Which Cooper Rifle

C

cmabbott04

New member
Hey guys,

I am looking at getting a new rifle in 6.5x284 and really wanting to purchase my first cooper. Wondering if anyone has experience with them that could lend a helping hand though (and my asks may be steep as if I am spending this much I would like to get a rifle and know it very, very well and use it for everything, mostly
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I want to purchase a rifle that I can use for both hunting and at the range. I will shoot pronghorn long range as well as hogs at 40 yards (head shots) which is why I have picked this caliber. That being said I would like something that is light enough to carry around going after western game as well as steady enough to shoot well from the prone position at the range at 600 yards consistent. I am leaning away from the model 92 backcountry for this reason, but what is next?

Also, I would like the synthetic and not wood stock.

Any help guys is much appreciated!
 
If you really mean shooting hogs at 40 yards instead of 400, I think there would be better caliber choices. Why not go 6.5 Creedmoor, accurate with good barrel life and good available factory ammo. I’ve got a model 54 Varmint Extreme Cooper .308, and I really like it. Sorry, I’m not familiar with their synthetic models.
 
Yes, I meant what makes you say that model. It is hard to tell much from the website to be honest so I am looking for some feedback. There are no weights included.
 
When you find this Unicorn please let us all know......

You are looking for the Holy Grail here. A gun that will walk well out West and shoot well from bench or prone. Two very different guns with little overlap for performance. The walking gun which will likely be shot one shot at a time on game should be light but be able to put the first cold barrel shot inside no more than 1" at 150-200 or so. The target gun can have a good deal more weight to stabilize it but will not be fun to carry around on a strong walk out west and it should print half the above, minimum.

Hogs at any range with an accurate gun with the right bullet, good sights and a good shooter will go in the ear of a hog and be DRT.

There are a bunch of calibers not so "fancy" as the 6.5x284 that will do the job nicely. For instance .243AI, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6mm Creednoor, 6mm Remington etc,etc,etc.

I guess my point here is what you are looking for will take a lot more looking if you go beyond Cooper. They make a great rifle no doubt, but, I think you may need to do more evaluation of your usage and take a real hard look at whats out there.

I have killed hogs in Texas from 40 ft to 400 yards with a plain Jane .243. I have killed speed goats with the same gun, 25-06, a 30-06, a 6mm Remington and a 257 Weatherby. They all died dead. They were all different guns also. Go figure.

I am not trying to be crass here. I just think you may want to look at what is available out there. Now, if you are dead set on a Cooper then thats what you should ge and I would also recommend the Excalibur as it does not have a wood stock.

Good luck in your quest.
 
If your set on a Cooper, you can always go "custom" and they will build you a rifle to your specs. WOn't be cheap but I bet they'll be happy to build it for you.

In the 6.5x284 I only saw two models with synthetic stocks, the Excaliber and the Jackson Hunter. Both are very nice rifles.

If I was going to spend that much on a rifle, I would build a custom rifle. JMO
 
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I think a Jackson Excalibur would be very close to what your looking for. Shooting out to 600 yards might be a little bit of a stretch but this gun provides more weight than the model 92 and the stock fits has a good sporter weight but comfortable enough to shoot prone.

I have one in 300 win mag that I use for deer and really enjoy it

Here's one on gun broker for sale through first stop guns...they are a good group to work with.

https://www.gunsamerica.com/989222163/Cooper-M52-Jackson-Excaliber-6-5x284-tan-black.htm
 
Actually... one more question. Do you say shooting out to 600 would be a stretch due to gun capabilities as far as accuracy potential/gun setup or shooter capabilities on such a rig?
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First Stop Guns is indeed a good Cooper dealer/outlet.

And if you're ever in western South Dakota, FS is a good place to spend and hour or so browsing. Every time I've been there I have extra trouble with the spending part. And they do a huge mail order business from their web site connection.
 
Great, i will actually be out there in a couple months! I just traded some messages with them actually and seemed great so far. Thanks for the lead on these guys
 
I've purchased two Excaliburs through First Stop. They are great to deal with and answered a lot of questions for me as a first time Cooper buyer. My 280 AI shoots better than the 1/2" guarantee. For me it is heavy enough from the bench, and I have no problem carrying it to hunt. Cooper's customer service is fantastic as well. I had a minor magazine feeding issue, and they sent me a shipping label 10 min after the phone call. They wanted the rifle back to make sure it was corrected, and I had the rifle back in less than 10 days including shipping time. I'm planning on another in 243 AI soon.
 
i have 2 coopers in 6.5x284 a single shot and repeater. its a great round very easy to load for and excellent accuracy recoil is low you will love it. i shoot deer past 600 with it often and i take it elk hunting also. i say you get one if you dont like it send it to me.. mine loves retumbo and both will one hole shots at 100yds
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