Delightful diversion: testing Kimber's new rimfine was a tough job, but someone had to do it

Guns Magazine, March, 2004 by Charles E. Petty

The instruction manual advises that you give the Rimfire Target a break-in of 200 rounds or so. That is good advice because everything is just a little stiff at first and shooting will smooth it out naturally. I'd suggest using high velocity amino at first although my gun did function with standard velocity after just a few rounds of high-speed stuff.

Testing Protocol

NO firearm is more ammunition sensitive than a .22 rimfire, and there are literally dozens of makes and loads from which to choose. Basically I characterize them as hyper velocity: high velocity; standard velocity and match. Initial shooting was done with CCI Mini Mag and Federal Classic high velocity ammunition. From the outset the Rimfire Target worked perfectly with the exception of the one magazine already mentioned. There were no stoppages otherwise.

Next was a small sample of standard velocity and match amino just to be sure everything was going to work--which it did. The next trip saw it in the Ransom Rest with the ammo shown in the table. The Kimber showed a functional distaste for Remington Viper and High Velocity ammo and there were some feed failures that were not obviously explainable and a couple of misfires that fired when hit a second time. My experience has been that .22 autopistols may not like hypervelocity ammo, but the Kimber functioned perfectly with the CCI loads.

Serious Accuracy Testing

The test procedure called for three 10-shot groups at 25 yards from the Ransom Rest. One thing experience has taught is that rimfires may do weird things when you change from one brand of amino to another and deliver a first group that is atypical of the rest. The most logical supposition is that differences in bullet lubricant or coating is responsible. For that reason my policy is to always condition the bore with five rounds of each load before shooting groups for record. I've seen this effect so many times that it is routine practice now and the Kimber got the same treatment.

A total of 12 different loads were used with three 10 shot groups from each or a total of 360 rounds. The overall average of 1.236" is completely respectable and the four different types of ammo conformed to expectations, in order of increasing group size they ranked, match; standard velocity; high velocity and hyper velocity, and it would appear that as velocity increases accuracy decreases. This is usually the norm for handguns. Kimber doesn't call this a target pistol and it isn't by traditional standards, but when you consider that the "X" ring of a standard bullseye target measures 1.8 inches (the scoring rings are the same size whether the target is shot at 25 or 50 yards) the grouping ability of my sample sure comes close to that standard. With amino it favors it would hardly handicap a good shooter.

Devil's In The Details

I've already mentioned the trigger pull and given Kimber's customary trigger jobs this one shouldn't have gotten out the door. Nor should the rear sight. Kimber's adjustable sight uses a small set-screw to secure the base within the dovetail on the slide. The screw was not installed on this gun. The result is a rear sight that is a bit loose, I discovered this when I heard a rattle when handling the pistol. The other criticism may well correct itself with time for a fussy magazine can improve with use. A call to Kimber produced a set-screw and a basic trigger job took care of the rest.