Response from NHC/Cooper (April '25)

[Rick in Oregon]

With many here lamenting the loss of Cooper of Montana to NHC, and owning four Cooper Montana rifles myself and pursuent to our ongoing discussions here, I sent an email to NHC asking about the old single shot rifles, their future and their plans for those of us that have an affinity for the MT legacy rifles.

For full disclosure, this is the email I sent to NHC:

I've been a Cooper rifle shooter for 30 years, have four; M38's and M21's in small calibers. Now I don't see any of the calibers myself and many others have used for decades in your lineup such as the .20 VarTarg, 221FB, 204 Ruger, even the venerable 223 in varmint configurations. I'd buy at least one or two more, but I do not see ANYTHING in your lineup now I'm remotely interested in now. Do you intend to bring back what we've come to love and shoot for all those years, or just offer high-priced "tacticool' rifles none of us are interested in? We collectively think you've "blown it" big time.
Looking forward to a response; thank you.

This is the response that arrived in my inbox this morning from NHC:

Good morning Richard. We’ve used receivers we purchased from Cooper Firearms of Montana for most of the Cooper Rifles that we’ve built so far. We’re calling these the Cooper Legacy models.

We also have our new Cooper Montana Heritage rifles that we’re making. These will bridge the gap between the Cooper Montana Legacy rifles and our new rifles that we will be releasing in the future. This is the first meshing of Cooper Rifles with Nighthawk Custom, and we showed this with the Nighthawk Moonhawk and Cooper Phoenix both engraved on the rifle.

https://www.nighthawkcustom.com/montana-heritage-edition-rifles

I have some more options for Coopers that our Preferred Dealers have for sale below.

Single Shot 6.5 CM
https://lockedloaded.com/product/cooper-firearms-model-22-6.5-crdmr-single-shot-walnut-stock

Repeater .223
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/m51-phnx-223

Bunker Gun Shop – 9 available
https://www.gunbroker.com/all/search?includesellers=3865149&pagesize=96&sort=13&view=1&ch-manufacturername=Cooper Firearms

Cooper Gunbroker Listings
https://www.gunbroker.com/all/search?keywords=cooper&pagesize=96&sort=5&view=1&ch-manufacturername=cooper firearms

Chase Gott
Nighthawk Custom
1306 W. Trimble
Berryville, AR 72616
870-929-6278
www.nighthawkcustom.com

So unless I'm missing something, it appears the Cooper of MT rifles we've all come to appreciate and love are now in the rear view mirror, as it sounds like once the old stock of parts has been exausted, we'll not see any more of the small action (M38) rifles ever again, and few if any single shot, solid bottom receiver varmint rifles as well in calibers that many here really liked such as the various Bee's, VarTarg, etc.

Their 'new' offerings have prices that in some cases are three times what Cooper of MT previously sold their rifles for also. So for those that have any of the original MT rifles, take care of them, shoot them, love them, as they are the only ones we'll ever see again sold as new. Personally, I feel like I've lost a good friend.

My Cooper of MT M38 Varmint in 20VT. She'll be going on an extended rat shoot very soon here in the Orygun outback. Sure glad I have the ones I have, as they now cannot be replaced:

 

[Kittitas George]

Looks like the 'good times have all gone', I've enjoyed the good Coopers. As I've said before there are a lot more better affordable options out there.

 

[sw282]

From my perspective, rifle shooting has become a world of bottom feeders. Visiting my local SHOOTERS lndoor range now and then l see folks pay big money for quality 223/556 ammo. Then l see them load up their ARs. Next they BLAST away at a paper 10 yards from them. Sometimes they get really BRAVE and shoot ''LONG RANGE'' with the target hanging MAX @23 yards. UNBELIEVABLE

 

[17VLD]

PW-ACE™ Single Shot Heavy Barrel Rifle - Parkwest Arms

The Parkwest Arms ACE Heavy Barrel rifle is handcrafted to benchrest tolerances and built from the ground up on a single-shot, small round action. Forever

parkwestarms.com

Rick, while not a cheap option they still offer a 17 FB ,221FB, 204, and 222 among others.
I totally feel your sorrow on this matter.Perhaps NHC needs to see this link
Matt

 

[bluesako]

sad to see cooper as it is today i love my black jack 22-250 and my 223rem varmint bs

 

[boltfluter]

With many here lamenting the loss of Cooper of Montana to NHC, and owning four Cooper Montana rifles myself and pursuent to our ongoing discussions here, I sent an email to NHC asking about the old single shot rifles, their future and their plans for those of us that have an affinity for the MT legacy rifles.

For full disclosure, this is the email I sent to NHC:

I've been a Cooper rifle shooter for 30 years, have four; M38's and M21's in small calibers. Now I don't see any of the calibers myself and many others have used for decades in your lineup such as the .20 VarTarg, 221FB, 204 Ruger, even the venerable 223 in varmint configurations. I'd buy at least one or two more, but I do not see ANYTHING in your lineup now I'm remotely interested in now. Do you intend to bring back what we've come to love and shoot for all those years, or just offer high-priced "tacticool' rifles none of us are interested in? We collectively think you've "blown it" big time.
Looking forward to a response; thank you.

This is the response that arrived in my inbox this morning from NHC:

Good morning Richard. We’ve used receivers we purchased from Cooper Firearms of Montana for most of the Cooper Rifles that we’ve built so far. We’re calling these the Cooper Legacy models.

We also have our new Cooper Montana Heritage rifles that we’re making. These will bridge the gap between the Cooper Montana Legacy rifles and our new rifles that we will be releasing in the future. This is the first meshing of Cooper Rifles with Nighthawk Custom, and we showed this with the Nighthawk Moonhawk and Cooper Phoenix both engraved on the rifle.

https://www.nighthawkcustom.com/montana-heritage-edition-rifles

I have some more options for Coopers that our Preferred Dealers have for sale below.

Single Shot 6.5 CM
https://lockedloaded.com/product/cooper-firearms-model-22-6.5-crdmr-single-shot-walnut-stock

Repeater .223
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/m51-phnx-223

Bunker Gun Shop – 9 available
https://www.gunbroker.com/all/search?includesellers=3865149&pagesize=96&sort=13&view=1&ch-manufacturername=Cooper Firearms

Cooper Gunbroker Listings
https://www.gunbroker.com/all/search?keywords=cooper&pagesize=96&sort=5&view=1&ch-manufacturername=cooper firearms

Chase Gott
Nighthawk Custom
1306 W. Trimble
Berryville, AR 72616
870-929-6278
www.nighthawkcustom.com

So unless I'm missing something, it appears the Cooper of MT rifles we've all come to appreciate and love are now in the rear view mirror, as it sounds like once the old stock of parts has been exausted, we'll not see any more of the small action (M38) rifles ever again, and few if any single shot, solid bottom receiver varmint rifles as well in calibers that many here really liked such as the various Bee's, VarTarg, etc.

Their 'new' offerings have prices that in some cases are three times what Cooper of MT previously sold their rifles for also. So for those that have any of the original MT rifles, take care of them, shoot them, love them, as they are the only ones we'll ever see again sold as new. Personally, I feel like I've lost a good friend.

My Cooper of MT M38 Varmint in 20VT. She'll be going on an extended rat shoot very soon here in the Orygun outback. Sure glad I have the ones I have, as they now cannot be replaced:

What a beautiful rifle and set-up. Sad to see these beauties gone for good. What more needs to be said.
Paul

 

[FNSafari]

Nothing ever stays the same it seems. Sales are what they are chasing.

 

[roband]

Yep, i did not coin the phrase, "All good things must come to an end."

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Selling out hasn’t been all that good for stocks and actions either, without mentioning brands.

 

[FNSafari]

Just looked at the cooper of arkansas website and didn't find a single wood stocked rifle. At their prices I would call Jim Borden and have him build you a real custom.

 

[Richard Jones]

From my perspective, rifle shooting has become a world of bottom feeders. Visiting my local SHOOTERS lndoor range now and then l see folks pay big money for quality 223/556 ammo. Then l see them load up their ARs. Next they BLAST away at a paper 10 yards from them. Sometimes they get really BRAVE and shoot ''LONG RANGE'' with the target hanging MAX @23 yards. UNBELIEVABLE

What does this have to do with the original post?

 

[Pyscodog]

First rifle I saw in their line up had a big mag hanging down under the action. Next one was in a wood stock but had a vertical grip. Not a terrible bad thing but out of place on a Cooper. Then the price. WOW, what made them so special that they doubled in price? Maybe in a year or so when NH is struggling to sell rifles someone will come in and buy the place and bring back the rifles we all loved.

 

[FNSafari]

First rifle I saw in their line up had a big mag hanging down under the action. Next one was in a wood stock but had a vertical grip. Not a terrible bad thing but out of place on a Cooper. Then the price. WOW, what made them so special that they doubled in price? Maybe in a year or so when NH is struggling to sell rifles someone will come in and buy the place and bring back the rifles we all loved.

They have to pay for the acquisition and make a profit at the same time. They seem to be catering to the segment of the shooting public that shoots tactical and long range practical rifle regimens. Just a thought.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Further to this post, I've been asked by NHC to discuss this very subject with them later this week. To say I'm stunned would be an understatement, but it does show that the company is at least willing to hear of our complaints and grievences in regard to the old single shot rifles with nice wood that have all but disappeared.

I'll come back early next week with my findings from the conversation and post it here in a new thread. I'm not getting my hopes up, but to me, it's a giant leap forward with positive possibilities.

 

[Pete Wass]

In my opinion, there is no magic in Coopers. They were made very well and came in nice wood. Any competent maker could make rifles as good or better. I believe the most important part of any rifle in the end is the barrel, as far as accuracy is concerned.

With all the action makers there are out there now, any of them could make rifles as good or better than Coopers. Discerning people have always been willing to pay for quality and I believe the American rifle industry has not seen this truth, but instead chose to make junk for Joe Six-pack. In my mind, selling great ones for good dollars beats making junk.

Holland and Holland still does very well.

 

[Tommie]

Kelbly does entire guns for nearly half the money

 

[MTPaul]

Further to this post, I've been asked by NHC to discuss this very subject with them later this week. To say I'm stunned would be an understatement, but it does show that the company is at least willing to hear of our complaints and grievences in regard to the old single shot rifles with nice wood that have all but disappeared.

I'll come back early next week with my findings from the conversation and post it here in a new thread. I'm not getting my hopes up, but to me, it's a giant leap forward with positive possibilities.

I'm sure I am not the only Cooper aficionado who was more than a little dismayed to hear of the "new direction" NHC may be taking. I'll be interested to hear of your conversation with NHC and whether they could possibly reconsider their position relative to the revered small action rifles previously offered.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'm sure I am not the only Cooper aficionado who was more than a little dismayed to hear of the "new direction" NHC may be taking. I'll be interested to hear of your conversation with NHC and whether they could possibly reconsider their position relative to the revered small action rifles previously offered.

I'm whipping up a post that addresses that right now.....

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Early this week I had a pleasant conversation with one of the leaders of NHC, now the owner of Cooper Firearms of Arkansas that may have interest to some here.

My primary question was 'what is the future of Cooper rifles'? From the conversaton, it was readily apparant that those guys read and pay attention to the various gun forums where this subject has been discussed ad nauseum. I can relay that the honcho's at NHC are well aware of our grief at the demise of Cooper of Montana, and according to them, are working to rectify the situation.

I was told that one of the primary employees of the MT operation is now with NHC in AR, and is leading the operation in terms of producing once again the rifles we've come to miss. They are using up components that remain in inventory and building the big game rifles we see on their website that are of little interest to those reading this. When I asked about the small calibers we want and miss and the single shot small actions, they told me that eventually those rifles will reappear in mostly the same configurations as before, but the transition will take "a year or two" to get going. But they promised they would do all they can to reestablish both our trust and ensure they keep the old modes of MT rifles in their lineup. It was emphasized that this transition will take some time.

So after a day or two digesting what I was told, I came away somewhat satisfied, but still wonder just how long this 'transistion' will actually take. As with all business's, the bottom line is the only thing that really matters. So it is my thought that if enough of us whine, complain, and contact them as to our wants, this 'transisition' may go quicker than it would without our input. If "we" want those nice wooden stocked, single shot bolt guns once again, we'll have to make our desires known to them.

One thing that inhibits all of this in terms of the old rifles newly produced by NHC is the incredible rising cost of some of the components that go into these rifles, nice figured Claro walnut being one of them, as those blanks now go for four times the cost of what the MT outfit was paying. When asked about who will supply the barrels for the new rifles, no real answer there, but assurances that whomever it is, it will be of high quality. I just hope that if/when these new rifles come to market, we'll be able to afford them.

That's it in a nutshell. For those who want more information in this regard, it's my hope they'll call NHC for themselves, ask for Chris in Marketing and post whatever outcome is relayed and post it here on the forum. I know I'd purchase at least one more Cooper varmint rifle if I live long enough to see them come to fruition. So for anyone else with the same interest, call NHC and get your wants known, as they are indeed open to our input as I was told more than once. Sitting back reading forums and complaining won't cut it. If you want it, be proactive and help make it happen.

Now it's time for me to get back to staging gear for an upcoming 'Rat Rodeo' coming up soon. I love this time of year.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I'm whipping up a post that addresses that right now.....

Tell them there maximum market is under 3K.