Why the lack of Cooper rifles?

[DavidABQ]

Cooper rifles are at a similar price-point as an Anschutz 1712 so why do they not see widespread use at the SB silhouette Nationals this year?

Are discriminated against because of their place of manufacture?

[boats]

Am sure they are fine rifles, I shot a Oregon Kimber 82 in Hunter Class for years and looked at the Coopers many times. However Anschutz is a considerable upgrade on either, barrel and more important the Trigger. Am no fan of German anything but Anschutz is the one to shoot in SB Silhouette

Boats

[psteiger]

build quality is spotty. I have one, wouldn't feed, extract or fire consistently. Purchased new. Went back twice, bolt once. It fires and extracts but won't feed from the mag. How many times do you need to send a $2k rifle back to the factory to get it to work? There was one lefty I saw at nationals and another friend in SC has one. Another friend here has a righty that works great. It's one of the few lefty repeaters made. My friends warned me not to buy one. Common issues. If you get one, make sure you get to test it thoroughly first. I think my 1416 with the 5098 trigger is a far better gun. It does have really pretty wood........If you want to buy a neat rifle that works EVERY time, buy an Anschutz 1827F or F27A.

[DavidABQ]

I am going to hold off on getting a new rifle. An innocent young woman who just had a birthday told me to just keep shooting mine. I.think she was trying to tell me that I should learn how to shoot first and the buy an expensive rifle second.

Too bad about Cooper's build quality.

[SqHunter]

Some of them function just fine.

In 2008 I finished graduate school and as a present to myself I bought a Jackson Squirrel rifle in 22 and then about six months later a Classic in 17HMII. Both were fine rifles in every way, the Jackson exceptional because it had a AAA+ wood upgrade. However, as indicated by a previous poster the flaws in the trigger design are a major drawback for Silhouette shooters. I am from blue collar/farm origins and a firm believer in BUY AMERICAN, but I could not get past the trigger. CZ triggers are better for goodness sake! As such I eventually traded or sold both of my Cooper rifles and now have only Anschutz. The 5018 trigger rules!

If you get a chance look at a blue print of the Cooper trigger, at least back when I had them they used a block on the trigger blade for a safety. That means that for it to be 100% reliable there must be discernible trigger movement present to avoid slip offs. If you were trying for a light pull, and I was for small game hunting purpose, there must be a good bit of movement! It was impossible to set them to a motionless release! It might not matter much on a dangerous game rifle with a 4 or 5 pound trigger, but for smallbore it was terrible.

In their defense I did not ever try the Jard trigger, which is supposed to remedy this problem. Also, even with my lackluster experience with them I would have one again if I could. They are very pretty furniture!

It is a shame that the only good trigger made in America is made by Tony Kidd for a 10/22. I wish he would make one for the CZ 452!

[boats]

To be honest my new Anschutz 1712 had extraction problems. They fixed it promptly. Fine line on tight chambers with so much variance in 22 ammo. High end guns are like anything else highly tuned, often need tweaking. It's just right now extracts perfect with no loss of accuracy after the chamber was polished out just a bit.

Trigger is the reason to shoot Anschutz

Boats

[Innocent]

I've seen several Coopers with the aforementioned problems, lot of money for inconsistent quality. Have seen some Annies that were bad, but usually only one trip for repairs. Still fall back on my Winny for reliable shooting. Honestly David if you are going to drop that kind of money on a rifle, do a custom build on an Annie base. Either Wooster, Merrier or Pharr whichever stock fits you best.

Innocent

[malinois]

Those coopers are sure pretty....My anschultz was my prone gun...then a chingun...then a heavy gun...and now its a hunter rifle...Its been through a few barrels and diffrent stocks but the action and the trigger have always been the same and she is pushing about 32 years in action with me. Like I said them coopers are sure pretty ! but in our game it has to be more than skin deep.

[DavidABQ]

I've seen several Coopers with the aforementioned problems, lot of money for inconsistent quality. Have seen some Annies that were bad, but usually only one trip for repairs. Still fall back on my Winny for reliable shooting. Honestly David if you are going to drop that kind of money on a rifle, do a custom build on an Annie base. Either Wooster, Merrier or Pharr whichever stock fits you best.

Innocent

Mary,

I am going to follow your earlier advice and just keep shooting my CZ. I am not convinced that a 1712 is going to help my score that much.

I need to learn how to shoot better before I drop serious cash on a 1712. The shooting clinic following the Nationals this year drove home how poorly my positioning was and other issues I am/was having.

I have a software problem and not a hardware problem. With that said I do think I am going to look around for a more suitable scope.

[Fotheringill]

I have followed Cooper related postings on a few boards.
I do not have a Cooper. My strong preference is to buy American.
That being said, I have a 1913a Anschutz with a very plain blond walnut stock. It is a great shooter, no problems, with a great 5018 factory trigger.

How important is the wood to the purchaser?
How much is the spread in the cost of the rifle between the TR-3 ??? synthetic stock and the walnut? Not that much in my eyes.

I will refrain from purchasing a gorgeous Cooper for the time being. Hopefully, they will tighten up their QC before I either die or am too feeble to shoot.

$2,000+ for a NIB rifle with problems is more than I would spend.