Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What rifle and why

Cooper
Dakota
Kimber
Montana

For what purpose? I'd go different routes, depending on the type of hunting.

This being 24HCF, you obviously need one of each!

Or... you could hold them all, & see which one chooses you. It doesn't look like there's a loser in the bunch.

FC

Of the ones you mentioned, it'd be the Cooper, hands down. Can't comment on the Dakota - never owned nor shot one. As an aside, no POS (Kimber / Montana to you guys in Rio Lobo) will ever cross the threshhold on my abode again. Been thru that hassle.
Had a friend that oowned/shot about 3 (I think) different Coopers. All shot bugeyes with no problem.
Bear in Fairbanks

Ok the purpose would be hunting.

I assumed that, since this is the hunting rifle forum. What type of hunting? I use Cooper varmint rifles in prairie dog fields and they'd be my definite choice of the options you listed. I'd almost certainly go Cooper again for a deer/antelope rifle on flat land. When heading up into the steep, high country, I'd start to consider a Kimber Montana because of weight.

Kimber Montana all day every day...

Dakota.

Kimber for one very simple reason: I already own one and so I won't have to set one up or spend months getting the loads dialed in. :p

All great rifles. Buy one and then spend a couple decades trying to wear it out chasing animals in far flung places.

Will

Special K! No better buy in hunting rifles, IMO.

Ok, here come the flames.

Big Bore: (416 and larger)

CZ
Ruger RSM
M70 (pre-64, Classic, or current FN models)


Med Bores (375 and less)

M70 (pre-64, Classic, or current FN models)
Rem 700 BDL (earlier than 1980)
Weatherby Southgate FNs in Weatherby Mag calibers (270, 300, 375)

x2 I've got 3 and and they cover all of my hunting needs.

x3 on the Kimber Montana, just picked up my second today! Really like the lite weight, SS/ Syn for a great all weather combo, and my 708 shoots really well, so I hope the 308 will too.

Easy... Kimber cuz many here have had great expereinces w/ them, they're lightweight, and they're the only company in that list w/in my price range.

If money were no object, I'd DEFINATELY go w/ a pre-cerberus model 76 in 30-06.

Never ever buy a Kimber,
I could not even keep it to the diameter of a penny.

Kimber 84M in 257 Roberts
Nosler Custom Trophy Grade Accubond +P 110 gr. 60010
Leupold VX-IIc 2x-7x

3 rounds at 100 yards:

I'd have to vote for the Cooper, have only owned one but it was amazingly accurate and put together flawlessly.

Thinking I would go Cooper. Not digging the barrel band on the Dakota's.

Cooper! I have been very pleased.

Have a kimber montana .243, its one rifle that will never leave my hands. They are nice when they shoot, had a 84l that sucked in the accuracy dept. Kimber did put a new barrel and stock on it, but they had to have the new rifle for six weeks. Sold it at a loss, didnt even shoot it. Will never take the chance with kimber again, even though they are very nice when they do shoot like they should.

Kimber Montana for the money.