Kimber G82 or H & R 12

[55fairlane]

Ok accurate shooter, how what do you say.....looking for a smallbore target rifle. Found a new G82 with sights for $650 found a used H&R12 with sights (and a cut up but repairabl stock) $600 used

I hate both stocks, so an Anschutz type replacement (prone) will be in order.

I have heard mixed things about Kimber..lose chambers, triggers do not adjust well........and the H&R 12 well used and a little front heavy for offhand....

Both are CMP rifles, both come from very reputable shooters.

What are your thoughts?

 

[PatMiles]

Go over to RimfireCentral and have fun reading. Pages and pages and pages for both.
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php

 

[55fairlane]

Those guys are no help....."have you looked at a CZ? Or Anschutz....over priced get a Ruger "

I feel you here are much better informed

 

[Mikey_P]

I can only speak for the H&R M12 as I don't own a Kimber 82G or even know somebody who has one. For what it is, the M12 is a nice rifle. Good trigger that can be adjusted down to about 16 oz. It came with a Redfield Palma rear sight, which is decent (you could always upgrade to a Warner - if you can find one ). The stock is quite the piece of lumber. If just used for prone, the stock really isn't half-bad. The foreend is a tad wide and the comb of the cheekpiece might be a bit low or high, depending on the shape of your face. Putting the action into an Anschutz-style stock may not be necessary. I'd say give the factory stock a try before making the decision..

For mounting a scope, Ken Viani used to make & sell a very nice mount. They come up for sale once in a blue moon. Also, EGW makes a mount that uses the rear scope block mount holes on the barrel.

I've included a pic of my M12. It has a Freeland adjustable buttplate and the action had been pillar/epoxy bedded. With irons, I've shot a best of 793-11X in our monthly indoor 75ft prone match (800 agg). Since I added an Anschutz 54.30 to my fleet, the M12 only comes out on special occasions.

Maybe another forum member can add some thoughts on the Kimber 82G.

Hope this helps and good luck with whatever choice you make.

Mike

 

[ehampel]

I have a HR M12 that came with scope mounting blocks on the barrel. I put an Unertl on mine. Great scope, but expensive. The trigger is not perfect, but manageable. I completely reconfigured my stock to fit me in a semi comfortable way. The rifle is exhibits pretty good accuracy. Our club has an annual "Made in America" prone match and the rifle is fun and competitive. Another club member bought a semi-inletted HR stock from (I thought he said Richards, but I don't see it on their www page.)

One of the best shooters in our club has the Kimber, and his shoots great. But he is clever and re-worked the trigger, and machined an aluminum stock. But the rifle action, barrel and sights are Kimber. His shoots very, very well. X-Treem Shooting makes a M82G trigger that is a game changer (http://x-tremeshooting.com/index.php?page=Kimber 82G).

 

[js2013]

No experience with the 82 but some with the m12. Got mine new so I knew where it's been (if buying used I'd want to shoot it first unless you plan on putting on a new barrel). Anyway out of the box my M12 shot decent but the more I shoot it the better it groups (maybe I got lucky with my barrel). I shoot a KK300 with irons so I made the M12 a dedicated scoped rifle. I wasn't a fan of the M12 stock either so I put on a stock that fit me. It's an enjoyable rifle to shoot now. Like everyone mentioned the trigger will never be great.

If I were you I'd add up the cost of the M12 with the Anschutz/replacement stock and compare that to the cost of a used match rifle which will be a better overall platform IMO.

 

[linekin]

OP, if you have the opportunity to shoot both rifles thats what you should do. I've had both & the H&R was waayyy more accurate than the Kimber at 100yds. Every gun/barrel is going to be different no matter who makes it & more importantly how its been cared for. Shoot them if you can.
Me, I'd get a Anschutz. Yet to find one that wouldn't consistently outshoot both.

Keith

 

[Ggmac]

Ok accurate shooter, how what do you say.....looking for a smallbore target rifle. Found a new G82 with sights for $650 found a used H&R12 with sights (and a cut up but repairabl stock) $600 used

I hate both stocks, so an Anschutz type replacement (prone) will be in order.

I have heard mixed things about Kimber..lose chambers, triggers do not adjust well........and the H&R 12 well used and a little front heavy for offhand....

Both are CMP rifles, both come from very reputable shooters.

What are your thoughts?

H&R and don't look back . I've got a half dozen of each and the H&Rs are a much better design and quality of rifle .
Kimbers have a single cocking cam that will wear . The single cam also increases bolt lift .
I've been trading off the kimbers every time I can .

 

[natdscott]

H&R and don't look back . I've got a half dozen of each and the H&Rs are a much better design and quality of rifle .
Kimbers have a single cocking cam that will wear . The single cam also increases bolt lift .
I've been trading off the kimbers every time I can .

Not if you replace it with a $9 screw from J&P... and the cocking cam can be smoothed significantly with nothing but hand tools.

I'm guessing you have other issues with the Kimbers, but your post makes it SOUND as though you are trading 82G rifles off because of a small, easily replaced part.

-Nate

 

[Ggmac]

Not if you replace it with a $9 screw from J&P... and the cocking cam can be smoothed significantly with nothing but hand tools.

I'm guessing you have other issues with the Kimbers, but your post makes it SOUND as though you are trading 82G rifles off because of a small, easily replaced part.

-Nate

Then the bolt wears , not the best solution, it then need to be welded and reground. Rewelded more than my share when the harder cam buttons came out . Good luck with yours , if you keep it well lubed and your bolt was properly hardened it may last . I think that was the problem , quality control. I've dissected a few barrels and the chambers look like they were cut with a dull drill , BY HAND . While others looked fantastic , go figure .
If you want more kimbers I'll trade any of my 5 or 6 remaining for H&R 12s

 

[Ggmac]

Not if you replace it with a $9 screw from J&P... and the cocking cam can be smoothed significantly with nothing but hand tools.

I'm guessing you have other issues with the Kimbers, but your post makes it SOUND as though you are trading 82G rifles off because of a small, easily replaced part.

-Nate

As an engineer you should realize what happens when a piece is replaced with one harder , it'll wear the part it's matted against .
I was still working when these were first released and the gunshops were buying them a dozen a week . My job was simple , clean , Borescope and check . It wasnt long after that the problems arose , then the simple replacement part you mention . Thought that was the cure , wrong , just more expensive repair.

 

[Kisssofdeath]

I have both. Both shoot well with their preferred ammo. If you want specifics just ask.

 

[flatlander]

I bought a NIB H&R M12 from the CMP years ago; got the trigger adjusted for the best results I could get out of it, and shot it with irons, mostly at 100yds. It was OK for what it cost me, but I thought the stock was a club, and started talking with experienced prone shooting friends about buying a replacement stock for it. One of them - an experienced custom stock maker - gave me perhaps the best gun advice I've ever received. He told me to call Mac Tilton and work out a trade for a good used Anschutz. I did so, paid him $435 difference, and received a nice 1611 prone rifle that had been professionally bedded into a factory stock that was nearly identical to the Robertson Composites H&H prone stocks on my Palma rifle & BAT 3-lug prone rifle. The 1611 had a set of Anschutz irons on it, and their 2-stage trigger that broke at around 5oz - and it shot good enough to clean the NRA 100yd smallbore target. I've traded or sold a lot of guns in my life, and later regretted quite a few of those decisions - but not this one.