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As I get into my last 10 or so years of hunting deer, I want to treat myself to nice rifle.
I am considering a Cooper Model 54 Excalibur chambered in 7mm-08. My question to folks here is what is your experience with these rifles? I am going to spend $2000+ on this rifle and would like a true assessment.
Thanks folks!
Dave
One shot, one kill........
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What would you like to know? My examples from Cooper are geared toward varmint hunting (Model 21 and 22), so I can't tell you anything about the repeaters specifically. I will say that I have been very happy with my rifles. The fit, finish and accuracy have met all of my expectations. Mine are honest 1/2 MOA or better rifles, but that's not a huge stretch for a varmint rifle designed to ride sandbags.
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Heliman I have two model 52 coopers in 25/06 AI and 280 and a model 54 in 260 on order. Both are excellent shooters with very good triggers and no problems with feeding or ejecting a fired round. If I could change anything on mine I would like to see them a little lighter but they balance well and both have 26" barrels so some of the weight is my own doing. If you get one i am sure you will like it.
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I don't have a 54 but do have two 52's, one is a 25-06 and the other a 30-06. As said the 52's are a little heavy but my understanding is that the 54 is about a pound less weight which would be great.
Now for performance my two rifles shoot most loads into 3/4" three shot groups and some much less. My 30-06 has put five (5) 168 gr federal premium match factory loads into 5/8".
Coopers are shooters for sure.
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I have a 54 Classic in 308, it's a fine rifle with a great trigger, u won't be disappointed.
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I haven't placed an order yet, but the comments here reflect what I have already heard regarding these rifles. I am debating whether to order the classic stock or the cheek rest comb. I had a Kimber Montana and liked the classic stock. Decisions--decisions.
Dave
Last edited by Heliman; 05/11/15.
One shot, one kill........
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Coopers are a lot of gun for the buck, custom level performance from a production rifle. I would think they'd hold their value better than a custom.
DF
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Hellman, I have the exact rifle you describe. ![[Linked Image]](http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/rugershooter1/8BC1F4C8-6117-403F-A92A-A006197456A6-3769-00000649DFC8ABDE.jpg) It shoots great with 120 gr. TTSX's, 120 gr. Nosler BT's and 140 gr. Partitions. In this particular rifle I've not tried any others as those three will do all I need. This is my second Excaliber in this chambering. (First one a blued model) It shot great also. The only complaint I have, and I'm not really complaining, is the harder bolt lift encountered with the three lug bolt. It weighs 7 lbs. 1 oz. with an FX II 6x36 installed. I like it. They are nice rifles.......
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Hellman, I have the exact rifle you describe. It shoots great with 120 gr. TTSX's, 120 gr. Nosler BT's and 140 gr. Partitions. In this particular rifle I've not tried any others as those three will do all I need. This is my second Excaliber in this chambering. (First one a blued model) It shot great also. The only complaint I have, and I'm not really complaining, is the harder bolt lift encountered with the three lug bolt. It weighs 7 lbs. 1 oz. with an FX II 6x36 installed. I like it. They are nice rifles....... THAT..... Is exactly what I want! Beautiful rifle. Thanks for the pic! Dave
One shot, one kill........
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Safety is a tad small is the only complain I can think of? It didn't bother me. I plan to buy another Cooper down the road.
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I have a 54 in .270; a bit heavy, maybe even a little bulky. A 52 in 6mm Rem. is somewhat lighter. However, these rifles are well built and shoot so well that it's easy to overlook any perceived shortcomings.
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Hellman, I have the exact rifle you describe. It shoots great with 120 gr. TTSX's, 120 gr. Nosler BT's and 140 gr. Partitions. In this particular rifle I've not tried any others as those three will do all I need. This is my second Excaliber in this chambering. (First one a blued model) It shot great also. The only complaint I have, and I'm not really complaining, is the harder bolt lift encountered with the three lug bolt. It weighs 7 lbs. 1 oz. with an FX II 6x36 installed. I like it. They are nice rifles....... I agree with you about the hard bolt lift with the 3 lug design. It would be very difficult to cycle for a follow-up shot if you were shooting off hand.
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Another view: ![[Linked Image]](http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/rugershooter1/C0A70731-8E61-42FC-B111-AA3C3DC267F9-3759-000006476063393E.jpg)
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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1 ![[Linked Image]](http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/rugershooter1/0ECF5CE7-F346-4BE4-A33E-FF02C414F8CD-3654-0000060D8F1FB8E8.jpg) 20 gr. Nosler BT:
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Joined: Aug 2011
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If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Sorry about the last two picture posts. Don't know how I screwed it up. The top pic is with 120 gr. Ballistic Tips and the 2nd pic is with 140 gr. Partitions. I know..........three shot groups, but it will do it over and over and over.
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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I have a 54 in .270; a bit heavy, maybe even a little bulky. That's the only thing that's kept me from owning a Cooper in the Excalibur. Would love to have one but the stock is far too unwieldy for my liking.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/X0n16mr.png) WWP53D
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That is a concern. My Kimber weighed about 6 pounds. A delight to carry. But not the accuracy I wanted.
Dave
One shot, one kill........
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Have a 22 Western Classic in the 6.5 Swede that shoots wonderfully but it is bulky. The back half of the stock is pretty nice but the front half could be about half what it is in length and width to make it perfect. It does shoot very well and is not finicky at all.
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i have a 54 wood classic in 260. love it in all respects: esp trigger, accuracy and balance. advised a new hunter friend what to buy for his first deer hunt 2 years ago and he bought exactly what you are proposing. loves it too, and his brother who is a lifetime navy seal shot it and also strongly affirmed it. synthetic stock a bit bulky tho, and i'd prefer a larger safety. i like my wood classic stock.
buy w no fear--you'll never be sorry
Yesu ai zhongguo
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