J
johndavis
Guest
I'm thinking of getting started. I was looking for a rifle. I found that Cooper is making a BR rifle for $1300. Do you all think that it would be adequate?
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C
cpeters
Guest
I am reluctant to answer this because the last time I did I kind of hurt some feelings of some good folks.
If you are serious about competing in BR....the short answer is NO.
A buddy here in Missouri waited for one when they first came out, then even rebarrelled it and it was not competetive. May have just been that rifle.
If I had limited funds to start out I would buy an older used Anschutz 54, Suhl 150 or Remington 40x and start with that....it may or may not be competetive but then add upgrades as you can afford the.
If you watch the classifieds on BR central you will see one of these rifles on a fairly regular basis already in a benchrest stock obviously without scope for the money you are looking at.
Charlie
If you are serious about competing in BR....the short answer is NO.
A buddy here in Missouri waited for one when they first came out, then even rebarrelled it and it was not competetive. May have just been that rifle.
If I had limited funds to start out I would buy an older used Anschutz 54, Suhl 150 or Remington 40x and start with that....it may or may not be competetive but then add upgrades as you can afford the.
If you watch the classifieds on BR central you will see one of these rifles on a fairly regular basis already in a benchrest stock obviously without scope for the money you are looking at.
Charlie
Last edited by a moderator:
R
rick_687
Guest
Bad-Mouthing
I have a Cooper TRP-3 with a Jard 2 oz trigger, Hoehn tuner, T-36 Weaver and stock tape. Other than that, it is an out-of-the-box factory rifle. My average last year for IR 50/50 Unlimited matches was somewhere above 246, I finished #34 in the Unlimited Scoreline for 2008, won Shooter of the Year at my club, and shot 746-50X in the State Championships. My targets this last Tuesday were 247, 247 and 250. I am a new shooter (this is year #3) and am still learning the game, but that's the pedigree of my Cooper. I am not at all sure I'd have done better with a custom rifle.
There are a lot of opinions on this forum about Coopers, mostly negative, and you'll hear that none of the equipment lists at the national championships include Cooper rifles. That's all true, the TRP-3 certainly isn't the best rifle that money can buy, but you asked if a Cooper is a good starting point. IF,(and that's a darned big IF), you're a nationally skilled shooter with time and money to practice, travel to matches and compete on a national level, you'd be wise to look at a custom rifle and a custom gunsmith to set it up for you. You'll also need deep pockets and patience to wait a considerable period of time since the good 'smiths are busy. Got $5K to sink into a rifle you'll have to wait many moons to receive? You could also buy a used rifle from the classified ads on this forum. There are good rifles for sale. There are also dogs that won't hunt.
If you're the average guy and want to get into rimfire BR, most TRP-3s will shoot better than you can. If you're the average guy, you'll also never compete on the national level and the best rifle in the world won't make you a winner until you learn to shoot it.
OK guys, I'm ready for the bad-mouthing.
I have a Cooper TRP-3 with a Jard 2 oz trigger, Hoehn tuner, T-36 Weaver and stock tape. Other than that, it is an out-of-the-box factory rifle. My average last year for IR 50/50 Unlimited matches was somewhere above 246, I finished #34 in the Unlimited Scoreline for 2008, won Shooter of the Year at my club, and shot 746-50X in the State Championships. My targets this last Tuesday were 247, 247 and 250. I am a new shooter (this is year #3) and am still learning the game, but that's the pedigree of my Cooper. I am not at all sure I'd have done better with a custom rifle.
There are a lot of opinions on this forum about Coopers, mostly negative, and you'll hear that none of the equipment lists at the national championships include Cooper rifles. That's all true, the TRP-3 certainly isn't the best rifle that money can buy, but you asked if a Cooper is a good starting point. IF,(and that's a darned big IF), you're a nationally skilled shooter with time and money to practice, travel to matches and compete on a national level, you'd be wise to look at a custom rifle and a custom gunsmith to set it up for you. You'll also need deep pockets and patience to wait a considerable period of time since the good 'smiths are busy. Got $5K to sink into a rifle you'll have to wait many moons to receive? You could also buy a used rifle from the classified ads on this forum. There are good rifles for sale. There are also dogs that won't hunt.
If you're the average guy and want to get into rimfire BR, most TRP-3s will shoot better than you can. If you're the average guy, you'll also never compete on the national level and the best rifle in the world won't make you a winner until you learn to shoot it.
OK guys, I'm ready for the bad-mouthing.
I think there is a bit of a Catch-22 situation with the Coopers going on. The top shooters don't buy them because they don't want a rifle to grow with, they want the best available, and the beginners - well shoot beginner scores. I have a Cooper Classic Sporter and I can't see why the Cooper action can't be a competitive action. I think it is certainly upgrade worthy. Now that JARD has triggers available for them, I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't be a good "starter" rifle. When the shooter is ready for a premier barrel, add one. Down the road if you want a better stock, replace the Cooper's Bell and Carlson with any of the fine top shelf BR stocks.
But here is the best reason to buy one: If/when you learn to shoot this game, you will have the satisfaction of beating plenty of shooters who never really learned to shoot this game, but who think that spending the big bucks on a Custom from a top smith is all that's needed to make it to the top. You can help educate those shooters.
But here is the best reason to buy one: If/when you learn to shoot this game, you will have the satisfaction of beating plenty of shooters who never really learned to shoot this game, but who think that spending the big bucks on a Custom from a top smith is all that's needed to make it to the top. You can help educate those shooters.
bob finger
New member
I put a Jard 2 oz trigger on a Cooper 57M in an attempt to shoot br sporter class with it. The rifle shoots very well indeed but that trigger/action is by no means competitive with a good rimfire benchrest rifle with a decent trigger. Kinda like asking a Chevy to do the work of a Rolls Royce...they both run down the road but there the similarity ends. bob finger
R
rick_687
Guest
Y'All Come
Come on down to the Mississippi Gulf coast, bring your high-dollar rifle and show us poor bumpkins how to shoot. We could use a lesson or two. The next IR50/50 Unlimited match is Tuesday, June 2 and Tuesday,June 19 after that. I'd be glad to give directions to anyone interested. Matches start at 9:00am with registration open at 8:00am
Come on down to the Mississippi Gulf coast, bring your high-dollar rifle and show us poor bumpkins how to shoot. We could use a lesson or two. The next IR50/50 Unlimited match is Tuesday, June 2 and Tuesday,June 19 after that. I'd be glad to give directions to anyone interested. Matches start at 9:00am with registration open at 8:00am
I think there is a bit of a Catch-22 situation with the Coopers going on. The top shooters don't buy them because they don't want a rifle to grow with, they want the best available, and the beginners - well shoot beginner scores. I have a Cooper Classic Sporter and I can't see why the Cooper action can't be a competitive action. I think it is certainly upgrade worthy. Now that JARD has triggers available for them, I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't be a good "starter" rifle. When the shooter is ready for a premier barrel, add one. Down the road if you want a better stock, replace the Cooper's Bell and Carlson with any of the fine top shelf BR stocks.
But here is the best reason to buy one: If/when you learn to shoot this game, you will have the satisfaction of beating plenty of shooters who never really learned to shoot this game, but who think that spending the big bucks on a Custom from a top smith is all that's needed to make it to the top. You can help educate those shooters.
Well, I'd also be willing to bet that most of what would be top shooters probably are not shooting the gun they started with in all likelyhood. Odds are if you stick with this long enough you're likely going to sell and/or buy one or two guns along the way.
I put a Jard 2 oz trigger on a Cooper 57M in an attempt to shoot br sporter class with it. The rifle shoots very well indeed but that trigger/action is by no means competitive with a good rimfire benchrest rifle with a decent trigger. Kinda like asking a Chevy to do the work of a Rolls Royce...they both run down the road but there the similarity ends. bob finger
Oh maybe I'll just have to figure that out for myself. My 1st gen. Cooper 57M Classic has always been a pretty good shooter, even with the factory stock and trigger. I've been thinking about adding a JARD trigger and a custom stock and giving it a go in IR50/50 sporter class, if it'll make weight. Maybe a winter's project.
Odds are if you stick with this long enough you're likely going to sell and/or buy one or two guns along the way.
I don't like changing things too much. I had my 10.5 lb Turbo custom built in 2003 and, other then switching barrels a couple times, it's the only one I've ever had. Now I'm not a top shooter, but I'm in the mix once in a while.
2
2Dogs
Guest
There's a Cooper TRP-3 fs over on RFC, It looks like its rigged out, Just in case you want to go that way.