ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO MAKE AN UL KIMBER SHOOT?

[reprobait]

I'm a newbie to the forum though I'm an old gray-head that's been shooting and hunting since 1955. I recently bought a Kimber 84M Montana in 7-08 'cause it's so light and the 7mm's are a favorite of mine - particularly the .284 Win. The problem is I can't get my Kimber to shoot inside 2". I've tried several powders and 120 and 140 bullets from several sources. I even tried factory shells and they're worse. I swapped scopes and put a proven old Nikon on it to make certain that the ultra light Leupold 3X9 that I mounted wasn't screwed up. Still the same result. I'm pretty sure it's not me. My old Rem 722 rebarrled to .284 shoots an inch all day long and isn't real particular with what I feed it. I recently bought a Cooper M21 in .223 and I can keep it in a 1/2 inch so I know how to control a rifle on bags. Has any body any experience with making Kimbers shoot? I hate to call the factory. Additionally I'm embarassed around my friends when this pretty little, and rather expensive rifle, won't lay them in there.

 

[billmo]

reprobait, I've played with 7-08 quite a bit but never in a Kimber. Just wondering if you had tried Nosler 140 gr. bullets at app. .012 to .015 off the lands with say maybe .003 to .004 neck tension. In the past and even now in one of my son's rifles that works very well. Don't know if it will be your fix but it is something to try. Hope this helps. Bill

 

[PepeLp]

I had to bed mine. The stocks aren't bedded to the actual action from the factory. They use a "slave" action and claim it's bedded. Lots of slop there in mine. A little bedding compound in the recoil lug area will do a world of good. You might check the crown too. Great little rifles.

 

[ReedG]

Hi Repro:

My friend has a Kimber Ultralight in 7-08, which must be the same as yours. He is a distinguished shooter and has competed in the Palma Cup, and he says this model Kimber is a total piece of junk. He has bedded the action, floated the barrel, had to have something repaired in the bolt,I don't remember what) and even then with his best handloads he can only get 1.5" inch for 3 shots, then of course the thin barrel is hot.

He is not impressed and his "buddies" have given him a hard time. I don't have any experience with Kimbers, but I don't think they are of the quality of a Cooper.

I think it was in news a bit ago that Kimber is in financial trouble. Maybe there's a reason.

 

[dipper]

The same things that make any rifle shoot good would be worth trying on your Kimber.
A good bedding job, start out with a free floating barrel, check the crown, make sure bases and rings are secure and tight,make sure barrel is clean with no excessive fouling and carbon, use a proven scope etc.

If after "tuning" the rifle and trying some well assembled hand loads you are still getting poor accuracy, I would have a GOOD accuracy smith look it over---bore scope, check chamber etc.

Anybody know what barrel Kimber uses on their rifles---just curious.

Rich

 

[reprobait]

Many Thanx to all who replied. I have measured the bullet to land distance with both 120 & 140 Nosler Ballistic Tips and find I am more limited by the 2.8 OAL to feed through the magazine. The crown hasn't been nicked and looks good like it came from the factory. I 'spose the next thing I'll try is a bed job. The barrel is free floated and the composite stock isn't likely to move. I did shoot a 3 shot group today - sunny, 35°, slight wind at my back - that was a touch less than an inch and that's the best I've been able to get. It tends to keep a couple shots tight and the third off toward Aunt Millie's a piece. Maybe that points to a bed job. I torqued the action screws since I last shot it to ensure they were the same and that might have helped too. Anyway, thanks again for the ideas. I sure like that 5 lb. 2 oz. pop-gun when I lug it around!!

 

[tenring]

I bought a Model 84 Montana in .308 couple years ago. It has been returned to Kimber twice: Burr 1" below muzzle, one pillar not at 90 degrees, firing pin not always detonating primer. They have repaired most everything: new stock with good pillars, new barrel and adjusted firing pin. I shot a nice buck with it this year, but accuracy with 165 gr. Accubonds is not great, about 1 1/2". However, its a hunting rifle and that thin barrel will not produce great groups. Benchrest gun it is not. After 150 rounds it still fouls badly. Ths winter I intend to bed it around the recoil block, fine tune the trigger, and work up a better load. I love the light weight and the european walnut, but for the price they need to make improvements.