Kimber 8400 Classic Not Safe

[Fine Figure of a Man]

A friend told me recently that he could not find the ammo he wanted for his 270 WSM. I told him to bring his rifle and brass and I would load whatever he wanted. He brought the rifle the next day, a Kimber 8400 Classic.
I loaded three rounds at a starting level and went out to the bench. Pulled the trigger an "click" but no bang. Did I seat a bullet in an empty brass? I grab the bolt handle and as I lift it BANG. Nothing wrong with the ammo, the rifle has a serious problem! I reload and pull the trigger, same click. Knowing what to expect I lift the bolt and Bang.
I then closed the bolt on an empty chamber and pull the trigger, the firing pin drops as it should. Load an empty brass and pull the trigger, same click, firing pin drops slightly, lift the bolt and it "fires".
Kimber's web site lists a bunch of serial numbers under recall, could not find this rifle on the list, obviously it should be.

 

[LoonWulf]

kinda sounds like the over travel stop might be set too short.

 

[mshootnit]

Yeah sounds like somebody's been messing with the trigger.
I just shot a couple nice deer with my 8400 270 WSM last fall.

Never a problem with mine.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

My friend isn't a gun guy at all, pretty confident he has not touched it with anything more than an oily rag since the gun was new. He said he has about 100 rounds through it with no problems.

 

[LoonWulf]

Might not have had to do anything. If it was real close screw may have worked in or crud maybe in the mechanism.....could be other stuff too

 

[mshootnit]

Did he ever have the problem or just you?
It is weird so many of these issues pop up when somebody tries reloads.
Did you try any factory ammo?

 

[BigBore44]

The trigger is just the “are you REALLY sure you want to fire?” 2nd safety. All my rifles do this. What’s the problem?

Wiping the gun with an oily rag could absolutely be the cause of it’s problem.

 

[horsey300]

The trigger is just the “are you REALLY sure you want to fire?” 2nd safety. All my rifles do this. What’s the problem?

Wiping the gun with an oily rag could absolutely be the cause of it’s problem.

Curious? What rifles do you use that fire on bolt lift? All of mine fire upon activation of the bangswitch....... I've had some bolts jolt up slightly upon firing, but not a rifle that won't fire upon bolt lift?

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

The ammo isn't the issue, I have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds for dozens of firearms. I posted this thread to warn any Kimber owners of a potential issue. I will not be doing anything with the rifle until it is repaired.
With an empty chamber the gun functions as it should. With a loaded round or just a brass case chambered the firing pin drops just slightly when the trigger is pulled. When the bolt is lifted slightly it drops completely, striking the primer.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Curious? What rifles do you use that fire on bolt lift? All of mine fire upon activation of the bangswitch....... I've had some bolts jolt up slightly upon firing, but not a rifle that won't fire upon bolt lift?

I'm also curious about how it could be an oily rag induced problem.

 

[BigBore44]

Curious? What rifles do you use that fire on bolt lift? All of mine fire upon activation of the bangswitch....... I've had some bolts jolt up slightly upon firing, but not a rifle that won't fire upon bolt lift?

Swiss K31’s of course.

 

[BigBore44]

I'm also curious about how it could be an oily rag induced problem.

Well I suppose it would matter where he wiped it with an oily rag and the type of rag he used. But, oil attracts dirt (you know that). Oil doesn’t always just stay where it’s intended. Neither will the build up. There could be grime blocking the sear and lifting the bolt fully releases it. Could be grime or something else in the bolt that, when lowered, partially obstructs the pin but it is released. And when the bolt handle it lifted, that piece moves and the pin fully releases. Without having the gun and being able to disassemble it, I can’t say for sure. Only that it’s a possibility.

 

[stringnut]

Need a cleaning and inspection before sending back. Bolt should be disassembled and action pulled out the stock. Trigger can then be inspected for crud.

 

[bearleft]

^^^ I second stringnut's comment!

 

[eastbank]

sounds like some thing is binding to hold the firing pin from going forward when the trigger is pulled and as the bolt is lifted its freeded up and the fireing pin goes forward.

 

[redneck2]

The trigger is just the “are you REALLY sure you want to fire?” 2nd safety. All my rifles do this. What’s the problem?

Wiping the gun with an oily rag could absolutely be the cause of it’s problem

That has to be the most bizarre thing I’ve ever read

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Not my rifle and I am not a professional gunsmith so I won't be attempting to fix an issue as potentially dangerous as this.
If you own a Kimber be careful. When it is fixed I will post what caused the problem.

 

[stevekozak]

This thread is cracking me up. One guy tongue in cheek suggests all guns do this and that an oily rag is definately the reason, and folks take him serious to the point he provides a plausible explanation why what he said was true. The gun comes to the OP having never had a problem, but with his reloads suddenly there is a problem. Someone reasonably asks how it functions with factory ammo, and the OP has no interest in seeing if there is a difference. Asinine. Some folks here need to get over themselves. If I were the gun-owner, I would take my rifle back, thank the OP for his attempts, locate some acceptable factory ammo, and go back to successfully shooting my gun.

 

[JDeere]

I realize that the situation has nothing to do with your loads but add this to the list of reasons why I reload for no one but myself...

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

This thread is cracking me up. One guy tongue in cheek suggests all guns do this and that an oily rag is definately the reason, and folks take him serious to the point he provides a plausible explanation why what he said was true. The gun comes to the OP having never had a problem, but with his reloads suddenly there is a problem. Someone reasonably asks how it functions with factory ammo, and the OP has no interest in seeing if there is a difference. Asinine. Some folks here need to get over themselves. If I were the gun-owner, I would take my rifle back, thank the OP for his attempts, locate some acceptable factory ammo, and go back to successfully shooting my gun.

Would you explain the mechanics of how a reloaded round, or an empty brass casing, can make an otherwise properly functioning rifle fire when the bolt is lifted?

 

[jmorris]

With an empty chamber the gun functions as it should. With a loaded round or just a brass case chambered the firing pin drops just slightly when the trigger is pulled.

My curiosity wouldn’t allow it to leave my possession until I learned more. The stock can be removed with two screws? May provide an “ah ha!” Moment.

With brass in the chamber, pull the trigger, will the safety go to position #2?

If it will go to position #2 will it still drop the pin as the bolt begins to lift?

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/kimber_8400.pdf

 

[dranrab]

Would you explain the mechanics of how a reloaded round, or an empty brass casing, can make an otherwise properly functioning rifle fire when the bolt is lifted?

Exactly my thoughts. The mechanism in the bolt assembly has no way of knowing whether the round is factory or homemade.

 

[redneck2]

The gun comes to the OP having never had a problem, but with his reloads suddenly there is a problem. Someone reasonably asks how it functions with factory ammo, and the OP has no interest in seeing if there is a difference. Asinine. Some folks here need to get over themselves. If I were the gun-owner, I would take my rifle back, thank the OP for his attempts, locate some acceptable factory ammo, and go back to successfully shooting my gun.

Well, it malfunctions on an empty chamber, which I assume has nothing to do with hand loads.

If he could get factory ammo, he would.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

With brass in the chamber, pull the trigger, will the safety go to position #2?

It will not

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Well, it malfunctions on an empty chamber, which I assume has nothing to do with hand loads.

If he could get factory ammo, he would.

Actually it malfunctions with an empty brass in the chamber. Within an empty chamber it appears to function properly.