Kimber 280AI issues

[Bater]

More of a gunsmithing question but I will throw it here anyways.

In one of my backpack rifles, a Kimber 84L Hunter in 280AI, if I load to mag length the action length won’t allow a live round to be ejected. This is obviously problematic as shorter COL’s do not shoot to my standards.

Main questions are 1. Do you think taking a little metal (1/8th” maybe) off the front of the action would compromise the action integrity? 2. Would a competent gunsmith touch it?

Another option may be to shortening the ejector but that may compromise proper ejection.

Really would like to keep running this load as it shoots consistently in the 5’s and 6’s from a 6lb stick.

 

[Darryle]

A shorter ejector will slightly delay ejection, worse case dented cases.

I would have it cut to like the Stiller TAC series actions

 

[ChrisAU]

Not ideal, but when would ejecting a live round cause an issue in the field? Drop the mag and then drop the live round?

 

[Bater]

Not ideal, but when would ejecting a live round cause an issue in the field? Drop the mag and then drop the live round?

With a CRF it isn't quite that simple. It's a 30 second battle to get the case rim free of the extractor which could be a problem if a round doesn't go boom and I need it out for a follow up NOW.

 

[Bater]

A shorter ejector will slightly delay ejection, worse case dented cases.

I would have it cut to like the Stiller TAC series actions

I like the idea of having the action cut, just unsure if a smith would tackle it. Thanks for the reply

 

[ChrisAU]

With a CRF it isn't quite that simple. It's a 30 second battle to get the case rim free of the extractor which could be a problem if a round doesn't go boom and I need it out for a follow up NOW.

I gotcha.

 

[Ram94]

I had a local machine shop mill the ejection port of a Tikka T3 wider to match a T3X. All went well with that. I wouldn’t hesitate to have that done.

 

[Bater]

I had a local machine shop mill the ejection port of a Tikka T3 wider to match a T3X. All went well with that. I wouldn’t hesitate to have that done.

Great, I will call around. Thanks fellas

 

[MeatMissile]

The obvious answer is to buy a new rifle!

 

[Darryle]

With a CRF it isn't quite that simple. It's a 30 second battle to get the case rim free of the extractor which could be a problem if a round doesn't go boom and I need it out for a follow up NOW.

Would it be possible to push the live round back down into the magazine well?

That is what I have repeatedly done with push feed and CRF rifles before leaving the deer stand.

 

[MeatMissile]

Would it be possible to push the live round back down into the magazine well?

That is what I have repeatedly done with push feed and CRF rifles before leaving the deer stand.

It depends if the ejector will allow it to travel back that far.

 

[sneaky]

How long are you loading those rounds?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Loomin]

Mines got the same issue. Kimber Montana in 280AI. I'm loading Berger VLD and they are super long. It's at the smith right now and I may have him take a look at milling a notch to eject a longer cartridge.

What I did was load up a dummy round. I found my CBTO and then gradually pressed the bullet in until it fit in the mag. This still did not eject just like yours is doing. So I pressed it in a little more and eventually I got it to eject. This gives me a jump of approx 0.060" which seemed a bit much since most guys recommend a jump of less than 1/3 of that. I contacted Berger and the guy told me it's okay to go up to around .120" jump which seems really excessive to me.

 

[EdP]

I have often read that the secant ogive bullets like a big jump so why not test the accuracy of loads with the bullets seated to a depth the will eject a loaded round properly before taking more extreme measures. Maybe you already did this in load development, but if not I suggest doing it now.

 

[Bater]

Yeah I tested many seating depths as part of initial load work up. Turns into a shotgun the further from the lands I get. It will be going to a machine shop later this year, best fix for the problem I think.

 

[EdP]

Sounds like it then. I don't think much of the engineering that went into a rifle that won't eject a round it loaded from a mag, especially one with CRF.

 

[Bater]

Sounds like it then. I don't think much of the engineering that went into a rifle that won't eject a round it loaded from a mag, especially one with CRF.

I completely agree

 

[Tightwad]

Mines got the same issue. Kimber Montana in 280AI. I'm loading Berger VLD and they are super long. It's at the smith right now and I may have him take a look at milling a notch to eject a longer cartridge.

What I did was load up a dummy round. I found my CBTO and then gradually pressed the bullet in until it fit in the mag. This still did not eject just like yours is doing. So I pressed it in a little more and eventually I got it to eject. This gives me a jump of approx 0.060" which seemed a bit much since most guys recommend a jump of less than 1/3 of that. I contacted Berger and the guy told me it's okay to go up to around .120" jump which seems really excessive to me.

Yup. Folks get too jazzed up trying to get a .020" jump from every rifle. I've got a pre-64 M70 300 Win that has well over a .125" jump that shoots in the .3's.

I'd just seat the bullet in the rifle above to match the port and go from there, chances are you'll find a load that shoots just as good in that range.