Kimber rebarrel worth it?

[nphunter]

Considering rebarreling my Kimber hunter 280AI. It’s currently sitting at 6lbs12oz loaded with a 5-15 scope and a 16” barrel. I’m waiting on a can for it but am considering doing a 16” 6cm barrel or similar.

My concern is it’s a long action rifle with magazines and am worried about feeding issues. From what I’ve read the Kimber have a small base on the barrel so a lot of take off barrels can be turned down to work.

Nothing wrong with the 280AI other than it’s a lot more than I need for the rifle. I already have a custom 280AI that shoots great but is 12lbs for reaching out and touching stuff. The idea of this rifle is to keep in under the seat for a day to day predator/truck gun. I like the small size and light weight but a sub 7lb 280AI isn’t super fun to shoot a lot of rounds through.

Curious if anyone has done similar, or maybe I should just sell or look for a trade for a similar rifle in .243 and chop the barrel.

 

[handwerk]

I've rebarreled 4 kimber 84M's to 6CM and been very happy with the results.

 

[KHntr]

I've rebarreled 4 kimber 84M's to 6CM and been very happy with the results.

The OP has an 84 L…

Sell the 280AI and buy an 84m donor to turn into a 6 Creed.

 

[handwerk]

I am pretty sure the 6 CM would work on the 84L.

 

[Wrench]

In the event you choose a 30 cal, I have a 10tw lilja Montana duplicate I can part with.

 

[Hydra6]

I would keep the Kimber in 280AI "as-is" and continue to use full power 280AI or consider moving to lighter projectiles like 140 Ballistic Tips.

 

[Tanner]

I’d do a 6/06 and shoot 115s at 3100. Pretty hard to whip that for the recoil.

 

[RickF]

If the reamer used has a SAAMI throat, you will run out of mag room in an 84M with the modern pointy bullets like the 110MK or 112Burner in the Creed. If that’s the case, the L makes sense if you want to use those bullets.

Otherwise, if you can specify the throat, I would do as Khntr said and try to source an 84M.

 

[nphunter]

I would keep the Kimber in 280AI "as-is" and continue to use full power 280AI or consider moving to lighter projectiles like 140 Ballistic Tips.

I actually just loaded up a bunch of 120gr ballistic tips. Just seems a little weird to me to shoot such a small low BC bullet instead of a larger for caliber and use a smaller caliber.
I’m shooting 168’s in my other 280AI and they are great but it’s a big gun with a 25” barrel.

 

[Hydra6]

How far do you harvest animals? Everyone talks BC but most hunters do not hunt at ranges where BC is big factor (600+ yards).

 

[nphunter]

How far do you harvest animals? Everyone talks BC but most hunters do not hunt at ranges where BC is big factor (600+ yards).

I archery hunt, lol.

I shot a coyote a couple days ago at 500 with my other 280AI, it’s dialed to 1K. If I’m going to use it for deer and elk I want to be able to shot accurately further than I plan to hunt. I would hate to be sitting 500 yards from a giant buck with a 400 yard rifle.

I guess my thought is that a 243AI with a 115gr bullet would outperform the 280AI with a 120gr bullet and the 280AI is going to kick more and burn more powder.

Right now my big Ackley is the go to hunting rifle for my wife and kids. It would be nice to build another rifle to use in its place, none of them can shoot the Ackley off hand at almost 13lbs.

 

[Kimber7man]

I’d do a 6/06 and shoot 115s at 3100. Pretty hard to whip that for the recoil.

Thanks for that, I was scrolling through thinking wait, what????

 

[Tanner]

Thanks for that, I was scrolling through thinking wait, what????

Just had to fit the cartridge to the action. 6/06 or the AI variant would seem to be a pretty good fit. Close to a 6 UM in a very nice light rifle. Pretty kick ass.

 

[Kimber7man]

Just don’t laser engrave a 6-06 like Stick does….

 

[PathFinder]

It seems worth doing. Kimbers are a little more involved to rebarrel, but that's up to the gunsmith. 243 AI should do well in an 84L, it doesn't quite fit in the 84M with long bullets.
You're correct about the tenon, it's smaller than most anything else. A Tikka blank or something similar would work.

Sent from my Pixel 10 using Tapatalk

 

[Mharris21]

I've rebarreled 4 kimber 84M's to 6CM and been very happy with the results.

Who did the work for you?

 

[handwerk]

Who did the work for you?

2 done by Jim Kobe
2 done by OutKast Arms

 

[ddowning]

I’d do a 6/06 and shoot 115s at 3100. Pretty hard to whip that for the recoil.

What barrel length? If you stand on it, a 243AI will put up those speeds. With a 26" barrel it will do it at low enough pressures to pour water on the case, load it, and shoot it without getting pressure signs. I'm guessing, unless you are running a 16-18" barrel you could get way more speed out of that 6/06.

 

[Tanner]

What barrel length? If you stand on it, a 243AI will put up those speeds. With a 26" barrel it will do it at low enough pressures to pour water on the case, load it, and shoot it without getting pressure signs. I'm guessing, unless you are running a 16-18" barrel you could get way more speed out of that 6/06.

Well, OP had stated he was considering a 16” 6CM so I figured he probably wouldn’t want to go much over 18”, which is where that 3100 with a 115 number came from.

My last 243 AI was a 24” Shilen 1-8” and would do 3100 with a 105, but I think you’d have to be 26” and stepping on it hard to do the same with a 115.

To be honest, I don’t see the sense in putting a 308 based cartridge in a Kimber 84L. I’d be suspect of future feeding issues due to lack of adjustable bolt stops like Tikkas have, and there’s just no need for 3.4” of magazine box with a 308 length case.

The more I think about it, a 6-284 would be an even better fit in an 84L.

 

[ddowning]

Well, OP had stated he was considering a 16” 6CM so I figured he probably wouldn’t want to go much over 18”, which is where that 3100 with a 115 number came from.

My last 243 AI was a 24” Shilen 1-8” and would do 3100 with a 105, but I think you’d have to be 26” and stepping on it hard to do the same with a 115.

To be honest, I don’t see the sense in putting a 308 based cartridge in a Kimber 84L. I’d be suspect of future feeding issues due to lack of adjustable bolt stops like Tikkas have, and there’s just no need for 3.4” of magazine box with a 308 length case.

The more I think about it, a 6-284 would be an even better fit in an 84L.

Makes sense. 6/06 is a lot of powder for 3100 with a 115, but should feed well from the existing mag set-up. H1000 works well with 243AI and heavy bullets as does N165. If you can find it RL25 and RL17 seem to make more velocity. I never tried RL26 but would imagine it would be magic for velocity.

I'm pretty much stuck on h1000 for 243AI. Barrel life is stupid long for something that overbore and the velocity is pretty good. N165 has the same attributes, but is more temp sensitive and higher pressure, making functional issues at the same velocities.