Kimber 82 (Dovetail)

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The History of Kimber

Kimber Manufacturing was founded in 1979 by Jack Warne in Clackamas, Oregon. Previously, Warne had established Sporting Arms (Sportco) in Adelaide, Australia, after WWII, and later moved to Oregon in 1968 when Omar Industries acquired his company. Initially, Kimber of Oregon focused on producing dependable .22 LR rifles, later expanding to centerfire rifles, pistols, and eventually revolvers.

In the 1990s, several Kimber employees left the company to form Cooper Firearms of Montana, while Jack Warne founded Warne Manufacturing in 1991, specializing in scope mounting systems. Kimber of Oregon was eventually sold to Bruce Engel, and in the 1990s, Greg Warne and Les Edelman, owner of Nationwide Sports Distributors, partnered to revive the company under the name Kimber of America.

Despite rapid expansion, Greg Warne was ousted when Edelman gained majority ownership. Edelman then merged Jerico Precision's manufacturing capabilities with Kimber's dealer network, relocating production to New York and establishing the company's presence in New York and New Jersey. Over the years, Kimber has developed a variety of firearms, including pistols, rifles, and revolvers, as well as manufacturing accessories to complement their products.

Some popular pistol models include the R7 Mako, EVO SP, MICRO series, California Compliant, and Massachusetts Compliant, among others. Kimber's rifles are available in four action designs: Model 84M, Model 84L, Model 8400 WSM, and Model 8400 Magnum. The early Kimber Model 82 rifle was a predecessor to the Model 84 action series. Revolvers are offered in DASA, Stainless, DCR variants, and special editions. On October 21, 2020, Kimber announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Troy, Alabama.

Kimber Model 82 Rifle Review (Dovetail)

The Kimber Model 82 is a bolt-action rifle introduced by Kimber in 1980. This classic-style sporter rifle was offered in various variants and calibers to suit different needs. The .22 LR variant was the foundation for the development of other 82 models such as Custom Match, Super America, Custom Classic, and S series. There are early versions of 82 models with 11 mm round top dovetail and later models that have drilled and tapped receivers. This review focuses on the dovetail version of the rifle.

The rear locking action of the Model 82 is made of steel and houses a bolt with two opposing locking lugs. The barrel is screwed into the receiver and twin extractors ensure reliable extraction of spent cartridges. The trigger of the Model 82 is fully adjustable but comes pre-set from the factory at an approximate pull weight of about 910 g (2 lbs). Most 82 models come with a steel checkered buttplate; however, the rubber pad was added to the production of later models.

On the rear end of the receiver, behind the bolt handle is a rocker-style safety which locks the trigger and can be easily operated with a thumb. Even when the safety is put into the 'safe' position, the action can still be opened. The capacity of internal box magazines depends on the variant of the rifle, usually, the maximum capacity was ten rounds for .22 LR; however, there were even single-shot versions available for the .218 BEE / .25-20 Win. calibers.

It's worth noting that this rifle was made by Kimber of Oregon and should not be confused with the .22 rifles made by Kimber America in later years. Later in production, various calibers were added to the 82 series, including .22 WMR and .17 HMR. The 82A was the first run of the 82s, followed by the 82B which saw some minor improvements made to the action, and then the 82C made by Kimber of America. These subsequent versions had drilled and tapped holes instead of dovetail.

Kimber Model 82, chambered for .22 Hornet

Figure 1: Kimber Model 82, chambered for .22 Hornet (Source: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2060/114)

Kimber Model 82 Calibers

The rifle can be chambered for the following calibers:

.17 HMR
.22 LR
.22 Hornet
.22 WMR
.218 BEE
.25-20 Win.

Kimber Model 82 Variants

The rifle is available in the following variants:

Kimber Model 82 Custom Match
Kimber Model 82 Super America
Kimber Model 82 Custom Classic
Kimber Model 82 S

Early Kimber Model 82 receivers come with round top 11 mm dovetail grooves which can be used for scope mounting purposes.

Kimber Model 82 receiver, chambered for .22 Hornet

Figure 2: The receiver of Kimber Model 82 with 11mm round top dovetail, chambered for .22 Hornet (Source: https://www.icollector.com/Kimber-Model-82-22-Hornet-SN-H66_i35765295)

Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Kimber Model 82

Rifles That Have One-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Kimber Model 82

All the rifles listed in the category below have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Kimber Model 82. For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that have one-piece scope mounts interchangeable with Kimber Model 82 are:

All rifles with 11 mm round top dovetail

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Scope Mounts Interchangeable With Kimber Model 82

All the rifles listed in the category below have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Kimber Model 82. To meet interchangeability conditions, two-piece mounts must match in all dimensions except the B distance. B distance can vary because two-piece mounts can be installed and adjusted closer or further apart. Rifles that have two-piece scope mounts interchangeable with Kimber Model 82 are:

All rifles with 11 mm round top dovetail

Best Scope Mounts for Kimber Model 82

Fixed Scope Mounts for Kimber Model 82

These 30 mm rings manufactured by the American company BKL are a suitable solution for your Kimber Model 82 as they can be mounted on the round top 11 mm dovetail. The rings are made from high-quality aluminum and come with a two-year warranty.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade.eu