Savage99:
First off, this is not the first time I've seen these very comments, so they are nothing of a revalation. A search of the internet will yield the same type of issues with any make or model of rifle you can name, including Kimber. And for the record, I'm not going to spend the next 24 hours searching for juicy links to "prove" my point.
Unfortunately, some of the comments in the link provided sound like they come from folks who like to be part of something, but have probably never set eyes on a Cooper rifle. A quick review of the Cooper web site would show these folks that there are several grades of varminter rifles with different checkering patterns, different grades of wood, and different stock design options.
Secondly, some of the comments represent a little bit of ignorance or maybe self denial. Not everyone will look at a Cooper target that comes with the rifle and expect one hole groups at 100 yards if they are observant or have any real knowledge about a rifle's capabilities. I have several of the targets that are one ragged hole, but haven't been upset when I didn't get the same results at 100 yards. Common sense would tell most folks that the target is not 100 yards since they would possibly represent new IBS or NBRSA 100 yard record groups. Not likely for @ $1000 rifle. Besides, most average shooters couldn't produce those kind of results at 100 yards with a $5000 BR rifle. I'm sure I can't.
When something is mass produced, even in smaller quantities such as Cooper rifles, 100% quality control is not a part of the market scheme, unfortunately. I can tell you this from personal experience, however, that when you call Cooper Arms, Dan Cooper may be the first person you speak with. And for the record again, the times I have reached him personally were not calls to complain about quality control or other issues like that. But again, voice your arguement over at Saubier. com and see if you don't find some folks there who have had excellent customer service with Cooper Arms when they needed it. You might even find some who weren't totally happy the first time, but Cooper most likely worked with them until they were.
If you read all of the thread you provided, you probably noticed that Dan was up front enough to respond to the thread personally. Also, I didn't add up the ayes and nays in your link, but many of the comments look like good reasons to invest in a Cooper to me.
By the way, this thread caused me to again look closely at a Kimber stainless/laminated varmint rifle in 204 Ruger earlier today. First time I had seen this particular one in the gun shop when I visited today. Its a very nice looking rifle, but I don't think I want to spend $954 for a rifle that I can bring the free floated barrel and the barrel channel in the stock together just by squeezing them in my hand - and not a very hard squeeze either. And the action can easily be seen to rock in the stock when you do this. And, Woe of all Woes, the stock barrel channel was not parallel with the barrel. Those problems are just like what others have seen and reported on previously on the internet, and its just like a 22-250 I know of personally that shot 2" groups at 100 yards with the same stock problem that I described above. Only its stock fit was worse than the one I saw today.
Incidently, the sales person behind the counter was the one who pointed out the problem to me. I just didn't go into the shop with a hydraulic jack in my back pocket looking for problems.
Again, enjoy your Kimbers and I hope you never get a bad one. Especially when you seem to be such a crusader for them.
Fortunately, I have never bought or seen a bad Cooper, but maybe the next one I buy will make your day and together we can generalize its behavior to all Coopers and spread it all over the internet. In the meantime, however, I'm not going to worry about it happening and will stick to talking about the things I've personally seen and experienced.
As a result, I will likely buy another Cooper long before I buy an off the shelf Kimber in today's mass produced rifle market - based om my personal experience with both of them. - BCB
PS - A review of the thread shows about an 8 to 1 or 8 to 2 preference for Cooper. Sorry if i missed a count either way. Dogleg is the "2" in that he wouldn't buy a Cooper for a very logical reason for him - they are single shot rifles. I wouldn't buy one either if that was a factor in my shooting choices.
Since Coopers varminters are designed mostly for a bench, I would never consider carrying one of my Coopers for coyotes. I have other better options for that style of hunting that were not a consideration when I bought my Coopers.
