kimber 8400 accuracy issues

[spencerhenry]

i have a kimber 8400 in 300wsm, the select grade with french walnut. i bought it new in 2006. i sent it back to kimber 2 times in 2006 once for accuracy issues and again for a safety issue. it was returned to me with a test target showing a 3/4" or so group.... and a flyer that made it about 1.5". i was told that the one shot was a sighter shot? i was told that there was nothing wrong with the rifle and that it was probably my shooting abilities. i put the rifle away until this october when i put a good effort into finding a load it liked. i did not succeed. i tried 3 bullet weights from 3 different manufacturers, magnum primers, standard primers, seating to factory spec, and seating at .005 off the lands, new brass, and once fired from that gun. the groups ranged from 1.375 to over 3.5", nothing ever looked great.
i have looked around and found that there are alot of people out there with kimbers that have accuracy issues also. most were told the same thing i was, that it was them not the rifle.
my question is, does anyone here have first hand knowledge of making one of these shoot better? please dont respond with "have you checked to make sure your scope is tight" or things like that, i have checked all the normal culprits and i have found nothing out of order.
the rifle from the factory has a great trigger, free floated barrel, and pillar bedded action.

[sniper7]

sounds like a rifle issue if you are having those issues. I would talk to kimber and find out what ammo they shoot.

[waxthis]

Better yet, have Kimber fly you down to watch their shooter hit 1.5 MOA with your rifle. I have heard the same thing about some Kimber rifles. I agree with checking to see what brand of ammo they use....I feel for you, its gatta be frustrating!!!

[Tim K]

You can shoot 3/4" groups with other rifles? Has another skilled shooter shot your rifle with the same results? If the answers are "yes" then I would find out what ammo Kimber is using and try that. Maybe they'd sell you a box.

Failing that, I'd pick a bullet and run a ladder test. That method of finding the accuracy node of a barrel has proved to work very well for the guys I know who have tried it.

You could also take it to one of the local smiths for a little look-over. There are some good ones in the area.

[spencerhenry]

i sent kimber an email asking what accuracy standards they have for the 8400. i got an email back the next day, it was enlightening. the requirement for a rifle that sells for over $1000 is pathetic.
a 3 shot group of 1.5" at 100yds from a machine rest, or a 2" 5 shot group at 100yds!
these days just about any off the shelf bargain basement bolt rifle would be those requirements, for half or less money. the kimber is a very pretty rifle, feels good, has good balance, great wood, but who cares if the best accuracy you can get is about 1.5"
i sent an email back to the woman at kimber and told her that if that was all they guarantee, that i would not be purchasing another one, that i expect a whole lot more from a $1000 rifle.

[Tim K]

I seem to remember not too many years ago when 2" groups was considered standard acceptable accuracy in a hunting rifle. It's just in the last few years that garden variety rifles have gotten much more accurate. I agree with you that 2" is pretty marginal by today's standards, but I assume the Kimber has many other nice features that make it a good hunting rifle. You might ask yourself if you really need better accuracy to kill whatever it is you plan to kill with it. If the answer is yes, it's time to sell.

I still think you might improve it with a ladder test, but maybe not enough to satisfy you. It's probably a valuable gun. Why not sell it and get something you are excited about?

[spencerhenry]

i am going to try the "ladder test", should be real enlightening to see if that method produces any different result than my method.
it was 20 to 25 years ago that some weatherby rifles had 1" guarantees, these days there are not many rifles that wont shoot 1.5". i have got the kimber down to 1-3/8" 5 shot group, no b.s. a genuine measured 5 shot group. their acceptance of 2" is crap. no rifle that has a quality barrel that is pillar bedded, free floated with a good trigger should group that big, with no load development maybe, but not with numerous charges, powders, seating depths, bullet types, etc...
1-3/8" is NOT acceptable for me, i am more of an archery hunter than a rifle hunter, but when i hunt with a rifle it is NOT just to fill a tag. i shot my mounatin goat at well over 450, my last big deer was at 369 on the first shot and 385 on the second shot, my bighorn was at 267. a group that is 1-3/8 under perfect from the bench conditions at 100yds is more like 8" at 300 and a foot at 400. if the shots on game were always done from a perfect rest with no wind, no uphill or downhill component, no heavy breathing, or any thing else that can open up a group then i would say o.k. but when i go to the range and get out-shot by someone with a bone stock remington or winchester and i have a "top of the line" rig, that pisses me off.
last month i was hunting for bull elk in new mexico, in country that is pretty open with elk that are continually harassed getting under 350yds is not always possible. i want to be able to take the 400yd shot if that is all i am given and not have to wonder if the rifle will do it or not. i have several other rifles that will, but i dont want to take a 270 or 308 for a trophy bull at 350yds or more. that is why i bought a 300 wsm.