customized Kimber rifles

[handwerk]

Having just finished putting together my first Kimber project I got to wondering what others have done to enhance their Kimber rifles.
I'm still mainly a pre 64 Model 70 guy but will say, so far I'm enjoying the Lil' Kimber.
Mine is chambered in 6.5 CM
Proof 22"barrel
MPI stock
Factory 84 M action/BM
NF NXS 2-10x42 w/ IHR
7lbs. 06 oz. as pictured.

 

[pbroski]

Nice! I like the MPI stock. How long did it take to get it? I have an NXS 2.5-10x42 IHR on my Kimber Montana in 6.5cm.

This is a Kimber 8400 in 6.5 PRC with a 22" 8 twist Hells Canyon Armory carbon fiber barrel with an NX8 4-32x50 F1 MOAR. It weighs 8lbs. 13.4oz. It has a super smooth action a does about 1 moa for 10 shots with 156 gr. EOL's and N568. Someday I'm going to try some 143 ELD-X's or 147 ELD-M's.



My newest addition is an Adirondack in .22 ARC. It used to be a .300 Blackout. I had the gunsmith open up the bolt face and rebarrel with a pencil thin 22" 7 twist KS Arms barrel. I added a Jefferson Outdoors 6.5 Grendel magazine box, follower and follower spring, then shortened the ejector so the max mag length is now 2.400". I'm using an NXS 2.5-10x42 Mil-R. Just started doing load development. I think I can get it to shot moa or under for 10 shots with 88 ELD-M's. It weighs 6lbs. 3.4oz. That's 7.8oz under the weight of my Howa Mini Carbon stock .223. It's my new favorite 22 centerfire.

 

[Kimber7man]

Having just finished putting together my first Kimber project I got to wondering what others have done to enhance their Kimber rifles.
I'm still mainly a pre 64 Model 70 guy but will say, so far I'm enjoying the Lil' Kimber.
Mine is chambered in 6.5 CM
Proof 22"barrel
MPI stock
Factory 84 M action/BM
NF NXS 2-10x42 w/ IHR
7lbs. 06 oz. as pictured.
View attachment 765233

Very nice my friend!! Sadly I don’t have any Kimbers in the rack right now. Need to change that…

 

[khuber84]

@pbroski that 22arc is sick!

 

[KHntr]

Having just finished putting together my first Kimber project I got to wondering what others have done to enhance their Kimber rifles.
I'm still mainly a pre 64 Model 70 guy but will say, so far I'm enjoying the Lil' Kimber.
Mine is chambered in 6.5 CM
Proof 22"barrel
MPI stock
Factory 84 M action/BM
NF NXS 2-10x42 w/ IHR
7lbs. 06 oz. as pictured.
View attachment 765233

Still have your original stock?

 

[Ishootgunssometimes]

This is cool! I have a stock 7mm08. Looks good with a CF barrel!

 

[Pilsner]

I've got an 8400 in 30-06 that I keep waffling on rebareling to 338-06 but then I'd have to buy a 338 suppressor. If only the gun budget was limitless...

 

[StupidLightweight]

These are very cool Kimber builds. Nice work.

I once built my dream rifle, a switch-barrel 84m (6mm CM & .308 Win.) shown below that weighed 3 pounds, 10.6 ounces in its lightest configuration. It was the Megan Fox of hunting rifles: sexy as hell and fun to hold but too crazy to live with long term. I sold it because it was a handicap for hunting, as it was too light for me to shoot well.

I'm sitting on a 6.5 Creedmoor 84m that I'd like to turn into an 18-inch .22 Creed. With a slightly heavier barrel and suppressor on the end, that would make a great hunting partner.

 

[RepeatPete]

Here’s my hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor. The barrel is chopped to 18”, and I made a carbon fiber stock that fits me like a glove. I’m contemplating putting an SWFA 3-9 on it, but the overall weight and balance is so nice with the SWFA ultralight.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

I’ll play.

Kimber Talkeetna in 375h&h
Shortened to 22” and gunkote surfaces
Topped with cerakoted Warne bases, 30mm NF ultralights and a Trijicon credo HX 1-6 green illumination. Most likely to get swapped with either a 1-8 NX8 or ATACR in the next year

 

[SkunkCabbage]

Both 6.5cm 6.5lb and 6lb 6oz off the top of my head. Set aside for the kids when they are bigger
Left being a Montana with a 20” barrel and the right an Adirondack 18”. Radial on the 20” and side port for the 18”
Both have ascent bolt handles, gunkoted, cerakoted Warne bases, low NF ultralights and recently swapped to Mil-R 2.5-10x42 NXS.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

Kimber Montana 84L in 280ai with a 22” #1 Benchmark and side port, Ti ascent handle. Action has been ported ever so slightly and the mag area lengthened. Am able to load and eject 3.40” without trouble. 7lb on the nose
Gunkoted, cerakoted Warne bases w/NF Ultralight Lows, NXS 2.5-10x42 Mil-R. At this point my go to for 90% of things. Excellent loads for 160 NAB and 162 ELD-X hauling ass with RL26

 

[Lonewolf72]

View attachment 790308

Kimber Montana with a 22” #1 Benchmark and side port, Ti ascent handle. Action has been ported ever so slightly and the mag area lengthened. Am able to load and eject 3.40” without trouble. 7lb on the nose
Gunkoted, cerakoted Warne bases w/NF Ultralight Lows, NXS 2.5-10x42 Mil-R. At this point my go to for 90% of things. Excellent loads for 160 NAB and 162 ELD-X hauling ass with RL26

What cartridge and what velocity are you achieving? I have an 84M in 7mm-08 and still figuring out how I want to set it up.

 

[RepeatPete]

View attachment 790308

Kimber Montana with a 22” #1 Benchmark and side port, Ti ascent handle. Action has been ported ever so slightly and the mag area lengthened. Am able to load and eject 3.40” without trouble. 7lb on the nose
Gunkoted, cerakoted Warne bases w/NF Ultralight Lows, NXS 2.5-10x42 Mil-R. At this point my go to for 90% of things. Excellent loads for 160 NAB and 162 ELD-X hauling ass with RL26

What did you do to lengthen the mag area? Mine is a short action, but I’m maxed out with 143’s, and would like to be able to load the 147’s a little longer.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

What cartridge and what velocity are you achieving? I have an 84M in 7mm-08 and still figuring out how I want to set it up.

Edited the above post***

280ai
160 NAB 2950fps (58.5gr RL26)
162 ELDX 2932fps (58gr RL26)

What did you do to lengthen the mag area? Mine is a short action, but I’m maxed out with 143’s, and would like to be able to load the 147’s a little longer.

Bottom of the action was machined out a little, stock magwell cut out and mag box was lengthened. How much it really helped I’m not sure. Rifle was originally set up to be a 6.5rpm but we had issues with brass so I ditched it and swapped to a 280ai.

I’ve been playing a little with the 147s and my 20” creed. I think the low 2600 range with RL26. I need to spend some time with RL17 and it as I have a bunch to play with.

 

[HNTR918]

280ai Kimber Hunter.
Barrel chopped at 19” threaded 1/2x28.
Gel removed and filled with marine expanding foam.
Added closed cell foam comb riser with electrical tape.
Shoots 168gr LRX at 2950 fps.
Talley rings and Vortex LHT.
6.5lbs.

 

[kodiak725]

View attachment 790307

Both 6.5cm 6.5lb and 6lb 6oz off the top of my head. Set aside for the kids when they are bigger
Left being a Montana with a 20” barrel and the right an Adirondack 18”. Radial on the 20” and side port for the 18”
Both have ascent bolt handles, gunkoted, cerakoted Warne bases, low NF ultralights and recently swapped to Mil-R 2.5-10x42 NXS.

@SkunkCabbage What stocks are these?

 

[bascott1]

Been looking at re barreling my 25-06 Montana. Who’s a good gunsmith to use for kimbers?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Nice kimbers here.


I’ve got an 84m Montana 308
-barrel shortened to 18” threaded for 5/8x24
-titanium bolt handle
-aluminum trigger guard
-beaded the action
-trijicon accupoint 3-9
-warne mountain tech 1” low rings
-warn maxima bases ceracoated because they rust badly

I get 2730fps with nosler accubond 165g and varget, when the bases get back from kampfeld I’ll shoot some 130g Barnes I’ve got loaded up.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

@SkunkCabbage What stocks are these?

Factory stocks just painted up by my smith

Nice kimbers here.


I’ve got an 84m Montana 308
-barrel shortened to 18” threaded for 5/8x24
-titanium bolt handle
-aluminum trigger guard
-beaded the action
-trijicon accupoint 3-9
-warne mountain tech 1” low rings
-warn maxima bases ceracoated because they rust badly

I get 2730fps with nosler accubond 165g and varget, when the bases get back from kampfeld I’ll shoot some 130g Barnes I’ve got loaded up.

Nice I have an 18” Adirondack 308 I plan on doing up sometime next year and a few 168gr TMKs I hope to test out. 1-8 NX8 planned for that rifle with the same Warne bases/NF Ultralights