The new Kimber 22 was $850 and the used rifle was $725 complete with Kimber rings and a Japanese 4X scope. I liked the stock better with the more appealing walnut and the checkered steel butt plate. My M82 appears to be a first run production. It has no suffix letter after the model number and the Kimber of Oregon, Clackamas, Oregon barrel stamp. Anatolij donskoj princip dejstviya cheloveka. During the late 1980s, Kimber of Oregon received a US Government contract to manufacture 20,000 to 25,000 (with later options) Model 82 single-shot target rifles in caliber.22LR. Kimber began production on the contract in 1987. The contract called for Kimber to factory test every rifle for accuracy.

I have one of the original Kimber Model 82's in 22LR. It has a 4-digit serial number without any lettering prefix. Gotika 4 karta artefaktov.

I purchased this rifle new in 1981 upon completion of graduate school. It will put bullet on top of bullet at 25 yards with either Eley or Winchester Super-X ammo. It looks like new as it has been properly stored for years, but, unfortunately, never used. I bought it for a squireel gun but just can't take it to the woods - it's too pretty. My Remington 581 does just fine as a squirrel gun, so I have never hunted with the Kimber. I haven't heard of the variety you have, but will check my Kimber paperwork. I have brochures and parts lists from 1981.

I'd be happy to copy them and mail them to you if you forward a mailing address. Not sure it will help, but I kept a file on the Kimber.

I've owned three Kimber M82s and still have two of them. My first was from the initial production run and it was both beautiful and accurate. Unfortunately the bolt release was integral with the trigger. I finally traded it when I got tired of being hit in the chin when cycling the bolt.

Currently my M82.22 Hornet (3 digit serial number) standard field model is splendid as a true sub moa shooter. The M82.22LR in my stable is the 'Custom Classic' version with ebony fore end tip, fancy sling swivel studs, deluxe checkering, etc. This CC was acquired not long after I traded the first Kimber and the bolt release problem had been addressed. The CC will put 5 shots in one tiny hole at 50 yards; I've never fired it at 100yds. It has fired thousands of rounds, taken a bunch of squirrels and looked good in my rack. Any Kimber is a quality product and worth more than its retail cost.

Early Kimber's were mfg. At the Kimber plant in Clackamas, Oregon. A few years later, Kimber bought Jericho Precision, and moved mfg. Of 1911's to this plant in Yonkers, NY. There are a few differences in the Clackamas vs. Yonkers models.

Clackamas Kimbers (and I'm talking the base 'Classic Custom' model here) use an early CMC carbon/plastic trigger, have a 2-line inscription on the ejection port side of the slide, and come with wood grips as standard. Some of these guns had reported reliability problems, but many were excellent. IMO, the best manufactured base model Kimbers are the ones made early on after the move to the Yonkers, NY facility.

These are stamped Yonkers on the frame, still had the carbon trigger, and black rubber grips. The ones I have owned and shot from this time were tight yet smooth, and worked extremely well. Also available at this time was a 'Classic Walnut' inscribed model, that came with beautiful walnut grips. The 'Royal Classic' models I have shot from this period of time were also excellent. In my personal experience, the later-produced of the 'original' series (use an aluminum trigger) guns have tended to show a touch of variation in quality, most notably barrel fit, slide fit, and trigger pull.

Some I've shot have been outstanding, while others have actually been a little sloppy! For instance, I was interested in a full-size 'original-series' CDP just slightly over a year ago, but passed on one particular example, as it rattled like a Colt when you shook it, and had a relatively poor (for Kimber) barrel fit.