Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Cooper or Anschutz

Been wanting a cooper 57m plain jane rifle for nearly a year now. I just saw that the Anschutz 1712 rifles are about $1900. I really want an American rifle but is the Cooper $300 mo' better than the Annies? I know there are little to NO flies on either ... if it was your cash where would it go & why if you can?

Best
-g

I have both and prefer the stock lines on the Cooper. I would look for a used Cooper- should be able to find a nice one for well under $1900. Prices have risen significantly since I got mine- wife paid around $1150 for it about 10 years ago for an anniversary gift.

If your spending that much money, a little more for the Cooper would get my vote. Both are awesome, but the Coopers usually have nicer wood and more 'American' style stocks. What a great problem to have!

I was shooting my Jackson Squirrel 22lr yesterday and it is by far my favorite rifle. I picked it up used here on the fire and so glad I did.

Here are a couple available now. I have bought from cove creek outfitters and they are great to work with. Just give them a call.

http://www.covecreekoutfitters.com/...-57-jackson-hunter-22lr-dark-timber-camo

http://www.covecreekoutfitters.com/gun-room/cooper-firearms-model-57-classic-22lr-brown-laminate

Here is another nice one from MichiGun
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=474933268

I forgot to add these three links from Whittaker in KY. Send shortactionsmoker here on the campfire a pm and he will find what you need.

http://www.whittakerguns.com/product/cooper-57m-jackson-squirrel-rifle-22lr

http://www.whittakerguns.com/product/cooper-57m-mannlicher-22lr

http://www.whittakerguns.com/product/cooper-57m-trp-3-22lr

+ 3 on the Cooper

Never owned an Annie, but like the stock lines way better on the Cooper. (personal tastes) And with Cooper you can up-grade to nicer wood if you don't mind spending the money.

I looked at high end rimfires for a long time before settling on a Cooper with AAA walnut. It was more than I wanted to spend but to ME, it's my "ultimate" rimfire rifle.

It's my "once in my lifetime" rifle.

When spending this much, what's a few hundred more.

Virgil B.

Owned both and sold the Annie. It was a nice rifle but didn't have much "soul". No complaints with the accuracy.

One of the main reason I prefer Coopers is because they can be ordered exactly how you want it. About 5 or 6 years ago took the plunge and ordered a left handed Custom Classic .22 LR and it is everything I hoped it would be. One of a handful of weapons I own that will never be sold. Sometimes you just need to go big or go home:)

Cooper. If you are not in a rush buy used and save a significant amount of money. If you want one right now take a look at the dealers mentioned in the prior posts, also take a look at First Stop Guns out of Rapid City, SD they are great to deal with as is Whittakers Guns. Doing it this way gives you a chance to look over the wood to find something to your liking.

drover

I would prefer the Annie but it's likely because I shot their full target models years ago. I have a nice 1416 Annie which is the lighter 64 action.

I would spend some time on the Cooper and Anschutz forums at www.rimfirecentral.com before deciding. If I had to judge, I would say the Annie will have a very slight edge in accuracy and the Cooper an edge in looks. I'm sure you will be more than pleased with either.

Here is the best price I've seen on Anschutz.
http://www.iss-internationalshootersservice.com/

Both are great rimfire rifles. I own an older Anschutz 1522D classic which is a 54 action. It's very accurate for a 22 WMR and the 54 actions are legendary but, I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the left sided safety for hunting. Just something to consider.

The new 54's have a safety like a model 700. However for a strictly hunting rifle I would rather have the 64 action. It's a lot lighter and handier rifle and any accuracy difference cannot be seen in the field.

Thanks RHC. I wasn't aware that the new 54's have a safety like a 700. That would be more desirable for hunting, IMO. The older 54 safety is not very convenient while hunting.

You're welcome. I would ask before ordering though. There's no telling if someone has old stock or new.

My 1974 54 Sporter outshot 2 Cooper's I once owned,an LVT and sporter.Their kinda like the old Kimber's,all show and no go.

I have had a Cooper JSR and a Classic. I have also had four or five Anschutz, both 54 and 64 actions. My current rifle is a 54 Sporter in a McMillan stock with a Lilja barrel.

In my opinion your choice comes down to what you like about rifles: If the American stock appearance is what you like then the Cooper wins, but keep in mind its trigger, safety, and bolt system are not anywhere as robust as the 54 Anschutz. The Cooper safety blocks the trigger blade, which means it requires movement to be 100% effective. It also does not lock the bolt. If you are shooting with gloves it might not matter, but if you are used to target grade 5018 or 5022 triggers you will be disappointed. The Coopers do seem to have good barrels though.

The best thing to do is to buy a 1712 barreled action from Champions Choice and send it and four or five grand to LeRoy Berry of Canyon Creek gunstocks in Montana. He use to run the Cooper stock shop and designed much of their offerings. This way you get the best of both worlds.

That's my dream!

I would be thinking, they all need parts sooner or later. Can I get parts in 10 years. I have some Kleinguenthers all ways worring about parts and magazines. Hasbeen

I have both the Cooper, plus the Kimber and two Anschutz's and seem to always use one of the Anschutz in the squirrel woods.

The NY Kimber 22 is one of the most underrated rifles. Their triggers can be tuned to rival jewels, and if you can find their preferred ammo they can shoot. I had one for about 8 years, finally sold it after I could not find its favored ammo anymore. Good rifle!

The barrel was a bit light for my tastes, but it sure was nice to pack around.

Thanks gentlemen. My personal flavor would lean to the Cooper Classic. Simple plain rifle. I like the more American lines of this rifle. But must admit the JSR and LVT are both handsome rigs and would probably pull double duty in some of our local rf matches. But the JSR and LVT appear to be a bit more rifle to carry when out squirrel hunting (not that we have real squirrel hunting here in WA State.)

How about finding one of the Cooper stocked Annie's? They did make them for about a year.

I have a LVT in 17HMR and it sits nicely on the bag when bench rest shooting but I would not want to carry it long distances when hunting.
My JSR though is made for shooting offhand and is easy to carry as it is lighter and trimmer.

Avagadro,

Stock configuration is always a personal choice but the JSR is a walking rifle and not a bench gun. It has a higher check piece for use with a scope and I find it very comfortable.

Easier said than done but you may want to try and handle a few.

No bad choices when it comes to Coopers. Good luck with your purchase and post some pics when you get it.

In my book it would depend on priorities. If accuracy and the best of triggers the Anschutz.

If looks, then the Cooper.

I was doing the toss up with our squirrel fields being the primary use. Got the Anschutz.

I was looked for a high end 22 recently and considered the Cooper and the Annie. I ended up with the Cooper, wood and metal fit and finish is top shelf,trigger is very good and easily adjustable, could not ask for better accuracy with mid grade target ammo. The rather plain wood and European stock style of the Annie did not appeal to me.
Cooper Custom Classic


50 yard 5 shot group, close to equaling the factory test target 2nd trip to the range,




I also ended up with a used LVT and agree that it would not be my first choice as a squirrel rifle, love it for range use.

I have three 57M's - a Jackson Hunter, a Classic, and a LVT. The Classic is my go-to rifle about 75% of the time, I just find it more comfortable for me. As mentioned the LVT is a bit heavy for general carrying, I am not particularly fond of the higher cheekpiece on the Jackson except for off-hand shooting so it is relegated to being my small bore silhouette rifle. As mentioned if you could handle them to make up your mind it would be nice but if not grad a Classic and you will like it.

drover

Now that is a rifle!!!

I much prefer the Cooper stock. For the life of me I cannot understand why McMillan copied the Anschutz schnabel stock for the only aftermarket Annie stock offered. This said, I love 54 action sporters and think their fit and finish is slightly superior to Coopers that I have seen. My 1422d's put up similar groups to the Cooper above. They certainly do not shoot better than that on any regular basis. I would trade my wife for one of the early Anschutz/Cooper's with beautiful wood. There was a guy selling 2 of them a year or so ago that were phenomenal. Both were over 5k each.

You can probably guess my opinion from my forum name. I bought a 2 digit Cooper 57M Classic in the first year of their production. I used it in local benchrest competition as it came from the factory and it was a winner at that level. I beat every Annie I shot against with it including the Annie BR50 benchrest rifle that they produced. I used Lapua Midas M in that rifle and it really performed to a high level with the factory trigger with no adjustment. I rarely shoot it these days as I have custom benchrest rifles that take up most of my range time, but it holds a special place in my gun cabinet as it got me started down the rimfire accuracy road. I didn't expect it to shoot so well. I was once in your place, trying to decide between a Cooper or an Annie and I ultimately wanted to buy American. Never regretted it for a moment.

I think Coopers are awesome. I would like to have one. Can't have them all 😢

I would love to own a 54 action Anschutz. They are however very heavy for a squirrel rifle. Not sure of all the weights of the Coopers. If I wanted primarily a squirrel rifle, I would buy a CZ 453 (not 455 or 452) or an Anschutz 1416. I own both and they are about as heavy a sporter weight rifle as I want to carry in the woods. I have also shot 50 yards groups with both that will match the one posted above by Augie. The difference is that his rifle looks better doing it and like the 54 Anschutz will produce those groups on a higher percentage of targets than my rifles. All that said, the extra accuracy cannot be utilized in the field hunting.

I've been running a Cooper Custom Classic for a few years now. Love the rifle but I have to keep the chamber clean otherwise, with it's preferred European ammo, it fails to extract. I've also been having issue with feeding of late and have to push the mag up from the bottom which is a pain in a monthly tactical shoot I compete in. Other than this recent issue, it's been a joy to own.







I just bought (Wednesday) a new Annie 1416 D HB Thumbhole for my tactical competitions. Hope it works out well for me. I had Anschutz North America swap out the single stage for a two stage trigger. It came set at about 6 oz. I love it!





I topped it with a Nightforce SHV 5-20x56 set in Kelbey's standard height rimfire rings. Still undecided if I want to have them Cerakoted to match the receiver of not; which is an option Kebley's offers.

Also had ANA send me their extended mag release for quick, sure mag changes in fast tactical competitions.



In case you're wondering what our tactical shoots are like. On Youtube or Facebook, it's called "22 Marksmen Challenge"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s1XCdWQYfA

Alan