Custom, or Not
It would seem that the only time this issue would be a "issue" is in some sort of Competition. Shooters might think that a Cooper, or something similiar, would have an advantage because more attention to detail is placed upon them during the manufacturing proccess.
This attention to detail results in a Rifle that is capable of a higher degree of accuracy than one that was just assembled on a typical production line from massproduced parts.
What I call a "Custom" is taking a regular mass produced item, such as a Remington, and performing what ever it takes to correct all of the things that are detremental to performance. Performance, as we define it, means being able to shoot at a level of accuracy that is acceptable in what ever venue we are going to be shooting.
If that venue happens to be a Match, the Rifle might have to possess the ability to shoot, on a consistant basis, 5 shot groups below .350. That is no small order.
In order to do this, the action will have to be trued, the bedding be perfect in a stock that is suitable for accuracy work when shooting off of a bench, a true custom barrel with the proper twist installed, a trigger that will go down past one pound in pull, a quality scope, and last, but not least, a chambering chosen that will have the inherant capability to shoot at that level.
Does a Cooper, aside from being a single shot, (some models), have all of this?? I am not sure. Do their barrels poccess the same potential as a Krieger, Shilen, Hart etc. Are their actions as true as a Panda, or a trued up Remington. Is the trigger capable.
The final test is on the paper. I feel safe in saying that a Cooper, right out of the box, would not stand a chance against any of the multitudes of modified Factory Rifles that I described in the previous paragraphs. But, do keep in mind, that modified Factory Rifle will end up costing more than the Cooper did in the first place.
Ever been to a Car Show?? I used to be involved in that. Good Lord, they have a class for just about every concievable contengency. You go to a show that has 50 cars, and 25 classes. "well, you could be in that class, but those custom fender flares bump you up a class". Heck, I put them on there for tire clearance. Oh Well.
At our Club Matches, I tried to keep it simple. A Factory Rifle must have a magazine, and you can not do anything to it aside from bedding it, and adjusting the trigger.
Buddy Pullig showed up with a decades old Winchester Varminter in 308, and won our last Factory Class going away. Now, you can't buy one of those now. He just happens to have one. Should that Rifle be banned. Of course not. It is a out of the box Factory Rifle that happens to shoot pretty darned good. The fact that he knows how to match the correct load to it, and shoot it, means a lot too.
I think a Savage Model 12 Varminter in 308 will shoot as good. If you are serious about shooting in Factory, and winning, go buy one of those.
In short, a Cooper is not a Custom in the sense that Benchrest Shooters define a Custom. But, in the way that most of the Shooting Public defines Custom, it is. That being, they are not available at just any Gun Store, and they cost a lot. And, they do possess that intangible that has nothing to do with Rifle performance, but means a lot to many owners. That is "desireability"............jackie
..and the only factory action rifle to beat him was a Savage target action which had been customized with Shilen match 6mm BR barrel and a BR stock...his score was 249-13x....