How accurate can my Kimber be?
Wow, zombie thread about Kimbers from 2011 that I commented on when I was shooting an Anschutz. Ironically, I now shoot a Kimber 82g that outshoots that Anschutz 1710. For your accuracy, the Kimber 82's I have had seem to average between .3" and .6" groups at 50 yards with there respective favorite ammo. Yes, that is a lot of variation with all the guns being good but with the best being quite exceptional. Kimber had an excellent rifle design but their QC was all over the place. I bought a bunch, kept the best shooters, and sold the others. This was the best of all and so I did a little work on it. Actually, I did more than a little work. You can't tell from the picture but it is a repeater.
Jim, love the mod 82G. I nearly bought one in Louisville this past Dec. but ending up finding my Remington mod 540XR instead. I remember your 82G's tgt in the 50yd six bull 30rd challenge. It is a excellent shooter.
When I thought of the OP's question, it made me think of all the variables that determine the accuracy of any 22 rifle and how my most recent rifle performed with different sights, ammo, and in different conditions, etc. For example:
When I first got it, it was equiped with Redfield Peep sights but the rear center apperture was missing. I was still desperate to shoot it and without the apperature, it could only shoot about 2" groups at 50yds. I installed a new apperature in the peeps and now properly set up, it could hold about 1" at 50yds, but my old eyes could only barely make out the tgt bull with the peeps (getting old sux).
I had planned all along to install a scope. After putting a 36x BR Sightron optic on the rifle, it settled down to a real shooter. At that point, I began testing ammo and had a set up that was accurate enough to tell the difference. I also have a Win mod 52 that has a 6-24x variable on it and it has a better trigger than the Rem but cannot quite shoot with it. Where the Win can sometimes shoot 0.400-0.300" 5sh groups at 50yds, the Remington consistently is about 1/10" better when shooting in the same conditions. I now think the Winny could shoot better if I installed a scope with the magnification and fine tgt rectible similar to the other rifle. So, to the OP, the scope or other sight system chosen it a BIG factor in your final accuracy at 50/100/200yds. The recticle choice alone is a factor. What works best in the field is usually not what will work best on white targets at the range. That is just a trade off to consider.
A good tactical rifle is one that can work reasonably well in both environments, but should work best in the field. My Remington is NOT a good tactical rifle. But it is a decent tgt rifle. My Winchester is a decent tactical rifle (as much as any 22lr can be). 5rd repeater with a good optic, sling and is light enough to carry all day. Outstanding but safe trigger, very good, acceptable accuracy. 100% reliable.
Ultimate accuracy will also depend on wind conditions at the range. Wind alone can alter my Remington's accuracy by 2-3 tenths of an inch at times. Dead calm is obviously best. learning how to shoot in the wind is a more practical solutions since dead calm conditions are rare. Where I live and tgt shoot the wind is rarely steady. Instead it is gusting and switching directions. Good for a challenge in real world shooting, but terrible for precision accuracy.
Finally, ammo. Likely the largest variable. I can tell you right now, any Federal Match ammo from Walmart is not going to be your best choice 99.9% of the time, lol. But sometimes you can find a lot of cheap ammo that does shoot well in your gun. If you do, buy it all. My Winchester likes the cheap Federal wally world ammo too. But it will shoot groups half again smaller with Eley Black. The Remington cannot hold groups under 1" at 50yds with Winchester T22 Match ammo, but consistently shoots in the 3's with Eley Black or some of Lapua's better ammo options and has averaged about 1/4" in the six tgt challenge with Eley ammo (the last tgt I posted recently) with best group of 0.128". And in warmer weather it shoots Lapua better (if it ever does get warmer here...). I think all these challenges are part of what make shooting 22's so much fun. Enjoy it.
Irish