Cooper .22s - Any reports?

[Darrell Davis]

Hey there rimfire shooters.

How about it, any FIRST HAND reports on the Coopers?

By the way, if you haven't checked them out you should!  W O W!!!!!!!  is an understatement.  Put in Cooper Arms of Montana on your search and feast on the eye candy.

Have not seen any bad reports anywhere (Rimfire Central etc.) on the Cooper. Can't say that for the Kimber although I could be talked into trying one of them.

However, if I get a heavy barrel 77/22 ss w/lam. stock and then trick it out to shoot the way I want it to, I am not that far from a LVT Cooper .22LR in price. The Cooper is about 8 months out on new orders and there are not many dealers around.  

After my bout with the tc "classic" I wonder if I should just pay the price upfront and get a REAL GUN to start with.

The Cooper comes out of the factory doing 1/4" groups with the right ammo/conditions/scope/shooter etc. but even if it only got close to that, it would be a long shot better then what my tc will do.

Please, let me hear about your Coopers!

Keep em coming! :wink:

[bigdaddytacp]

Hey there rimfire shooters.

How about it, any FIRST HAND reports on the Coopers?

By the way, if you haven't checked them out you should!  W O W!!!!!!!  is an understatement.  Put in Cooper Arms of Montana on your search and feast on the eye candy.

Have not seen any bad reports anywhere (Rimfire Central etc.) on the Cooper. Can't say that for the Kimber although I could be talked into trying one of them.

However, if I get a heavy barrel 77/22 ss w/lam. stock and then trick it out to shoot the way I want it to, I am not that far from a LVT Cooper .22LR in price. The Cooper is about 8 months out on new orders and there are not many dealers around.  

After my bout with the tc "classic" I wonder if I should just pay the price upfront and get a REAL GUN to start with.

The Cooper comes out of the factory doing 1/4" groups with the right ammo/conditions/scope/shooter etc. but even if it only got close to that, it would be a long shot better then what my tc will do.

Please, let me hear about your Coopers!

Keep em coming! :wink:

..........My experience with them was a few years ago...they have changed managment and such off and on since them......I would deal ONLY with a COOPER DEALER....and my experience with them was not good.....last count I have owned over 200 guns....trades and ect over the last 30yrs....custom to junk......I got a IR50 Cooper with wood upgrade,checked butt plate,Lilja barrel and Jewell trigger.....2800$...it wouldn't extract fired cases and this was a common problem with the other rimfire action.....then I got a centerfire 223......the headspace was so bad the primer backed out of the case half way........and when they questioned my reloading skills I tried some factory ammo...4 brands....most of them wouldn't chamber due to a misfitted extractor and barrel cutout.....then Cooper told me I should use MILITARY ammo IT WAS CHEAPER!!!! this was their answer to a gun that wouldn't chamber new ammo.......I sent it to them direct and they fixed the headspace...and STILL new FACTORY AMMO wouldn't chamber....THEY DIDN"T FIX EXTRACTOR.......my great dealer gave me all my money back and a deal on another brand of gun........oH I forgot....it broke the mainspring before I finished the first fireforming load target..........replaced the mainspring.....and when it would let a shell in the chamber it did shoot a .4 five shot group at 100yds with fireforming load........again things might have changed and they completely redesigned the rimfire action.....BUT WHY DID THEY MARKET THE EARLY JUNK? but if you just want to LOOK at they they are FANTASTIC........again they are TALKING a good game NOW but I'm not going to be the one to test to see if they got things fixed........! good luck and good shooting!!!

[Darrell Davis]

Morn'in Bigdaddy,

Thanks for the come back!

Sounds like you had a worse time then I did with my tc classic 22. However, you are rid of your junker and I am still trying to get to that point with the un-classic.

Not sure what happened with the first try on Cooper, but something must have been haywire. However, it appears as if things are moving in the correct direction at this point as I am hearing nothing bad (so far) about the new stuff.

As per working through a dealer to buy a Cooper, that seems to be the only way they are dealing. You can search the net or call them for area dealers. I have done both. I also sent a e-mail to them about delivery times etc. and their reply said I needed to go through a dealer.

As nearly as I can tell, they are in total control of production within the plant. Could be wrong on that, but have at present no other indications.

Anyway, thanks as I sure don't want to just go by the ads again as I did with the un-classic.

Keep em coming! :wink:

[SteelEye]

I bought a 57M because it was available immediatly in lefty.  The gun is very smooth with a beautiful stock.  I have not done ammo testing but found it does not like CCI Standard.  Shoots Wolf ME very well.  I shoot silhouette so I shoot it standing with no coats or slings.  With a Weaver T36 I can easily put a few hundred rounds into 3" at 50 yards with the occassional flyer because of distraction or trigger jerk.  I'm sure the gun will do much, much better.  I get too impatient shooting from a rest but may do that one day.

I shot my first match with it and did quite well considering I had never shot a 22 over 50 yards.  I don't think I would want to shoot anything else if I ever lost this rifle.  Would certainly get another.

SteelEye

[Jack Gilbert]

That was very illuminating--a clunker expensive rifle. Guess you just can't tell. Good luck looking. Sometimes the search is more fun than the outcome. The 39-A jammed on me this AM, seems sometimes to want to feed two rounds and picks up two on the follower. Not sure why that is. Anyway, took her home and cleared it--takedown comes in real handy at this time.

Good luck on the search.

[larryw]

I bought a 57M Classic used from an online dealer a while back (left-hand action).  Gun was absolutely gorgeous when I got it, silky smooth and oozed quality.  Test target showed .187" group (not bad for a light sporty).

I had some problems getting the gun to shoot 1/4" groups consistently, so I called Cooper.  "Send it in, we'll take care of you."  

"But, I bought it used."  

"Send it in, we'll take care of you."

Over the next couple weeks, they rebedded the gun and weren't happy with it; rechambered it, still not happy; recut the crown, not happy.  At this point, it was obvious they were taking this personally and pulled out all the stops: they rebarreled the gun, shot a bunch of groups (I have them, all under .2" and all hitting the same spot on the target) and sent it back.  Family owned and operated, they take the fact that their name is on the gun seriously.

I also had problems with 4 of the magazines I bought; Cooper tuned them and they feed 100% now.  The one that came with the gun was always 100%.

Remember, I bought this gun USED and all I paid for was shipping to MT.

Gun is scary accurate, shooting rested 1/4" groups at 50 with WMT ($2/box), better with the good stuff.  Balance is perfect, the 100M Rams are MINE!  

Would I buy another?  In a heartbeat.  Would I recommend one?  Already have several times without hesitation.  [/list]