Saving up for a higher end rifle (like cooper), which caliber?

[Bigeclipse]

OK so if you were me what would you want both caliber and brand rifle for my needs. I hunt whitetails with a max range of 400 yards. A very rare chance at a black bear may happen and I stress the word "may". I like a handy rifle (lighter weight, 9lbs or less with scope would be desirable) and I do prefer lower recoil with flat shooting. I do a lot of tree stand hunting with shooting rails (those shots would be 200 yards and less) but we have some shooting blinds on fields that can stretch 300-400 yards. We cannot shoot prone in these blinds and I will likely not be shooting prone ever with this rifle so im thinking I would prefer a typical sporter style stock. So what caliber would be at the top of your list with this info and what rifle? As for rifle brand I have been eye balling cooper because they offer beautiful rifles and a 1/2MOA guarantee. As for caliber...ive shot 300 win mags and while I am ok with them I certainly don't like them. Even a 3006 in a lighter rifle feels a bit stout for my tastes these days. FYI, I do not care for brakes and would rather not have one so lets focus on a caliber which is less recoil than a 3006 with out a brake. I do reload, but prefer rounds which are somewhat available at the gun stores. So what are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Mustang72]

7-08 or 308. Both are solid performers at that range. Store bought ammo the edge goes to the 308. 7/08 has a little less recoil. Both will work fine on black bear or elk if the opportunity ever presents itself.

 

[coop2564]

Based on everything you have said...a 270win or WSM would work fine, 6.5x 284, 6.5CM, 6.5 swede, 280 and AI etc.

 

[Tex LR]

Cooper M52 Timberline in 280AI

 

[snox801]

Why not a 25-06. For those ranges it's very flat and will drop what you are hunting in a hurry. Or the 6.5 creed. For those distances I use my .257 Roy or my 6.5 creed.

 

[djfriesen]

I'm probably looking at a Kimber mountain ascent in 280AI with those criteria. Unless the fact that it's only a 1 MOA guarantee is off putting.

 

[Hand Skills]

Maybe it's a backward-academic way to go about things, but I look at what bullet I want to shoot first, and then decide how much powder I need to push it.

Given your requirements I'd be looking for a 140-160gr bullet between 2850-3000fps.

For one limited to factory ammo, don't overlook the 270 Win, but for a reloader, 280 offers incremental gains. I'd suggest 280Rem/280RCBS/280AI. Personally love my 280Rem as a deer rifle.

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

7mm-08, 280 AI, 270 win, 25-06..lots of good choices

 

[Sykes]

The Cooper Timberline is an excellent rifle. I've killed elk and a black bear with mine in 280AI. 6.5x284 would be another great choice in that model. Coopers are great!

 

[kiwikid]

My wife and I are both fortunate to own Cooper Custom Classics in 250 Sav AI (wife's) and a 25-06 for yours truly. Both of these rifles are incredibly accurate and were very easy to work up loads for. We don't have bears here in NZ so I won't comment on suitable calibers other than to say that I have found both the above calibers to be excellent on the Red and Sika deer. As for accuracy the group in the photo (25-06) is actually 3 shots with 2 bullets going through the right hand hole as verified by my spotter. It measures 0.623" and was shot at 400m (437 y).

 

[Sykes]

I was working on selling my Cooper 280AI until I shot this group at 350 yards.

 

[FIGJAM]

OK so if you were me what would you want both caliber and brand rifle for my needs. I hunt whitetails with a max range of 400 yards. A very rare chance at a black bear may happen and I stress the word "may". I like a handy rifle (lighter weight, 9lbs or less with scope would be desirable) and I do prefer lower recoil with flat shooting. I do a lot of tree stand hunting with shooting rails (those shots would be 200 yards and less) but we have some shooting blinds on fields that can stretch 300-400 yards. We cannot shoot prone in these blinds and I will likely not be shooting prone ever with this rifle so im thinking I would prefer a typical sporter style stock. So what caliber would be at the top of your list with this info and what rifle? As for rifle brand I have been eye balling cooper because they offer beautiful rifles and a 1/2MOA guarantee. As for caliber...ive shot 300 win mags and while I am ok with them I certainly don't like them. Even a 3006 in a lighter rifle feels a bit stout for my tastes these days. FYI, I do not care for brakes and would rather not have one so lets focus on a caliber which is less recoil than a 3006 with out a brake. I do reload, but prefer rounds which are somewhat available at the gun stores. So what are your thoughts? Thanks!

260 Rem or 25-06 are my votes.

 

[BEEMAN]

Doesn't sound like you will be shooting bears. It won't take a big gun for deer out to 400 yds. Pick whichever you like best. I really like my 6.5x47 shooting 130 Berger hunting at 2950 fps. Low recoil and lays the deer down. Only problem is no readily available factory ammo. I'm actually building a 6 Dasher for deer out to 4-500 yds. Now that's going to be a low recoil gun.

 

[YZ-80]

I have 3 Cooper rifles and I really like them. One in particular is a Custom Classic in .243. I opted for a 24" fluted high polished stainless barrel on it with AAA+ walnut. This might not be the caliber for you. But they can be had in other short actions that would suit your needs and still be around 7 lbs. If the OP wants a nice rig, he need not look any further. I'll add that I had a conversation with a dealer a few months ago and he indicated to me that the nice wood rifles seem to have entered a "soft" market, which may come as no surprise to many here. Seems, (he said) no one really wants wood stocks anymore. That might mean that you can pick up a very clean one used at a great price.

If you do get a Cooper new, I would advise opting for the Timney or Jewel trigger upgrade if available. Cooper triggers are generally good but can be finicky to adjust and I've had a couple that vary a bit more than I would like.