Thoughts on Cooper & Encore rifles?

Manitobamonster

Manitobamonster

New member
I am thinking about goin to a single shot rifle and was wondering what your guys thoughts where on the Cooper rifles good bad or otherwise. The single shot thing has got me interested and have also been looking into T/C Encores. I read a thing last night that really made me think and then agree "You only get one good shot followed by a bunch of bad ones". I am guilty of this! Any input on either of these guns would be greatly appreciated. I am thinkin a 223 in either the Cooper or the T/C and then get it done into a ackley imp. Thanks in advance for your replies. I am currently shooting a Ruger 77 in 204 and have been quite unimpressed with both the caliber and the gun so it is time to send it down the road. To many yotes are runnin and some serious damage on several I have yet to lose a runner but the day is comin. If it wasn't for tracking them I would have lost some. Just doesn't do the job it should. And the actual gun well accuracy leaves something to desired. This is my second Ruger in the 204 the other was takin back because it would not group 5" at 100 yrds. This one although better is still not great. Thanks in advance for your replies !!!
 
Have both a Cooper in 223 and a custom Encore pistol in 223 from Virgin Valley. Love them both, but as you would expect can hold the Cooper rifle a bit steadier and shoot a little better with it. You can put together an Encore rifle for a few hundred cheaper than a basic Cooper, but you will never regret spending a little more and getting the Cooper.
 
My friend has a cooper and it will shoot 1hole groups at 200 yds in the right conditions. I think it would be a no brainer if you want to drop the cash for one.
 
I am really leaning towards the Cooper and have found one in the 223 Montana. Yes they are a little more money but I am wondering and thinking it maybe money well spent. I am lookin for a gun that will shoot and I think the Cooper will do it. I thought I may look into the Encore but for a couple hundered dollars more I am leaning towards Cooper. It should be a good gun that I could have around for years to come.
 
You can find simular stories about accuracy of the Encore as well.

That being said, I agree that MOST followup shots on coyotes are simply waisted ammo. Other species may not take off hauling the mail like a coyote that has just been shot at.

I have the encore and I'm very happy with it. NEVER even heard of the Cooper gun before. That brings up the other consideration....parts, supplies, gun shops with advise or experience (or not).

That's the same reason I pack a Remington 870 when I go turkey hunting. It is well known, parts are available and the gunsmith knows what he is looking at.
 
The Coopers are guaranteed to shoot. I know of no one who owns one, that is not happy. I have an encore myself, and to say I'm not impressed, would be an understatement. Worst rifle I've ever purchased. I love the feel of the encore, but trigger leaves a lot to be desired. I know they sell spring kits and hones for adjusting it, but with $560 invested, I don't want to waste anymore on it. I think it will eventually go down the road. The switch barrel option is a nice feature of the encore, but ain't worth a darn, if you need to buy custom barrels, hinge pins, forearm hanger, and a custom trigger job to get it to shoot. There, you know how I feel now. I told myself, I would not get upset over this encore anymore. I've sent to tc, and got a new barrel already, and it does shoot better than the first. I also have replaced the hinge pin. I may get the trigger done, but seriously doubt it. Buy the Cooper. My 2 cts. Butcher
 
I don't see how you can go wrong with the Cooper. Besides being great rifles and grat shooters you can buy the Cooper factory chambered as a 223AI and have the company behind it. Also if you decide to sell it at a later date you won't take a beating because it is not a factory chambering.
REM
 
Cooper is by far a better rifle. Basically a custom rifle. I have one & like mine very well. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I'm not sure where you are looking at Encores & Coopers, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif but I know I can buy 2 Encores for the price of one Cooper & still have change over.

Maybe I paid too much, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif but I can buy a complete Encore for around $500 & my Cooper was just short of $1200. Any one finding better prices??? If you are finding a Cooper with in $200 - $300 of the Encore BUY IT!!!
 
Why the Enore is so much is that I live in Canada the gun sells for around $900 cdn. my dealer will only get them in in muzzleloader because they are easier to get across the line than the rifle. Then tack another $250-$300 for the barrel plus stocks on top of that. I figure I would be around $1300 to $1400 dollars and the copper is $1850 for the Montana or $1500 for the Varminter. I wish I could get a encore from the US but it would be fun gettin it across the border!! Thanks for your input guys it has helped a bunch on my decision. I will find out what kinda deal he is gonna give me tomorrow for my trades and so on then I will go from there. I will keep ya posted.He told me today if I want a Varminter it will be a minimum 5 month wait and could easily be longer so I am gonna try and deal on the Montana.
 
Manitobamonster it's not that much trouble to get a firearm from the U.S. If you are interested, email me [url=mailto:jrenaud@telusplanet.net
 
Both my dads and my stailess encore recievers came with good triggers, I have had no problems getting mine to shoot MOA with any of the barrels that I have tried except one 25/06 barrel that was very picky. I don't particularly thing that it is too out of line to get a trigger job on any modern rifle short of a custom rifle. How many 600+ dollar factory bolt guns have too heavy triggers, hell my 1300 dollar AR has a heavy trigger. Other than a trigger job which should run less than 40 bucks and some $0.40 rubber washers to free float the barrel I haven't done anything to my encores. My 24" 22-250 barrel will shoot 1/2" groups with several factory loadings and my 30/06 barrel will do sub MOA out to 300 yards, farthest I've shot it, and my 209x50 barrel is also a very good shooter. I think that encores require less work than the average factory bolt gun to get good accuracy from.

Is the encore the worlds best target rifle, NO. Is it a fine hunting rifle, YES. I can understand being a little frustrated with a gun that doesn't work as well as you would have liked but I wouldn't sell out the encores yet.

All that said for the price difference that you mentioned I would probably get the cooper too. The encore makes sense for me becaues I use it as a travel rifle most of the time, doesn't take up to much space and I can carry two different calibers with me all the time and get the accuracy I like out of my encore. If you don't need the caliber flexability and only want an extremely accurate rifle the cooper is probably a little safer bet. The cooper will probably shoot better right out of the box without having to mess around with it. Good luck
 
Manitobamaster,

If you find you can bring in a rifle from the US, buying a Cooper that a dealer has in stock, as opposed to having your dealer place an order with Cooper, is definitely the way to go. If your dealer places an order, you will wait 10-12 months (don't believe for one second the 5 month story), you will pay list price, and you won't get to see the wood beforehand. There are lots of good Cooper dealers down here with lots of rifles in stock, and they will email pix so you can see what you're getting beforehand: Sundog Firearms, Atlantic Guns, L & M Emterprises, and First Stop Guns. Look at the Cooper section on GunsAmerica and you'll see most of them there. Good luck in the search, it will be worth it when you shoot your new Cooper.
 
Ok, My encore, right out of the box, is perfect, crisp smooth 2 lb(approx) trigger pull, and the most accurate gun I got.

1 inch group @ 150 yards, 1/2 inch group @ 75 yards.

My biased opionion would be, Encore, they are the best. Oh and it's a 223 like you want, hence my user name. I woud not get rid of my Encore for anything. I have read a few posts from others that don't like them, so I guess they vary, but mine, has absolutlely nothing wrong at all with it. I been happy about getting the guns I have gotten before, but none made me as happy as my Encore, due to the fact I did not have to modify anything (lighten trigger pull or accurize) I put a scope and a sling on it and it was good to go. Next I'm putting a bipod on it.

t/c223encore.
 
I've enjoyed the accuracy from my 22-250 Encore as well. In many cases, the weapons we use are much more accurate than the person holding them....................
 
I like Coopers but I'll buy 2 encores and be happy,I have an encore in 209-50 that does 1 inch at 100 yards with 120 grains of triple 7.Coopers may be a little more accurate but I'll take my chances on the Encore.
 


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