I've always received good feedback when I asked for it on this site so here is my dilemma. I am trying to decide which rifle caliber to purchase in a Cooper. It will be one of the lower priced ones, not a custom with all the case coloring, etc. It will be used primarily for prairie dogs and other small varmints. I'm trying to decide between a 17HMR and a .223. I have 2 really good 17HMRs (Anschutz and Sako) and really accurate Remington 700 VSF .223. But, have always wanted to try Cooper. I'm leaning toward the .223 in a single shot with the Buick vents...can't recall the model number. I have seen some 17HMRs that looked like a good option since I love that round and could see buying another one. Would like to hear from guys who have experience with these rifles (Anschutz, Sako, Cooper) in the listed calibers. Please share your thoughts and reflections to help with my decision. I actually might eventually buy both if my first one is a positive experience. Thank you for your help. Tom
Decisions about Cooper rifles
- Thread starter Sniper66
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2011ERIC
Member
Cooper Phoenix, Montana Varminter or Varmint Extreme. I have the Phoenix in 308. It is, by far, the most accurate rifle I own. I wish that I would have gotten in the Montana Varminter or Varmint Extreme version for aesthetics. And now I want one in 22-250.
Since you already have some nice 17 HMR’s, I would go with the 223.
Since you already have some nice 17 HMR’s, I would go with the 223.
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redneck2
Member
I’ve hunted prairie dogs three times, week at a time. I found the .17 less than optimum once any wind came up. It works if you can find a town that hasn’t been shot over yet. Close ones will still come up. I used my .223 Varminter the most by far.
I really like my CZ .204. Nearly identical performance to a .22-250 with less recoil (see your hits) and much slower barrel heating and muzzle blast (which drives them underground).
I really like my CZ .204. Nearly identical performance to a .22-250 with less recoil (see your hits) and much slower barrel heating and muzzle blast (which drives them underground).
edwardware
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.223, and Ackley Improved if possible for a little more spice in your life. It's more versatile (targets, components) than the HMR.
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I have a Cooper Monatana Varminter in .223 and love it. Shot a bob cat with it a couple weeks ago. I was between .204 and .223 and went the .223 route. These are amazing rifles and feel weighted perfectly. You can do a quick internet search or simply call Cooper and they will let you know the load that was used for the target card that comes with your rifle.
Mark
Mark
2011ERIC
Member
I wish I would have bought the Montana Varminter instead of the Phoenix. I love mine but yours looks ten times better!
BigSteve57
Member
The Cooper in the thread title caught my eye.
I've usually not been a fan of paying a high price for upgraded wood HOWEVER I've done it a few times when the rifle wasn't otherwise available. One was with my Cooper Jackson Squirrel. I've concluded that life's too short to be seen out there with an average looking gun.
Just kidding the Phoenix looks like a fantastic rig.
Jessesky
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Great employees at Cooper. I called up asking about their .338 Laupa 52. It was a good deal at $2350 at optics planet. I called Cooper for more information and the smith blatantly told me that gun should not have been made in 338. The action is plenty strong, but the extractor cannot handle that size rim and breaks often. I appreciated the honest feedback.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Cooper's gone. Let the politics also be gone.
OK....politics be damned, I'm pretty sure my choice will be the Cooper Montana Varminter Model 21. I saw one at Scheel's in KC marked down from $2,100 to $1700; with 10% sales tax I'm at $1870. I paid $700 for my Rem 700 VSF .223. Put in a Shilen trigger for a bit over $100 and it's a helluva prairie dog gun. So, now I have to ask myself if a $1,000 more on a rifle will bring me what I want. Hummm? I watched a YouTube video and the guy had one with great wood and had shipped it back to Cooper to have his Montana Varminter trigger adjusted way down to 2oz. Wonder what it cost to have that done?. Anyway, I could see a really nice wood Cooper costing closer to $2500+. Worth it? Who knows. Such dilemmas. When I used to complain about how much anything costs, my wise mother would say, "Just be glad you have the money." Thanks Mom.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Although I plan on buying a Cooper rifle in the next year or two and it's going to be a rimfire (.22LR), for you I'd opt for the .223 to get the most out of what will be a really nice rifle. I love the .17HMR but for a varmint rifle, the .223 is hard to beat.
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I don't own a .22-250 Rem anymore, but if I were thinking of getting one, I'd opt for .22-250 Ackley-Improved because case-stretching of the original is excessive, due to the case taper and shallower shoulder angle, so and trimming is necessary after almost every firing. (If you don't/won't handload, you might want to either get the original or .223 Rem.)
With any centerfire .22s, misses at critters in grassy fields are difficult to spot. We used our .30-06 deer rifles for varmints as practice for deer hunting and got pretty good with them. If we weren't sure of the amount of drop, we'd often aim low and the 125-150 grain bullets would sometimes bounce up and get the woodchuck. (Had to be EXTREMELY careful about the shooting direction, due to the excessive ricochet factor of the tougher bullets and greater energy.)
With any centerfire .22s, misses at critters in grassy fields are difficult to spot. We used our .30-06 deer rifles for varmints as practice for deer hunting and got pretty good with them. If we weren't sure of the amount of drop, we'd often aim low and the 125-150 grain bullets would sometimes bounce up and get the woodchuck. (Had to be EXTREMELY careful about the shooting direction, due to the excessive ricochet factor of the tougher bullets and greater energy.)
Yup on both. I deleted the off-topic politics so the thread can continue. No more politics, please.
MrBorland, Thank you for the assist. As the OP, your decision is helpful. Now...back to my question. I've pretty much decided that the Cooper Montana Varminter is my choice. Had originally thought the .223 would be my first choice, but now thinking maybe .204. To remind everyone, I shoot prairie dogs and other varmints, mostly coyotes. I have two .204s, a Kimber 84M and a Ruger #1, both great rifles. BUT, I'm still really wanting a Cooper. I'll appreciate any additional thoughts and please no politics. Also, does any one of you have a Cooper 17HMR you could tell me about?
I don't think you go wrong between the .223 and .204. Perhaps the .223 is slightly more versatile but that my be more geared towards someone without a .204 already. Wish I also had a .17HMR from them that I could tell you about but I'm not a huge fan of wind effect on the .17.
Mark
Mark
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