Hey fellas ive been looking at picking up a nice 243 for coyotes and deer and was planning on just ordering another kimber montana until i found a really nice looking cooper m54 excalibur. I love kimbers (have 3) especially the Montana but i really like the specific cooper im looking at. It has a sprial fluted bolt, straight fluted barrel and a nixe synthetic stock with aluminium bedding block's. I actually like the fact that the cooper is 6.5 lbs compared to the 5.5lb montana because ill most likely be stationary while using the 243 as compared to my 338 fed montana that im usually walking while deer hunting with. I also like the fact the Cooper has a detachable magazine. I normally dont prefer a DBM but think itll be nice for a coyote rifl. Any experience with Cooper's? What would you get if it were up to you?
The kimber $1200
The cooper $2100

My next rifle is going to be a Cooper!

I have both Kimbers and Cooper. While I really like my Kimbers, Cooper is a notch above. They feed smoother, accuracy is excellent. The removaable mag is inconspicuous, you would never know it was a detachable mag.

apples/oranges - but $900 can buy a lot of apples.

I own 2 Coopers, wish I had more!

I had a Cooper Custom Classic model 52 in .30/06. It was a beautiful rifle in every respect with many areas color case hardened, gorgeous wood, superb workmanship, etceteras.

However, while it shot .5" to .75" with most hunting loads, so did my friends out of the box FN Winchester Model 70. The Cooper was heavy, you had to remove the magazine to load cartridges (i.e., it could not be top loaded) and the safety did not lock the bolt. IMHO, a work of art, but not a real hunting rifle. I sold it for more than I paid for it.

My advice for a hunting rifle is to get an M70, or a Sako 85. If you want to spend more serious money, buy a Dakota 76.

BTW, I have a Kimber Caprivi in .375. It is a beautiful rifle in every respect and shoots an inch at 100 yards with monotonous regularity and reliability. The Caprivi offers features, workmanship and wood that one would only expect in rifles costing twice the price. This is my only Kimber, but if it is any indication, I would not hesitate to buy one in a smaller caliber.

I have a Cooper 54 Excaliber and a 52 Classic. They both have been worth every penny that I paid for them in my opinion. BTW, my 54 has the fluting on the bolt and barrel as well, looks nice!

Cooper by a mile.

Coopers are a cut above Winchesters, Brownings, Sako's and Kimbers.

Well you guys helped me make up.my mind! As soon as i get the other grand i need to buy it lol. Ive got someone coming to possibly buy one of my dirtbikes tonight and a fellow fire member that seems interested in the Kimber i have for sale so hopefully i can order it this weekend. Nowi need ro figure out the scope to put on it... Leupold vx3 4.5-15? Trijicon accupoint 3-9? I do have a brand new Zeiss conquest 3-9 without a home yet.

I have owned both and still own the coopers...and I have one on order.
I have sold off all my other rifles and only going to have cooper in the safe. I did like my kimbers, I had three of them in the montana variety but nothing like my Coopers.

And by the way, there is a nice 4.5x14 for sale in the classifieds

You will not be disappointed.

Gary

Cooper for sure unless super light weight is critical. I'm coming around to the practicality of the detachable magazine for easy unloading and quick reloading. Of course the extra magazines are expensive. Figure $100. And I've never lost one, yet.

If you can live without the fluted barrel and fluted bolt you should be able to get into one for around $1600. On the other hand there is a lot to be said about having exactly what you want in a rifle. Check out gunaamerica.com - there are usually quite a few Coopers listed there.

I also am going to Coopers for all of my rifles, there is just something about having a rifle that all you have to do is scope it and go shoot - no messing around with bedding, rebarelling, etc.

drover

Well, at least the Cooper will shoot and have a good Montana company to back it. Not so much on either case with a kimber.

cooper.

I'd give serious thought to a Montana in .308. It'll work quite well for yotes as well as deer.

Bounce a 2-8 Leo w/M1 on top and rock on.

Dober

Currently, I like the Kimber Montana. My next favorite would be the Winchester M70 Extreme Weather. Next, I could go for a Sako 85 Finnlight.

A Cooper is in a different class. Very fine rifles, but how much more do they give me than my Kimbers? The Kimber is lighter, and right now that is important.

For the time being, I will stick with the Montana. If I hunted from a stand, with little walking, I would consider a Cooper, or maybe as a ground squirrel rifle.

If I'm paying $2100 for a Cooper, it better have phenominal wood.

You have to honestly ask yourself if you bought both and accuracy/performance was equal, would you keep the Kimber and the money, or do you just really want the Cooper?

I'll never sell my Cooper 6ppc. My Kimber Montana 300wsm went down the road without a second thought when I found a steal on an ULA.

That'd be the day that I spend $2k on a guzzied up PF with a detachable magazine,and a Wilson barrel, as a hunting rifle...it isn't "custom" and is more than a decent factory rifle.

I'd build, or take the Kimber.JMHO.

I have to admit spending another $1,000 over the Kimber is really hard for me to do especially knowing my other kimbers will shoot at least moa if i taje my time. But having a guaranteed 1/2" rifle that already has everything i want says something too. Is that worth the extra $$$$? I really don't know...yet

When I face decisions like this, I try to think a year ahead about how I will feel. Would I look at the Kimber and wonder what a Cooper would be like? Would I look at the Cooper and wish I had saved a grand? The sting of writing a check goes away relatively quickly, so try to look past that and see how you'll feel down the road with each rifle in your hands. It's worked for me.

This is just me, but the Montana and the Coopers have two completely diff feels. So, I'd take that into account.

On the real, how much do you hunt coyotes. Most people toss yotes into the equation and yet are taking maybe only 1-3 or so a year. Not many truly get after the yotes. Point being, for the fella who's passive about his yote hunting pretty much most all hunting rigs will do for them.

I'm guessing here that you're taking yotes on a passive kind of basis. And that's fine, but I still feel that a Montana in .308 would be a fantastic rig for you.

Dober

A big +1 on that one for sure. No POS (read Kimber) will ever cross the threshhold of my house.
Bear in Fairbanks

Bear in Fairbanks,

Your just saying that either you can't shoot well or can't even mount a scope and tighten the screws on a rifle!

I have a number of Kimbers and they are all outstanding shooters, stay sighted in and have the other features that I prefer in a hunting rifle like CRF and a 3 position M70 type safety.

The last Kimber I got is a new 8400 Montana in 7mm WSM. From the first shots at the range it's been very very accurate.

It's all sighted in and ready. I had it as go to rainy day rifle in VT last week.

It put two Berger 140 VLD's into 1" at 200 yds right where I want them.

Really liked the Cooper 54, but wanted a 3 position safety out of the box. Took it off my list b/c of that. Sako 85 Bavarian found its way to my safe :-)

Rather fond of my 84M in 243. Aint a POS in the least.

Cooper not custom? Funny, when I toured the factory they were making actions right there out of bar steal, not investment casts. They cut there wood right there also, picked out my stick while I was there. And that Wilson barrel will shoot better then me, and cleans up with little to no elbow grease. Got to pick the contour also. Added a ebony fore end, inlet sling studs, checkering of my choice, barrel length, length of pull, and scope rings. Do you get that with a Kimber? Not knocking Kimber, they make some damn pretty rifles, I have had my eye on a .338 stocked in English walnut for a couple months now. I do like my Cooper, and I will, sometime in the future, have me another one, before I buy that super nice Kimber 338.

I had a Kimber MT in 260. Bought it here from Brad. It shot ok and worked ok. For whatever reason it just never really caught my fancy. I recently traded into an ULA .260 and, PF or not, carbon steel or not, it has quickly become one of my favorites. The hideously ugly green paint job has really grown on me and it has just enough uniqueness that I dig it. Shoots like an absolute mofo, too. Take a look at a used ULA if you can find one.

I had the Kimber in 7-08. Should have put another barrel on the thing, but..........

Savage_99, ill have to agree with you on Kimbers. Of the four ive bought i only sold one and thats only because it was a duplicate caliber and I'm planning on buying a 7 mag or wsm and needed a little extra cash. I think come Monday ill be hitting the "buy it now" button on another Montana in either 243 or 25-06. I'm positive id be happy with the Cooper but i LOVE my Kimbers and for ~$1,000 they're a great value IMO. Now i need to figure oyt if i want the 25-06 or 243.... its something ive been going bavk and fourth on for months now! Literally.

BTW, does anyone have experience with the 7mm's from Kimber? I really want one in mag or possibly short mag but have heard the 7mm barrels are where most if the problems came from for Kimber. But than again i hardly ever see a 7mm kimber for sale online so maybe they're really accurate and the guys that have em keep em! Idk. Tough decisions!

Cory

Greentimber, too bad you already got rid of the 260 since I've kept my eyes open lately for a Montana 260..

Quick update:

I ended up buying the Kimber Montana 25-06 ive been looking at. $1,150 NIB. Not the best deal ive seen but not bad either. Now to figure out a scope. The Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 i have sitting on my 10/22 or a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40.... hmm

It's a probability that any product including rifles could not be as good as we want it to be. Of course that includes Kimber rifles.

There is no reason that their 7mm rifles are any worse or better for that matter than similar calibers.

I have two 7mm Kimbers. One a 7-08 Classic that's sighted in with the 120 BT's now and my most recent one a 7mm WSM Montana. Both were accurate from the start.

The only Kimber I had accuracy concerns with is a 270 WSM Montana. It seems that I have got that one straightened out now.

I was satisfied with the battery of old M70's that I have used since aquiring the first one in 1957. As I got older and the very light SS-Syn Kimbers came out I got some of them. I like the Kimbers M70 type safety and their CRF.

I have multiples of both and like both for diff. reasons. I like the kimbers to hunt with, have 3montanas 25=06 308 and 300wsm. Ive had others and all shot sub moa. I like my coopers for p-dogs and punching small holes. I do have a cooper 54 in 257R that I hunt with. Can't figure out whats not to like about both IMO

My Montana in 7mm/08 is sub moa, with handloads. no complaints in the accuracy department!

Quick question. Im about to order Talley lightweight mounts fir a scope with a 40mm bell, will the "low" mounts work or will i need the "medium"?

I decided on a DNZ Med one piece mount. I felt that with the straight stock, my eye was better aligned with the scope using Med mounts. I will try and post a picture later today, that will give you an idea how high/low the scope sits. The DNZ system is very solid and sturdy. I guess the DNZs and Talleys are similar in design and quality.

Pieter

Cool ill check them out. Thanks pieter.

Cory

The Talley lows work fine on my 52 with a 40MM

Randy

Here is my 8400 with DNZ med Game Reaper Mounts. I guess the Montana will have more or less the same shaped stock as the walnut stocked rifles. It looks to me as if the design is not exactly the same as Talley mounts, but what I like about the DNZ is the long screws that tighten the rings as I think it helps to provide that extra security of holding the scope tightly. Not that other mounts and rings don't work





Pieter

Really? You don't know crap about me nor my abilities. Until you do, keep your personal comments to your self. Bloviator that you are.
Bear in Fairbanks

Talley lows will work with a 40mm objective just fine