Dream rifle come true

Did some tax preliminaries and put money down on a Cooper Excalibur in 6.5×284 Norma. Fluted sporter barrel. factory muzzle brake, upgraded aramid stock with full aluminum bedding block. I’ve got a Burris C4 4x14x50mm to throw on for now. I wanted a mid weight pleasant shooting rifle that is notorious for accuracy potential. I also shoot a Tikka T3 superlightweight…in 7mm Rem Mag…it’s accurate, but kicks like a mule. This Cooper is for the range, but will easily cross over into a fine huntin rifle. I know there are others out there that will shoot just as well for alot less…but this is a Cooper, and is a rifle I’ve been lusting after for over 10 years. Anyone have any loads for this fire pole in the 129 – 142 grain bullet range?

Beautiful rifle Clown. I don’t load for any Coopers, but I sure do understand why you have a passion for them.
Never easy to drop $2,000 on a rifle until you look at all the fine details they include. I was in their booth last year checking out their entire line. Very well built rifles with no details left untouched. I took a strong liking to the Jackson Game. t just fit me perfect and was so comfortable to shoulder up.

Congrats on buying that dream gun

Well, I got out to the range twice this past weekend and did the recommended barrel break-in, and started seeing what this gun likes. Factory loaded ammo is short due to earlier short action chamberings, and my Cooper has a long action. I handloaded as per some advise obtained and started seeing some fairly good results. My best so far is a 3 shot group measuring 2″ at 300 yards. This is with a front bipod and a rear sandbag. More to come. The rifle is a joy to shoot and does not induce a flinch, nor a sore shoulder.

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castle-rock-clown wrote:

I wanted a mid weight pleasant shooting rifle

I read that as pheasant at first.. That barrel is sweet.

When I’m done I’ll be able to shoot the eye out of a pheasant or a grouse at a 1000 yards. Lol.

That’s a very nice looking rifle. Some fantastic 6.5 chamberings out there nowadays make for some very tight shooting rifles. You’ll enjoy that one.

Grouse

On many of my out west motorcycle trips I’ve seen antelope playing in the far off distance. I think this would be a great way to initiate the rifle to some longer range hunting. Kind of like letting her stretch out her legs.

Keep us posted with load development though! I for sure want to see some nice .25 inch groups at 100 yards

I’ve been researching deep into the bowels of some long-range hunting and benchrest forums and have learned the evolution of this cartridge from it’s parent case and calibre,.284 and designed for a short action with short COAL in shorter barreled hunting carbines to today when the .264, 140grain bullets are fired from long actions with deep throated chambers in rifles with 24 inch plus barrels. My rifle has a 26″ barrel (without break) and there are some interesting loads involving the slowest powder I’ve ever attempted using to date, Retumbo, some use magnum primers, some not, and long COALs with 140/142 grain low drag bullets.

Like I stated earlier, this is a hunting rifle that I’m excited to shoot at the range and attain benchrest results. It will be a couple weeks till I’m back out there and will have results to report back.