Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Cooper vs Sako 85

Never bet against a Sako

Seen this Sako 85 .30-06 for $1199...decent wood for the $. They call it a Hunter, but its got nicer wood than some of the deluxes.

Between Sako and Cooper, I believe Cooper rifles look better overall, I also like that Cooper rifles are made in the USA. I was PO'd when I heard Dan Cooper donated money to the dipshit's campaign but that issue was resolved swiftly and a response noted on their website shortly after.

I bought my Model 22 308 about ten years ago and the choice was easy, fantastic wood, a great reputation for building accurate rifles, a test target and made in the USA. I compared Cooper's to Kimber's and the Cooper fit and finish was much nicer.

I have hunted with mine but never had the opportunity to take a shot at game, it has been covered with mud, snow, rained on and I love it. I shoot it a lot off the bench and I never mind cleaning the barrel, just a few patches with CR10 and the barrel feels like butter.

Oh yeah, the trigger is awesome too.

My fun load for a decade has been a Sierra 168gr MK over 43.2 grains of 4064, three touching if the conditions are good and I am paying attention. I recently swapped scopes from a Sightron 4x16 to a Conquest 4.5x14 and finally to a Conquest 3x9. I also put a Phoenix stock on it since it spends a lot of time on the bench and I have not even had a chance to bed it.

This is why I love my Cooper, brand new load, first four groups with 155gr Scenar's over Varget, 45.5-47.0, 1/2 grain apart. If it likes the bullet, it does not take a lot of groups to find the sweet spot.






.

No offense to the Kimber lovers, but I used to say, I like my Kimbers, but I love my Sakos. At the high point of my collecting, I think I had 16 sakos. I now have six. At that time I had one Cooper. As of this time next week I will have an even dozen IIRC.

A sampling. All were purchased used from red blooded American citizens. All except the VE in 308 Win were purchased for under $1,250. All shoot lights out. IMHO, they are one of the better values out there. I�m a sucker for good wood.


Cooper Model 22, Varmint Extreme, 308 Win.


and a nifty group at 100 yds.


Cooper Model 22,Montana Varminter 7mm-08

A typical 100 yd. group with my go to load for the 7-08. As you can see, the rifle shoots better than I can.




Cooper Model 22, Montana Varminter, 6.5 x 284

At 100 yds


Shootin� the corners at 200 yds.
[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/latestgunstuff/DSCN7824.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/latestgunstuff/DSCN7825.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/DSCN5882.jpg[/img]
Cooper Model 52, Jackson Game, 25-06

[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/latestgunstuff/IMG_1154.jpg[/img]
Cooper model 22, Varmint Extreme, 22-250 Rem.

and a few more for good measure!


Cooper Model 38, 22 Hornet


Cooper Model 21 Classic, Tactical 20


Cooper Model 21, Varminter, 20 Vartarg

and a good group @ 100 yds and my go to load in the VarTarg



Like Drover,

I�m a Cooper nut!

Best

GWB

To me the Sako action is smoother, the trigger is narrower and fits and feels better in my finger, the Sako's I have shoot as good or better than my Cooper and they were cheaper.

The Cooper is a very good rifle but I'm not sure I'd spend the $$ on another new one.

Interesting thanks for posting it...

I may just stick with my current Sako 85 stainless synthetic that is sitting in a McMillan Edge stock. It shoots and its paid for....