Cooper Firearms ?

[nakneker]

NH is a solid company, I’ve owned two of their pistols and they were great. The thing I will miss about Copper rifles is their many offerings, many wood grades, different models and long list of cartridges they have offered over the years many of which would require a custom build or new barrel to enjoy. They have also offered many small cartridges that other manufacturers never have,. Something I’ve always appreciated. I’ve only owned one, a beautiful 222 I let a friend talk me out of but we’re still friends, lol. There isn’t really anybody in the industry that is doing what they did and if NH goes down a new road I believe they are missing a huge niche that many would be bummed to see happen. I still hold out hope they don’t completely abandon the historical path of Cooper rifles…..

 

[Pete Wass]

I would also think that a low demand for their product was a problem. Cooper was most likely lucky to be able to sell the company.

From my experiance shooting beside several shooters with Coopers at ranges they were good rifles, but not better in terms of groups on paper than my Remington 700, my custom Remington 03 or even my Howa 1500. That's a problem and why I never bought one.

Cooper had a 2 year backlog of sold rifles when they sold. In my opinion the original Cooper violated the three rules of business, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. I also believe, based on what some people pay for custom hunting rifles, they weren't charging enough for the rifles they were building. If Winchester had been willing to charge more and make fewer Model 70's in the day, they might still be in business and still making them.

 

[fx77]

Received an email ( bulk no doubt on progress) from NightHawk which indicated the new factory is in progress and retooling for production to begin I think 2025, but they have parts to possibly begin repairs 2024

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Cooper had a 2 year backlog of sold rifles when they sold. In my opinion the original Cooper violated the three rules of business, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. I also believe, based on what some people pay for custom hunting rifles, they weren't charging enough for the rifles they were building. If Winchester had been willing to charge more and make fewer Model 70's in the day, they might still be in business and still making them.

Why was the location a problem? They had dealers nationwide.

 

[North Fork]

It was a nice location

 

[David Milisock]

Cooper had a 2 year backlog of sold rifles when they sold. In my opinion the original Cooper violated the three rules of business, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. I also believe, based on what some people pay for custom hunting rifles, they weren't charging enough for the rifles they were building. If Winchester had been willing to charge more and make fewer Model 70's in the day, they might still be in business and still making them.

Location means nothing as long as they had access to cost effective shipping, they had dealers. Before I retired I did business in multiple countries from a rural location. A 2 year backlog is relevant only if they volume of sales is sufficient to support the company going forward based on net profit margins.

Today every gun shop I go to has 4 to 6 AR rifles on the shelf compared to other styles and tells me that their sales of the AR dwarf any other rifle type.

In the last 50 years, with a memberships in 4 different rifle clubs, I've seen very few Cooper rifles, less than 10. I've only shot a few Coopers and in my opinion they were very good rifles. However performance of factory rifles I have bought has been as good or very nearly as good for 25 to 30% the cost, at the time that I purchased my rifles.

The problems are this, you can only be so accurate, the market has a price point that it's willing to pay and the market for not only an accurate rifle but a beautiful rifle is shrinking. Few younger shooters see value in bolt rifles.

Yes I have custom rifles, I have 2 varmint rifles that are really still nearly factory, 1 that is factory and 1 that was rebarreled with a factory barrel. Then I have 1 that is a totally custom magnum build for hunting. All three shoot as well as any Cooper that I've seen, 2 cost under $500 many years ago and the full custom cost about $1,100. I also have a custom dangerous game rifle, I cannot compare its accuracy to any Cooper that I know of.

Times change and while we can be nostalgic about what has passed, we have 2 choices, live with it being gone or help it survive. If you want it buy it, if it doesn't fit your wants or needs in your budget, then don't buy it.

Over 30 years ago my factory varmint rifles made me rethink buying custom built hunting rifles, then I had an Elk and dangerous game rifles built. I guess I made my choice.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Today every gun shop I go to has 4 to 6 AR rifles on the shelf compared to other styles and tells me that their sales of the AR dwarf any other rifle type.

That right there tells the story. The young guys just coming up are all worked up over 'military' AR's and the like. Nice wood, who cares? Single shot? Are you kidding? Bolt action? No way, too slow and not enough rounds on board.

Like the vaunted Cooper single shot bolt action varmint rifle, we older shooters are really the only group this platform appeals to, and like the Cooper, we're fading out too. Guess we all need to just get used to it.....while we're still here.

 

[David Milisock]

That right there tells the story. The young guys just coming up are all worked up over 'military' AR's and the like. Nice wood, who cares? Single shot? Are you kidding? Bolt action? No way, too slow and not enough rounds on board.

Like the vaunted Cooper single shot bolt action varmint rifle, we older shooters are really the only group this platform appeals to, and like the Cooper, we're fading out too. Guess we all need to just get used to it.....while we're still here.

I call them the dingers and the tingers! They love the AR and the latest and greatest handgun, they shoot the hell out of steel which is ok, however beware of muscle memory! Your real target might just want to stay alive and will do exactly what you haven't trained for.

How can you not like the AR? It's light, accurate, weather friendly and even with factory chamberings is very practical in many functions. However, it's ugly, if my dog was that ugly, I'd shave its ass and make it walk backwards.

There's absolutely nothing like a fine crafted rifle! However, I fear the younger generation does not see it that way. They will do a YouTube video and show me 5 different rifles and argue over the details of black anodized aluminum. WTF!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I call them the dingers and the tingers! They love the AR and the latest and greatest handgun, they shoot the hell out of steel which is ok, however beware of muscle memory! Your real target might just want to stay alive and will do exactly what you haven't trained for.

How can you not like the AR? It's light, accurate, weather friendly and even with factory chamberings is very practical in many functions. However, it's ugly, if my dog was that ugly, I'd shave its ass and make it walk backwards.

There's absolutely nothing like a fine crafted rifle! However, I fear the younger generation does not see it that way. They will do a YouTube video and show me 5 different rifles and argue over the details of black anodized aluminum. WTF!

If they do have the bolt actions, there useless with anything other than 10 round mags.

 

[David Milisock]

If they do have the bolt actions, there useless with anything other than 10 round mags.

Then they need a second magazine!

 

[Pete Wass]

Location means nothing as long as they had access to cost effective shipping, they had dealers. Before I retired I did business in multiple countries from a rural location. A 2 year backlog is relevant only if they volume of sales is sufficient to support the company going forward based on net profit margins.

Today every gun shop I go to has 4 to 6 AR rifles on the shelf compared to other styles and tells me that their sales of the AR dwarf any other rifle type.

In the last 50 years, with a memberships in 4 different rifle clubs, I've seen very few Cooper rifles, less than 10. I've only shot a few Coopers and in my opinion they were very good rifles. However performance of factory rifles I have bought has been as good or very nearly as good for 25 to 30% the cost, at the time that I purchased my rifles.

The problems are this, you can only be so accurate, the market has a price point that it's willing to pay and the market for not only an accurate rifle but a beautiful rifle is shrinking. Few younger shooters see value in bolt rifles.

Yes I have custom rifles, I have 2 varmint rifles that are really still nearly factory, 1 that is factory and 1 that was rebarreled with a factory barrel. Then I have 1 that is a totally custom magnum build for hunting. All three shoot as well as any Cooper that I've seen, 2 cost under $500 many years ago and the full custom cost about $1,100. I also have a custom dangerous game rifle, I cannot compare its accuracy to any Cooper that I know of.

Times change and while we can be nostalgic about what has passed, we have 2 choices, live with it being gone or help it survive. If you want it buy it, if it doesn't fit your wants or needs in your budget, then don't buy it.

Over 30 years ago my factory varmint rifles made me rethink buying custom built hunting rifles, then I had an Elk and dangerous game rifles built. I guess I made my choice.

Location means a lot in terms of qualified help.