New Kimber 82: A classic In The Making

Guns Magazine, Nov, 2000 by Jon R. Sundra

Kimber's new .22 rifle boasts new and innovative features including a Mauser-type claw extractor for controlled-round feeding, a two-position Model 70-type safety, and an eccentric action in which the bolt raceway is slightly above center in the receiver.

The eccentric action allows the firing pin to be centered in the bolt body rather than offset as it generally is in other rimfire designs, resulting in a beefier firing pin that cannot be damaged be dry-firing. The think-bottomed receiver is also stiffer and provides a better bedding surface.

Although barrels for the original Model 82 were manufactured by outside sources, Kimber now manufactures their own. Boasting match-grade chambers, a 1:16" twist, and eight lands and grooves just like Europe's best target rifles, this new Kimber promises to be even more accurate than the old model -- which is quite an accomplishment. Indeed, accuracy seems to have been the single most important goal when the design project not underway nearly five years ago. I say that because the team was headed up by Nehemia Sirkis, one of the foremost firearms designers in the world today. Sirkis is a seven-time Israeli national smallbore champion and two-time Olympic team member.

We recently field tested the new Kimber on a prairie dog shoot in northwestern Kansas. As is usual on the prairie, there was a brisk wind blowing; rarely did it subside to less than 10 mph. We therefore tried to shoot either up- or down-wind. During our sighting-in session, however, the fixed bench and targets were oriented cross-mind, so it was difficult to determine just how well the guns were shooting. In spite of the wind, the 50-yard group dispersions using Winchester's Power Point 40 gr. Solids were three-times greater along the horizontal than along the vertical!

The rifle will be offered in four different model/grades: Classic, SuperAmerica, Short Varmint/Target and Hunter Silhouette. Prices start at $590 for the Classic.