Montana Rifle Company is an American company that designed, manufactured, and distributed rifles , rifle actions , barrels and provides gunsmith services. The company is currently owned by Grace Engineering Corp.
22-501: The company was created in 1999 by gunsmith Keith Sipe because of his desire to produce a high-quality controlled-feed action. At the time Sipe felt it was difficult for gunsmiths to purchase such actions. In 2007 the ownership transferred to Sipe's son, Jeff Sipe, who was a former Kimber Manufacturing employee. In early 2019, a private investor group named the Montana Outdoor Group acquired Montana Rifle Company. In early 2020
44-612: A combination of features of the Model 98 Mauser style and the pre- 64 or Classic model 70 Winchester style actions with M-98 style controlled-feed bolt action system with M-98 barrel to action mounting (no cone barrel cut) plus a one piece trigger guard. The Safety is of the M-70 Win style as is the trigger, there is no middle screw, as in the trigger guard of the Pre-64 M-70 Win. The MRC 1999 actions came in both left- and right-handed variations in
66-532: A federal grand jury indicted former CFO Denis Shusterman for embezzling $ 10 million from Kimber Manufacturing and Nationwide Sports Distributors. He was later convicted after pleading guilty, ordered to pay damages and back taxes, and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. After leaving Kimber, Greg Warne operated Armas Deportivas S.A. in Granadilla, San Pedro, Costa Rica where he made custom gun grips from locally sourced hardwoods. Greg Warne died in 2006. Kimber
88-639: A junkyard north of Portland . Warne soon found a financial backer in Les Edelman, who owned Nationwide Sports Distributors. The two purchased the original tooling and partnered to found Kimber of America. The company grew quickly, but Edelman forced Greg Warne out after acquiring a majority interest in the company. While Edelman was partnering with Greg Warne, he had also invested in Yonkers-based Jerico Precision Manufacturing, which manufactured hand tools and mechanical components for
110-580: A manufacturing facility in Troy, Alabama , in January 2018 On October 21, 2020, Kimber Arms management announced the corporate headquarters is being relocated to Troy. Kimber makes M1911-style pistols with a variety of customization options. Early on, the company introduced the use of metal injection molding for some parts, such as the thumb safety, which makes them more cost-effective to produce. Models available include: Kimber manufactures two models of revolvers,
132-591: A new pistol designed by the LAPD Special Investigation Section was added to the Kimber's line of M1911-pattern pistols. A modified Kimber 1911 was also chosen as the sidearm for Marine Corps forces assigned to Special Operations Command. Kimber Manufacturing donated $ 200,000 to the Red White and Blue Fund, a super PAC that supported Rick Santorum in 2012. Kimber was the first gun company to donate to
154-468: A number of different lengths and diameters to fit different cartridges . They are similar to Winchester Model 70 actions in outward appearance but with more safety features. The actions are noted for being extremely strong. The rifles are based on the MRC model 1999 action. They come in 3 basic models: "Classic", "High Country" and "Tactical". A variety of stocks are available from wood to composite, as well as
176-640: A reputation for accuracy and quality. A modified version of the "Team Match II" .45 ACP caliber pistol is used by the US Shooting Rapid Fire Pistol Team. In 2002, the LAPD chose a slightly modified and specially marked (marked in "LAPD SWAT CUSTOM II") version of the Custom TLE II as the standard issue for its SWAT unit. Several other law enforcement agencies have approved Kimber firearms for on-duty carry by their patrol and SWAT officers. In 2007
198-547: A second manufacturing plant in nearby Colton . Jack Warne acquired the Brownell quick-detachable rifle scope mounting system for Kimber. In the late 1980s, the company began to struggle after a private stock offering fell short of covering the costs of developing the M89 BG (Big Game) Rifle. In 1989, Kimber of Oregon was sold to Oregon timber baron Bruce Engel, who founded WTD Industries, Inc. Engel had difficulty running Kimber and soon
220-485: A super PAC. Cooper Firearms of Montana Cooper Firearms of Montana was founded in 1990 by Dan Cooper and two other former Kimber of Oregon employees. Cooper was created to build affordable custom-quality accurate rifles. As they put it "Rifles should shoot as well as they look and vice versa". All Cooper rifles carry an accuracy guarantee. The guarantee for rimfires is 5 shots in .25 in (6.4 mm) at 50 yards (46 m), while for centerfires it
242-679: A variety of calibers including an emphasis on large-bore dangerous game cartridges. The rifles are described by gun writers as being high quality. Barrels were available in over 20 calibers with a variety of contours and finishes. The barrel making division of MRC was sold to Remington Arms, subsequently Remington, in liquidation sold off most of its parts. MRC made a run of special oversized short action length, Winchester Short Magnum (WSM) actions based on their 1999 action, offered with custom serial numbers. The actions were cast by Sturm Ruger, production machined by Smith & Wesson and final machined then finished by MRC. The pre-production order cost of
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#1732854816482264-528: A variety of grades. In 2007 the first Cooper repeater (non single-shot) rifle was created - the Model 52 . Rifles center on a few particular actions. In 2007 a centerfire repeater (Model 52) was added in a few calibers. On October 27, 2008 a USA Today article featuring executives supporting Barack Obama for president was published naming Dan Cooper as a financial supporter of the campaign . Scandal soon erupted across gun-related web forums and blogs when it
286-629: Is 3 shots in .5 in (13 mm) at 100 yards (91 m). Rifles are built mostly for hunting, with an emphasis on varmint hunting . As such, a wide variety of calibers is supported, including many common and popular wildcat rounds. Cooper has achieved a reputation for high-quality accurate rifles. Gun writers have noted that the rifles are both good-looking and well-built as well as accurate. In 1993 Cooper created their first single-shot rifle in .223 Remington . This rifle later became their Model 21 . In 2005 they made their first rifles that had synthetic stocks. Previously all rifles had wood in
308-615: Is planning to expand manufacturing capacity from its 31,500-square-foot (2,930 m ) manufacturing facility in Ridgefield , NJ (Aero Molding). A proposal to add more space to its Yonkers site had been approved as a "regionally significant project" but Kimber appears to have withdrawn its application following concerns raised by worried neighbors. Faced with political opposition in New York and New Jersey, Kimber explored other locations for their operations. The company announced intention to open
330-585: The K6S in either Double Action/Single Action or Double Action Only configuration chambered in .357 Magnum , and the K6xs, chambered in .38 special +P . Both revolvers have a capacity of six rounds. The K6S models are available in 2"-inch, 3" inch, and 4"-inch barrels. Kimber also makes several long gun models, including hunting and tactical rifles . Most of these rifles utilize a Mauser-type controlled feed action, originally designed by Nehemia Sirkis . Kimber rifles have
352-500: The Model 1999 action and featured either wood or synthetic stocks and either blued or stainless barrels and actions. Kimber Manufacturing Kimber Manufacturing is an American company that designs, manufactures, and distributes small arms such as M1911 pistols , Solo pistols, rifles, and revolvers. The USA Shooting Team , Marines assigned to Special Operations Command , and the LAPD SWAT team have used Kimber pistols in
374-780: The Montana Rifle Company ceased operations. A press release from the Montana Outdoor Group regarding the business closure indicates the ownership group will seek to restructure the company finances and will also seek new investors for an infusion of capital into the business. The press release indicates there was strong demand for the rifles but that the company was unable to scale to a level which could satisfy demand and remain profitable. In January 2024, Grace Engineering acquired Montana Rifle Company. Montana Rifle Company (MRC) offered their rifle actions, rifle barrels, barreled actions as well as complete rifles and gunsmithing services including building custom rifles. The MRC actions are
396-542: The SS action was US$ 350.00 The WSM action was followed by the introduction of the Pro Hunter action, a square top modernized version of the legendary “square bridge” Mauser action, to fit the longest lengths and largest rim diameters of some of the very large dangerous game cartridges. The pre-production order cost of this action was US$ 500.00 In 2011, MRC introduced a new line of production rifles. The production rifles were built on
418-523: The company sought bankruptcy protection. In 1990, several Kimber employees, including Dan Cooper, left to found Cooper Firearms of Montana . Jack Warne left to open the Warne Manufacturing Company in February 1991, which began manufacture of a new rifle scope mounting system. In the mid-1990s, Greg Warne tried to revive Kimber, but much of Kimber of Oregon's original tooling had ended up in
440-516: The defense industry, which was adjusting to cuts in defense spending. Edelman decided to connect Jerico Precision's existing infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities and Kimber's reputation and extensive network of dealers to build a line of M1911-style handguns. He eventually moved Kimber's production line to Jerico's facilities in New York, ending Kimber's presence in Oregon. The company now has locations in New York and New Jersey. On 9 December 2004,
462-588: The past. Kimber was founded as "Kimber of Oregon" in 1979 by Jack Warne and his son Greg Warne in the small town of Clackamas, Oregon . An Australian, Jack Warne founded the Australian firearms manufacturer, Sporting Arms or Sportco, in Adelaide, South Australia, following World War II . Following its founding, Kimber of Oregon quickly built a reputation for accurate .22 long rifle caliber rifles. Subsequently, it began to expand its product line and eventually acquired
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#1732854816482484-454: Was made public that Dan Cooper supported a pro- gun control Presidential candidate and had donated several thousand dollars to his campaign. Gun owners and blogs reacted to the news calling for a boycott of his company. By October 28, 2008 Cooper Firearms released a message on their website, noting that the company itself had not contributed in any fashion, and clarifying Cooper's contributions. On October 29, 2008 Cooper Firearms updated
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