Excellent trigger pulls allowed no excuse for bad let-offs. Extra leverage afforded by the long, over-size bolt knobs ensured effortless bolt manipulation. The beefy stocks on these rifles made them easy to steady at the bench as well as from prone.

Their shape, and the rifles' substantial weight, held recoil to a gentle bump. The grip-area stippling is just aggressive enough to anchor your hand but not so sharp as to prevent quick position shifts.

These new Kimber tactical rifles are intelligently designed, shooter-friendly and accurate. The improved results after cleaning the AT served as a reminder that copper fouling does impair accuracy. Similar attention to the LPT might have shaved group sizes. Still, groups from one rifle can't be guaranteed for all of its type. While modern manufacturing methods and strict quality control measures ensure that each rifle is almost like the next, tolerances apply to every part, every assembly.

So much less than you expect. It might apply to the lean, taut lines of a Kimber firearm, its lack of complexity, its quick, unequivocal obedience to your touch. But don't expect less as regards selection and sophistication. After a quarter-centery of gun-building, Kimber is on track to deliver more of both.