I would like to purchase a .204, I'm considering either a Remington XR-100, or a Cooper model 21 Phoenix, at this point I could buy the XR-100 and have money left over to buy a lot of ammo.

Is the accuracy of the Cooper that much better than the XR-100 to justify the price difference?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Claybirds

Without question, the Cooper is a very fine rifle, one of the best in the world, at that price point. The Remingtons are "iffy", some shoot really, really well, and some do not. More Remingtons shoot well than not, though, but it's a crapshoot.
I, and one of the moderators here, Glen (One En) both moderate on www.204ruger.com, and we both read a lot of questions and complaints about Remingtons (and all the other brands, to be fair!) but the Remingtons seem to draw more complaints than other brands. Maybe it's unrealistic expectations from Big Green's marketing department, I don't know.
Have you considered the Savage line? The LRPV is somewhat less costly than the Cooper, and more ergonomically fun, and the VLP has a good, very comfortable laminated stock, and it's priced in league with the Remington XR-100s. If you like, it's available in a solid bottom, single shot model, like the XR-100. Don't forget to look at those Savages, they aren't the Savages of 20 years ago. That's a GOOD thing.

I haven't priced either out lately, but I'd have to guess that the Cooper is near double the $$$ of the XR-100.

I've had the XR-100 in a 204 and it shot well! If money wasn't always an option I'd probably buy the Cooper over the Remmy.

HOWEVER....

You can pretty well build a full-blown custom for what a Cooper costs! Yes the Cooper would just about always out shoot a Remmy, BUT I wouldn't necessarily say the same if you built a custom with a handlapped barrel, blueprinted action, pillar bedded etc, etc

So for me a $1700 Cooper versus a $1700 custom...I'd build everytime! Why have the same rifle as your neighbour???

JMO

I am not counting out Savage at all, I think they make a really good rifle also, I would even consider a Ruger #1 if somehow the accuracy could be guaranteed.

As you can see I'd like to stay with a single shot.

I know when you buy a Cooper it comes with a factory tested target, does anybody know if you can get the exact information on the custom load used?

Claybirds

Glenn(2 n's) Asher gave you the scoop very well. He always does. The XR100 sure is a nice rig. The Cooper will probably have nicer wood too. You sure do have a dilemma on your hands & I don't envy you one bit. If you really like the XR100 it can be made to shoot very very well with some trigger work & reloads. A Ruger #1 is another option too. Your bullet of choice will also play a role. 95% of the factory 204's like everything up to the 39gr'ers. A lot of them like the 40gr Bergers but most don't care for the 40gr V-Max or Noslers. Let us know what you end up with.

Well I checked into prices more and at the local gun shops, the Remington XR-100 will run about $800, and the Cooper will run $1200.

I actually thought the Cooper was going to be more expensive, at only a $400 difference I'm leaning towards the Cooper at this point.

Does this change any bodies opinions?

One last thing, a guy at my local gun club told me to stay away from the Winchester brass for the 204, any truth to this warning?

Thanks,
Bernie

I don't think you can go wrong with the Cooper. I'm pretty sure they'll give the load for the gun you purchase. When I fisrt got my Kimber 204, I bought 3 or 4 boxes of Winchester 34 grn ammo. It shot very well. Some of the cases split at the neck. I'd say at least 2 out of each box. May have been a bad batch. I shot them all up and threw away all the brass. I started shooting the hornady 32 v-max, I have several empty boxes and all the fired brass seems OK. I have not reloaded any 204 at this time. Dawgmaster loads 204s all the time. He probably can share info with you. Good luck with the Cooper..post pics when you get it. jj

There HAVE been a lot of complaints lately about Winchester .204 brass. I've lost quite a bit of it, due to neck splits, myself, so I can commiserate with the complainees. On my last PD shoot, I lost 3.5% when I went to resize the cases, which ain't good. There were only about four loads on each case.

Last summer, I bought 200 new cases, 100 each of Winchester and Remington, but weather, gas prices, and some other stuff got in the way of running a serious test to see if the earlier cases were a systemic problem or not. I just haven't had time to load and shoot them, to see if one brand is better than the other. Even so, with the difference in price, Winchester still beats heck out of Norma ($91/100 ) I can throw away a LOT of Winchester brass for the difference in price!

The test target that came with my rifle listed the powder and bullet but not the charge weight or the primer. I don't know if Cooper keeps records of the exact load that was used for the test target but you can give them a call and find out.

Here's Cooper's recommended loads for their rifles:
http://www.saubier.com/forum/showpost.php?...amp;postcount=7

I had thought that those loads were the test loads, but they are probably the starting point. My test target has three bullets in one slightly egg-shaped hole. Two bullets had to go through one hole and one just barely distorted the hole to the right. I don't think you can do that with any rifle with some standard load and no tweaking.

A late reply but for what itis worth
My RX 100 in 204 out to 300 yds + should be declared a WMD
I use factory 32 and 40 gr Hornady
It has a 20 Leupold Varmint reticle
I just love it
I was /am considering buying another
My favoritre gun and round
But I may be lucky as I have a friend who complains his is not a shooter.
I hear much more pros than cons
I am trying to develop a hand load for oit so if anyone has a proven pet /accurate load let me know.

I personally don't have any complaints on the Winchester brass. They may have had a bad run at one point? But mine has held up well. The Hornady brass is good, a little thicker I think, it was pricey compared to Winchester last time I was shopping for 204 brass.

I purchased the XR-100, it came as a package deal, scope (VXIII 6.5x20), dies (RCBS), bullets (39gr Sierras and 40gr Hornadys), ammo (200 Rnds), and of course the gun.

Hope to get out soon to try it out, wish me luck.

Claybirds

And by the way I did order some 204 brass. (Remington)

Not neccessarily Dawgmaster:



p.s. That rifle has the laminated stock on it with the factory pressure bump near the muzzle.