Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Cooper vs Sako 85

Yah-that attitude makes alot of sense. Don't buy a rifle made in America. Buy a foreign rifle because a person gave a donation to a President you don't like?? Where is that logic coming from??

I own and have owned rifles from both companies. And both rifle are fantastic rifles. I lean toward the Cooper for a few reasons. But those reasons are minor in the scheme of things. I would think the biggest reason would be that the Coopers are American made, and that is pretty important to me. Maybe not to others.

You can't go wrong with either. I do believe you will be able to find a rifle with a little better wood if you search for a Cooper. The Sako's are pretty tough to find. Tom.

The Cooper WILL shoot. Maybe, maybe not, on the Sako.

This is the answer.

My M52 Excaliber sends brass flying if I pull the bolt back as one would do in a hunting situation. Pull back slowly and the brass ejects less forcibly.

Or, when you put four rounds into a tight little group and then throw that fifth round about an inch and a half out, and you pull the bolt back while simultaneously saying, "*&%$#%^ #@$*%&$#$%&*@# son of a $&^*#!!!"

That generally sends the fired case about 30 feet away.

I will have to take a look at a model 52. Maybe they changed the ejector on the 52's, I have handled 52's but never removed the bolt to see what type of ejector they use.

On the Cooper website it says the model 21 & 22 single shots have a "Plunger style ejector machined from solid bar". But when you select model 22 Varminter repeater it says that it has a "Retractable tab ejector machined from solid bar".

Duckster - Chime in and let us know what model Cooper you have and if the ejector looks like the one below.

Foxbat - does your model 52 have an ejector like this or is it a blade set-up like model 70's and 98 Mausers?

Here is the bolt face on my model 54 and it is the same set-up on my model 21's and 22. Could this be what they are referring to as a "Retractable tab ejector machined from solid bar"?

My model 54 repeater is only a couple of months old and this picture is the bolt from my 54, and they refer to this on the website as "Retractable tab ejector machined from solid bar", my model 21's (single shot) and model 22 (repeater) use this same exact ejector system.

I will have some more information tomorrow and will post an update but I suspect that it is just different terminology for the same system and when they added the repeaters to the website they used a different description for the ejector system.

drover

where that logic comes from is my decision not to support someone who helped put a person in office that I have a 180 degree polar opposite opinion on how the country should be lead.

I understand what you're saying about american made, however there are plenty of americans/american companies that I could care less about supporting, like proggressive insurance who donates millions of dollars every year to liberal political affiliations... do they have cheaper rates? probably so. Am I going to help support the liberal machine... not hardly.

If the dan cooper still has financial ties to cooper firearms, I can assure you I won't purchase one of the rifles. The only thing I could find indicated cooper was asked to step down as the president of the company. Being that he was one of the owners... there was nothing I saw that his ownership was bought out. You can't just "fire" a shareholder of a company... they have to be bought out. Perhaps he was, and I missed it though.

That said, I have a sako rifle, and it shoots great. There are a couple dealers in Houston that sell sako... I haven't come across one that sells cooper, other than collector firearms, and they are just a plain rip off. Maybe what I need to do is find a nice local custom builder (who doesn't support Obama)... kill two birds with one stone.

Cooper was bought out by Wilson Barrels and renamed Cooper Firearms of Montana. Wilson is the same outfit that makes the barrels used on Coopers. (Cooper will also use most any barrel the customer specifies for $415 more, i.e. a Kreiger.)

I'm loading my Cooper Model 22 6.5-284 now for another test session, and with the exception of the trigger (I prefer a 8 ounce release) its the best rifle I bought. The trigger isn't bad, mind you, it adjusts down to about 1.5 pounds, I'm just finicky. The only way I can do better than a Cooper is to build my own for a lot more money and work.

Fixed blade like on a Sako 85, though at the 5 o'clock position rather than 6.

I'm surprised they switched to a Remington style plunger on the M54.

thanks! now my problem is finding a place that stocks coopers... at least a few models so I can get a feel for them. I don't mind ordering a different caliber, but to order a complete rifle sight unseen for 2,000+ is a little unnerving.

Dan Cooper no longer has anything to do with Cooper Firearms of Montana, I know Dan Cooper and I know the new owner of Cooper Hugo V., I also know the folks in managementand many of the employees there. I been assured by the new owner and folks in the loop that Dan Cooper has nothing to do with Cooper Firearms and has no business interest whatever in the company. It was a complete buyout by the new owner.

What you are reading is mostly old rumor stuff most of which has been posted by folks who were upset that Dan Cooper donated to Obama. I was upset by that myself, however this is still America and a person can support whichever party or candidate they wish, just as they can support their position by not purchasing a Cooper firearm.

As far as dealers - Cabela's is a dealer, they usually have some in stock. Also go to the Cooper website and at the bottom click on FIND A DEALER - I am sure that there is more than one in the Houston area. This should give you a chance to look at a few.

drover

p.s. - sorry if I come across as a little grumpy on this subject but it has been beat to death, but it is brought up from time to time as if it were something new that just happened. There a lot of misinformation out there on this subject, usually raised by folks who are more interested in creating a political statement than anything else, and even when they are presented the facts they still deny them. What I am telling you is factual - not internet rumor.


drover

Okay - Now on to the saga of the ejectors.

I just got off the phone with a friend at Cooper Firearms and here is the story on the ejectors.

The 52's used a blade ejector just like Foxbat's until just a few months ago. They have now gone to the plunger ejector on all models, 52's and 56's included. Due to the lug design and ejection angle some folks were complaining about the emptys hitting the bottom of the scope on ejection. Going to the plunger ejector served two purposes, one - it gave more latitude in placement of the ejector, and two - it simplified manufacturing and inventory concerns by not having to deal with two different types of bolts.

Bottom line - If you have a 52 made between 2007 (introduction year) and recently it will have a blade type ejector, if it is newer than that it will have the plunger ejector.

Mystery solved!

drover

Wasn�t Wilson the company that used to supply all of Ruger�s barrels when Ruger rifles had such a reputation for spotty accuracy? Apparently they do know how to make quality barrels.

I handled a fellow�s Cooper Classic at the range a while ago, the stock style and feel were very close to my old Kimber of Oregon Model 84, which is no surprise if you know who Dan Cooper used to work for.

Instead of continuing to rebarrel, bed and otherwise improve factory rifles (and glue bolt handles back on ), I keep thinking a Cooper is the way to go for a no problems, guaranteed accurate rifle, but I hear you about plunking down a couple large sight unseen. There is a local dealer who handles Coopers but for various reasons I don�t want to darken his door. Well, maybe I�ll darken it enough to handle and examine a Cooper thoroughly and then order one from another dealer and have it delivered.

Yep! The same person who owns Wilson barrels is now also the owner of Cooper. They can and do make some excellent barrels, especially the ones on the Coopers, they are a hand lapped barrel and I have yet to have one that did not shoot well.

I have darkened the door of the dealer you are speaking of - he has never got any of my money either, but he does generally have a few nice Coopers on hand.

If you get serious about buying a Cooper I recommend First Stop Guns out of Rapid City, SD., or Russ Haydon of Gig Harbor, Wa. I have dealt with both of them and had great service from them both. The nice thing about First Stop is that they have pictures of their rifles posted on their website and you can see what you are getting before putting down the money.

drover

I ordered my first Cooper (Jackson Hunter) from a local dealer and waited 7 months.
I ordered my Excaliber from First Stop. They keep an excellent selection on hand (no wait), especially some of the unique option items like the non standard color stocks on the Jackson Hunters and Excalibers. They did screw up my purchase a little and sent me a CM instead of SS barrel rifle, but it got sorted out and would recommend them, especially because of their selection, which means no wait.

I like that Excalibur rifle. Kind of a no frills shooter that I don't have to worry about dinging an expensive wood stock with. I like a nice wood stock a lot...but I'm looking for a work rifle that will shoot well, and I don't have to panic if someone drops it, etc.

I am curious if Cooper would exchange my extractor? may give them a call. I have one of the older model 52 Jackson Hunters, and have had a little issue with extraction, which Cooper fixed after 2 times being sent back. The rifles are hard 2 beat in the accuracy department, may be a little on the heavy side but some may prefer the extra weight. I would not hesitate 2 recomend one, exspecially since they have addressed the extraction problems.

HeavyBarrel

Both are very good rifles. I have 5 Sako's in various models and a Cooper 52 Excalibur.

I bought the Cooper based on reviews etc and while it's OK I prefer the Sako's.

Just curious why you prefer the Sako's?

I've shot a buddies sako 85 hunter in 30-06 and it was a fine rifle. The only cooper I've handled was on in a store and the wood was nicer than on my friends 85 hunter. I know you didn't include them but have you thought about a Heym sr21 at all? Ife I was spending ~2k on a wood/blue non custom right now that is what I would buy.

Sako 85 is a great rifle--and will be for a long time. Sakos have a pretty good rep for shooting accurately also.

Cooper has the advantage in nice wood.