Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 25-06--Cooper or Kimber

Just looking for a little help with a decision for a 25-06. I haven't had one in quite a while but still have dies/brass/bullets for the cartridge. I was seriously looking at a Cooper Model 52 but recently the Kimber Sonora caught my eye. Either would be primarily a range gun so rifle weight isn't an issue. Is the Cooper worth the extra money and prestige or is it a wash? I'm assuming either will be more accurate than I am.

Can't speak to the Kimber but my Cooper model 52 is WAY more accurate than I can shoot from any position or rest I can arrange in the field. Less than MOA from the bench of course. But not a lightweight. Mine goes over 9 lbs with 3.5 x 10 Leupold in Talley steel mounts. 24 inch barrel.

The Sonora isn't a lightweight either. It lists at 9.5 lbs on their web page.

If you buy the Cooper, I doubt you'll wonder about the Kimber. I'm not sure the reverse would be true.

cooper

gary

FWIW,

Opinions are like noses, everyone has one and most of 'em smell............

So with that out of the way.........

I've owned 7 Kimbers and 13 Coopers.

Kimbers are a crapshoot.

I've yet to regret purchasing any of my Coopers or have one that will not shoot sub-moa with my handloads. Fit, finish, function and accuracy are first class.


Cooper model 52, Jackson Game Rifle, 25-06 Remington

I think you'll find that you're seldom ever sorry you went first class.

Best,

GWB

I have never owned a Cooper, but 2 Kimbers, a 8400 in 25-06 and a 84 in 257 Roberts. Both shoot sub-MOA with very little investment in load development. If a Cooper gets much better than this, than life will be very good.

More power to ya,

but,

Life is Good when shooting Coopers.........

load test, same load density, six different primers, shot back to back, Cooper model 21 VE, 223 Rem.






Cooper Model 22 VE, 308 Win.



Cooper Model 22 VE, 22-250


Cooper Model 21 Classic, Tactical 20


Like a lazer beam. Just point, hold on feathers and shoot.


Cooper Model 21 Varminter, 20 Vartarg
[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/group%20pix/IMG_8827.jpg[/img]

Cooper model 22 Montana Varminter, 6.5 x 284
[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/latestgunstuff/IMG_8919-1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e129/glenn1221/latestgunstuff/DSCN7652.jpg[/img]

Shooting 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]

Best

GWB

That is a pretty strong endorsement. I like the way the cooper's feel, but am completely hung up on the fact that the bolt swings open while safe is on. I know it's a common approach, just not one I like.

cooper by a country mile. i've owned three kimbers, and have handled/shot a couple coopers. there is no comparison between the two. cooper offers what i call "certainty", as in you get what you expect and pay for. not the case with the kimbers i have owned (or read/heard about). previous poster labeled kimbers as a "crap-shoot". i agree. ymmv.

Thanks guys. I was leaning toward a Cooper anyway but didn't want to overlook what may have been a good alternative.

CAUTION !! Buying Coopers is like eating peanuts once You've started it's hard to stop.

Darn near impossible.

I think I would listen a little to Geedubya. Having owned several of each and shooting them is certainly a good information source to refer to.

Cooper. No POS (Kimber) anything would be in the equation for me.
Bear in Fairbnaks

Agreed.

I stopped by the local shop the other day. A cooper M52 was about $2000. That is alot of 20's! They are nice rifles for sure. For the price difference i would be tempted to go the kimber route and if i was ok spending the 2K i would look for a good smith and have one built.

just my opinion

Choose to believe it or not, of the 13 I've owned, only paid more than $1,250 for one. It was an absolutely exquisite Model 22 Varmint Extreme in 308 Win. The other dozen I paid between $1,050 and $1,250. Granted none were new and most were single shot rifles, but they fit the bill for what I was after.

Best

GWB

Yep, but I think you should learn how to shoot them things. Those groups should be alot better.

10/4 on that.

You've heard the bromide " them rifles shoot better than I do", well, I resemble that remark.

Seems to be a lot of truth to the statement, that the older I get, the better I wuz.

Best

GWB