 2015, 08:53 PM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	If you Google "Kimber Quality Control" I think you may find the answer you are looking for. You'll find lots of discussion both ways but if I were going to pay out that kind of money for a rifle I'd want to find very little in the way of negative experiences.

January 19, 2015, 09:03 PM	#3
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	I just sold my Kimber 8400 Classic to my father, but not because I didn't like it. It is a really sweet little rifle, incredibly well made and very accurate (right around 1" at 100, from a 7 pound rifle in .325 short magnum). The only reason I sold it is financial, I was standing in my gunroom, saw on that I hadn't shot in 8 years and put it on the market, my dad picked it up before anyone else could. Honestly, if I'd bought that same rifle in .308 I never would have sold it.

January 19, 2015, 09:54 PM	#4
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Kimbers niche is extreme light weight. If you want a well built rifle that can weigh under 6 bs with scope and mounts they are a bargain. The only thing lighter, and possibly better is a NULA which will be 1 or 2 oz lighter and 2 1/2 to 3 times the cost. You can't build a custom rifle and get it that light without spending at least double the cost. If you don't want to pay a premium for an extremely light rifle there may be better choices. A Kimber will average 2 or 3 lbs lighter than comparable rifles I have one in 308 that shoots great. In fact I'd bet money that at least 90% of the poor accuracy claims are not due to anything wrong with the rifles. It simply takes a lot more skill to shoot a 5 lb rifle off a bench than it does an 8 lb rifle. A lot of people don't have those skills and won't put in the effort to develop them.

January 19, 2015, 11:02 PM	#6
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	The Kimber rifles made today are probably worth the money. They are not really all that expensive. I have seen the actual dealer cost on them and there is a huge markup with most dealers. As a side note, the early Kimbers were a joke.

January 20, 2015, 12:07 AM	#8
Savage99 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Posts: 567	The Kimber rifles are very light in weight yet have high quality synthetic stocks and retain the control round feed of the mauser and a three position safety that works better than a M70's! We have a number of Kimbers and I enjoy hunting and shooting them. Kimber is made right here in the USA!