I've had it with this thing!

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

Waddison

member
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
85
Location
Desert Southwest
I bought a new Kimber 84M in .260 Remington a little over 2 years ago. It won't shoot anything I feed it less than minute of pie pan! Doesn't matter. Handloads, factory stuff - averge off the shelf or top drawer premium stuff. Same results. Print two close, scatter three. :fire:

Not being a happy camper, I called Kimber and they said "Send it back to us with a sample target and ammo recipe." Not too tough. I have hundreds to choose from. :banghead:

They indicated I could send it U.S. Mail, UPS or FedEx without an FFL and it would come back the same way, too. A gun-type cooworker suggested FedEx overnight as there would be less chance of funny business as it would get handled less. I'm not real fond of sending anything of value through any of these guys. The last time I sent some thing of value the drove a fork lift over it (literally - you could see the tire marks on the packaging) and blamed the damage on "improper packing practices". Needless to say, they refused to pay up eventhough I insured it! Maybe I should just take it ot the gunsmith for re-bedding? :scrutiny:

Any of you folks that have done this with guns before have any advice?

Thanks in advance,

Waddison
 
FedEx overnight is unspeakably expensive. I've never had a problem with USPS priority for long guns. Just use a rifle box (most shipping stores have them), pack the rifle in a gun sleeve and then wrap it with newspaper until it fits tight in the box. Pad under the top and bottom of the rifle with extra newspaper.
 
Possible solutions

We use UPS everyday and they have been great. The couple issues I have had have been resolved with the manager quikly and we remain happy.

As far as your issue goes, if it shoots the first two rounds well and then starts to walk it is probably getting hot. How fast are you shooting the three rounds? Many hi-power rifles are not made for rapid fire, even slow rapid fire. Many hunting rifles will start walking after three rounds in quik succession. Fluting and floating the barrel usually will help this a great deal. Most .260's shoot well with 120gr bullets, what are you using? .260 is also not that hot of a round, I would not think it should be getting that hot. Have you switched the scope out with a known good scope to make sure that is not your problem? You would be surprised how many scopes have issues. I would guess it to be that before I would spend the time and money sending it back to Kimber.

An easy way to tell if your scope is bad is to use a bore sighter if you have one. Put the bore sighter in your barrel and record where it sits on the grid or if you are using a laser remeber where your spot is on the backdrop for both the light and your crosshairs. Shoot your gun a few times and see if anything changes. If it has check your rings and bases. If they are tight, most likely your scope is bad even if it is new.

I hope that helps,

Jeff
 
May no be the gun.

Hey there.
Just wondering ? Was this the same scope all of the time ? If so it may have a problem. The gun may be loose or The scope mounts maybe loose.
I am sure you have been there done that. Just checking.
But my guess is that something somewhere is loose. Won't take much.
I have had several scope fail from inside. Even the good ones will sometime fail...
 
you might also consider a cryo treatment for the barrel & action. inexpensive & eliminates hot barrel stringing.
 
I've heard of intermittent accuracy issues with the kimber 84M's. FRom what I've read it does usually get squared away when it is sent back to them.
Overnight will give you piece of mind, but the last pistol I shipped overnight was $72.00, so I can't imagine how bad they'd rape you on a rifle!
 
I've never had a problem with USPS priority for long guns. Just use a rifle box (most shipping stores have them), pack the rifle in a gun sleeve and then wrap it with newspaper until it fits tight in the box. Pad under the top and bottom of the rifle with extra newspaper.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I have used this for shipping about 10 long guns, and there were no issues, it will get there in 3 days max (its been 2 every time in my experiance though), and it only cost about $25 compared to almost double that for next day thru anyone. Also<M I have yet to get a damaged box or item from the USPS (not saying it cant, or doesnt happen, just hasnt happened to me), but have gotten plenty of beat up boxes from FedEx and UPS.
 
The 84m in 260 has a very thin bbl and heats up quickly as previously stated. This type of grouping is very typical when you trim down a bbl. Unfortunately there are some negatives to a lightweight hunting rifle. I certainly would not say its the guns fault, just a side effect of a light bbl.
Hey you get 2 shots!:)
 
its not heat stinging. my ruger m77mk2 in .260 also has a thin short barrel. it will shoot sub moa with 140gr remington corlokt green box. it heats up pretty quickly and by shot 7 or 8, in about 5 minutes of firing, will start throwing shots out to 2 to 3 moa. "minute of pieplate" by the third shot sounds like 6 to 7 inch groups and is not right for a firearm with the reputation of the kimber 84m chambered in a cartridge with the reputation of the .260.
first thing waddison, before you go through the trouble and expense of shipping the gun back to kimber, check the scope, mounts, and action screws. too loose or tight screws in any of these areas can cause serious head scratchin. good luck and dont loose faith in the 260, it will out perform most other light game cartridges we have to choose from.
if the unthinkable happens and kimber offers to send you a new rifle in another cartridge, let me know and i'll take that ammo off your hands for a fair price.
 
Over the last 2 years (plus a little) working with this rifle off and on, I have tried 4 different scopes.
#1 was a Burris Fullfield 3-9x40. Currently on a Tika .270 Win. Works just fine.
#2 was a Nikon Buckmasters, 3-9x40. Now on a Ruger .308 Win. Shoots 5 shot 1.5" regularly. (On a Ruger no less!)
#3 was a Leupold 4-12x40. Now driving tacks on a 6.5x55SM.
#4 was a Nikon Monarch 4.5-16x40AO. Just recently it's been taking a beating on my Browning .300WSM. Consistently around 1" at 100 yards when fed 165gn Hornady SST's.

Nope. Ain't the scopes. Not the bases, either. Checked 'em for tightness with each scope change. And like I said, I'm a great believer in LocTite.

The bases on the Kimber are Leupold and have been re-mounted just to be sure. All base screws and ring screws are LocTite-ed with purple LocTite. All of the scopes have been and are on other rifles and they perform very well. None of the loads have been "hot" and have been kept about 1gn below max. I have worked with 120 gn and 140 gn Sierras, 130 gn Accubonds, 129 gn Hornady SST's and Spire Points, 120 gn and 130 gn Barnes and even 85 gn Sierra HP's! (and they shoot best!). It might be heat, but I don't think it should throw 'em like it does. I have an ultra-light Model 70 in .243 Win. with a soda straw barrel that will shoot rings around the Kimber. Hot or cold.

It's a pretty little thing and I love the feel of the little bugger. I would love to take it hunting. But not when I cant be sure I can hit a pie plate at 100 yards.

Yuck!

Gonna ship it off to Kimber, I guess. I have plenty of things that go bang to keep me entertained in the mean time.


Thanks Cosmo, Gunsmith and jrfoxx for the shipping info. I have a rifle box and a big roll of bubble wrap. It just gives me the willies to do it, is all. I just can't bring myself to trust the shipping elves...

I wonder if having a local Gunsmith re-bed the action and float the barrel would void the warranty???

Thanks again,

Waddison
 
I'd ask them to cryo-treat the barrel. If that doesn't work as desired, coat all your rounds in molybendum dysulfate. That combo has worked for a coworker.
 
"I have a rifle box and a big roll of bubble wrap. It just gives me the willies to do it, is all. I just can't bring myself to trust the shipping elves..."

It's not like this is the rifle handed down from grandpa that you killed your first deer with. Heck just insure it for a grand and you're in a no lose situation. If I had a rifle that shot that bad, I would hope it would get damaged beyond repair so I could replace it!
 
Just curious, did you check the crown? How's it look after you shoot it for a while? Does it have a nice EVEN powder pattern on it?
 
If I had a rifle that shot that bad, I would hope it would get damaged beyond repair so I could replace it!
Click to expand...
It is a thought. However, it is one I saved my nickles and dimes for a long time because I really wanted a 84 M Classic Select grade. It is a cutie! It just won't shoot for beans.

Waddison
 
My Benelli R1 300 Win Mag shoots fantastically for 3 shots. 4th shot walks. Once the barrel is cool, it shoots great again.
 
Why not just switch rifles? Seems like you'd save more time, money and aggravation by going with a different rifle rather than continue to try to fix the one you have.
 
Rifleman:

Why not just switch rifles?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the suggestion.
I have considered this. However, I suffer from a two-fold affliction:
1) My fear of loss is greater than my desire for gain, in that...
2) the rifle in question is chambered for .260 Remington... not very common - I can't get diddly for it in trade or sale and few manufacturer's are chambering .260 Remington these days. I guess I could special order one, like I originally did with this one.
Because of this, I may be dollars ahead to ship it back and see if Kimber can fix it.
Still undecided...:(

Waddison
 
It's a hunting rifle made for cold bore shots, it will string if it heats up. That's the cost of a lightweight field rifle.

I ended up selling my 84M .223 varmint classic for a used BR rifle and my group sizes literally shrunk in half.
 
Sure sounds like you need a new barrel. You ought to be able to get better than two shot groups.
 
it will string if it heats up.
Click to expand...
Agreed. 'Stringing' is one thing, 'spraying' is another. This thing sprays 'em after two rounds.
You ought to be able to get better than two shot groups.
Click to expand...
I can't argue with that.
Just send it back for factory fixin'. If it comes back and it's still not accurate, sell it and buy a Savage.
Click to expand...
I have considered just exactly that. It may even give me enough 'leftovers' for a decent scope, too. :cool:

I know it's not me. My Savage in .243 Win. will consistently shoot dime-sized, 5 round groups.
If I stay off the caffiene, that is. :eek:

Waddison
 
Spraying.

Hey There:
I have no problems with what you have said here. Sounds like you have been there and done that. I would send it back to Kimber. After talking with them and getting names etc. You have a well made rilfe and it should not act that way. Ever,,,,,...... The heat thing ? well ya after a lot of shooting fast. But .
My .270 Win. In a mountian light weight Rem. 700. will also sting when it gets hot. But 3 shot groups are not that much to ask. Sounds to me as if you just plain have a bad barrel and there is no reason for you to have to pay for some fancy treatments. Let Kimber do it.
Good luck. Not my caliber ,but my kind of gun ....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Poper
  • Locked
My Kimber 84M
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
Poper
Poper
G
  • Locked
New Kimber 84m Horror Story!
Replies
21
Views
9K
BrocLuno
BrocLuno
O
  • Locked
Quandry???
Replies
1
Views
516
YammyMonkey
Y
B
  • Locked
Novice Looking For Help
Replies
9
Views
352
scchokedaddy
S
A
  • Locked
Federal Express, The Feds and The End User, that's you, if still so inclined
Replies
10
Views
1K
ravinraven
R
Back
Top