I've heaped a lot of praise on Kimber rifles over the past few months based on the experience of buying an 8400 Montana and an 8400 Talkeetna. I've been so pleased and impressed with those rifles that I decided to add an 84M Montana chambered in .308 Win. I ordered one from Kimber a few weeks ago and it arrived at my FFL on Monday. Once I got it home I decided to go through it thoroughly and one of the first things I noticed was a "hole" at the 6 o'clock position where the bolt locks up to the barrel. After removing the stock I realized that Kimber machines a flat on the underside of the barrel to provide clearance for the front action screw. The 8400s have a different bolt nose geometry so they don't have a similar hole. I asked jmr40 to take a look at his 84M to see if it was different than mine and he reported no such hole. I sent photos to Kimber and spoke with Sergio in customer service yesterday morning and again today. He told me that he had one of the techs look at some other 84Ms in the plant and supposedly this is normal. I'm sure the hole is just an aesthetic issue although it could trap debris, but regardless, it's really annoying to me. It's just not an elegant solution to a problem. I admit that I'm picky but I like things a certain way and this just isn't right. I haven't shot the rifle yet and it might be a tack driver but there's more to a rifle than just accuracy. So anyone with an 84M, please take a peek inside the action and let me know if you have a similar feature. I'd be interested in knowing what cartridge the rifle is chambered for as well.
Other than the hole, the rifle appears to be really well made and it's ridiculously light ... and small ... for want of a better word. I thought my 8400 Montana was light until I picked up this thing.
Other than the hole, the rifle appears to be really well made and it's ridiculously light ... and small ... for want of a better word. I thought my 8400 Montana was light until I picked up this thing.