Review: Kimber 84M Classic
The Kimber 84M Classic is a lightweight, short-action rifle made by a company with a reputation for quality and accuracy.
Kimber 84M Classic with Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm scope
One afternoon during the late summer, my brother and I were making our way through a southern Missouri forest looking for feral hog. We hadn't had seen anything going out, but on our way back we thought we would take the "direct" route offered by the GPS. This took us across one of the most industrious establishments of beaver dams I had ever seen. The brush here was incredibly thick, and our path didn't offer many choices if we were to stay dry. It was here, with my Winchester Model 70 slung over my shoulder, that I first wished I had a lighter rifle.
I didn't do anything about it until 2008 while planning for a deer hunt in southern Arkansas. For the smaller deer that live in the south, I decided that I wanted a lightweight rifle in a light deer cartridge. The 260 Remington, a short-action cartridge based on the 308 Winchester and necked down to accept 6.5mm bullets, seemed like the perfect cartridge. I looked to see what was available in a lightweight rifle chambered in that caliber, and I considered several options.
When I realized that this might become my primary deer rifle, I decided not to skimp on quality. I wanted something light, but also accurate and attractive -- opting for blued steel in a wood stock rather than a stainless synthetic. Soon the choice became clear, and I ordered a Kimber 84M Classic.
260 Remington and
338 Federal cartridges
Kimber 1911 pistols are legendary for quality and accuracy. Kimber rifles are also well-known for the same characteristics. The company has been described as existing on the threshold between a custom gun maker and a factory gun manufacturer. Even my highly discriminating gunsmith, who prefers to be described as an engineer, confirmed that Kimber does good machine work. I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.
The 84M Classic is available in seven chamberings: .22-250 Remington and .223 Remington, which are both excellent varmint hunting cartridges. The .243 Winchester, .260 Remington and 7mm-08 Remington are light recoiling big game cartridges. The .308 Winchester and the newer .338 Federal are cartridges that provide a bit more wallop against larger game.
The 84M is Kimber's short-action rifle. It is a true lightweight, designed that way from the ground up. Unlike other lightweight rifles, the dimensions of the 84M action are designed to be just large enough to accomodate the 308 family of cartridges. Not only is it shorter, but it is narrower. A side-by-side comparison of the bolt with another rifle is quite revealing. The bolt is shorter and slimmer, the receiver is smaller, and the stock is leaner. All of these add up to a noteworthy reduction in weight.