Anywho, back to the thread topic. I've actually only held two Kimbers, my Montana in 6.5 CM and a friend's Classic in .300 WM. The Classic was a very nice rifle, but I prefer stainless or cerakote and more utilitarian stock materials, so for me it was down to the Montana, the Hunter or a Howa Alpine. I really wanted a nice composite stock and a threaded barrel, so I got the Montana.
Honestly, now that I've played with the Hunter more, I kinda of wish I had just gone that direction.... and saved $400-$500. The Hunter stock is comfortable, and very stiff, kind of like a Tikka stock, which I'm also fond of. The Montana stock is of much fancier construction with carbon fiber and whatnot, but it's not that much lighter, and it has a blind mag, over which I much prefer a decent DBM, or even a floor plate. A four round mag would be ideal, but on the other hand, I can't remember the last time I've fired more than two rounds at game, and Tikkas have been working quite well for me for a while.
It all comes down to what you're looking for. In a hunting rifle I want stainless and a composite, or GOOD frp stock, a three position safety, or at least a two position that locks the bolt, sub 6.5 lb weight, and a decent trigger. There just aren't that many rifles out there that fit that bill under $800 street price:
--Win M70 Ultimate Shadow SS: Had a pre-portugal, it was very accurate, but too heavy and sported a floppy stock
--Win M70 EW: Had 3 they were more expensive, a tad bit heavy and the last two I had didn't shoot too hot
--Weatherby Vanguard S2: Too heavy
--Salvage 16:.... Decent requirements fit, Clunky bolts, personally I just don't like them
--Howa Alpine: Nice rifle good requirements fit, a bit more expensive, I wish they were stainless and that the 6.5 had a 22" barrel
--Tikka T3/x: Love them, check all my boxes except for a 3 position safety, but I can live with a locking two position
--Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalkers: Have one and really like it, way more accurate than it has any right to be, closer to $1k
--Kimber Hunter: Checks all my boxes, although a 4 Rd mag would be nice, I'm sure there were space limitations to keeping the stock slim. CRF is a plus even though I don't hunt anything really requiring it.
So for what I'm looking for in a hunting rifle, the Hunter seems like a good value. Of course, other people have very different ideas of what makes a good hunting rifle... I know this is true because there is no shortage of folks tromping through the woods with Rem 700's.