Best of the West Cooper Rifle

[COBrad]

Spoke with the Best of the West crew at the ISE show in Denver last week. I had looked at their rifle, but wanted a more precise build than a Cooper. I told the guys this and they said Cooper supplies the components, but they assemble the rifles themselves. They say their rifle will make at least 1/2 MOA reliably, not just occasionally.
I've had 5 Coopers and still have 3. They are very nice rifles, but, IMO, not built to be true long range rifles.
The Best of the West rifle looked good, and I really liked the ergonomics of the stock, but I have a custom LR rifle on order already.
Anyone using one of these rifles, and what results are you getting?

 

[Greyfox]

Spoke with the Best of the West crew at the ISE show in Denver last week. I had looked at their rifle, but wanted a more precise build than a Cooper. I told the guys this and they said Cooper supplies the components, but they assemble the rifles themselves. They say their rifle will make at least 1/2 MOA reliably, not just occasionally.
I've had 5 Coopers and still have 3. They are very nice rifles, but, IMO, not built to be true long range rifles.
The Best of the West rifle looked good, and I really liked the ergonomics of the stock, but I have a custom LR rifle on order already.
Anyone using one of these rifles, and what results are you getting?

I have one of their rifles, a in 6.5x284. It shoots better than .5 MOA, it consistently groups .25 MOA. 3 shot groups, Warm, cold, clean or dirty, no change in point of impact. I have shot quite a few deer and antelope between 400 and 1000(998)yards. The barrel is very nice. Cleans up very fast and has very little copper fouling. I have the synthetic stock with the #6 heavy barrel. The rifle turned out to be much better than I expected. Also, delivery was exactly what was promised. They are great people to work with.

 

[sp6x6]

I have not had a Cooper, but living in MT, but have seen them for sale at stores. They usually have a target next to them that is one ragged hole, and I NOTICE THEY CARRY A 1/2 MOA spec. What is the reason that the cooper is not a LR and what does the BW rifle have that Cooper does not. Are the barrels different, trigger assembly, bed how, curious, thanks

 

[Tikkamike]

I have not had a Cooper, but living in MT, but have seen them for sale at stores. They usually have a target next to them that is one ragged hole, and I NOTICE THEY CARRY A 1/2 MOA spec. What is the reason that the cooper is not a LR and what does the BW rifle have that Cooper does not. Are the barrels different, trigger assembly, bed how, curious, thanks

I see those same rifles for sale in billings at scheels and if you notice those ragged hole targets are all shot at 25 or 50 yards I cant remember which but its not impressive. I know they shoot well but I see it as a misrepresentation

 

[sp6x6]

I see those same rifles for sale in billings at scheels and if you notice those ragged hole targets are all shot at 25 or 50 yards I cant remember which but its not impressive. I know they shoot well but I see it as a misrepresentation

I thought they where 100???

 

[huntinfool18]

I guess ill chime in here for botw sence I was the one that built the first 50 or so cooper rifles for them. But ive sence moved on and started own shop. To start off they are a great rifle and are a true LR rifle. I have personally shot hundreds of rounds through them.
It is true that Cooper is shipping all the parts to botw and botw is doin all the work themself. They did make dome changes to the trigger to make them more Hunter friendly( bigger safety lever) and the stock was designed from sratch by the botw crew and is now made by HS. They do have the aluminum block and are skim bedded on top of that, barrels free floated. They use the same barrels as all the other Cooper rifles witch I must say I was extremely impressed of the quality of the barrel and are stainless steel. The muzzle break was also designed by the botw crew and is very effective. The process in witch the rifles that I built were to benchrest specs and I am assuming the same process is still being used. All chambers are to minimum spec match quality for the vld type bullet.
To end I would not blink an eye at purchasing one of these rifles and they are a great rifle and I'm sure you'll be more then happy with them. I am proud to have been there gunshots for the past 3 years and proud to be associated with botw. Hope this helps and hope I can help with any other questions.

 

[huntinfool18]

And as far as the targets with the rifles, the botw rifles are shot from 100 out to 1000 yds all other coolers are shot at 42 yds( reason for the 1 hole group) not sure why that distance.

 

[Greyfox]

And as far as the targets with the rifles, the botw rifles are shot from 100 out to 1000 yds all other coolers are shot at 42 yds( reason for the 1 hole group) not sure why that distance.

I suppose that with a one bullet hole group at 42 yards there is a 100% chance it will be at least a .5MOA at 100 yards.......

 

[sp6x6]

And as far as the targets with the rifles, the botw rifles are shot from 100 out to 1000 yds all other coolers are shot at 42 yds( reason for the 1 hole group) not sure why that distance.

Thanks for they very informative post. Chit, I have shoot 2''@ 42 , ....w/bow

 

[TimeOnTarget]

I see those same rifles for sale in billings at scheels and if you notice those ragged hole targets are all shot at 25 or 50 yards I cant remember which but its not impressive. I know they shoot well but I see it as a misrepresentation

I do not see it as misrepresentation since they are up front about the distance.

It is however a very strange distance to be testing rifles at. Mabye thats all the room they had for the indoor range?????

 

[COBrad]

Two big game caliber Coopers I had were 1 moa rifles, but one threw too many fliers. I spoke with a well known smith who said he accurized a fair number of coopers, and they would easily true up. They are beautiful, well made rifles and I still have 3 of them, but I wanted bench rest standard for this latest build.
If I had spoken with the guys at BOTW first I may have ordered from them. I was favorably impressed with their rifle.
I expect a true LR rifle to be built to the standards huntinfool18 outlined, and to see the sort of accuracy greyfox reports from his rifle. This mirrors what the BOTW guys told me they do, and what to expect.

 

[sp6x6]

I havent looked at the prices but I thought they run in the same range as a custom, so to speak, as that varies w/ componenets

 

[cummins cowboy]

$6400 for a BOW custom rifle, man that will make your eyes water. personally I would give GAP rifles a call and order a non typical, have them beef the barrel a tad, to say a #5 contour, slap it into one of mcmillans new game scout stocks and your set with about 2 grand to spare. order a BOW or graybull scope and you have a better rifle IMO that uses remington parts and accessories and is not stuck to proprietary cooper parts.

 

[Greyfox]

As mentioned in a prior post, I own one. My wife surprised with the BOW a while back as a gift for my 60th birthday. She doesn't know zip about rifles, but saw the TV show with me one night. Surprisingly, the cost of the BOW considering what you get in addition to the rifle itself, it is one of the best values out there. You sure won't have $2000 to spare comparing other top name customs when you add all the extras; 100 rounds of ammo, load recipe,custom case, wind gage, scope, mounts, turrets, etc., and time value of money. Keep in mind that when you get the rifle, go to the range the first time and take the FIRST three shots at one hundred yards you will see one hole, centered on target. Go to 1000 yards, using the turret for the conditions, and you can hit a rock the size of a softball, no BS. Right out of the box. And it stays that way. The components are of course personal preference, but you won find quality of workmanship and fit that is better. It looks as good as it shoots. I have always been a do it yourself type, developing loads, and have put some decent shooters together, but this could very likely be the best rifle I'll ever own before I go off to the happy hunting grounds.