The future of Cooper Rifles of Ark

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William Suter

Well-known member
Lots of opinions over on Accurate Shooter about the direction Cooper rifles are headed. If you look at the new models, most are large caliber rifles in composite stocks and the cheapest is still over $4000. Smallest cartridge offered is a 22-250 so all the small caliber people are out of luck. Most rifles have the hanging down mags, so out of place on a walnut stock, and one had a vertical grip. I like a vertical grip just where they belong. Going tactical on us but they are owned by Night Hawk so maybe expected.

Any thoughts??
 
I've always wanted a Cooper. This will likely drive up the value of the old/used ones I'd think. I'm not interested in the new ones you're describing.
 
A lot of folks are upset because they aren't offering the small calibers that were so cool. Also no more nice AAA walnut stocks. I don't think Cooper ever meant for the rifles to fall into the tactical rifle group but it looks as though NightHawk is taking them there. But at $4000 on the bottom end its going to be a rough road. Personally I don't see it working for them.

I wish someone from NightHawk would come on here and explain what and why they are changing Cooper rifles. Maybe they would listen to what people want.
 
William Suter said:
one had a vertical grip. I like a vertical grip just where they belong.
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Are you talking about a front vertical grip, Bill? I like a vertical pistol grip; provides a much more natural angle for trigger finger, but don't care of forward PG either.
 
Its a vertical pistol grip. I like them to but they just seem out of place on a Cooper. Kinda like 35" tires on an Impala. Just my opinion.
 
I went back and looked again. The Montana Heritage does come in a wood stock and had the vertical grip. It didn't look bad at all, just different on a Cooper. I think that is the only model that isn't composite. Hard to tell on their site.
 
Almost all of my guns are modern tactical type, I use and beat on them regularly, no works of art in burl walnut and checkering but I hate to hear Cooper move to tactical stuff. They always was known for some really classic beautiful guns, not many manufacturers left making quality rifles that are also very nice to look at.
 
I'm not a fan of tacticool and walnut's nice, but I'll take function over fashion. ;) To me, the vertical pistol grip makes a 4# trigger feel more like a 3-3.5# due to angle of pull.
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The AR pistol grip is the berries off sticks and this was about as close as I could come to the AR in a bolt gun.
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Amazing what you can do by ditching the 10 round mag., muzzle break, adding some putty and cover it all up w/a can or two of spray paint as far as functionality.
 
I have a Cooper Model 22 in 6.5x284. Its a little older and doesn't have AAA wood but it is still a nice looking rifle. But nothing "Tactical" about it.
 
A $4000 rifle with an ugly drop down plastic (or metal) magazine with a composite stock, would not interest me in the least. You can make a real nice custom with a Rem 700 action, a quality composite stock, and a higher end barrel for a bit over or under half that $4000. I have one of the old Coopers with a very nice checkered walnut stock. It’s a very nice rifle. I wish them success.
 
I have a feeling its going to be a tough future for Cooper of Arizona with the product line they are offering at this time. To me, its like they are going more tactical than hunting and the market is flooded with tactical rifles. JMO!
 
Sounds like they’re just going along the same lines as the majority of all other rifle manufacturers. Fancy walnut and gloss blue are basically historical features, not current options. Sad.
 
AdamT said:
Sounds like they’re just going along the same lines as the majority of all other rifle manufacturers. Fancy walnut and gloss blue are basically historical features, not current options. Sad.
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I don't mind Tactical rifles, I have a few, but I also still appreciate a nice piece of walnut and a deep blue barreled action. IMO, the tactical craze hasn't helped much. Nothing cool about shooting an old school hunting rifle.
 
Partial to wood and stainless for what I consider a “Sunday” rifle: easy on the eyes but still taken out in the field occasionally. That’s why I have two Coopers in that configuration as my “good” rifles.
 
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