Cooper rifles

[Ledzep]

Does anyone have any experience with Cooper rifles?

Are they worth the $1700-2000 price tag?

Specifically I'm looking at a model 54 in .260. Not sure if I want a wooden stock (classic) or upgrade to a synthetic (jackson hunter).

I would like to get a light(er) weight medium-long (400-800yd max for coyotes-elk) distance hunting rifle. I have plenty of heavy guns and AR's, but no 'traditional' hunting rifles.

Everything about them is looking positive to me, but I'd like to hear other people's personal experience as well before I drop that much money. I'm in no rush, either. I've got til next fall before I really need it.

 

[steve123]

Re: Cooper rifles

I liked mine a lot! It was the most accurate stock rifle I've owned. Right now I'm wishing I hadn't sold it.

 

[FALex]

Re: Cooper rifles

I was just at Scheel's in Reno...holy hell! They had a Cooper in 6.5x284, they were asking 1799. It was a damn nice rifle, I'd like to shoot one. The Cooper rimfires seem to fetch high end prices.

 

[VKC]

Re: Cooper rifles

They are nice high quality rifles. But at least in my opinion not better than a high quality Sako rifle.

I don't like Cooper rifle's actions as much because the ejection port is so large and it just doesn't look as stiff/solid, but I doubt that it is a real issue with their light contour barrels.

Note however, that their target groups are not shot at 100 yards. I think they are shot at 50 yards but I suggest to check on confirm this.

260 remington is a great caliber for a lighter rifle.

 

[matthias]

Re: Cooper rifles

several of the guys i shoot with have coopers. they are pure sex. the bolt is smooth and the trigger is easily adjustable. everyone has their own preferences on how they like their rifles, i really like the coopers and customer service is top notch. they all shoot very well i have personally shot .25 inch 3 shot groups with all 4 of the rifles that they bring out. calibers are 223, 204 ruger, 20 vartarg. hope this helps

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Cooper rifles

I had a Cooper Phoenix, 6.5x284. It shot!! But it took forever to find the right load, and I shot it hot.
Their test targets are at 42 yards, not that impressive for the size of groups.
If you want a repeater, you could customize a Rem 700 for around the same price, I think the Cooper repeaters are just milled out single actions, without a whole lot of thought.
But they are nice rifles. and I surely wouldn't buy a Scheel"s edition, just in case you had to sell it, easterners would be scratching their heads

 

[FALex]

Re: Cooper rifles

oh, does Scheel's get their own editions of items, like Cabela's?

 

[oldrifleman]

Re: Cooper rifles

I have only shot thier 22s, but got to finger a couple of others and the fit/finish is top notch one all of them. the 22s I shot wher very accurate (well not quite up to Anshutz level but fairly close). I love the wood they use! Steven

 

[justme]

Re: Cooper rifles

I have one of their custom classics in 22rf & it shoots great.
I have not had the chance to shoot a centerfire.

 

[Ledzep]

Re: Cooper rifles

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. My main two concerns are accuracy and that it be chambered in .260 (I could maybe stretch and go to another 6.5 variant, but I'm set up to reload 260 as is, so it's preferable). I'd like to have the rifle hold 3/4 MOA or less to 500-600yd. The fit/finish I can adjust. I just don't have big enough machinery for barrel/receiver work.

I was also looking at the Sako 85 in .260. Honestly I would even go for a Tikka T3, but from what I've gathered there aren't many if any T3's in .260 in the US besides the heavy 'sporter' variant.

I thought about rebarreling a savage or remington, too, but I don't know if I want to go through all of the hassle. I'd probably put a new stock on it as well if I did. So with gunsmithing, a new barrel, and a new stock, I'm in a similar price range with waiting and work involved. I'm not a huge savage fan, either. Just personal preference.

Maybe I'm underestimating the accuracy potential of some of the cheaper factory rifles, too. However, when I say 3/4 MOA, I mean nearly every shot lands within that 3/4MOA ring, not just a few lucky 3-5 shot groups.

 

[swampbuck]

Re: Cooper rifles

Coopers are good premium rifles. I would compare a Cooper to hunting like an Accuracy International to target rifles. They are semi custom and well worth the money. Accuracy is great as well as finish and detaiing. You can't really compare them to your off the shelf savage or remington.

 

[el gordo2]

Re: Cooper rifles

Have a 1/2 dozen Coopers and they all are good shooters. I have matched the .100" test targets with all of them so I know the rifles are very capable shooters.

Here is typical day with a 25-06. Shot at 100 yards, they are only 3 shot groups but they were shot consecutively back to back confirming a load before a trip out west. Dont what the heck I did on that one but all the others are easily under 1/2 moa. Good enough for a antelope rig.

Gratuitous glamour shot below

 

[supratt96]

Re: Cooper rifles

I have a Model 22 Phoenix in 6mm Remington and I love it. It's my favorite hunting rifle. Easily a 1/2 moa rifle or better and a pleasure to shoot. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

 

[jbell]

Re: Cooper rifles

I had one years back and it was a very well made rifle. I liked it a lot. It was able to hold 1/2 moa but thats about it. I contacted Cooper about the rifle and how they were able to get a sub 1/4" test target that came with the rifle. I was assumeing it was shot at 100 yards but was told it is shot at a 36 yard indoor range. I was kinda upset that a company would provide a test target that was shot at 36 yards for a centerfire rifle. It seems decieveing to me b/c most people would think it was shot at 100 yds even though they make no claims at what range it was shot at. So I ended up trading the rifle because thats what I do. It was able to hold their accuracy guarantee of 3 shots @ 100 yds to be 1/2". I still love looking at their rifles with the awsome wood and finish on the metal and good trigger and 3 lug actions, they are very nice.

 

[Jon Lester]

Re: Cooper rifles

Pro varminter here in 25-06 and a Jackson squirrel in 17hmr.
The 25-06 is a hammer but the chamber is so large that neck sized fired brass will not go inside a standard bullet seater die, and the throat is so long that a 75g v max touching the lands will not come close to ejecting a loaded round without removing the bolt. But it shoots so well I have chose to just keep it and have a set of dies made for it as apposed to returning it and taking a chance on another barrel.

 

[Smithcollector]

Re: Cooper rifles

I own several Coopers and enjoy them all, but when I wanted a 260 for longer range shooting, the factory twist on their 260's wouldn't support the heavier bullets I wanted to use. I have found this to be true across the board. One of my favorites is my Western Classic in 223, but with a 1/14 barrel I don't have much luck with anything over 50 grains. It shoots great, but I love shooting 69 or 77 grain bullets at longer ranges, and the Cooper won't do that.

They will build you a rifle with almost any barrel you want (i was surprised not limited to Wilson barrels, who now owns them), but be prepared to wait. I personally decided at that point to go full custom.

So I think they are nice rifles, probably worth the money although the resale prices aren't that strong, if they will handle the bullet weights you want to use.

If you buy it I hope you post pictures.



I think their focus is more on hunting rifles, at least in their center fires. Just make sure this fits in with your intended use.

 

[BigBlue&Goldie]

Re: Cooper rifles

Do they bed their stocks?

 

[supratt96]

Re: Cooper rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigBlue&Goldie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do they bed their stocks?</div></div>

Yes.

 

[slm9s]

Re: Cooper rifles

I have a Cooper Varminter 21 in 6ppc. It runs neck and neck with my full-blown Nesika 6ppc 100 yards benchrest rifle.

Cooper's are excellent rifles that are beautiful and VERY accurate. But, they do have a big problem. Once a Cooper gets in your safe, it starts to multiply. I bought my first on 9 months ago, and sure enough the second is on its way. 22-250AI.

 

[Twisted300Win MAG]

Re: Cooper rifles

A friend of mine has a model 21 in 204 ruger. All I can say is it is a damn sexy rifle with the blued action and stainless barrel over the beautiful wood stock. I'm not the best shooter in the world but I managed 3 3/8 MOA 5 shot groups @ 100 yards. If I had the cash I'd buy one for sure.

 

[snipe10]

Re: Cooper rifles

I have a few, Two Excaliburs (synthetic stock) in 270 and 280 Rem as well as a 270 walnut stocked beauty. Great rifles for the money, mine are all for hunting and get used and get the job done. When you look at $4K for a Repr or $5K for an AI AW, these are great buys. For some reason I can spend $5K on my AI AW easier than $2K on a hunting rifle but the Coopers are worth every penny.

 

[blackfoot]

Re: Cooper rifles

Nice rifles but reminds me of who supported our current Gun Grabber in Chief in his first election.

 

[Hondo64d]

Re: Cooper rifles

That stuff keeps persisting, but Dan Cooper is no longer affiliated with Cooper firearms in any way, and hasn't been since shortly after the last election.

John

 

[blackfoot]

Re: Cooper rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hondo64d</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That stuff keeps persisting, but Dan Cooper is no longer affiliated with Cooper firearms in any way, and hasn't been since shortly after the last election.

John </div></div>

So he gave up his ownership stake and doesn't profit from the success of Cooper Firearms?