Cooper or Fierce?

[Go West Old Man]

I’m rifle shopping for what would be a first “nicer” rifle. Just curious as to what others’ opinions are on choosing either a Cooper or a Fierce. General assumptions would be similar caliber, similar SS or Cerakote barrels, similar stock material of a hunting configuration, similar weight, and similar price. I’ve also talked to both manufacturers. My decision would/will be mostly influenced by which ones or models I have actually held in my hand, and I’m willing to wait to do that with both to compare since apparently these aren’t easy to find currently. Still interested in hearing from others......a Cooper or a Fierce? Thanks.

 

[Sam Colt]

Seems like whenever this gets asked the first answer is Christensen. ;-)
Tagged since I'm in the same boat...

 

[Go West Old Man]

Seems like whenever this gets asked the first answer is Christensen. ;-)
Tagged since I'm in the same boat...

It’s a personal decision for everyone. Not knocking Christensen but having held, researched, & evaluated a Mesa & Ridgeline, I kept on looking.

 

[Wapiti1]

Both are good brands. I'd lean Cooper just because I've had more time with them. They are nicely made and finished. I like the Timberline stock a lot. Their classic wood stocks are nice as well, but I think the forearm is a little thick. The forearm on their synthetics are more slender and feel better to me.

I only have time behind a couple of Fierce Fury rifles. I liked them as well. I'll be honest and they were just a rifle to me when I was done with them. Nothing stood out positive or negative. Just a nice rifle.

The Cooper Timberline stock fit me well and I remember it. Action wise, and accuracy wise, they all shot as expected, which was great.

I've never shot a Christensen. I'll wait for the Tikka suggestions to roll in.

Jeremy

 

[Pilchuck]

I would read reviews on fierce customer service before you come to a final decision.

 

[elkguide]

Love my Cooper. Feels great in my hands and fits me perfectly.

 

[fwafwow]

OP - I love my Coopers (as I think we've discussed), but can't speak to the Fierce. I have wood Coopers and think of the Fierce as a different type of rifle. I have given them long looks (online) when I go down the CRF rabbit hole.

How close are you to Atlanta? Chuck's Firearms used to carry quite a few Coopers, but when I was last there I believe they were all wood stocks.

 

[phil1841]

Another Cooper owner here - I've got three but all are wood stocks. The oldest I actually purchased at Chuck's Firearms close to 20 years ago when we lived in the Atlanta area. I have not personally seen or held a Fierce, but have heard good things. Both are good choices. I've only needed to call Cooper a couple of times - one to help with a load recipe and once to help through an issue with the bolt on my .223 which I caused with poor primer selection. Turned out to be nothing, but they were very helpful. I've spoken to them about stocking one of mine into a synthetic and found them to be very responsive. As far as shooting, all of mine have been great and not very fussy when working up a reload.

Not trying to be too big of a Cooper fanboy, but I would easily buy another one if I was in the market for a new rifle.

 

[Go West Old Man]

Love my Cooper. Feels great in my hands and fits me perfectly.

Thanks. Which model and cal. do you have? I’ve held a Cooper Excalibur and a Jackson Game. Both very nice, and each had a different pistol grip feel.

 

[Go West Old Man]

OP - I love my Coopers (as I think we've discussed), but can't speak to the Fierce. I have wood Coopers and think of the Fierce as a different type of rifle. I have given them long looks (online) when I go down the CRF rabbit hole.

How close are you to Atlanta? Chuck's Firearms used to carry quite a few Coopers, but when I was last there I believe they were all wood stocks.

They have a few Coopers in stock. Visited recently. Nice place, but I will keep looking.

 

[elkguide]

I have a model 56 Excalibur in .300 Win Mag. As they say it will shoot better than I can. I have shot 3/4" groups at 300 yards with it! It doesn't seem to be very fussy as to what I feed it but right now I've been shooting 175 grain Bergers and it is easy to get 1/2" groups at 100 yards. But mostly I like it because of the way it feels in my hands and when I point it at something..... it falls over.

 

[PaGrouser]

I was contemplating a Cooper Backcountry and called one of their dealers about an hour from me that is featured on their website. Told me that they were waiting on a bunch of rifles. Reported that Cooper was having issues with their stocks. I have no experience with Fierce, but had ordered a Rizzini through their distributor (same as Fierce), and was not pleased with the service.

i am going custom route.

 

[Go West Old Man]

I was contemplating a Cooper Backcountry and called one of their dealers about an hour from me that is featured on their website. Told me that they were waiting on a bunch of rifles. Reported that Cooper was having issues with their stocks. I have no experience with Fierce, but had ordered a Rizzini through their distributor (same as Fierce), and was not pleased with the service.

i am going custom route.

Thanks. I’ve spoken to Cooper dealers in at least 5 states, and all report the same general back order story, but none made any disparaging comments about the situation and they look forward to receiving their long awaited new orders. I guess it’s one more 2020 thing to be patient about.

 

[TREE ‘EM]

I’ve had enough problems with Coopers to break me from ever buying another. Between my buddy and I we’ve owned 30 or so of them and had trouble with most. Feeding issues, uneven bolt lug engagement, magazines falling out, bolt stops falling out, front sight falling off, etc.

I have no firsthand experience withFierce but was recently in camp with a guy who has 6 of them and had nothing but praise for them.

 

[fwafwow]

I’ve had enough problems with Coopers to break me from ever buying another. Between my buddy and I we’ve owned 30 or so of them and had trouble with most. Feeding issues, uneven bolt lug engagement, magazines falling out, bolt stops falling out, front sight falling off, etc.

I have no firsthand experience withFierce but was recently in camp with a guy who has 6 of them and had nothing but praise for them.

Do you mind sharing which models, and were they older?

 

[Elk_Addict23]

No experience with Cooper but I just ordered my second Fierce a couple of weeks ago. My first rifle was their base model fury in .300 win mag and that gun shot 1/2 MOA all day long with two different brands of factory ammo.


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[TREE ‘EM]

Do you mind sharing which models, and were they older?

Bolt stop on multiple model 21s, one 54 and a 57.
Bolt lug engagement problems on 2 model 57‘s, 8 model 21’s, 1 model 22, one model 52 and one model 54.
Feeding problems on every centerfire magazine rifle we’ve had.

Front sight fell off my 56 the first time I shot it and the magazine fell out on the second shot.

I still have my first and second year production model 21’s. They along with Gale’s early production model 22 are the only Coopers we never had issues with.

 

[ryjack70ss]

Bolt stop on multiple model 21s, one 54 and a 57.
Bolt lug engagement problems on 2 model 57‘s, 8 model 21’s, 1 model 22, one model 52 and one model 54.
Feeding problems on every centerfire magazine rifle we’ve had.

Front sight fell off my 56 the first time I shot it and the magazine fell out on the second shot.

I still have my first and second year production model 21’s. They along with Gale’s early production model 22 are the only Coopers we never had issues with.

Curious why you kept buying coopers then?


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[Go West Old Man]

No experience with Cooper but I just ordered my second Fierce a couple of weeks ago. My first rifle was their base model fury in .300 win mag and that gun shot 1/2 MOA all day long with two different brands of factory ammo.


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Good input. Did you make the move to “trade up” from the Fury to the Edge or Rival? I’ve actually considered that option.... buy the base model Fury, evaluate, see if it “proves itself” & then go from there.

 

[justin davis]

Cooper. Some of the most accurate rifles Ive ever shot or owned were coopers

they have good customer service as well