So, how light can a Kimber Hunter be? A build thread.

[eaglemountainman]

Thanks

5 lb 13.7 oz

Nice.
My Montanas, in 7-08 and 257 Robts, both weight 6lb 0.7 oz with Lewey 2-7X33 and 3 rounds.

 

[mtwarden]

^ they're definitely light; shoot pretty well too

 

[sargent]

@mtwarden The paint job looks great!

How did you fasten the Spartan adapter to your Kimber Hunter? I tried the silver screw that comes with the adapter (aggressive wood screw threads) since it looks the closest to the sling swivel, but it pulls out from recoil when I shoot.

 

[mtwarden]

@mtwarden The paint job looks great!

How did you fasten the Spartan adapter to your Kimber Hunter? I tried the silver screw that comes with the adapter (aggressive wood screw threads) since it looks the closest to the sling swivel, but it pulls out from recoil when I shoot.

I think that's the same one I used, mine loosened when at the range as well- I used a two part epoxy and it hasn't moved yet (knock on wood)

I want to get the "gunsmith" one installed too for better shooting off a tripod.

 

[Trackselk]

After hauling my 22 creedmore (ascent with hunter stock) for a season and finding the recoil so mild with the ultra 7 suppressor, I've decided I'm going to Swiss cheese the stock, because why not? Not sure if I'd risk this with a higher recoiling cartridge...
Anyhow, I can't find any images, so I thought I'd ask you all for input since someone way back in this thread gave me the idea. I'm sure the stock in 5x stronger than necessary as is.
-I haven't found the loud hollow stock to make any difference, as when I'm in the close stalking situations, my rifle is not getting smacked by brush (in my hand, mostly open country), and the holes of 'Swiss cheese' would dampen the hollow noise Anyhow (I assume).
-just thought of one potential drawback: The tips of alder bushes and dead chaparral twigs catching in the 'Swiss cheese' holes might suck? So, lots of small holes versus bigger holes maybe?

 

[StupidLightweight]

After hauling my 22 creedmore (ascent with hunter stock) for a season and finding the recoil so mild with the ultra 7 suppressor, I've decided I'm going to Swiss cheese the stock, because why not? Not sure if I'd risk this with a higher recoiling cartridge...
Anyhow, I can't find any images, so I thought I'd ask you all for input since someone way back in this thread gave me the idea. I'm sure the stock in 5x stronger than necessary as is.
-I haven't found the loud hollow stock to make any difference, as when I'm in the close stalking situations, my rifle is not getting smacked by brush (in my hand, mostly open country), and the holes of 'Swiss cheese' would dampen the hollow noise Anyhow (I assume).
-just thought of one potential drawback: The tips of alder bushes and dead chaparral twigs catching in the 'Swiss cheese' holes might suck? So, lots of small holes versus bigger holes maybe?

Sounds like a fun project. Please share pictures if you do this. Just keep in mind it'll take a lot of plastic shavings to match a small amount of metal. I once Swiss cheesed a magnesium AR lower, and the results were startling. I maybe removed .75 ounce!

 

[mahonsr]

After hauling my 22 creedmore (ascent with hunter stock) for a season and finding the recoil so mild with the ultra 7 suppressor, I've decided I'm going to Swiss cheese the stock, because why not? Not sure if I'd risk this with a higher recoiling cartridge...
Anyhow, I can't find any images, so I thought I'd ask you all for input since someone way back in this thread gave me the idea. I'm sure the stock in 5x stronger than necessary as is.
-I haven't found the loud hollow stock to make any difference, as when I'm in the close stalking situations, my rifle is not getting smacked by brush (in my hand, mostly open country), and the holes of 'Swiss cheese' would dampen the hollow noise Anyhow (I assume).
-just thought of one potential drawback: The tips of alder bushes and dead chaparral twigs catching in the 'Swiss cheese' holes might suck? So, lots of small holes versus bigger holes maybe?

Any issues putting the can on the hunter barrel? How far back if any did you cut it? And did you go direct thread or other? I’ve bee thinking about doing this but just started researching what’s needed. Mines a 7-08 so suppose that probably makes a difference too

 

[Trackselk]

Sounds like a fun project. Please share pictures if you do this. Just keep in mind it'll take a lot of plastic shavings to match a small amount of metal. I once Swiss cheesed a magnesium AR lower, and the results were startling. I maybe removed .75 ounce!

Will do. Good point, I'm not terribly interested in losing small fractions of an ounce.

 

[Trackselk]

Any issues putting the can on the hunter barrel? How far back if any did you cut it? And did you go direct thread or other? I’ve bee thinking about doing this but just started researching what’s needed. Mines a 7-08 so suppose that probably makes a difference too

Nope, its easy. I sent the new kimber profile barrel to thunderbeast for their direct thread option (IIRC), and had them cut it to 18". They insisted on this in order to get their brake in the particular size, which I can't remember offhand. But, it's the CB option setup. Which might not be technically direct thread, but I've forgotten the relevance of the other options/didn't appeal to me.
Other people have has good luck with the factory ascent threads which are even smaller, and thunderbeast won't approve (7/16" IIRC), you just have to run a thread adapter with that option. I was happy to avoid the adapter ounce at the end of the barrel. Pics soon.
I think you'll be happy with an 18" barrel and the thunderbeast approved size. I'll get back with the size.
-I'm pretty sure that it's 1/2-28
-looks like 1/2-28 is only available for .223 cal from TBAC, but I'm sure you can get your local gun Smith to thread it.

 

[gtriple]

Nope, its easy. I sent the new kimber profile barrel to thunderbeast for their direct thread option (IIRC), and had them cut it to 18". They insisted on this in order to get their brake in the particular size, which I can't remember offhand. But, it's the CB option setup. Which might not be technically direct thread, but I've forgotten the relevance of the other options/didn't appeal to me.
Other people have has good luck with the factory ascent threads which are even smaller, and thunderbeast won't approve (7/16" IIRC), you just have to run a thread adapter with that option. I was happy to avoid the adapter ounce at the end of the barrel. Pics soon.
I think you'll be happy with an 18" barrel and the thunderbeast approved size. I'll get back with the size.
-I'm pretty sure that it's 1/2-28

They call it their "Face-Mounted CB Brake". It's a 9/16x24 thread but it indexes off the face instead of the shoulder. The minimum OD is 0.565".

 

[Trackselk]

1.8 ounces drilled away, and it's still extremely rigid. Still going to bevel the edges with a bigger drill bit. Now, if my gluing the microcell on works (superglue?), I'll have dropped exactly 2oz with foregoing the 2 recoil pad screws. With the Ultra 7 making the 22 creedmoor recoil so light, I'm going to dig back and find the weight of the flip flop recoil pad, but I'll have to add some foam for a backer to glue it to. Just need to make sure it's closed cell for precip. Might not bother, as my hot loads are pleasant in the current configuration. But, if it's almost an ounce!...

What I really want to know is; are the supposedly all in 12oz MPI stocks really 12 oz? The one I got would be about 13oz (trimmed to fit)+ 1.5 microcell, + 1oz (?) Bedding = 15.5oz + finished. I screwed up and they talked me in to a heavier stock. But, they also lied (and charged me for) hardwood inserts for the swivel studs, which are not in the stock, so it's tough to tell up from down... I would definitely only recommend getting a blank from them, unless you want to lose your gun for an indeterminate amount of time...

Lastly, I purposely went overboard on the forend because it's only a rest, and it's still stronger than necessary. The only thing I would do different is leave the forend 3-4 inches longer, but a little thinner with slightly thinner drill-holes, making it maybe an ounce heavier, and giving me more room to rest on stuff.

Still 3 oz heavier than Luke's (Uberlight) MPI stock?

* notice the holes drilled in the back of the microcell pad, that's part of the 1.8oz

 

[StupidLightweight]

Wow, that's impressive stock drilling. Fun project. I pulled my MPI Microlte stock from my 3 pound, 10.6 ounce Kimber switch barrel. Everything, including recoil pad, bedding, triggerguard, 1 sling swivel, and Javelin bipod adaptor epoxied in the forend weighs 17.6 ounces.

 

[Trackselk]

Wow, that's impressive stock drilling. Fun project. I pulled my MPI Microlte stock from my 3 pound, 10.6 ounce Kimber switch barrel. Everything, including recoil pad, bedding, triggerguard, 1 sling swivel, and Javelin bipod adaptor epoxied in the forend weighs 17.6 ounces.

Thanks for the pic! My current problem is that my highly skilled gunsmith isn't a weight weenie like me. So, I'm pretty sure if I have him do the work he'll add ounces to a $600ish blank, and I'll end up right back at 15oz. I want what Luke has, but REALLY don't want to put a rifle I have $3k (ish) in the mail. Can I get away with just bedding it myself, and not have to inlay glass?

 

[mtwarden]

Crazy light

 

[Trackselk]

I should add that I took great care with the Swiss cheese routine to not drill comprimising holes aft of the recoil lug. Or, in other words, be careful if you do this, it's easy to compromise the various structural bits in the stock, like the pillars for the action screws.

 

[Trackselk]

And finally the excellent results from Kampfeld (i decided to get it fluted), and the total weight, for now, with and without the ultra 7.
Fluting took off about 3 ounces, but he didn't recommend this for 6.5cm and bigger with the kimber profile, #1 I think

 

[Trackselk]

Another thing, the helical fluting makes the barrel very grippy to pick up after being leaned against something. And, accuracy didn't change, even with the added suppressor

 

[kad11]

There's a .257 roberts barrel on Ebay for about $100 shipped if anyone is looking. Some bigger calibers also. Not my listings, was searching for a creedmoor...

Do you know if Kimber take offs typically twist on and headspace correctly? Plug and play like Tikka take offs, or probably not? Thanks

 

[Trackselk]

Do you know if Kimber take offs typically twist on and headspace correctly? Plug and play like Tikka take offs, or probably not? Thanks

I'd guess that there's a decent chance that there's some machining often times to dial in the headspace, but you'd have to ask a Smith. I bet someone on here knows and will chime in.

 

[Trackselk]

Dropping my 15.3 oz MPI 84m blank to $500 TYD, and figured it might get noticed in this thread. I'm into in about $650.