New Rifle

[tenth1]

I've poured through the previous threads regarding new guns. They all seem to gravitate toward ultra lightweight rigs. Been there and am not urged to go back to that route. I simply don't mind packing another pound or two in the Alaska bush in order make a precise shot. I'm primarily thinking goat,sheep,caribou,elk.


Currently, I'm leaning toward a Cooper Excalubur. The price is hard to swallow ,however. Searching for the "perfect" factory rifle, I've had Kimber MTs, Win extreme weathers, Win classics. I may just be buying other people's lemons....

Any suggestions beyond a cooper?

 

[Ryan Avery]

Sounds like you really need a Cooper. I have used their Jackson Hunter for the past year and for the price I really don't think you can buy a better rifle. They call it a semi-custom but everything on its custom, barrel, action, trigger, bedded stock. I think if anything they are too cheap! Go with your gut and pull the trigger

 

[COlineman78]

I'm a huge Weatherby fan and the best part about them is that they offer rifles all over the spectrum price-wise and even their cheapest options perform very well for the money. Allows you to pay for what you want or can afford and try to stay within budget. You can go anywhere from a $600 Vanguard Synthetic to a $2800 Mark V Outfitter RC or a $5600 Royal Ultramark if you really felt the need to spend money. I have a Mark V Lazermark in 300 wby and 2 Mark XXIIs (70s Japan and 2010 Germany), while my brother has a cheap Synthetic Vanguard in 270 Win: all work great. Every rifle comes with a sub-MOA guarantee and RC versions come with a factory target and certification.

 

[mtswampfox]

Have always looked at firearms as an investment rather than a debit. Sometime down the road when selling or trading your return will be realized.

 

[Eagle]

I bought a cooper after doing a ton of research myself. At the end of the day, the bottom line with a rifle is accuracy, and with coopers 1/2 MOA guarantee for the price of an Excalibur, I just felt it couldn't be beat. As it turned out, my cooper actually shoots 1/4 MOA and is an awesome gun. I do not regret the money I put into the gun at all.

 

[rayporter]

build exactly what you want.

http://www.stevensaccuracy.com/html/hunting_rifles.html

 

[_RJ_]

Jered Joplin, American Precision Arms

http://www.americanprecisionarms.com

Here's a pic of my .308

 

[_RJ_]

George Gardner GA Precision

http://www.gaprecision.net/ga-precision-2014-custom-rifles.html

 

[Ryan Avery]

Cooper also has 125.00 barrel replacement! No one touches that price that I know of!!

 

[PathFinder]

I had a Cooper Excalibur and had some serious issues with it. The bolt stop broke and it fed really poorly from the magazine. I returned it, paid a little more, and got an HS Precision. The HS really is in another league. The action, magazine, safety, trigger, everything really is significantly higher quality. Outshoots the Cooper I had too.

 

[RamDreamer]

Looking at what you have had in the past I will through Montana Rifle Company out there for you. They make some great rifles and the customer service was excellent.

 

[tenth1]

The Montana Rifle Co could be an option and I lean toward CRF. How do they shoot? The fit and finish of the ones I handled were akin to a polished 2x4. But it's been awhile.

I would love one of the mentioned semi custom rifles, but the Cooper is probably at the top of my price range.

 

[rayporter]

have you done the math?

most of the fun of building is gathering the parts and talking of how you want it to work.

if you could find a stock you liked for 500$
and if you could find a shilen barrel for300$ a real honest to goodness match barrel[Bruno has a sporter listed for 300] - not a mass produced match copy
and maybe a custom action for about 1000$ a kelbly atlas lists at 1000 other actions are less - and some are very good
a trigger for say 150
a but plate or recoil pad 50
a trigger guard 50
scope bases 50
rings 50
magazie 150
gunsmith work to put it together 650 by a supershoot winner and qualified for the world next month, accuracy smith
total $2950

and if own a remington you can save the cost of the action- that would bring you to under 2000$

i know you would choose some parts that cost more and i also know if you had time to search you could find a bargain here and there so save some bucks. even with a brake added cost would be reasonable.

 

[VernAK]

Tenth,

I've owned a lot of rifles over the past 60 years and like you, most just didn't measure up. The most cost effective and reliable rifles I've owned are pre64-70s and Dakotas. The two Dakotas shot very well and reliably right from the box and still do after 20 years. The value of the Dakotas has kept pace with the 70s but the only feature I don't like is the bolt release on the Dakota as it prevents use of Talley LWs.

If I were younger, I'd probably get a good 70 action to send off to Darcy Echols for custom workbut with limited hunting years remaining, I'll try to find an OK pre64-70 FWT and put it in a McMillan or similar stock.

Like you, I lean toward the CRF and most of the rifles at big box stores just don't turn my crank. Having said that, I have some Kimbers that are very accurate and reliable and I find myself using Kimbers a lot as the weight and fit are quite favorable for me.

 

[tenth1]

I haven't really sat down to pencil out a new custom, but have a good idea after the last one I had built by Jess Gibson in CO several years ago on a pre-64 M70 action (currently my best shooting gun). One of the big down sides to a custom is that you will never get even close to your money back out of it if/when your interests or needs change.

I was able to fondle a Dakota today, unreal craftsmanship. They even had it spec'ed mostly to my liking. Stainless 300 H&H with a 24" barrel.

 

[16Bore]

What were the factors that made you ditch the others?

 

[Josh Wright]

I'm not sure exactly your feelings on Nosler rifles, but my 26 Nosler M48 Patriot is shooting lights out with factory loads. My last group was .29 MOA. Every 3 shot group I have shot was less than .60. This is off 2 cheap sand bags, not a sled. I've had lightweight and magnums and this rifle is as good as it gets. I would not hesitate to buy this gun many more times.

 

[peddler]

I'm waiting for a Legendary Arms Works Professional Model in 6.5 Creedmoor, should have it in a week or 10 days. It's a lot of gun for the money.

 

[WRO]

I'm waiting for a Legendary Arms Works Professional Model in 6.5 Creedmoor, should have it in a week or 10 days. It's a lot of gun for the money.

Having fingered the vast majority of the factory rifles on the market, The LAW rifle is the best for the money I've played with yet as far as fit and finish, options, and trigger. My buddy bought one and is very pleased. He's getting .75 MOA on out of his 300 win.

 

[tenth1]

What were the factors that made you ditch the others?

Maybe I lucked out with most of my early rifles, believe it or not a factory post 64 (push feed) m70 with an old redfield TV view 4x is one of my best shooters. Most of my early purchases easily shoot under MOA with the right hand load all the time, however the last many can't. I'll take the good shooters with me to the range to factor out human error with other guns. Maybe a rash of bad luck purchasing lemons?

Nosler is an interesting option.

The LAW is even more interesting. I'll have to research that more.