First Impressions: Kimber America Hunter Pro

Some folks take me for an avid rifle aficionado. While I enjoy shooting rifles very much, I consider myself more of a hobbyist. I spend most of my time shooting handguns. On occasion I do a little bit of bolt-action rifle shooting, mostly for deer hunting purposes, which happens with very low frequency. However, every now and again I’m lucky enough to put a rifle through its paces. Here we are.

Why a Kimber Hunter Pro

Last year I gave deer hunting a go and picked up the bug. Then I picked up a rifle specifically for deer hunting, set it up, and couldn’t shut up about it. It didn’t take long for my wife to express some curious interest about hunting. Soon she hinted at the idea of owning her own hunting rifle. Rather than simply going to the store and picking out a random rifle, she took the time to figure out what kind of rifle she wanted.

It didn’t take much for her to figure out she wanted a light bolt-action rifle chambered for 6.5mm Creedmoor with a muzzle brake. Soon after, we went to a few different gun stores. She shouldered, tested the trigger, and worked the bolt on various rifles, and she landed on the Kimber Hunter Pro from Cabela’s. And now, here we are.

I mentioned she wanted a muzzle brake. This was a make it or brake it requirement. And it wasn’t just a muzzle brake, it was a “removable” muzzle brake. Mainly because I had already started the process of obtaining a silencer for my hunting rifle. Naturally, she wanted a can for herself.

Needless to say, the Kimber Hunter Pro hit all of the desired qualities. It was chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, it was light, and it had a removable muzzle brake. As such, we purchased it.

In the Box and on the Rifle

If memory serves me correctly, along with the purchase of the gun she received:

• the rifle itself,
• and a user manual
• in a cardboard box.

Nothing fancy. No frills. Just a rifle. Nothing extra.

Out of the box, the rifle isn’t range or field ready. It doesn’t come stock with any sights or optics. It goes without saying that needs to be addressed. This rifle was outfitted with a Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10×50 scope and a sling.

The Kimber Hunter Pro at the Range

At the range, the rifle is a dream come true. The rifle was a nail driver. Regardless of the ammunition it was fed, it was easy to achieve sub-MOA groups. Of course, this implies that the shooter was doing their part and minimizing their contribution to the rifle’s accuracy.

The Seized Muzzle Brake

After the first range trip, we did run into a small issue where the muzzle brake was seized in place. A call to Kimber America resulted in a purchase of a muzzle brake removal tool (which we paid for). Even with the tool, which was just a metal rod with a key ring, the muzzle brake would not budge. After a second call, the rifle went back to Kimber so they could remove the muzzle brake. It was back in less than two weeks. Not sure if they did anything more to it. Since that day, though, the muzzle brake has not seized, even after several subsequent range trips.

At this point, we believe the rifle is field ready. But it’s yet to be taken out to the field. When it is, I’m certain I’ll publish another post about it.

Would I Recommend It?

Generally speaking, I try to suggest who or why I would recommend a firearm at the end of a first impressions review like this one. But I’m struggling with it. There are a lot of things I like about this rifle. It’s light, easy to shoot, accurate, and the manufacturer stands behind it. On the other hand, there are a few things that are making me hesitate, like:

• I can’t load the rifle with a full magazine plus one in the chamber. Not a huge deal, but this might turn some people off.
• The bolt (pictured above) uses an external extractor design. Not a big deal, but I don’t see many bolt-action rifles using this design, and that makes me pause. Also, this means the rod guide I use for other bolt-actions in the same caliber doesn’t fit. I’ve yet to find one that does.
• For the price, it’s an excellent rifle, but there are others available as well.

The Verdict

Take that for what it’s worth. I do think the Kimber Hunter Pro is a great option for anyone who wants a light, accurate, easy to shoot bolt-action hunting rifle. The removable muzzle brake comes with it. It’s not quite an entry level rifle due to its price point. Still, it performs well compared to similarly featured and priced (and even more expensive) rifles. If that’s what you are looking for, and my hesitations don’t give you pause, then I recommend this rifle to you.