What Goes into a Cooper Centerfire Rifle?

[Geno C]

They usually list a the bullet and powder type. As for the distance, they don't list that on the target. There was a list of the powder weights on some other forum a few years ago.

My 243ai is a pretty accurate gun. I had hoped for a bit better when I bought it. It was years ago when I first started shooting more than animals. I emailed them and got the powder charge from them and it was very low, below book max for a 243. I like the gun for what it is though.

 

[LHSmith]

Cooper Firearms definitely fills in the semi-custom bolt gun niche nicely and their success is confirmed by many repeat buyers which translates into brand loyalty - which is all a manufacturer could ask for. They also deserve credit for keeping small caliber "fun" cartridges alive by making them affordable to the median income shooter.

 

[holstil]

I've had a couple and kept one, a M52. I took one apart to check it out and potentially rebarrel. What I found was, that both the lugs on the action and bolt were right at .0005 while the action face was .002 using mandrel that I made for it. There is more slop between the bolt and the action than I am used to I don't remember exactly right off but feels like .005. I think the actions are very good, I feel the trigger is better than the Jard It just won't go as light but is very crispy with no creep and little over travel. I decided not to rebarrel because of what it is, a really nice varmint gun not a bench gun. The tennon length is short around .640 if I recall and the threads were very concentric to the raceway and are 16tpi. I couldn't see a point in hanging a longer or bigger barrel off it, plus I would have to open that gourgeous stock.

The Copper is not a BAT but it is nice.
This is worth what you paid for it, Jim

 

[Geno C]

And you can get a rimfire to match!! That's always a fun thing

 

[onelastshot]

I'll let you know in a few weeks when mine's finally delivered. It's only been 5 months.

 

[M14AMU]

Stock, trigger, action, and barrel!!

 

[Kiwishooter]

One thing is for sure a Cooper isn't a Benchrest rifle, and one thing I learnt is that I expect excellent accuracy from a Benchrest rifle, but don't expect the same accuracy from a hunting rifle.

The Cooper, simply put is a semi custom hunting rifle that has good accuracy and is fun to carry in the field. I also have some custom hunting rifles, but these had to be built..........the Cooper you can just buy and go and shoot.

One of the pluses in my books for the Cooper is they make proportioned actions for the cartridge, and chamber some non standard fun calibers........they also make them in left hand.

Every Cooper I've had lived up to it's accuracy guarantee, the lugs aren't lapped but they are machined square and the triggers can be excellent hunting triggers.

When it comes to rifles I don't expect Benchrest accuracy from any of them except my Benchrest rifles, that way a hunting rifle can surprise me.

 

[Gary in MD]

Kiwi, that is it exactly!
I have several Coopers and enjoy them for what they are....accurate, good looking hunting rifles.
Gary

 

[varmintshooter]

Different strokes for different folks. I own 7 coopers and have bettered the test target with each one. I like the way they fit and feel in my hands, I don't worry about what they did or didn't do at the factory as long as they work and shoot like they are supposed to. I have never had to send one back.

 

[Cade]

This is my model 21 and the 3 shot target that came with it.

 

[BigBlueandGoldie]

I have no knowledge of Cooper's other than I really love the way they look. The stocks always seem well figured for a production rifle and I'm a sucker for the bead blasted barrel and black action.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If you like a cooper youll really like a dakota. Same beautiful wood, better triggers, barrels and a full out custom action.

 

[timeout]

I have never owned or shot a Cooper but I've noticed a local club excludes them from competing in the factory class. That seems to indicate they are superior to run of the mill Remmys and Salvages.

 

[6MMWASP]

I only have 2 Coopers and they are a 222 Mag Model 21 Classic and a 6.5-284 Phoenix model 22. This is a picture of the first group I ever shot at 600. It was shot with the 6.5-284. I adjusted the trigger and that is all that has been done to the rifle.

 

[1K6BRA]

I currently own three cooper rifles A model 22 Phoenix in a 6.5 x 2 84, A 22 Phoenix in a 220 swift and a model 52 in 6.5 x 284. The two model 22's have both consistently shot in the threes and fours (at 100 yards 3 shot groups) with a number of groups smaller than that. The model 52 is consistently at a half-inch as they advertise with everything I have put through it. All three triggers on my rifles are good but not of benchrest quality. Yes they are more expensive then a typical Remington or savage but you get what you pay for. Most factory rifles I see on dealers shelves these days are pathetic as compared to what they used to be. Granted most savage Remington and Winchester rifles shoot reasonably well, their workmanship leaves a lot to be desired. If you want a rifle that looks good ,feels good and is accurate beyond what most of us are able to take advantage of in the field any cooper rifle is worth the extra money!

 

[Dan Hall]

When I first started buying Cooper's the street price was comensurate with what you got, about $1100. Now that the street price has almost doubled I don't own any more Coopers. Dakota's have replaced them.

 

[ireload2]

I never thought that the group size was that misleading. Only a bench rest rifle would shoot those groups at 100 yards and the Cooper is not a benchrest rifle.
Everyone knows that you can't shoot 1/2" or smaller groups with a 22 LR at 100 yards.
I once watched 2 world class women shooters (yes they later won Olympic gold medals and World Championship matches) testing ammo at the local range.
They shot many groups near 1" prone with metallic sights. I asked the father of one of them if they did not get the same results off a bench rest. He said they got better results prone using a sling. Sue Ann Sandusky was shooting an Anschutz and Schuyler Helbing was shooting a rifle with an action her dad had built.
They were testing 4 different case lots of Eley ammo.
I would not count many stranger opinions for much but the girl's dad seemed to know way more than I did about rimfire accuracy. He said that at a match few if any of the rifles would shoot groups smaller than 1".

 

[1K6BRA]

Model 22, 220 swift , Model 22, 6.5x284. Yes I do agree to the price of Cooper's have gone up. They were a better value when the business started.

 

[Geno C]

I never thought that the group size was that misleading. Only a bench rest rifle would shoot those groups at 100 yards and the Cooper is not a benchrest rifle.
Everyone knows that you can't shoot 1/2" or smaller groups with a 22 LR at 100 yards.
I once watched 2 world class women shooters (yes they later won Olympic gold medals and World Championship matches) testing ammo at the local range.
They shot many groups near 1" prone with metallic sights. I asked the father of one of them if they did not get the same results off a bench rest. He said they got better results prone using a sling. Sue Ann Sandusky was shooting an Anschutz and Schuyler Helbing was shooting a rifle with an action her dad had built.
They were testing 4 different case lots of Eley ammo.
I would not count many stranger opinions for much but the girl's dad seemed to know way more than I did about rimfire accuracy. He said that at a match few if any of the rifles would shoot groups smaller than 1".

I'd have to disagree about, "everyone knows you can't shoot 1/2" or smaller groups with a 22 at 100 yards." I haven't been able to make my cooper do it yet but it can be done and I have 6 consecutive 5 shot groups that prove it.

 

[DCRYDER]

Weren't the earlier Coopers fitted with Lilja barrels?