Kimber vs. new Winchester?

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Gary O

Gary O

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Looking to buy a lightweight bolt-gun in .243 or 7-08 for whitetail at less than 100 yards here in the woods in Missouri. Got it down to the Kimber 84M Classic Stainless or a new Model 70 Featherweight walnut/stainless. Question: Kimber has developed a reputation for being somewhat problematic along with some folks being disappointed with the overall quality at that price point. Also, the newer Model 70’s have a slim track record to go by. I am satisfied with the appearance and functional elements of both rifles. What say you? Thanks…
 
A buddy of mine recently picked up a Model 70 7-08 blued FWT that is a tack driver. Will shoot factory ammo under 1" all day long. For the money, I would go with the Winchester.
 
I got a Model 70 .30-06 EWSS that is also a tack driver, with a GREAT trigger, wonderful balance, and a smooth CRF action.

Kimber makes slightly lighter rifles, but a FWT short action should be plenty light and quick, if you aren't stupid about what scope you put on it. I put a 2-7x VX-II on my rifle on Talley Lightweight one-piece low mounts. It keeps the gun sleek and light, and maintains the nice balance of the thing.

If you put heavy bases, heavy mounts and a big scope on the thing, neither the Kimber nor the Winchester will feel all that great... And a lot of people do that to a nice rifle.:(
 
I think I'd try the new Winchester. Give her a try, and let us know what the rifle's like!

Kimbers are nice, but pretty expensive....
 
I have been buying Kimbers since the 80's and have never had a problem with any of my guns. Kimber is more pre 64 Winchester like than anything USRA or the new FN Winchesters are. Price wise there isnt a dimes worth of difference anymore. Except the Kimber will retain more value down the road. The Kimbers trigger, fit, finish, and quality of wood are second to none. I always looked at them as a semi-custom rifle at factory prices. Get the Kimber 84 in 7mm-08 and enjoy!
 
Price wise there isnt a dimes worth of difference anymore.
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There is about $400-500.00 difference in blued rifles, and $100-200.00 in SS. That is a significant difference to me.

:)
 
I'm sure the Kimber trigger is great. So is the new FN trigger.

A lot of pre-64s I've seen have had military-quality wood, and weighed way too much. "Pre-64" doesn't mean "ideal rifle." And I never bought a USRA gun; it was the FNs that got me to buy a new Model 70. I'll probably be buying another one...:)

The Kimbers I've handled are nice guns. The FN Model 70, however, gave them some real competition, and knocked some other guns completely off my consideration list.
 
Got it down to the Kimber 84M Classic Stainless or a new Model 70 Featherweight walnut/stainless.
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I've never shot the Kimber, but I've owned a Winchester Featherweight 243 in walnut/blue for the past year. I mounted a Weaver Classic V scope on it and it's been wonderful. The action is smooth and positive, it's more accurate than I am, and the wood/metal finish looks great. Enthusiastically recommended.
 
I have a new Winchester 70 featherweight in .308. It is amazing and accurate. I put a Nikon Team Primos on it. I used Hornady 168 Match and its sub moa. Also not bad with cheap winchester .308.
 
The Kimber trigger out-strips the Win M70 trigger 3-to-1. I currently have the Kimber LPT (Light Police Tactical) and two M70s: Stealth and Super Grade.

All three are wonderful rifles, but I still would likely give a nod to the Winchester for big game hunting, due to cost. With the savings, you can purchase a very nice scope.

FWIW, the Winchesters currently cost about $700.00 less than the Kimbers (in my area of America). Specifically, I just priced the Featherweight at $699.00, and the Kimber LPT is currently around $1,450.00.

Geno
 
I own both, but have not had a chance to shoot the Winchester yet. I have the stainless Kimber and the stainless Winchester Extreme Weather.

The Kimber I bought new about 1.5 years ago and has had no problems. It shoots MOA with my handloads pretty consistently. I forget the exact price, but it was $1,100+ after sales tax. That is about $100 more than a comparable Winchester.

I found the Winchester on consignment in a shop used, but unfired with the box for a little over $800. Have not shot it yet, but I do own one of the Winchester Classics. If it is better than the Classic it will be a great gun.

I think it really comes down to how much you are willing to pay for a lightweight rifle. The Winchester is not really a lightweight. Short actions are 6 3/4 lbs and long actions are 7 lbs. Not bad, but the Kimber Montana is just a hair over 5 lbs. Mine weighs 5 lbs 15 oz. with a Leupold 2.5-8X scope in Talley lightweight mounts. My Winchester should be around 7 lbs. 10oz. with the same scope and mounts.

The synthetic stock on the Kimber is much, much, much better than the synthetic stocks on the Winchesters. While I don't own either in a walnut stock, I'd say the wood is also much better on the wood Kimbers I've seen as well if that is important to you.
 
Gary O. I have a 84M in .260 Rem nice handling,shoots great but the only problem I have its to nice to bust thru the brush/swamps of north MN. If your looking for a short action bolt look at marlin xs7 or stevens 200 at 300.00/350.00. 1/2 pound more but will take a licking and keep on ticking.
 
I bought one of the new M-70 SS extreme rifles in .30-06 as soon as I could find one.

It is a well executed rifle HOWEVER it took a bedding job and a re crown before it would shoot anything near acceptable. Out of the box it was a 2 to 3" gun at 100 yards with terrible vertical stringing.

The gun had no bedding from the factory and the crown was not cut concentric to the bore. I was very disappointed in this blaring lack of quality control. Anyway several hundred $$$$$ later and she is shooting sub MOA with anything I feed her. And I do like the rifle now.

I don't see how the trigger can be 3 times better on the Kimber they are both fully adjustable and it takes about 30 seconds to make the new M-70 trigger as nice as any Kimber I've ever owned. And I've had to adjust the trigger on every Kimber I've ever owned too.

I also don't see how the Kimber can be compared to a pre-64 M-70 it's got a pinned on M-700 style shrouded trigger. More M-700 like than M-70 IMHO.

BTW I have owned multiple Kimbers and Multiple M-70's but only one new M-70 and even with the issues I think I'd take a new M-70 over the Kimber. The price is close enough that it doesn't make a difference to me in the stainless guns but I've known WAY to many people who've had WAY to many issues with Kimber rifles and Kimber's notoriously poor customer service.
 
I bought one of the new M-70 SS extreme rifles in .30-06 as soon as I could find one.

It is a well executed rifle HOWEVER it took a bedding job and a re crown before it would shoot anything near acceptable. Out of the box it was a 2 to 3" gun at 100 yards with terrible vertical stringing.
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Strange. I did the same thing (bought the first EWSS in .30-06 that I saw). Mine was putting my existing handloads, not developed for the rifle, into 1 1/4" 3-shot groups at 200 yards, the first time out.
 
Strange. I did the same thing (bought the first EWSS in .30-06 that I saw). Mine was putting my existing handloads, not developed for the rifle, into 1 1/4" 3-shot groups at 200 yards, the first time out.
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If there is a black marble in the bunch I am sure to find it...

As I said she's doing just fine now and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
 
I think you'll love the Kimber 84M. I just bought one in .308, classic select walnut, and it is absolutley amazing. Ultra light, shoulders nicely, and feels like a quality firearm. Mine consistently shoots between 1/2 - 3/4 MOA with Winchester Powerpoint 150 grain. Here are some pics.

35319_1530567672948_1497446169_1346120_352678_n.jpg


35319_1530567792951_1497446169_1346123_1534364_n.jpg


35319_1530567832952_1497446169_1346124_1108540_n.jpg


35319_1530567752950_1497446169_1346122_6720568_n.jpg


35319_1530567592946_1497446169_1346118_2934314_n.jpg

1/2 MOA - 13/16" group at 150 meters (165 yards)


38382_1530568072958_1497446169_1346129_6502890_n.jpg


38382_1530568032957_1497446169_1346128_5250680_n.jpg
 
Oh yeah, AND the Kimber trigger feels awesome! The gun is great right out of the box. They claim match barrels, action, and trigger. The gun also is lighter than a Winchester 94. Easy to hike those hills with.

I think you should find a store with both guns and hold them. One of them will probably fit you better.
 
Maverick223 My .260 was purchased 5 years ago. Maybe the 7mm-08 took its place.
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Per their catalog, it looks like it did...and on that note I am back to liking the Winchester better. :p
 
Didn't know they had a .260Rem. available...I am starting to like the Kimber a bit more.
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I've had several 84M's they are neat little rifles. I find them to be a bit light and whippy for accurate offhand shooting. And they've had some issues with light hits and not setting off certain types of ammo like mil surp and some others.

If they still built it in .260 rem I'd probably have another one.
 
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