i have a cooper excalibre 280 and a couple of customs. the fit, finish and shooting ability rival some customs. to me the cooper is as good as a custom as long as the style and fit suits you. the advantage of the custom is the barrel lenth, conture and stock lenth of pull will be exactly what you want and you can target the weight to your specs. but the custom can soon become very expensive and hard to sell if you tire of it. a custom could take up to a year depending on the smith a cooper a couple of weeks.the kimbers, coopers and others sell for close to new price the customs for a lot less.
Are they really worth the money ?
- Thread starter powdergun
- Start date
I had a semi custom built on a trued Remington action. It was a good accurate rifle. However, if I had bought a Cooper it would've been just as accurate, prettier and had better resale value for similar cost. I'd buy a Cooper next time.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I've had 4 Kimbers, two Coopers and handled/fired a Christianson.
I still have 2 Kimbers . I think for the money they are the sleekest with good fit and finish, all mine were accurate.
The Coopers were very accurate but I find them a bit hefty, they resemble a semi-benchrest/varmint rifle. I didn't like the stock on Coopers, the Montana stock is better IMO. Not a fan of the Cooper mag.
The CA bbl looks goofy.
I'd handle them in person and go from personal preference.
I still have 2 Kimbers . I think for the money they are the sleekest with good fit and finish, all mine were accurate.
The Coopers were very accurate but I find them a bit hefty, they resemble a semi-benchrest/varmint rifle. I didn't like the stock on Coopers, the Montana stock is better IMO. Not a fan of the Cooper mag.
The CA bbl looks goofy.
I'd handle them in person and go from personal preference.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I had a time deciding which .22 Hornet bolt action rifle to buy.
The Coopers look really nice, but no repeaters in this calibre.
Read a bit on-line about the accuracy of the discontinued Kimber Model 82 and that kept me wondering. I finally purchased a Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter after some research. Although the wood is not as pretty as the Coopers or Kimbers, I'm very happy with the accuracy I'm getting from it.
And I have it in a true left hand bolt action repeater with more cash in my pocket.
Edit: For some unknown reason, Browning chose not to offer thier newer X-Bolt in this chambering.
The Coopers look really nice, but no repeaters in this calibre.
Read a bit on-line about the accuracy of the discontinued Kimber Model 82 and that kept me wondering. I finally purchased a Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter after some research. Although the wood is not as pretty as the Coopers or Kimbers, I'm very happy with the accuracy I'm getting from it.
And I have it in a true left hand bolt action repeater with more cash in my pocket.
Edit: For some unknown reason, Browning chose not to offer thier newer X-Bolt in this chambering.
- Location
- AB foothills
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The higher the quality of the craftsmanship that goes into a rifle, the tighter its tolerances are held, and the better the materials that are used, the more a rifle will cost. If you're a guy who puts price ahead of all other considerations, you may not appreciate the benefits of a high end rifle or even a mid range off the shelf rifle. After all,32 lines to the inch of hand checkering or 16 lines to the inch of machine cut checkering may not produce a better grip than pressed checkering, but the individual who appreciates craftsmanship and is willing to pay for it, the additional cost has tangible value.
There are no commercial sporting rifles built today that are not accurate enough to kill big game out to 150 yards. There are few off the shelf target rifles that won't shoot slightly better than MOA with match ammo. That for the most part solves the problem, but how little are you prepared to accept? When chambered for the same cartridge, its not difficult to have the position that a Dakota at $5K represents more value for the dollar than a Remington 710 at $200, yet both are marketed as hunting rifles that are suitable for big game hunting. While most would opine that while the 710 offers too little where the Dakota is a bit much, most folks of average means seek a middle of the road solution to their problem. Had the comparison been between a Ruger 77 and the Dakota, to many the advantage of the Dakota might be less obvious.
There are no commercial sporting rifles built today that are not accurate enough to kill big game out to 150 yards. There are few off the shelf target rifles that won't shoot slightly better than MOA with match ammo. That for the most part solves the problem, but how little are you prepared to accept? When chambered for the same cartridge, its not difficult to have the position that a Dakota at $5K represents more value for the dollar than a Remington 710 at $200, yet both are marketed as hunting rifles that are suitable for big game hunting. While most would opine that while the 710 offers too little where the Dakota is a bit much, most folks of average means seek a middle of the road solution to their problem. Had the comparison been between a Ruger 77 and the Dakota, to many the advantage of the Dakota might be less obvious.
Some excellent things to ponder over. I've owned and used a pile of guns. Everything from a Savage axis to a Weatherby MkV. The things with the rifles I've owned is that there was always something that bugged me about the gun.
Not quite accurate, Feeding and extracting not smooth, plastic parts, and the list goes on.
However, each one was more than capable of doing its intended job. Probably the nicest rifle I have ever handled was an older rem 700 in 22 250 with a heavy barrel. It had beautiful wood, trigger, feel and accuracy beyond comprehension. The only problem was I didn't own it I only got to play with it for a couple of weeks
It may be time for me to thin the safe out a bit put out some coin to get a truly quality rifle. I really do appreciate workmanship and quality and cookie cutter assembly line mass produced stuff has lost its appeal.
So in all your learned oppinions if you had $2000 to spend +/- a bit
What production rifle with a synthetic stock and stainless barrel. ( I want to hunt with it and not worry about scratching a beautiful stock) would you buy
Cooper
Weatherby
Sako
Rem 710
???
Not quite accurate, Feeding and extracting not smooth, plastic parts, and the list goes on.
However, each one was more than capable of doing its intended job. Probably the nicest rifle I have ever handled was an older rem 700 in 22 250 with a heavy barrel. It had beautiful wood, trigger, feel and accuracy beyond comprehension. The only problem was I didn't own it I only got to play with it for a couple of weeks
It may be time for me to thin the safe out a bit put out some coin to get a truly quality rifle. I really do appreciate workmanship and quality and cookie cutter assembly line mass produced stuff has lost its appeal.
So in all your learned oppinions if you had $2000 to spend +/- a bit
What production rifle with a synthetic stock and stainless barrel. ( I want to hunt with it and not worry about scratching a beautiful stock) would you buy
Cooper
Weatherby
Sako
Rem 710
???
- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
If Synthetic/Stainless no bull #### hunting guns are up your alley you aren't gonna do better than a Kimber Montana.
84M (.308 based) series weighs a svealt 5 pounds and a few ounces...kevlar stock, floated bedded, wild triggers straight from the big shop, with the ability to get a clean safe one pound pull.
8400 WSM weighing 6 pounds and change
If lightweight isnt your thing, opt for a 8400 in .25-06, 270 or 30-06...theyre built on long mag actions and weigh around 7.5 pounds with a scope.
Can it get any better?
84M (.308 based) series weighs a svealt 5 pounds and a few ounces...kevlar stock, floated bedded, wild triggers straight from the big shop, with the ability to get a clean safe one pound pull.
8400 WSM weighing 6 pounds and change
If lightweight isnt your thing, opt for a 8400 in .25-06, 270 or 30-06...theyre built on long mag actions and weigh around 7.5 pounds with a scope.
Can it get any better?
tylerjwitty
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northern Ontario
- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
My Sako 85 Grey Wolf was nothing special. My buddies Sako 75 Finnlight is nothing special...My Kimber Montana runs circles around them in fit, finish, function and accuracy.
I am not sure why people lump Sako into the "high end" category either. Their prices have been creeping up and what is there to show for it? It used to be that you'd buy a Sako Fiberclass and get a sweet McMillan stock - now you pay +$1700 and get tupperware.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I agree. I've had two Finnlights and the Montana is IMO a better all around rifle in all aspects, and unlike it's name implies,the Sako is not a light rifle by todays standards, especially compared to the Montana. Then again, neither is the M70 Featherweight.
