Bought a Cooper Rifle

elkhunter11 · #1 04-09-2009, 05:36 PM

I had pretty much settled on a new Sako 85,but after doing more research,I didn't buy the Sako 85 after all.I ended up buying a Cooper Jackson Hunter in 280AI instead.After doing much research online,I could find nothing but praise for the Cooper rifles.As well,I prefer the Cooper stock,and it was available in 280AI.The 1/2" accuracy guarantee certainly didn't hurt either.I would have preferred a stainless action,but at least the barrel is stainless.Prophet River has the gun in stock,and the price was just over $100 more than the cost of the Sako 85.As well,I can use lower priced Leupold rings to match the bases that come with the rifle.A spare magazine is also priced lower than for the Sako,so overall,the Cooper will actually cost me slightly less than the Sako 85.Best of all,Prophet River has Nolser brass in stock for the 280AI.Finally,I was impressed that Prophet River had the brass and spare magazines in stock,and Clay was a pleasure to deal with.

7mm-08 · #2 04-09-2009, 06:03 PM

Congrats!!!

Heckler · #3 04-09-2009, 07:06 PM

Wow - very nice choice indeed!

depopulator · #4 04-09-2009, 07:26 PM

Pics please

elkhunter11 · #5 04-09-2009, 07:36 PM

Below is a picture of the rifle posted by the dealer.

A better picture off of the Cooper site.

RUM · #6 04-09-2009, 09:25 PM

Very nice rifle Elk. I have done a little business myself with Prophet River Firearms and can't say enough good things about them from my experiences.
I'd be interested to hear your report on the Cooper as I am currently looking into the Sako 85's myself, just waiting on some pricing from Clay. The Cooper's have caught my eye though and would look forward to some feedback on them.

James Henry · #7 04-09-2009, 09:41 PM

Congrat's, very NICE!!!!!!!!!
I'll be contacting them myself

depopulator · #8 04-09-2009, 10:37 PM

Beautiful. That rifle/cartridge combo is capable of amazing things.

I want one, maybe in some nice walnut, eh Clay ?

Castincowboy · #9 04-09-2009, 10:55 PM

Beautiful rifle. I love the stock. I've heard great things but, don't think I've ever even held one before...

Rackmastr · #10 04-18-2009, 10:20 PM

Thats sweet!!! Nice lookin rig!!

EagleEye54 · #11 04-18-2009, 11:04 PM

Very nice setup. I hope it serves you well.

elkhunter11 · #12 04-19-2009, 05:58 AM

Now I have to wait for the Talley mounts,and then buy a Swarovski 3x10x42 scope.

martinbns · #13 04-19-2009, 10:53 AM

Did you not at least keep one of the swaro scope from the 4 custom's you sold?

elkhunter11 · #14 04-19-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Did you not at least keep one of the swaro scope from the 4 custom's you sold?

I sold all four rifles as packages.Given what I paid for the four scopes when I bought them all at one time,I didn't lose much money.

AB2506 · #15 04-21-2009, 01:52 PM

My friend imported a Cooper 25-06 from Montana recently. Very nice indeed. Will have to see how it shoots after he scopes it.

Big Thumper · #16 05-16-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AB2506

My friend imported a Cooper 25-06 from Montana recently. Very nice indeed. Will have to see how it shoots after he scopes it.

Any reports on how these shoot? looking a a .22 lr myself. I think they have one in stock.

209x50 · #17 05-16-2009, 02:27 PM

I wonder what the thought process is behind the stainless barrel and the blued receiver?

elkhunter11 · #18 05-17-2009, 02:07 PM

I just mounted the 3x9x42 Kahles Helia CT that I picked up in Calgary last week,and even with the wide ring spacing,the eye relief is perfect with standard Leupold rings.I compared the Kahles with the Swarovski AV 3x10x42,and the Leupold vx3 3.5x10x40,and the Kahles was shorter and more compact than the other two,with optics superior to the Leupold,and the equal of the Swarovski.Overall,the rifle is much handier than the longer barreled rifles that I am used to.Now I need to load some 140gr accubonds tonight,and if the weather is decent tomorrow,I may get to test fire the gun.

Bushrat · #19 05-17-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 209x50

I wonder what the thought process is behind the stainless barrel and the blued receiver?

I think Cooper dosen't make stainless receivers. don't know why.

Pathfinder76 · #20 05-17-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 209x50

I wonder what the thought process is behind the stainless barrel and the blued receiver?

It's hardly uncommon.

elkhunter11 · #21 05-18-2009, 10:43 AM

Below are the first nine shots fired from this rifle.I was using the 140gr accubond,Federal 210 primers,Nosler brass,and imr 4831.The powder charges were 56gr,57gr and 58gr.The first three rounds(56gr)went into just over an inch and an eighth,with the second group(57gr) being .750",and the third group measured .600".The range was 100 yards fired off of sandbags,and the temperature was -2 degrees.No pressure signs were evident,but I will be doing more load development when the temperature is warmer.The recoil was very mild,so mild in fact that a lady or young shooter would not be at all intimidated.The trigger was very crisp and quite light.
I did not manage to achieve 1/2" as is guaranteed by Cooper,but given the cool temperature,only a 3x9 scope,undeveloped loads,and most of all my cataract infested eye,I believe that the rifle easily has the potential to better 1/2".Once I get the load worked out,and have my cataract removed,I will find out just how accurate the rifle is.

209x50 · #22 05-18-2009, 12:01 PM

I know I see lots of them made that way and they just make me cringe. It doesn't affect anything other than aesthetics but it looks like an unmade bed IMHO. Just curious why someone like Cooper who makes phenomenal rifles would stop at what seems to be one step short of perfection?

Pathfinder76 · #23 05-18-2009, 02:12 PM

Many believe chrome-moly makes a better action as they have a tendency to be smoother and exhibit a tendency to gall less (take a look at the locking lugs on your stainless Remington).

elkhunter11 · #24 05-18-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

take a look at the locking lugs on your stainless Remington

The locking lugs and bolt face on my stainless 700 rifles all appear to be blued steel rather than stainless.

ABDUKNUT · #25 05-18-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck

Many believe chrome-moly makes a better action as they have a tendency to be smoother and exhibit a tendency to gall less (take a look at the locking lugs on your stainless Remington).

Yup, that's exactly why. If you think about it, SS actions really serve no purpose other than aesthetically pleasing the buyer. On the other hand, the natural resistance to corrosion of an SS barrel goes a long way in preserving the bore, and accuracy.

My Rem 700 40X was the same configuration- blued action and SS barrel, bedded in a high grade walnut stock. I think a lot of people like the blued action/SS barrel best when combined with wood stock.

209x50 · #26 05-18-2009, 04:31 PM

LOL you assume that I would own a Remington!

elkhunter11 · #27 05-18-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

My Rem 700 40X was the same configuration- blued action and SS barrel, bedded in a high grade walnut stock. I think a lot of people like the blued action/SS barrel best when combined with wood stock.

My 40XBKS came with a stainless action and barrel which I personally prefer with any rifle.If Cooper sold a stainless action,I would have bought one instead of the blued action.

ABDUKNUT · #28 05-18-2009, 04:41 PM

I get all my Remingtons powder coated... So silver or black, don't matter much to me. They all have SS barrels underneath the paint.

rugatika · #29 05-18-2009, 04:42 PM

Shes a beaut for sure. Just as a side note about Cooper Rifles (and in no way meant to reflect on your purchase, it's a great looking and shooting rifle for sure). Dan Cooper was fired from CEO of his own company after he was found to have donated several thousand dollars to Barack Obama. Oooops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Firearms_of_Montana

elkhunter11 · #30 05-18-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Dan Cooper was fired from CEO of his own company after he was found to have donated several thousand dollars to Barack Obama. Oooops.

I knew that before buying the gun.Actually he was no longer with the company when I bought the gun.In fact I even deal with companies based in Ontario,and Quebec the provinces that brought us C-68.