Kimber's Delightful Little Varminter: Trim, elegant, accurate and beautifully crafted — the Kimber 84M just may be America's classiest production rifle

Guns Magazine, March, 2002 by Holt Bodinson

Kimber, whose high-quality M1911 designs have graced these pages many times, is back in the centerfire rifle business. The new Model 84M, in both classic sporter and varminter versions, is a remarkable series of rifles that reflects Kimber's commitment of offering the shooting public semi-custom feature at production prices. Moreover, the new Kimber rifles exhibit a degrees of engineering sophistication that is rarely seen in commercial firearms production.

First out of the box has been the 84M Varmint in .22-250 Rem, followed by the 84M Classic in .243 Win, .260 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem and .308 Win.

A True Compact

In designing these new short-action models, Kimber has been able to achieve a balance between action size, power and weight that sets the Mode 84M very much apart from the competition. The heart of this achievement is the action. Often called a miniature Model 70, the Kimber centerfire, action has been scaled down in diameter, length and weight to match the mid-length .308 Winchester-size case. The result is not your typical "short-action."

With few exceptions, the common short-action seen today are standard full-length actions that have been chopped in the mid-section without any further reduction in the diameters of the receiver or bolt. For example, the diameters of the front ring of a short-action Remington M700 or Winchester M70 run about 1.355 inches, while the Kimber measures a trim 1.140 inches. Remington and Winchester bolt diameters are approximately .693 inch, while Kimber's mikes only .585 inch.

By down-sizing the heart of its Model 84M, Kimber has been able to proportion the barrel and stock in relation to the miniature action. The result is an esthetically pleasing, well-balanced and handy rifle. The new 84M models are remarkably light for rifles made of steel and stocked in real Claro walnut. The Model 84M Classic averages 5 pounds, 10 ounces with a 22-inch barrel, while the Varmint model runs 7 pounds, 5 ounces with a fluted, medium-weight 26-inch barrel.

The small cylindrical Kimber action offers controlled-round feeding, a Mauser-type extractor, a fully adjustable trigger, and a two-position Model 70 type safety on the bolt shroud. Functionally, the action is slick and tight. It shares with the Model 70 its famous cone breech, which facilitates feeding from a five-round box magazine and a positive blade ejector that works slot that is offset in the bolt face from the locking lugs. In fact the whole Model 84M bolt, including the shape of the bolt handle looks ever so-much like a Model 70's. The firing pin is noticeably small and light, resulting in a lock-time that is just short of phenomenal. The bottom metal, featuring a straddle-type floorplate and through-the-triggerguard release is clean and custom looking. In fact, the overall finish of the metal work approaches custom quality. As a final touch, Kimber offers a set of scope bases that are so perfectly matched to the receiver that they give the svelte action the appearance of a square-bridged Mauser.

Reach For Your Hiking Boots

There's been a lot of talk about walkabout varmint rifle. After working with the new Kimber 84M Varmint, I think it comes about as close to the ideal as possible. With a stiff, free floating, fluted, 26-inch stainless-steel barrel that measures 685 inch at the muzzle, the rifle still weights less than 7 1/2 pounds without a scope. The weight, however, is where it should be when considering a serious long-range varmint rifle -- in the barrel. With a weight-forward disposition, the Kimber readily settles down in the hands or when shot off a bipod, while at the same time the rifle is light enough to tote around all day.

The Claro walnut stock of the Vannint model incorporates rates classic lines with a full, not bulky, rounded forearm, handsome grip and forearm panels checkered 20 lines to the inch, a steel grip cap, sling swivel bases, and rubber recoil pad. The action is pillar-bedded with aluminum pillars, and while the test rifle was glass beded production models will not be, as Kimber determined through testing that it wasn't necesarry .

What proved to be a breath of fresh air was Kimber's fully adjustable trigger that is set by the factory at 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. With the help of Lyman's revolutionary new digital trigger gauge. I adjusted the trigger to 2 pounds with nun, minimum over-travel. At the end of my testing, I re-measured the trigger out of curiosity, and it was spot on While I wouldn't recommend a 2-pound trigger on a big game rifle, there's nothing like a crisp, light trigger to improve your shooting on small targets at long ranges.

Classic Cartridge

Chambering the Varmint model in .22-250 was no mistake. As an all-around, time-tested performer, the .22-250 is blessed with the reputation of being an "inherently accurate" small-game cartridge. Current factory loads range from Winchester's and Hornady's s 40 grain pills streaking out at 4,150 fps to Remington's loading of a 60-grain Nosler Partition at 3,500 fps The Nosler Partition load is rather inter- esting and indicates that the .22-250 Rem is considered perfectly adequate for deer and antelope in some circles. Because it's on barrels, the .223 Rem might be a better choice for those who shoot 200 to 500 rounds a day after prairie dogs. But for chucks, foxes, coyotes and small-game at extended ranges, the .22-250 simply shines.