[Rolltide]

Hello all...I looked through the older threads and it doesn't seem there is much discussion on Kimber's rimfire rifles. As a matter of fact, it doesn't seem there is much discussion of the on any forum and if there is, it's usually the 82 Government.

For those who have them, how do you find them to shoot compared to the other rimfires, Anschutz, Cooper, Sako etc...? Recently, I've been on a search for a K22 SVT and while there are several available, many are priced much higher than other brands which are known for their accuracy.

I'd like to add one to my safe, but would be terribly disappointed if it didn't shoot well. Are these rifles that accurate or is this just a case of seller's asking high prices due to a small supply?

Chris

 

[Mike240]

Nothing on RimfireCentral.com?

 

[K22]

I don't have any first hand experience with Kimber rimfires other than I hear that they are very good and that I want one.

 

[Rolltide]

RFC has a nice forum, but aside from there, it's rare to see any mention of Kimber rimfires.

 

[The Hunting Rifle]

I have fleet of rifles. I have a Kimber rimfire from Oregon, but not the Super America which I have tracked for years but never bought one, mostly for financial reasons. I own three 22LRs that are truly exceptional. The Kimber is hardly the most accurate. I have a Browning T Bolt with a custom stock in 17HMR. It is exceptionally accurate. I have a brand new CZ USA .22 LR with a Nikon Scope that has amazed me for accuracy and every other way, including stock wood quality. I have a 1942 Model 72 Bolt action Winchester that is extremely accurate and it has a fine wooden stock that has been used in the field and still is very impressive. That rifle is old enough it doesn’t even have a serial nimber. Also it is not drilled and tapped for a scope. Kimber .22 LRs were very nicely made. Their accuracy is not though any better than also ran from my experience. Presently Kimber feels there is no market for a rimfire they could make enough money on. I am certain they are right.

 

[FrankR]

I have fleet of rifles. I have a Kimber rimfire from Oregon, but not the Super America which I have tracked for years but never bought one, mostly for financial reasons. I own three 22LRs that are truly exceptional. The Kimber is hardly the most accurate. I have a Browning T Bolt with a custom stock in 17HMR. It is exceptionally accurate. I have a brand new CZ USA .22 LR with a Nikon Scope that has amazed me for accuracy and every other way, including stock wood quality. I have a 1942 Model 72 Bolt action Winchester that is extremely accurate and it has a fine wooden stock that has been used in the field and still is very impressive. That rifle is old enough it doesn't even have a serial nimber. Also it is not drilled and tapped for a scope. Kimber .22 LRs were very nicely made. Their accuracy is not though any better than also ran from my experience. Presently Kimber feels there is no market for a rimfire they could make enough money on. I am certain they are right.

I disagree. I have a 82B classic and i shot a .392 at 50 yards with it the other day and 4 of them were a .190 I was shooting it this morning and had 4 thunderbolts into .600 at 100 yards lost one for 1 1/4" five shots at 100 yards. The kimber 82's are quite accurate but most 22 are. The K22 maybe the finest factory 22lr ever made and most are super accurate. But yes there are many accurate 22lr out there but i don't think any have quite the eye appeal and function quality of the Kimber's. That's why you see many early 82A's sell for way more than book value. The K22's goes for almost double there original price. I seen several K22 hunter go for 1200 bucks here lately. Kimber sucks they quit making them. Well Kimber has gone down hill in the crapper as far as i am concerned. Mexican farmers don't make quality firearms. All their new guns even the high dollar 1911's are junk. So people are buy up the older used ones like hot cakes

 

[The Hunting Rifle]

I too have pretty good groups with Thundebolts.

My Kimber is an 82B. A Czech Republic built 455 American will group every .22 LR tighter than 3/4 of an inch at 100 yards from a Caldwell Lead Sled. That is both rifles I own and one a friend owns. The are built in the biggest small arms plant in the world. Many .22 LRs are pretty accurate. But not like that. My 82B made in Oregon rimfire would easily sell for $1200. I would not sell it. I am not sure what FrankRs reference to made by Mexican Farmers is about. As a farm and ranch owner I do not know of any production rimfire made by Mexican Farmers. I do think though that Kimber rimfire could be made today and sell, but since the USA built versions would be more than other production 22s sadly a great look and quality like the Oregon built rifles would be impossible? I track Kimber Super America 22 LRs a lot. They go for about $3000.

 

[FrankR]

Well CZ have a very good reputation for accuracy but they are a less expensive factory rifle and other call what you have as hitting the CZ lottery. Problems i see with the 82's are first wood expands and contracts.They are not bedded or the barrel is not floated a 82B could be 32 years old. so we don't know the condition of its barrel. Like i have cleaned mine with a good rimfire bore cleaner and removed the carbon ring.it could have moved and is off the recoil lug and we don't know the pressure on the barrel. But mine has shot under 1/2" at 50 yards with match ammo. So that is as accurate as most 22's can be and that is shooting of sand bags with a 3-9 scope. I am going to pillar bed mine and float the barrel and add more scope as i feel it will shoot better. The other thing i see with the 82 is the feed ramp. when feeding out of the clip if you cycle the bolt fast you can bend or damage the bullet. So when shooting for accuracy i feed slowly and watch it feed from the clip.My crack about Kimber is in the shitter..They have a BAD reputation out in the real world for poor quality rifles and handguns i would say last 10 years or so. That is the word out in the real world i hear all the time. Last few people i spoke to had something bad to say about a Kimber rifle or handgun and most would not spend their money and take a chance on getting a POS.I personally feel the wood quality and finish,fit and finish has kept me from buying a new wood stocked Kimber rifle. I am not paying for shit wood,poor fit and finish,and poor accuracy. I feel they have replaced skilled craftsmen with Mexican farmers. This is my opinion and i am sticking to it and i am done with Kimber. I still watch and buy 82's and K22's and i look for good deals on older rifles.

 

[The Hunting Rifle]

Kimbers are presently built in Montana. They may move some of the production to Yonkers Alabama at their new plant. They moved several pallets of barrel hammer forge machine parts to Alabama recently. Right now the Kimbers worth having are the ones you are talking about. Presently even their wood grading is a disaster. CZ Rifles are variable in accuracy to be sure but in our sampling it is an inexpensive lottery I am willing to play and the percentage of really accurate rifles is quite high. Know this though, when Kimbers present reputation for lack of rifle build quality hits the skids it does have a negative effect in older rifle sales. Right now though the lack of older Kimber rimfires though is pretty remarkable.

 

[raptor1911]

If you are talking out of the box .22lr's. Here is a couple nice heavy barrel, bolt action .22lr. Im sure you can have a custom built .22lr thats more accurate, but im sure it cost lots more! Shoot Eley match .22lr ammo. Its some of the best .22lr target ammo.

Ruger makes a bolt action .22lr. It has a 24 inch heavy barrel. Its called a 77/22. K77/22-VBZ is the ruger cat #. It looks sweet! Cost a pretty penny!

Savage makes a nice .22 target rifle too. Its Model: MARK II BTVS. Its a bolt action with a 22 inch heavy barrel. This savage is WAY CHEAPER TOO!

 

[Chuck43]

Welcome to the forum from northern Illinois raptor1911, how about stopping by our "New Member Introduction" sub forum and introducing yourself to the membership?

 

[The Hunting Rifle]

Ruger does not list a 77/22 except in .22 Hornet. I called Ruger about this, as I know a VP there, the 77/22 22LR is no longer made. I have tried Savage. I have a friend who comes to my range frequently. He is thinking of buying a CZ USA 455 he is so impressed by the ones we are using here. I do grant though my Kimber Model 82 from Oregon cannot quite match his Savage. The CZ USA is more accurate though, at least the two we have here. Also the Savage is a heavier rifle. All this means though that Kimber cannot get back in to rimfire.