Cooper Arms Rifles

R

Red Ryder

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 2, 2004
301
0
Pittsburgh, PA
#1
Stopped by a gunstore yesterday and came across 3 Cooper Arms rifles. One was a 308, the other was a 338-06 and I can't remember the caliber of the third. Each rifle had proof targets with them and all I can say is "WOW!" Each proof target was just 3 shots but I gotta' tell you they were one hole 3 shot groups. The groups were so small they looked like they could have been shot with 6mms. None of them had heavy barrels - they were all hunting rifles. They had spiraled barrels and really nice wood. The actions could have been smoother though. They were pretty pricey. I wish my tactical rifles shot as well as those Coopers.

BTW, Cooper Arms is no longer owned by the Dan Cooper who has...made some questionable decisions as to who he supports politically.
 
#3
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

Their test targets are shot at 50 yards. Kinda bullshit if you ask me. I've also seen more than a few of their rifles that have small fit issues. There are better rifles out there for the money IMHO.
 
#4
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

They are well-made rifles by an American company.
They are a bit pricey, but not ridiculous.
If you want maximum accuracy for minimum cash, then Savage is the clear choice. But if those were the only criteria for selecting a rifle, then we'd all own nothing but Savages.

Dan's political decisions were with the company's and the employee's best interests in mind. He was simply doing what he thought was best for the economy at the time, trying to keep his people working.
As mentioned, he has left the company.

I've gotten a couple of e-mail updates from him since then and he's doing fine.
 
#5
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

Buyer beware. Actually go back and look closely at the test target, you'll notice it does not have a printed yardage on it. Ton's of info, load, who shot it, date, scope, off bags etc. but no distance......left off on purpose to deceive customers. As far as I'm concerns it's as good as lying to the customer.

It's one of the most blatant and deceptive BS practices to sell guns out there. They pressure dealers to display the target next to the rifles knowing that knowing customers, just like yourself, will assume they are shot at 100 yards and buy the gun for the amazing test target. Then they get it to the range, and while most of them shoot and are built well, there's now way they will ever reproduce the target they are using to sell the rifle.

In reality their targets are shot at something like 42 yards indoors. I've heard everything from 27-47 yards. In reality with good factory ammo in the larger non-varmint calibers most of the one's I've seen are 3/4-1" rifles. If they put up a true 100 yard target they'd sell a lot less of them.

Not that they don't make a good gun, but you know cooper is leaving the yardage off the test targets on purpose to mislead customers, and if they will do something that blatant.....what else are they doing you don't know about.
 
#7
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

LOL here we go again on the target distance thing with Cooper. The fact is they are guaranteed to shoot 3 shot groups at or under 1/2 inch at 100yds with match ammo regardless of what the target might show, it's as simple as that.

Do they bug hole with every group, no they dont. I have a half dozen of them and do print 3 shot groups just like the test target at 100yrds so it can be done.

Here's my bestest 100 yard 5 shot group fired with M22 6.5x284 using 142 SMK's.
65cooper142SMK48_0GRR22.jpg
 
#8
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

I had the Phoenix in 6.5-284. Shot 140 SMK's well (or maybe it was the 142's? it's been a couple years). It came up with an ejection issue so it went back to the dealer. I have heard 2 nightmares about Cooper customer service, but have no direct experience with that. Many like the Cooper rifles, and most people who have one have many.
 
#9
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

That's fine that yours does that but I've shot and know several people that have bought them and they don't perform up to the 1/2" guarantee but had amazing test targets.

It has nothing to do with how well the rifle shoots. Lots of rifles have guarantee's and don't live up to them, or they manipulate the testing to their advantage, take kimber for instance that shoots their targets at 50 yards after taking the rifle out of the stock and clamping it in a vice if a customer has an issue.

The simple fact is cooper is directly misleading and manipulating customers with these test targets. If they were not doing it on purpose they'd put the yardage on them, and it's been brought to their attention repeatedly by customers and dealers. They know that no one is going to take a test target serious that's shot under 50 yards. They push their dealers HARD to make sure they display the targets because they know customers assume they are shot at 100 yards and they know if they were honest and up front on them, they'd get less sales. I'd rather not purchase from a company that goes that far to mislead people to buying their products.

If they are so confident in their products quality, either put the yardage on the target, or shoot them at 100 yards.



 
#11
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToddM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's fine that yours does that but I've shot and know several people that have bought them and they don't perform up to the 1/2" guarantee but had amazing test targets. Those guys probelly cant do there part behind the trigger,thats why they dont shoot there coopers good.ive shot some of the best rifles all my life and never had one shoot like a cooper,about the only kind that did was a bench rest type custom.

It has nothing to do with how well the rifle shoots. Lots of rifles have guarantee's and don't live up to them, or they manipulate the testing to their advantage, take kimber for instance that shoots their targets at 50 yards after taking the rifle out of the stock and clamping it in a vice if a customer has an issue.

The simple fact is cooper is directly misleading and manipulating customers with these test targets. If they were not doing it on purpose they'd put the yardage on them, and it's been brought to their attention repeatedly by customers and dealers. They know that no one is going to take a test target serious that's shot under 50 yards. They push their dealers HARD to make sure they display the targets because they know customers assume they are shot at 100 yards and they know if they were honest and up front on them, they'd get less sales. I'd rather not purchase from a company that goes that far to mislead people to buying their products.

If they are so confident in their products quality, either put the yardage on the target, or shoot them at 100 yards.



</div></div>
 
#13
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

I have a Cooper M38 in 22 Hornet. For the price I was a bit disappointed. The gun is fairly hard to find used and is about the only option for a small action to fit a Hornet. I ordered one at basically retail a after looking around locally for a long time. There were a few details that I was not happy with after paying that much for a new gun. The extractor was a poor fit, looked like it was hand made with a dremel, and bent back at the hook within the first few test rounds. I made a new one out of a connecting rod bolt. The ejector was also a poor fit, looked like it was hand made, and didn't work very well because the tip was rounded over. I made a new one of these also. The pivot pins for the bolt stop and ejector were hand ground and very sloppy, so I turned down a couple of these too. Everything else about the rifle is very nice. The CNC receiver and bolt are very straight, the wood and checkering are very precise, and most importantly it is very accurate.

For full size cartridges I don't think I'd buy another Cooper, but for the 22 Hornet size rounds I think it's a great option because the receiver is strong and just the right size. Everything else I saw was either a re-done rimfire action or else a full size (and way overkill) action.
 
#14
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

My Cooper 6.5x284 shoots just like El Gordos, Its a one hole rifle. My Cooper in .223 shoots the same. I had a 6PPC and a .22PPC that I couldn't seem to get to shoot very well (I know, strange given the chamberings?) I also have a Cooper .22-250 that seems to be coming around once I really got into the load development for it. They are very nice rifles if you can get a deal on them. I'm inclined to say that MOST shoot, but some don't (isn't every company that way). Of the ones that do shoot well though, they do seem to shoot REALLY well.
 
#19
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

I love my coopers, The rimfires are excellent the test targets are the same and they are shot at the same 50yds.

My 204 would punch the primers of my 223 rounds at 100yds pretty easy. We would use live rounds as reactive targets. The bullets never went more then a few feet but they went POP anyways.
 
#20
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

I have a Cooper M22 in 6mm Remington and it easily shoots sub 1/2 moa or better.

I shot it in a 600yd f-class match, and once it got it really zero'd, it shot a 199-12x with 95gr Berger VLDs. This was off a Harris bipod and rolled up t-shirt for a rear bag. It easily held it's own against some very slick purpose built target rifles. In the field, it has proven itself to be an excellent hunting rifle; light weight, easy to carry, durable and extremely accurate.

My only complaint is the trigger. Could be better. Other than that, I think the rifle is a bargain.
 
#21
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

I have owned a few over the years and have to say on average they shoot very good for a semi-custom rifle. I too think the test target thing is total BS it is as stated less than 50 yds indoors w/ a 36x scope. But all in all they are a very nice rifle the stocks are beautiful and well inleted I only had 1 that I had to rasp out the notch for the bolt handle just a bit. I really like the m22 action and trigger. Their rimfires shoot very good. I do wish they would do a bit better on the bedding. I called and asked why only the front of the action was bedded and was told b/c the inlet was so good they didnt need to. But what ever they are very nice rifles for what they are ... semi-custom.
 
#22
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

I saw a program on the Outdoor Channel that featured Cooper Rifles. They were taking older folks out to hunt that had mobility issues. Each hunter killed an Antelope at no less than 600 yards. A few had kills that were longer. I was impressed to say the least.
 
#23
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

You guys can sit here and call their targets BS if you want to. But the bottom line is Cooper offers a pretty nice rifle that can be bought with a decent synthetic stock for about $1600. And the company guarantees a 1/2" group at 100 yards. How many other companies offer that guarantee for a sub $2,000 rifle?? Tom.
 
#24
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

i have a cooper rifle and some dakota arms before they sold out to remy. all i can say is if you don't own one then you can't know. they are med highend rifles and they perform. you will always have to see which ammo shoots best. the accuracy guarantee isn't a blanket statement for brand of ammo. these weapons will do what they say and do it with a classic class and style.
 
#25
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

i worked for scheels and sold many coopers. they absolutely guarantee 1/2 inch or better we have sent rifles back and some did have an issue but most are the trigger puller. the targets are 50 yard tgs 3 shot with center-fire and 5 shot on rimfire targets. show me another 1/2 inch guarantee for under 2k?

cooper was bought by wilson barrels who has made the cooper barrels all along, they are a good company and their rifles are worth the money.
ps they just released belted mag calibers still with the 1/2 inch guarantee for those guys interested.
 
#27
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbuck88</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I love my coopers, The rimfires are excellent the test targets are the same and they are shot at the same 50yds. </div></div>

My rimfire Western Classic is a laser, easily matching my one-hole groups as seen on my test target.
 
#29
Re: Cooper Arms Rifles

rez187 said:
the targets are 50 yard tgs 3 shot with center-fire and 5 shot on rimfire targets. show me another 1/2 inch guarantee for under 2k?quote]

If I understand you correctly you are saying these rifles are guaranteed to shoot 1/2 inch three shot groups at 50 yards? That would mean it should shoot at or less than 1 inch at 100 yards. There are many rifles under 2K that guarantee that.
Click to expand...
 
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