.338 Federal???

[Lawful Larry]

Anyone out there been reloading this new cartridge?  I purchased a Kimber 84M and started with the 200 gr bullets.  So far I am not too impressed with the results.  I have used IMR 4895 and 3031, but not tried any of the newer powders.  Has anyone used any of the newer powders and what success have you experienced? 

There is not much data out there yet so it is making it a little difficult working with this cartridge.   

[Graybeard]

While I can't be sure I suspect the disappointment might be related to the fact it's a Kimber. Once the Kimber name and accuracy were synonymous but that no longer seems to be the case. I was ready to buy one awhile back but noticed they had no comments regarding accuracy on their web site so I called them to ask what I might realistically expect.

They immediately began hemming and hawing and explaining how it was such a light rifle that you really shouldn't expect too much in the way of accuracy from it but never really gave me an answer. When I pay that much more for a rifle than for a Remington I'd like to at least feel comfortable it will shoot as well as most all of my Remington rifles have which is almost always MOA after a bit of tweaking and load development.

I very specifically asked might I be able to expect that and was told it wasn't very likely due to the light weight of the gun and thin diameter of the barrel. Sorry Charlie but most of my Remingtons have barrels as thin as the Kimbers even tho they do weight more due to heavier stocks and actions. Guns from NULA are even lighter but shoot to 1/2 MOA normally out of the box and cost only about twice as much as a Kimber.

Their response turned me off so I ended up with a Remington Model Seven in the .260 Remington chambering I wanted and it is an MOA shooter right out of the box with factory ammo. Kimber could have had my business if they had given me reason to believe their guns would actually hit the target but they didn't. I saved over $300 by getting the Remington and it only weights about one pound more which is fine and does MOA.

[Lawful Larry]

Interesting.  I picked up this rifle for a song, so I couldn't turn it away ($600).  It was a Friends of the  NRA gun that was up for auction.  If it doesn't get any better, I can always sell  it and still get my money and then some back.  The only thing that really bugs me is that the Ruger new calibers are getting all the press now. 

I Did buy a Remington Model Seven in .308 last year and love the little booger.  She is a tack driver with a 150 gr. bullet. 

But I think I can get some better results if I work with this Kimber.  I know she must be more capable.   

[Varmint Hunter]

My buddy won the same rifle @ the NRA dinner last year. It cost him all of $20 in chances. He doesn't load and really doesn't shoot all that much either. I bought him some Fusion ammo with the 200gr bullet because it was available at a good price. Right out of the box this light-weight rifle was shooting < 1.5" @ 100 yds with the factory ammo. He is thrilled and load development is done. Go figure!