Cooper's Shoot!

[Rick in Oregon]

Hotshot: You're a good sport, obviously an experienced shooter....and you've proven my theory, in that "there's somethin' for everybody". Hey, if YOU like it, then it's right. Again I say.....This is America, and we have choices!

(If I inferred you were a cheapskate, I apologize. However as you noted, this economy affects us all. If I had not gotten a killer deal on that Cooper, it would still be on the dealers shelf.....)

[Hotshot]

Rick, my friend, we can agree to disagree. I would fight for your right to have an opinion and the right to express it as I know you would for me.

It just seems like this forum gets a little boring compared to last year when we had more opinions banging around out there. Certainly we haven't all learned everything there is to know about 204's. Maybe we do need those Texans to fire things up some more. Where are you guys?

[Mike]

I'm late to the party, but I want to play too!!!

On my last prairie dog shoot, I spent three days working a couple of Savage rifles (because my Cooper wasn't available, due to no fault of the rifle itself). One of the Savage rifles was the LRPV in 6mm BR and the other was a heavy-barreled .22-250 with the Choat varmint stock. Both rifles shot well and performed exactly as I expected them to do out in the field. With that said, there's absolutely no comparison between the look and feel of a Cooper and a Savage. Not even remotely in the same ball park.

Coming from my Cooper, the Savage actions felt like a mix of loose parts. They've got way too much play in them for my taste, which gives me the impression that they're cheap. In reality, they're not cheap at all (so please don't take offense). An LRPV is a great rifle and the cost really isn't that much different from a Cooper. For that reason, I expected a lot more out of the LRPV in the form of aesthetics and feel. I walked away disappointed, but with a great deal of respect for how well the rifles can shoot.

At the end of the day, I want a rifle that gets me excited every time I see it. My Cooper accomplishes that and I smile every time I pick her up while the Savages felt like utility rifles to me. They shot great, but never once made me smile while looking at them. My heart needs to skip a beat before I stroke a check for a new rifle, and the Savage simply couldn't deliver.



That enough controversy for ya, Hotshot?

[Hotshot]

That's a good start Mike, but there was a day not too long ago when this topic would have 20 responses by now(and some heated).
I'll make you a deal. You don't call Savages junk and I won't call Coopers sissy guns and we'll always get along because we love to shoot.

P.S. Too bad your Cooper was broke down!

[Gube]

Anybody got any popcorn.

[Mike]

That's a good start Mike, but there was a day not too long ago when this topic would have 20 responses by now(and some heated).
I'll make you a deal. You don't call Savages junk and I won't call Coopers sissy guns and we'll always get along because we love to shoot.

P.S. Too bad your Cooper was broke down!

I have plenty of faults, but I will never put down another man's rifle.

I also wouldn't call Savages junk, because they're not. They just lack a certain visceral element that makes my heart flutter. Savage is doing something right, based on the number of rifles being sold. However, last time I checked Savage didn't have a waiting list...

It was too bad that my Cooper was out of commission. We can bash Hornady for that one all day long, though! Wasn't Cooper's fault that Hornady gave me a defective round that bent my firing pin.

[Captqc]

Hotshot,
I take no offense of your comments about Coopers. I believe that the old saying "To each his own" applies just fine here. I own many brands of weapons and they all have a place in my safe and in the field. If savages float your boat then great! I'd even let you shoot one next to me. Gary

[Hotshot]

That's real nice of you Captain. I'll try not to let my Savage soil your boots when we shoot together some day. I have no doubt in my mind that you will get the urge for some Montana prairie dogs some day, and I'm your guide. Heck, I'm only a couple miles from the Cooper factory, maybe they'll let me bring some spare parts along.

P.S. I'll have one someday, but I may talk a little $hit untill I get one of my own.

[Captqc]

Hotshot,
You know if you get a Cooper some day you are in for some fun ribbing around here! You should go the route I did and trade a gun to get a Cooper as I sure didn't have the coin laying around to buy one! Now I have to save up to get another scope and if you check my posting about the Cooper the vote is going toward the "blood splatter" scope which costs over $1000! It remains to be seen if that will happen or not. Gary
p.s. I wear tennis shoes!

[Mike]

Now I have to save up to get another scope and if you check my posting about the Cooper the vote is going toward the "blood splatter" scope which costs over $1000!

Gary, out of curiosity why does Leupold charge so much more for that particular scope? Is there any difference other than the splattered finish? Surely you could pick up a standard VX-III and get some type of splatter treatment done for less than a grand. I've seen the 8.5-25's go for less than $800 brand new. That gives you a lot of play room to add some red paint.

[Hotshot]

I just can't imagine being ribbed by you, Gary. That just seems to be against your nature.

As far as the scope thing. If you had an Escalade you should have the 22 inch rims just for the look. Same thing with the Cooper, it's the look. Go for the splattered scope.

[Captqc]

Mike,
I don't think that the "splatter" is worth the extra money. As far as I can tell the scope is the same except for adding several hundred for the special anodizing. I'm looking at a 6.5-20X with the varmint hunters reticle and if I sell my Sig P220 I'll have the money to get it.
Hotshot,
I hope my kidding is always in good taste as I wouldn't want to ever offend anyone on this site.
Gary

[Hotshot]

Yeah, me too. Well, maybe there are a few I'd offend, but not most of the guys. I love this forum. It seems like part of the family.

[Sidewinderwa]

I sure like this site as no one is out for blood and take things in stride. Even though some people are blind to the beauty of the Savage 11 thumbhole that does head shots at 200 yards, right out of the box. It brings a smile to my face that I got it at a fraction of the cost of a Cooper. It has an oversized bolt that works smoothly. I love the feel of the thumbhole stock. The grip of the Coopers are too thin for my big hands. That being said, I've got the hots for a Cooper Phoenix in 20 VarTarg, it is calling my name. Just don't put down my lovely, accurate Savages along the way. It would not be right to show favoritism between the "kids" in the safe for skippy targets.