I bought an HS model about three months ago at a gunshow.Somehow I didn't notice til I got home that the clip was missing.I called Kimber, they shipped me one, and the only way to get it to positively lock in place, is to have the bolt open. If it's closed, when you open it to chamber a round, the clip falls out.I mounted a Nikon 6.5x20 on it and It shot 4in-5in. groups with eley/remington matchextra(The same ammo they used at the factory to supposedly shoot a .373 group on my test target).I switched scopes, same thing.Called Kimber they said to send it back.So after paying $750.00 for a .22, I then had to shell out $20.00 and drive an hour to the regional UPS center to ship it back.I asked them, while it was there, and for my time and trouble,to fix a blemish in the finish.I called after 1 1/2-2 wks, to check on the progress,and was told that they had never received it, and hadn't had an HS in the shop since december.I gave the man my tracking number, and he looked it up on the UPS web site, and told me that it had been delivered to them.But they had no record of it anywhere.He promised to call me back in "a few minutes" and let me know what he found out.After 2 hours, and alot of worry, I called back, and talked to a women,who knew nothing of my earlier phone call, or even who I talked too.She said it was being worked on as we spoke.
I received it back 4-5 days later.The invoice said Rebarrelled due to poor accuracy.It shoots VERY good groups now, and came with a new test target showing a five shot .270 group.They didn't fix the blemish, refund my shipping costs, or explain to me how they shot an original test target of .373 if the barrel was bad. It would only make sense if it was a stock or action problem
I have 2 older Kimber of Oregon, 82's, and they are two of the nicest rimfires I ever handled or shot.I'm going to keep my HS because, it's shooting good now, but I will never buy another Kimber of America product.I wish I would have spent another $200.00 and bought a Cooper.
I can't believe either, that they can keep selling guns in this price range with such poor quality control and customer service.It's truly a shame that they're an American company. They ought to move production to China, so we wouldn't expect any better than crap like this going on.
I posted on Rimfire central and there has been at least 5 or 6 other people with the same accuracy problems from brand new Kimbers.I'm sure that's just the tip of the Iceberg.
I just hope people don't associate the Kimber of America problems with the Kimber of Oregons.They are very well made guns.I can't say enough good about mine.
