Kimber .22 - any opnions out there?
- Thread starter madison46
- Start date
slickpuppy
New member
Kimber of Oregon made some of the finest .22 rifles you ever laid your hands on.
They are made in the Bronx now since the family sold out/bankrupt, whatever.
I considered one of the new Kimber Super Americas last year, but, after looking at other options decided that Anschutz is still the way to go if I am going to shell out that much cash for a .22.
They are made in the Bronx now since the family sold out/bankrupt, whatever.
I considered one of the new Kimber Super Americas last year, but, after looking at other options decided that Anschutz is still the way to go if I am going to shell out that much cash for a .22.
I have had a Kimber Super America on order since April of 1999, it still hasn't arrived yet. I keep hoping. Lucky I am patient.
They made some of the Classics and HS style rifles and these got rave reviews, even on this board by those who were lucky enough to get their hands on them, so perhaps it will be worth the wait.
They made some of the Classics and HS style rifles and these got rave reviews, even on this board by those who were lucky enough to get their hands on them, so perhaps it will be worth the wait.
I had an Oregon-made Kimber mod. 82 classic for 10 years. Shot it every day. I put countless thousands of .22's through it before the accuracy started to fade. If the New York operation is using the same tooling, I would expect the quality and accuracy to be on par with their progenitors. Mine would do 1/4" at 50 yards with CCI green tag, and just a little wider with common hollowpoint stuff. I haven't even seen one of the new ones yet, so I must reserve comment.
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semper ubi sub ubi
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semper ubi sub ubi
700PSS Shooter
New member
I have the new Bronx-made Kimber HS .22 Hunter Sihlouette. I bought it in early May and it was the first time I saw it and was hooked at first sight. It is the new action with a mini, mini, Mauser claw-type rotating extractor and a 2 position M70 swing-type safety on the bolt shroud. The serial # is just over 1000, so there must not be many.
The barrel is a blued, almost matte, lustre 24" tapered heavy barrel with flutes running from an inch in front of the action to about 12" from the muzzle. The muzzle has a 11 degree tapered target crown. It has a match chamber. The 50 yard 5 shot target group fired from a machine rest that came with the rifle was .280 inches. The manual says they must group at .4 inches or less with the Federal Gold Metal Ultra match ammo at 50 yards. The target was shot in March. The barrel is marked Kimber Mfg, Inc. Yonkers, NY, USA 22LR HS
The stock has a very high raised comb, level with the bore. It kicks down in the rear like a Monte Carlo type, but no cheekpiece for a normal sized Kimber marked padded buttpad. The foreend and grip are checkered. The wood is a beautiful walnut burl with the reddish tint of Belgium Brownings or pre-1964 Winchesters. It has a soft sheen for a true oil rubbed custom look. The action is glass bedded. It has Uncle Mikes type sling studs. Inletted sling mounts like on the Winchester M-52 sporter would be nicer, in my opinion, but that is a minor issue.
While not cheap by any means, it was not as much as I thought a new Kimber would be, and much less than a used Kimber of Oregon SuperAmerica with express rib sights and skeleton steel buttplate and grip cap that I was also considering at one time. Kimber afficionados and collectors tell me the newer Kimbers are better shooters than the old ones. I have routinely shot one hole groups at 50 yards that equal factory specs using PMC Scoremaster and CCI Green Tag. Federal GM Ultra MAtch also was good, but dollar for dollar did not really outdo the PMC. This is a tight match chamber with controlled feed and engraves the bullet upon chambering.
The scope bases were $35 or so, and are of the Redfield 'rotary dovetail' type. The bases make the rifle look a bit like a miniature square bridge Mauser. Old Kimber/Warne rings also work. I am using a Leupold Vari-X II 4-12X40 AO on the rifle.
I liked the HS due to the high comb, the 24" medium weight barrel and the incredible 2.75 pound trigger that is truely like a glass rod breaking. The others Kimbers havve 22" or shorter barrels.
This rifle looks about as custom as you get. I feel given the accuracy and wood, it was well worth it and would heartily recommend the rifle.
Check out: http://www.kimberamerica.com/22.htm
The barrel is a blued, almost matte, lustre 24" tapered heavy barrel with flutes running from an inch in front of the action to about 12" from the muzzle. The muzzle has a 11 degree tapered target crown. It has a match chamber. The 50 yard 5 shot target group fired from a machine rest that came with the rifle was .280 inches. The manual says they must group at .4 inches or less with the Federal Gold Metal Ultra match ammo at 50 yards. The target was shot in March. The barrel is marked Kimber Mfg, Inc. Yonkers, NY, USA 22LR HS
The stock has a very high raised comb, level with the bore. It kicks down in the rear like a Monte Carlo type, but no cheekpiece for a normal sized Kimber marked padded buttpad. The foreend and grip are checkered. The wood is a beautiful walnut burl with the reddish tint of Belgium Brownings or pre-1964 Winchesters. It has a soft sheen for a true oil rubbed custom look. The action is glass bedded. It has Uncle Mikes type sling studs. Inletted sling mounts like on the Winchester M-52 sporter would be nicer, in my opinion, but that is a minor issue.
While not cheap by any means, it was not as much as I thought a new Kimber would be, and much less than a used Kimber of Oregon SuperAmerica with express rib sights and skeleton steel buttplate and grip cap that I was also considering at one time. Kimber afficionados and collectors tell me the newer Kimbers are better shooters than the old ones. I have routinely shot one hole groups at 50 yards that equal factory specs using PMC Scoremaster and CCI Green Tag. Federal GM Ultra MAtch also was good, but dollar for dollar did not really outdo the PMC. This is a tight match chamber with controlled feed and engraves the bullet upon chambering.
The scope bases were $35 or so, and are of the Redfield 'rotary dovetail' type. The bases make the rifle look a bit like a miniature square bridge Mauser. Old Kimber/Warne rings also work. I am using a Leupold Vari-X II 4-12X40 AO on the rifle.
I liked the HS due to the high comb, the 24" medium weight barrel and the incredible 2.75 pound trigger that is truely like a glass rod breaking. The others Kimbers havve 22" or shorter barrels.
This rifle looks about as custom as you get. I feel given the accuracy and wood, it was well worth it and would heartily recommend the rifle.
Check out: http://www.kimberamerica.com/22.htm
slickpuppy
New member
700PSS,
Thanks for the memory refresh on Yonkers. Glad you are happy with the rifle - it sounds like they are still producing some good shooting rifles.
I was told the wait was horrible on getting one and so I didn't place an order.
Still love the Anschutz, but may have to reconsider on the Kimbers.
Thanks for the memory refresh on Yonkers. Glad you are happy with the rifle - it sounds like they are still producing some good shooting rifles.
I was told the wait was horrible on getting one and so I didn't place an order.
Still love the Anschutz, but may have to reconsider on the Kimbers.
700PSS Shooter
New member
One can never have too many high quality .22 rimfires.
I thought the my Sako Finnfire and Krico 340S, not to mention the Springfield M1922's, were the ultimate until I bought this Kimber. Still don't have an Anschutz or a Remington 40X.
A pet dream project of mine is to get a 1970s vintage Remington 40XB in .22RF, put on a HS Precision PSS stock, parkerize it, fit all the same scope mounts, rings, etc. as my PSS, and have a .22RF baby brother to my 700PSS.
I thought the my Sako Finnfire and Krico 340S, not to mention the Springfield M1922's, were the ultimate until I bought this Kimber. Still don't have an Anschutz or a Remington 40X.
A pet dream project of mine is to get a 1970s vintage Remington 40XB in .22RF, put on a HS Precision PSS stock, parkerize it, fit all the same scope mounts, rings, etc. as my PSS, and have a .22RF baby brother to my 700PSS.
slickpuppy
New member
700PSS,
I almost picked up one of the Sako Finnfires last year - NIB, well, until I picked it up. Had the most horrible scar on the other side of the wood. Passed it up.
You may want to look at the Anschutz Silhouette rifle. Great shooting gun with the Match 54 repeater action. If you decide to ever get an Anschutz to keep your Kimber company in the gun safe stick with the 54 action. OR, get a barrelled action and pop it into the stock of your choice.
I almost picked up one of the Sako Finnfires last year - NIB, well, until I picked it up. Had the most horrible scar on the other side of the wood. Passed it up.
You may want to look at the Anschutz Silhouette rifle. Great shooting gun with the Match 54 repeater action. If you decide to ever get an Anschutz to keep your Kimber company in the gun safe stick with the 54 action. OR, get a barrelled action and pop it into the stock of your choice.
A buddy owns a Kimber .22 and I have a Cooper Arms Model 36. We've spent more than a couple of days out with these rifles shooting and comparing. Neither of us wants to trade but we both envy each other's rifles. They are great rifles and I want one, as long as I don't have to trade my Cooper Arms to do so.
700PSS Shooter
New member
Yes, the Anschutz 54.18 MS has always been a desire. I was seriously looking at the new Cooper with the ventilated fore end and the black barrel (or matte stainless version). I believe it may be the 57(?).
My Finnfire is the heavy barrel variant, and has beautiful dark walnut with full curl on both sides for the entire length. That weas what sucked me in to pay more for a rimfire than I had ever paid previously.
My Finnfire is the heavy barrel variant, and has beautiful dark walnut with full curl on both sides for the entire length. That weas what sucked me in to pay more for a rimfire than I had ever paid previously.