Need a Cooper Rifle but which caliber?

[sparky660]

Well call me crazy but I think I might take the plunge and look at getting a Cooper. I was in Prophet River today and they are a beautiful rifle. The only thing that I can't decide on is what caliber to get. I have a 243 for coyotes and whitetail deer, have a 30/06 that I have used for bear and Moose and a 17 hmr for gophers. What should I get to make the collection complete. I was thinking along the lines of the Magnum 300 club. Any recommendations? I am leaning towards the 300 Weatherby but I am open to other ideas. I am thinking something harder hitting then the 30/06 for Elk and Moose.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by sparky660

Well call me crazy but I think I might take the plunge and look at getting a Cooper. I was in Prophet River today and they are a beautiful rifle. The only thing that I can't decide on is what caliber to get. I have a 243 for coyotes and whitetail deer, have a 30/06 that I have used for bear and Moose and a 17 hmr for gophers. What should I get to make the collection complete. I was thinking along the lines of the Magnum 300 club. Any recommendations? I am leaning towards the 300 Weatherby but I am open to other ideas. I am thinking something harder hitting then the 30/06 for Elk and Moose.

The 300 WBY Cartridge in a Cooper Rifle is an Exellent Choice.To be driving a 180 Grain bullet going 3200' @ the Muzzle Shooting a Garanteed 1\2", 3 shot group @ 100yards is Da Bomb!!!!

I just bought a cooper Magnum Rifle in a 7MM STW.I Would have got the 300 WBY Mag however I already have an Accurate German weatherby Mark V chambered in the 300 wby!!!

Good luck with your Cooper! They are one of the Best!

[Homesteader]

Well the 300 Roy will certainly hit harder, but a good round often overlooked round for more punch is the 338 Win Mag. I was also thinking another round to split the diff between your 243, and 06 would be the 7-08.

[whitetail Junkie]

Originally Posted by Homesteader

Well the 300 Roy will certainly hit harder, but a good round often overlooked round for more punch is the 338 Win Mag. I was also thinking another round to split the diff between your 243, and 06 would be the 7-08.

The 338 Win is a great cartridge however....

A 300 wby will shoot a 200 grain Nosler Bullet about 20' per second faster than a 338 Win will shoot a 200 grain Nosler Bullet.Thats with abit more powder in the weatherby of coarse

The 200 grain nosler accubond from the 300WBY has a balistic coefficient of about .580,A 200 grain nosler accubond from a 338 Win has only a Balistic coefficient of about .420

[whitetailhntr]

.280 AI...nuff said

[Homesteader]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

The 338 Win is a great cartridge however....

A 300 wby will shoot a 200 grain Nosler Bullet about 20' per second faster than a 338 Win will shoot a 200 grain Nosler Bullet.Thats with abit more powder in the weatherby of coarse

The 200 grain nosler accubond from the 300WBY has a balistic coefficient of about .580,A 200 grain nosler accubond from a 338 Win has only a Balistic coefficient of about .420

True enough I guess, but the 338 is not really designed around 200g bullets, compare the 30 cal 200's to the 338 cal 250's, and things change. The Weatherby will always be flatter of course. The 338 will pretty much mirror the trajectory of the 06, so a plus that you don't have to learn a new yardage table, or a con that it isn't any flatter.

[sparky660]

Originally Posted by whitetailhntr

.280 AI...nuff said

Clay was bragging up the one that he had in stock saying it was stupid accurate. The only thing holding me back is that knock out punch the 300 weatherby will have over the 280. If you were to have a dedicated Moose/Elk gun what would you prefer? Right now I am still leaning towards the 300 but I am open minded and with some good information I would easily change my outlook.

[elkhunter11]

I have a Cooper 280AI with a Cooper 7mmstw on order. Either is plenty powerful for moose and elk, and the 7mmstw shoots flatter than the 300wby, with slightly less recoil. I have previously owned three 7mmstws, and it is still my favorite big game cartridge.

[Gunslinger257]

I would be tempted to go with something off the beaten path like a 264 win mag. or 300h&h or maybe a 284win. Or get a little creative and look at the 25stw or 25-300rum.

[elkhunter11]

Or get a little creative and look at the 25stw or 25-300rum.

Not from Cooper.

[leo]

I am on my 3rd 300 Weatherby, none were on a Weatherby rifle. It is the cartridge that has been my favorite to bring home the bacon. But!!!!it comes with a price in recoil and cartridges, components. If you reload and deside on the 300, accuracy is more important than velocity. I have 1 load that worked exceptionaly in all 3 of mine. 80 grains of H4831, 180 grain nosler partition, federal 215 primer on hornady or weatherby brass. Velocity should be between 3100- 3200 FPS, good luck.

[sparky660]

Well it looks like I have some home work to do. I role my own ammunition so anything Cooper offers I can work with. With the suggestions given I will have to some reading up on the ballistic charts to see what will be the best choice for me.

Is reloading belted brass any more labor intensive then regular brass?

[leo]

Originally Posted by sparky660

Well it looks like I have some home work to do. I role my own ammunition so anything Cooper offers I can work with. With the suggestions given I will have to some reading up on the ballistic charts to see what will be the best choice for me.

Is reloading belted brass any more labor intensive then regular brass?

Not really, but setting your die correctly is that much more critical IMO. I set the die to headspace on the belt and shoulder still alowing it to chamber freely(check every case).

[BallCoeff.435]

Depends what situation(s) you'll be in. If you'll be shooting far and flat at big deer, then a 280AI. If it's mostly for larger animals at distance, then the Model 56 in 340 Wby.

If it's mostly for jackalope(s), a 6.5x284 in your favourite fat-barrel style would be good.

The only problem with the 340 chambering is if it is set up to use factory ammo, which it has to be, then it might have the sloppy freebore problem, compromising accuracy. You also don't want a very light platform for that kind of unbraked artillery. Minimum 10 pounds without scope. If the throat/leade is tight enough then maybe freebore doesn't matter and you'll end up with nice accuracy. Probably depends on how each individual rifle comes out.

Or, just sell off the 30-06 and get a model 56 in 300 winmag. That should cover all territory from 260 up to 338.

Whatever, get it custom-fitted and put some top-end glass on it.

[sparky660]

Originally Posted by BallCoeff.435

Or, just sell off the 30-06 and get a model 56 in 300 winmag. That should cover all territory from 260 up to 338.

Whatever, get it custom-fitted and put some top-end glass on it.

I would sell off the '06 but it was the first new firearm I purchased so it has a special place in my heart and couldn't let it go. I also promised it to my oldest son when he is old enough to hunt with it. Until then I would like a gun mainly for moose and elk. Most shots will not go beyond 300 yards until my skill level increases, which I am working on.

[BallCoeff.435]

Originally Posted by sparky660

I would sell off the '06 but it was the first new firearm I purchased so it has a special place in my heart and couldn't let it go. I also promised it to my oldest son when he is old enough to hunt with it. Until then I would like a gun mainly for moose and elk. Most shots will not go beyond 300 yards until my skill level increases, which I am working on.

Then Model 56/300winmag using 180-gn noslers. Better a heavier model than lighter. Any more kick, component expense, or barrel-burning than that is not necessary.

[whitetailhntr]

Originally Posted by sparky660

Clay was bragging up the one that he had in stock saying it was stupid accurate. The only thing holding me back is that knock out punch the 300 weatherby will have over the 280. If you were to have a dedicated Moose/Elk gun what would you prefer? Right now I am still leaning towards the 300 but I am open minded and with some good information I would easily change my outlook.

My dedicated moose /elk rifle is a .280 AI and it is stupid accurate. If i was to choose a magnum It would probably be a 300 Win or 338 win. I like the classic appeal of those cartridges.And if the Weatherby stuff turns your crank, get one of them. Whatever you choose you will love your Cooper that I know for sure.

I was pretty pumped when they announced the model 56 magnums until I saw the price. For what they are charging you can have a full custom built so that is the route I'm going for my next rifle.

[sparky660]

Originally Posted by whitetailhntr

My dedicated moose /elk rifle is a .280 AI and it is stupid accurate.

That is good to know and he also has them in stock.

[whitetailhntr]

The accuracy of the Cooper rifle will do wonders for your confidence and help you build up your shooting skill. Accurate rifles of any type with a little coaching helps tremendously.

[sparky660]

Originally Posted by whitetailhntr

The accuracy of the Cooper rifle will do wonders for your confidence and help you build up your shooting skill. Accurate rifles of any type with a little coaching helps tremendously.

That is a good thing as I plan on a lot of range time this season and a tack driver will be a big help.

[elkhunter11]

That is a good thing as I plan on a lot of range time this season and a tack driver will be a big help.

If your plan is to spend a lot of time shooting this gun at targets, choose something with a longer barrel life, and milder recoil. In that case, the 280AI would be a great choice.

[Cowboybob]

Went through a magnum phase and still have a few but have moved back to "normal" chamberings for most of my hunting and can honestly say that I don't feel handicapped in any way. My Cooper is Custom Classic in .280 AI. Scary accurate and a heck of a lot more fun to shoot than most magnums. For really big critters with fangs and claws I might choose something bigger but there's nothing with horns or antlers that I'd hesitate to hunt with it at sane ranges.

The .280 AI is proving fairly easy to reload, feeds beautifully and the ballistics in my 26 inch barrel match my 7mm mags. Seems almost unreasonably efficient in that respect. Like several above, I'd recommend giving it a try.

[Lonnie]

Originally Posted by sparky660

I would sell off the '06 but it was the first new firearm I purchased so it has a special place in my heart and couldn't let it go. I also promised it to my oldest son when he is old enough to hunt with it. Until then I would like a gun mainly for moose and elk. Most shots will not go beyond 300 yards until my skill level increases, which I am working on.

stay with the 30-06 ti's more than capable of 500 yard shots. you have to lean the terjectory as any one can sight in at 500 yards but you will be very high at 200 yards. the best to figure where you will get the best average over distants your shooting usually there is a section in most reloading manuals that cover this. lean to judge distants. even with a magnum you have to no the terjectory and distance, especially for long distance shots.
most people can't shoot 500yards with a hunting rifle magnum or not,and shooting 800 or more with consistently you need a target rifle with target sights.

[Lonnie]

if it was me I wuold look at a good varmit gun 223 or 22-250 if it had to double as a hunting rifle for deer,243 if had to use for elk and moose as well 6.5 x 55

[elkhunter11]

lean to judge distants. even with a magnum you have to no the terjectory and distance, especially for long distance shots.
most people can't shoot 500yards with a hunting rifle magnum or not,and shooting 800 or more with consistently you need a target rifle with target sights.

Get a good laser rangefinder, it is more accurate than any person is at estimating distance. I wouldn't attempt 800 yard shots on a game animal with any rifle, but some hunting rifles are accurate enough, in the hands of the right shooter.

[Lonnie]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Get a good laser rangefinder, it is more accurate than any person is at estimating distance. I wouldn't attempt 800 yard shots on a game animal with any rifle, but some hunting rifles are accurate enough, in the hands of the right shooter.

agree that some hunting rifles are accurate enough the problem is time.get out range finder adjust scope get good position prone or sitting position. get steady enough to squeeze the trigger and to make that shot they would all most have to be long range target shooter. just because of the practice they would need to hold a rifle steady enough. like I said most can't hit at 500 yards and not once did I say that it was because the gun could not do it. even 500 yard shooting is darn tough to do even with a range finder. but if you shoot enough at different ranges you get to know approximately where that bullet will be at right out to the maximum distance that you practice shooting at.

[elkhunter11]

agree that some hunting rifles are accurate enough the problem is time.get out range finder adjust scope get good position prone or sitting position. get steady enough to squeeze the trigger and to make that shot they would all most have to be long range target shooter.

I have a laser rangefinder built into my binoculars, so as I assess an animal with my binoculars, I just push a button and read the range to the target. This saves considerable time compared to having a separate rangefinder.

[Lonnie]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I have a laser rangefinder built into my binoculars, so as I assess an animal with my binoculars, I just push a button and read the range to the target. This saves considerable time compared to having a separate rangefinder.

that would be nice and handy, but why can't they make a good range finder right in the scope. or a good camera built in to the scope as when out hunting I've seen a lot of things that would be nice to have a pic of but when I'm hunting I'm usually walking and do not carry any thing more than I need. but that is going to change as I'm getting older a have had major stomach surgery stand hunting or still hunting is starting to sound more appealing, so I probably start carrying a pack with me and find nice place to sit and wait then I Will have a camera, binoculars, thermos, and alot of other stuff with me.

[elkhunter11]

that would be nice and handy, but why can't they make a good range finder right in the scope.

They are available, but they are quite heavy, and the cost is very high for the quality units.

[6.5 shooter]

Get something with a .264 bullet ... will kill most anything, with a well placed shot out to 500Yds. If you do your part....or buy a .375 H&H mag. if you really feel the need for more power, with a 300 gr. bullet it shoots nearly as flat as your 30-06, or just learn to shot you 06, it has, and will kill any game your likely to ever encounter here in North America