Didn't know this company existed, but a quick review of their website revealed they make some beautiful rifles. American made too.

Cooper is what Kimber should have been.

I have three non-custom factory models I really like (in order from least to most expensive).


1. Tikka T3 - I have one in .30-06 and 7mm-08. They are fine out of the box, but I don't care much for the factory polymer stocks. Swapped both of mine out to B&C stocks and haven't looked back. Good triggers, smooth actions and VERY accurate with my handloads.


2. Browning X Bolt - I have the White Gold Medallion in .270 Win. and love it. Rotary magazine, good out of the box trigger and silky smooth action. I don't handload for it as it's very accurate with just plain old off-the-shelf Remington Core Lokt 130 grain fodder. I'll get around to hand loading for it someday.


3. Winchester Model 70 - It's one of the newer FN produced Super Grade models in .270 Win. VERY smooth CRF bolt, excellent trigger and is my most accurate .270 rifle with my handloads. It's also the prettiest rifle I own, outstanding fancy grain walnut stock with fine checkering and very deep and polished bluing.


I used to have mostly Remington 700's for bolt action rifles but have gotten away from them over the years. I have 2 Remingtons left, both made in the '80s. One 700 in .30-06 (now my daughter's) and the other is a Model Seven in .243 Win. (my wife's). I won't own a Remington 700 or Model Seven with a factory trigger so I've installed Timney triggers in both. They're good rifles, very accurate with hand loads.

I have a Model 70 that was made during the brief time when the FN plant at Columbia, SC produced them. As you probably know, Winchester would move production to the FN plant Portugal a year or two later. But I must admit the Vanguard Series II that Weatherby created for Walmart and a couple other retailers is a very close second to it in terms of attractiveness and performance. In fact, the Vanguard is a more accurate rifle with off-the-shelf ammo. It would eventually become a steal of a rifle when Walmart offered them at a closeout price of $399. I paid over $500 for mine and considered it a great deal at the time. The Vanguard Deluxe model, which it very closely matches, retails for well over $1000.

Another rifle brand you hear very little about but the couple I have shot were very good out of the box Dakota

I’m not a 100% but I think Dakota has been struggling since the Freedom Group bought them.

Wouldn't surprise me, They made some fine rifles more of semi custom. I haven't kept up with them. That little M10 of theirs is a sweet little single shot. A good friend has one in one of your favorite calibers 6.5X55 with the action and scope mounts case hardened by Turnbull and full length stock. Most accurate single shot I hae ever fired

Tikka

Out of the 8 bolt guns my family hunts with, comprised of savage 14, Various Remington 700's, Winchester mod 70, and a wby vanguard all but the savage shot MOA or less out of the box after trying a few different factory loads.


After pillar bedding and floating the barrel on the savage it also shoots less than moa. My best shooters are a rem 700 sendero in 270, a rem 700 adl in 223, and the vanguard.

My favorite and the most accurate is the sendero. Brother just recently (post bankruptcy or whatever just happened to them) rem 700 long range in 30-06 and it shoots good so far but have put more than sighting in ammo down it yet.

My Dakota Predator but it was semi custom I guess? Another I should have kept. They are still available.

Shilen Barrel
Jewell Trigger
Nesika Bay Mini action
6.5 Grendel

Tikka

they all come in a box when you buy them, lol but based on your examples of a "factory" out of the box rifle

Then I guess you should crack yourself up on this one. The op was very clear in his examples in his exact words of "factory" rifles meaning "not a custom". Yet your example is of a "custom" out of the box rifle. When you land on Coopers website they use the word "custom" to describe all their rifles and their prices represent custom as well compared to factory prices.

Perhaps I should have said something that a guy could order from a distributor/go to their LGS/academy/Walmart and buy.

BINGO!

I would rank them in this order based on what you get today for the price based on my impressions form the NRA show:

1) Tikka
2) Ruger
3) Browning
4) Winchester

Based on rifles I own:

1) Tikka
2) Browning A-Bolt

Both of these rifles have always shot less than 1 MOA with Federal Premium ammo. I rate the Tikka higher because of the free floated barrel. The Browning triggers are some of the sweetest factory triggers you can buy for a bolt gun.

In 2017 before the season I faced a dilemma. I had an incomplete rifle in the shop and needed a rifle to hunt with. I also wanted to start long-range shooting. In my price range it came down to a Tikka CTR or Bergara HMR in 6.5. The CTR was lighter by over a pound. Since this would be a dual-use rifle, I went with the CTR since it was 24" vs 22" (you can always cut it off later, but can never add it back) and lighter, and from everything I'd heard, it was the more guaranteed shooter. The first group is shots 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 after 1-3 were spent sighting it in. Factory Hornady 143gr., 100 yd range:




it's done it on other occasions, too





200yd group, Chad's 143 regular ammo, bit of wind or I might have been better. It shot Chad's 140 AMAX and 140 ELDM about the same:



I liked this so much I bought a T3 Lite in .308 for mountain hunting. I was disappointed when it would only shoot 3/4 MOA for three shots! But, I only tried one load.

I had a Vanguard (1st series) in .243 Win. that was lights-out accurate with any factory loading up to and including 85 grain. Anything heavier than 85 grains and I started getting fliers. It was a good rifle, though. Slick action, comfy stock. Took a LOT of hogs with it using 85 grain Core Lokts.

Give the Weatherby Vangaurd line a look you will be impressed. 700 dollar gun that looks and feels like 2500 mark V

I got my first CZ this year and it's been great. Very impressed with the craftsmanship and accuracy. Plus, it's been easy to handload for.