Cooper actions

[codybrown]

How do Cooper actions stack up against a trued Remington or clone? Overall quality and straightness? Are there many smiths who work on them?

 

[jonbearman]

The coopers are nice but have cooper only extractors and things related to it. I would get a rem done up or a clone for sure, Bighorn has an entry level for like 825.00 which is plain but built.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Which one?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Coopers have never been mentioned in the accuracy conversations. The test targets get mentioned alot but ive not seen anybody make a true accuracy rifle from one.

 

[codybrown]

I believe that the targets are shot at 50 yds or less from the factory. I have a model 21 in 223 but I haven't shot it enough to be able to remember what kind of accuracy it had.

 

[xswanted]

I’ve heard of a few people that wanted the model 16s To build off of for whatever reason.

They’re good actions by all means, but like others have said, I think you’d be better off with a Rem/clone. Gunwerks has a nice action they are making that is pretty nice.

 

[20VarTarg]

Coopers have never been mentioned in the accuracy conversations. The test targets get mentioned alot but ive not seen anybody make a true accuracy rifle from one.

What kind of accuracy are we talking about???? Like .2's or .0's????? I currently have about a half dozen Cooper factory rifles. I have a 22 LR that will hold .5's @ 100 yards. A 250 AI that will shoot less then 1/2 MOA out to 300 all day long. And have some wildcats that will shoot in the .2's at 100 yds on most trips to the range if I do my part. If Cooper can produce an accurate rifle from the factory I don't see why their actions wouldn't work for building an accurate rifle outside of the factory.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I Re-Barrelled a model 22 in 22BR. I found the bolt raceways had been broached a the way through the threads. So there is a reason they use a 1” barrel or lighter on the actions. I’d say they are pretty weak..after finding that out, & that “ bedding “ pad under the barrel was a “stick on pad” , I sold mine...

you would be better off going another route on a good build..

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I Re-Barrelled a model 22 in 22BR. I found the bolt raceways had been broached a the way through the threads. So there is a reason they use a 1” barrel or lighter on the actions. I’d say they are pretty weak..after finding that out, & that “ bedding “ pad under the barrel was a “stick on pad” , I sold mine...

you would be better off going another route on a good build..

“Oh-Boy” I haven’t even took my model 54 action out of the stock yet for the fear of seeing something like that!

 

[jepp2]

“ bedding “ pad under the barrel was a “stick on pad”

Cooper bedding

 

[20VarTarg]

I Re-Barrelled a model 22 in 22BR. I found the bolt raceways had been broached a the way through the threads. So there is a reason they use a 1” barrel or lighter on the actions. I’d say they are pretty weak..after finding that out, & that “ bedding “ pad under the barrel was a “stick on pad” , I sold mine...

you would be better off going another route on a good build..

I was going to build a dedicated "Elk Hunting" rifle. Priced out what a build was going to cost me. Over $2,000 with a 700 action. I ended up buying a Cooper Model 52 chambered in 338 Win Mag. It was second hand. Picked it up for $1400 bucks. The gun will shoot 1" groups at 300 yards. You mention "weak". There is nothing weak about the action on any Cooper. I had a 54 that I had a mishap reloading session with. Long story short, I was near 110K Pressure. The gun stayed together. Barrel and bolt needed replaced but when I spoke to one of the gunsmiths at Cooper about it he stated to me that he has NEVER seen a Cooper action blow up. They are designed to stay together. So the action themselves are pretty darn tough. This is just my experience with Cooper rifles.

 

[billlarson]

What kind of accuracy are we talking about???? Like .2's or .0's????? I currently have about a half dozen Cooper factory rifles. I have a 22 LR that will hold .5's @ 100 yards. A 250 AI that will shoot less then 1/2 MOA out to 300 all day long. And have some wildcats that will shoot in the .2's at 100 yds on most trips to the range if I do my part. If Cooper can produce an accurate rifle from the factory I don't see why their actions wouldn't work for building an accurate rifle outside of the factory.

With guns as accurate as you say yours are,you could make alot of money with them at any rifle match....
Bill

 

[20VarTarg]

With guns as accurate as you say yours are,you could make alot of money with them at any rifle match....
Bill

My most accurate rifles are in wildcats that are only good out to about 200 yds. After that the wind takes effect and its all downhill. 32 and 35 grain bullets just don't have what it takes to win matches. My cousin has a range that sits in a valley and really is the ideal place to shoot and work up loads. We shoot inside a shed that has heat so we can shoot year round. I don't compete and never plan to. Just have a love of shooting tiny little holes in paper with ammo I make myself. When I get a load that shoots extremely well in a rifle the fun is gone for me so I get another rifle in another caliber. My passion is in reloading, shooting is just a bonus for me. Last year I did shoot a 5 shot group with my 20 VarTarg at 300 yds that measured 1.1". It's a factory Cooper. I won't buy a factory rifle unless it is a Cooper. I've only had one that wouldn't shoot and it was a 17 Ackley Hornet. Never could figure that one out so it went down the road.

 

[muleman69]

I was going to build a dedicated "Elk Hunting" rifle. Priced out what a build was going to cost me. Over $2,000 with a 700 action. I ended up buying a Cooper Model 52 chambered in 338 Win Mag. It was second hand. Picked it up for $1400 bucks. The gun will shoot 1" groups at 300 yards. You mention "weak". There is nothing weak about the action on any Cooper. I had a 54 that I had a mishap reloading session with. Long story short, I was near 110K Pressure. The gun stayed together. Barrel and bolt needed replaced but when I spoke to one of the gunsmiths at Cooper about it he stated to me that he has NEVER seen a Cooper action blow up. They are designed to stay together. So the action themselves are pretty darn tough. This is just my experience with Cooper rifles.

That is great shooting,you want to sell it?

 

[JimT]

What kind of accuracy are we talking about???? Like .2's or .0's????? I currently have about a half dozen Cooper factory rifles. I have a 22 LR that will hold .5's @ 100 yards. A 250 AI that will shoot less then 1/2 MOA out to 300 all day long. And have some wildcats that will shoot in the .2's at 100 yds on most trips to the range if I do my part. If Cooper can produce an accurate rifle from the factory I don't see why their actions wouldn't work for building an accurate rifle outside of the factory.

What .22 ammo are you using in your Cooper to consistently shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards? What model is it?

 

[20VarTarg]

That is great shooting,you want to sell it?

Sorry not for sale!!! This one will be a keeper for a very very long time.

 

[20VarTarg]

What .22 ammo are you using in your Cooper to consistently shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards? What model is it?

Its a Cooper Model 36 IR 50/50. Very rare Cooper to say the least. I was shooting that group with a very good lot of CCI Standard. I just acquired the rifle about 2 weeks ago. That was just the second time to the range. It'll shoot one hole at 50 yds. I am going to try out a bunch of different Match ammo and see what it likes.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Don’t say anything about model 54 !!
Dudu I ???
Just going off my experience. Bob green is only one I know that works on them.





apology accepted...

 

[Gabe22BR]

Cooper bedding
View attachment 1162386[/QUOTE


Pocket knife will peel it right out..

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Cooper bedding
View attachment 1162386

That right there is sad. Is that 5min epoxy?