Kimber Adirondack

[Harobmx2004]

Hey guys , brand new member I'm looking for some first hand experience with a Kimber Adirondack ... I live in the adk's and do a lot of hunting there so I am looking for a light weight bolt gun to carry .. the gun is about 1400-16000 with out optics and that's pretty expensive for my I just want to make sure the pretty fun and name that goes along with it is worth the price tag .... Any input good or bad is much appreciated !!
-Tom

 

[jmr40]

I've owned an 84M in 308 for several years. Same rifle with a gray stock, 4" longer barrel and about 5 oz heavier. Mine can still come in under 6 lbs including scope and mounts if I choose carefully. It is currently just a couple of oz over 6 lbs with a 3-9X40 Leupold VX-2 on it.

I like the rifle and it has the potential to be extremely accurate. But I don't consider it the best choice as an all-around rifle. It is just a bit TOO light and the Adirondack is even lighter. While my rifle is accurate, it takes perfect form and a lot of concentration to make it shoot well. A little heavier rifle is more forgiving. You'll lose around 100 fps with the shorter barrel and pick up some muzzle blast too. Recoil on mine is about the same as a standard weight 30-06. A noticeable increase over more conventional weight 308's, but still very tolerable.

I've spent a lot of years hunting in some pretty steep rugged terrain and find a rifle weighing about 7- 7.5 lbs scoped is a good compromise. I don't shoot anything heavier any better and it is still pretty easy to carry around. My Kimber at closer to 6 lbs is more of a special purpose gun for those times where the terrain is especially tough and every ounce counts.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the quality and if you really need a 4.75 lb gun it is a bargain at that price. Anything else close to that weight is $3000-$4000. Just make sure you REALLY want a gun that light.

 

[Steve S.]

I have no experience with the Adirondack (but would like to own one); I also own an 84M (CC Select) in .308. Same experience as previous post - takes some practice to shoot well but shoot it does - beautiful rifle, accurate (after I learned to shoot it) and very well made - fit and finish are exceptional. This rifle shoots differently than all of my other rifles; requires a different hold and mindset (at least for me) to shoot well - kind of hard to put into words except to say that a light rifle is not harder to shoot but it is different to shoot. To me, it is well worth the difference because it is a pleasure to carry in the deer woods (and a neat rifle to look at). With that said, good luck with your choice.

 

[MCMXI]

I've shot all four Adirondack models and they have all been excellent shooters. The synthetic stock does a great job of reducing felt recoil. You can add a Kimber brake if desired. I shot the group below with the 6.5 Creedmoor model. The worst group of many shot that day was 0.9".

 

[MCMXI]

Here are four targets shot with a .308 Win Adirondack back in March using four types of factory ammunition. Like I said, they're shooters.

Black Hills Gold 155gr A-MAX




Black Hills Gold 168gr Barnes TSX




Remington Hog Hammer 168gr Barnes TSX




Federal Premium 168gr Trophy Copper




The conditions were crazy that day but luckily I have a shooting bench inside a room off the garage so it was hard to see but at least I was dry.

 

[Harobmx2004]

That's a dedicated shooter ! Lol thanks for all the replys guys ! I was originally going to get a browning bar short trac carbine 308 the light weight stalker but there is something about the ease and practicality of a nice shooting bolt gun that I always turn to ..I think I Will go ahead and grab the kimber today it'll be a couple weeks before I save up the dough to get scope worthy of the rifle .. I am a die hard leupold man so now it's just down to figuring out what power I will go with .. 75% of my shots will all be under 50 yards with the rare but possible out to 2-300 so I'm mainly looking for the Kimber for the fast throw a light weight gun would have .. We do a lot of drives meaning split second shots and this one property I hunt is a old land fill , when hunting that I usual take my 6.5 cm due to shots up to 3-4 mile not that've have ever taken one yet but I could if I felt confident enough in my self I know the gun will perform

 

[Casefull]

I just killed a large elk in Montana with my mountain ascent in 308. One prone shot killed the elk at 250 yds. I carry my rifles countless miles each year and wt is a big deal. It helps to hold the forearm a bit tighter than normal on these light rifles. If you want to save 600 dollars pick up a used kimber montana and cut the barrel off...it will only be a few ounces heavier than the adirondack. You will love the adirondack. Wonderful stocks also.

 

[MCMXI]

Also, the Forest pattern stock on the Adirondack will soon be "collectible" so get one while the going's good. Sitka has discontinued the Forest pattern in favor of Elevated II (which I prefer),

 

[Harobmx2004]

Well guys I got the gun ... As soon as I held it I knew it was love at first sight lol now to get a scope for it .. I'm thinking The leupold vx-2 3-9x33 ultra light weight ../any thoughts ?

 

[Casefull]

I put that scope on my mountain ascent. The lens wobbles on that scope. No locknut. Does not effect accuracy though. Replaced it with vx3 3.5 10. A couple ounces heavier but better scope in my opinion. The ultra lightwt seems cheaply made for a leupold. Congrats on rifle.

 

[Harobmx2004]

I keep telling my self my next optic will be a vortex to try it out ... Yet always end up with another leupold , I think I'll end up going with the vx-3 as well and thanks !!! Couldent be happier I shot it a couple times just reflex into my sand pit to and the recoil isn't bad at all I was thinking being as light as it is it would have some kick to it .. Guess all the magnum loads I've shot paid off lol you guys have been great ! Glad I joined this forum

 

[MCMXI]

So did you go with the .308 Win? I have quite a few Leupold scopes as well as Nightforce, Zeiss, Premier Reticles, Vortex and Aimpoint. A VX-3 would be a good choice, particularly if you keep the objective at or under 40mm. The Vortex Viper 3-9x40mm with the BDC reticle is also a good choice although it's a little heavier (1.6oz) than the equivalent Leupold VX-3 but it is quite a bit cheaper though at $399.

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-viper-3-9x40-riflescope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle

https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/vx-3-riflescopes/vx-3-3-5-10x40mm/

 

[Casefull]

I think the vortex's have really good glass for the money. I put one of their 3x9 , $150 scopes on my 300wsm and it is still holding zero. Glass is like my zeis 3x9.

 

[MCMXI]

I think the vortex's have really good glass for the money.

I agree. I have a couple of Vortex Viper PSTs, a Vortex Spitfire red dot and Vortex RAZOR HD binoculars. I bought a Vortex Viper for a friend and was able to use it extensively to work up a load for her rifle. I consider them to offer the best bang for the buck at present.

 

[Harobmx2004]

Hey guys , been working too much lol I did go with the 308 ... Was a toss up with that and the 6.5 cm but having more 308's than my 1 other 6.5 I figured it would be the way to go plus is a nato round so the abundance of ammo is more readily available .. I slapped a old pro staff scope on it just to get out and belive it or not shot a really nice 8 pt this morning ... I'm hoping its the beginning of better luck for me if I could figure out how to post a picture I would

 

[Casefull]

Congrats on the deer. You won't regret the 308. All my magnums sit in the rack. The 308 works for everything for me.

 

[Gtscotty]

Did you double check that buck to make sure it was really dead... Seeing as how it was shot with a lowly short barreled .308, it might have just been playing opossum

In all seriousness, congrats on the new rifle, I'm planning to build a lightweight short. 308 along those lines once availability of time and money coincide.

 

[Harobmx2004]

Lol ! I asked the deer ,on his last breath.. He said he woulda preferred the 300 ultra mag haha thanks guys I'm hoping to buy a scope this week I hate taking a scope off one rifle to put it on another .. Really Erks me