Cooper Rifle

[WV Sendero]

I have been looking hard at Cooper rifles and am interested in others input. This gun will mainly be shot off of the bench. I just want an accurate gun to shoot at eggs, cans, bottles, etc. at 300-400 yards. So would their guns be a good fit for this? I like their Varminters and the Phoenix. I like the idea of a 243 AI, 6x284, or 6.5x284. I know the synthetic stocks have aluminum bedding blocks but what bedding systems do the wood and laminated wood have? Would there be an accuracy difference between the two? Also what are their triggers like? Any information on these guns or any recommendations would be great.

 

[Mikecr]

While a Cooper is all you pay for in a gun(good investment), your cartridge choice makes no sense for the application.
243 AI, overbore barrel burner, overpower mid range hunting.
6x284, Same taken to ridiculous.
6.5x284, long range barrel burner, not for hunting junk at a landfill.

Cooper's wood stocks are bedded -without pillars, and they're HUNTING stocks(not BR). For this application, I suggest you look at Savage model 12(target) in 6BR.
Savage Arms > Firearms > Browse Models
But call them & ask for a slower twist barrel for mid-weight FB BR bullets.

 

[Greyfox]

The Cooper is an excellent rifle. For the type of shooting you want to do I would go for the synthetic or laminated stock and and a heavy barrel version. Both are well bedded and deliver great accuracy. I agree with Mikecr that the type of shooting you want to do would be better served with a different caliber. I would also consider a 260 Remington. Long life, very accurate, and good brass availability. The Savage Long Range Precision is a good alternative as well if you want to save a few bucks. The Savages win more 300 yard egg shoots at our club in factory class on a regular basis than all other makes combined.

 

[Dalebow]

The cooper I just ordered is the excalibur, syn stock, 26" stainless fluted barrel, will be fun. My cooper 270 westerner is a tack driver, glass bedded, most well made guns are glass beded if they have walnut stocks, not metal pillars. Either from Cooper is fine.
For your application I would go with the 223 remington as it will plink with cheap ammo, most scope makers have turrets for 223 that are right on and you can always shoot varmits with it should the need arisegun)

 

[Dalebow]

btw their actions and triggers are great!

 

[nicon06]

Hi,

I ordered the Phoenix in .243AI a month ago, I thought they just came with a 1 in 10 twist but the supplier called me back and asked what twist I wanted. I'm new to long range shooting and this caught me out a little so with my limited knowledge (Hornady reloading manual) I went for 1 in 9 knowing it would stabilize the 105gn pills. In Australia there is a 6 to 7 month wait for your Cooper, I have only read good things about them and everyone who has one wants another, and I based my decision on this (theres plenty of them)

 

[Zep]

Started looking up the specs/performance on the 260 Rem and that certainly looks like an interesting cartridge.

 

[WV Sendero]

While a Cooper is all you pay for in a gun(good investment), your cartridge choice makes no sense for the application.
243 AI, overbore barrel burner, overpower mid range hunting.
6x284, Same taken to ridiculous.
6.5x284, long range barrel burner, not for hunting junk at a landfill.

Cooper's wood stocks are bedded -without pillars, and they're HUNTING stocks(not BR). For this application, I suggest you look at Savage model 12(target) in 6BR.
Savage Arms > Firearms > Browse Models
But call them & ask for a slower twist barrel for mid-weight FB BR bullets.

I selected those calibers because they are all calibers that would be new to me, they are relatively unique, and from what I have read are accurate calibers. They don't seem that ridiculous to me. They have good BC bullets and are capable of stretching out a good ways farther than the 300-400 if I get the chance. Plus I already have 2 22-250s so I don't want something else in 22 cal. I'm not that worried about barrel life either, if she burns out in 1200 rounds then I have 1200 rounds more experience and an excuse to buy a new gun or rebarrel in a new caliber. I had also looked at the Savage rifles but I'm not sure I would be happy with them in comparison to the Cooper but I'm not ruling them out either.

 

[WV Sendero]

btw their actions and triggers are great!

What weight adjustment range do their triggers have?

 

[sp6x6]

I have 2 friend s that shoot the 1000 yrd bench in 6mm dasher. They are both record holders. I think you my like a 6mmbr, shot lots of records in 300-600 bench.Cooper has a rifle for this

 

[Greyfox]

I selected those calibers because they are all calibers that would be new to me, they are relatively unique, and from what I have read are accurate calibers. They don't seem that ridiculous to me. They have good BC bullets and are capable of stretching out a good ways farther than the 300-400 if I get the chance. Plus I already have 2 22-250s so I don't want something else in 22 cal. I'm not that worried about barrel life either, if she burns out in 1200 rounds then I have 1200 rounds more experience and an excuse to buy a new gun or rebarrel in a new caliber. I had also looked at the Savage rifles but I'm not sure I would be happy with them in comparison to the Cooper but I'm not ruling them out either.

That being the case, go for the 6.5x284 in a Cooper with the heavy barrel, 1:8 twist , synthetic stock,It's an incredible shooter and you will be hard pressed to get better ballistics.

 

[Gene]

I bought a new Cooper Varminter two years ago in 6mmBR, with 8" twist and it shoots great with 105 grain Hornadys. The chamber on a fired case measures .270", so necks need to be turned slightly. My only complaint is that the trigger is difficult to adjust. My gunsmith said they are "different" and he got it down to just over 2 lbs. But it is crisp, no creep.

There are many options with a Cooper. Take a look at some of the new stocks on their web site:

Untitled Document

 

[Mikecr]

What weight adjustment range do their triggers have?

Their trigger is their biggest weakness IMO. Much like it was with Savage for many years.. Mine only worked safely at the exact factory setting, as off the shelf, and no other settings worked. I didn't measure the force but it seemed ~2-3lbs, which is a couple too heavy for me.
I believe adjustment was added to their triggers only to tweak for minor action/bolt differences, and that their triggers are not designed for operation throughout any 'range' of adjustment.

I don't know of any aftermarket triggers for Coopers. Would totally love to pick up one of the older Cooper-Jewells.
My immediate solution was a 'Trigger Assist': E-Z Pull Trigger Assist & CU2 Safety Sleeves
And it works to get me to a few ounces while providing a little more travel(which I prefer anyway).
I don't see a better solution yet.

 

[Greyfox]

Their trigger is their biggest weakness IMO. Much like it was with Savage for many years.. Mine only worked safely at the exact factory setting, as off the shelf, and no other settings worked. I didn't measure the force but it seemed ~2-3lbs, which is a couple too heavy for me.
I believe adjustment was added to their triggers only to tweak for minor action/bolt differences, and that their triggers are not designed for operation throughout any 'range' of adjustment.

I don't know of any aftermarket triggers for Coopers. Would totally love to pick up one of the older Cooper-Jewells.
My immediate solution was a 'Trigger Assist': E-Z Pull Trigger Assist & CU2 Safety Sleeves
And it works to get me to a few ounces while providing a little more travel(which I prefer anyway).
I don't see a better solution yet.

The factory Cooper triggers can be brought down to 2-2.5#, that's it, but it's very good at that setting. I don't know if it's still available, but back in 2008 Precision Shooting magazine had an article about Jard introducing a trigger/safety drop in for the later model Coopers that went down to a few ounces and was comparable to the Jewel.