By Joe Ferronato
For firearm enthusiasts, we are living in the golden era. Never have high-performance rifles been so readily available. Manufacturing processes combined with modern technologies have improved the ability of hunting rifles right off the production line. But it has also come with a lack of style.
Don’t mistake that statement for dismay, I truly appreciate the performance coupled with the lightweight, space-age materials of these modern rifles. But, just as many of my coworkers here at Field Ethos, I have an affinity for the retro style that is slowly disappearing from our sport. Of course, the performance of your grandfather’s old wood-stocked deer rifle probably pales in comparison to these new guns, but it sure as hell presents itself better than its polymer-stocked posterity.
I own many rifles with polymer, synthetic, or carbon-fiber stocks and use all of them. I’ve taken them on a lot of hunts, and they all have sentimental value, but the guns in my safe that mean the most are classic, walnut-stocked firearms that carry scars that tell the stories of adventure from my grandpa and dad. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the classics and have a flare for the sentimental, I digress.
I prefaced this review with that intro to say this: Cooper Rifles of Arkansas’ Montana Heritage Rifles deliver modern performance and technologies in a platform that pays homage to the past.
Cooper Rifles of Arkansas? Yes, Cooper Firearms of Montana has changed its name after being acquired by Nighthawk Customs. As we all know, Nighthawk produces and deals in some of the finest firearms in the world, so the Cooper legacy is definitely in good hands. To honor what Cooper has built, Nighthawk released the Montana Heritage Rifle.
This limited run—only 350 rifles—is available with two stock options: a high-grade walnut or black laminate. I was fortunate enough to test the walnut-stocked version—and it’s a looker. Beyond looking good, the stock design is one of the best I’ve handled. It’s a classic sporter style with an exaggerated pistol grip and pronounced palm swell that offers exceptional ergonomics.
The actions on all 350 of these rifles are Cooper actions made in Stevensville, Montana. They feature a three-lug, spiral-fluted bolt and have both the Nighthawk and Cooper logos. It has a Trigger Tech Primary trigger and a five-round detachable magazine. The only flaw I see in these rifles is they are short-action only and available in 6.5 Creedmoor and .308. My test rifle is chambered in 6.5.
Mated to the action is a 22-inch Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel—another Montana-based company that knows a thing or two about premium firearms. It’s threaded 5/8×24 and comes with a radial brake attached. The barreled action is set into the stock and glass-bedded for premium accuracy.
Out of the box, I was immediately impressed. The walnut combined with the black Cerakote of the action and the carbon fiber on the barrel blend the look of a classic hunting rifle with a modern flare. The weight was lighter than expected. In a world dominated by ultralightweight fanatics, wood stocks are often looked down upon, but the marginal added weight of this rifle is offset by how well it balances. It shoulders smoothly and holds true.
Look and feel only go so far—a rifle needs to shoot. Taking the Montana Heritage to test made my anxiety flare up. The price isn’t listed on Nighthawk’s website, and if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. So, I took it to the desert, screwed on a SilencerCo Scythe-Ti, laid my shooting pad in the bed of my truck, and got to work. The rifle was sent with a Swarovski Z6 2-12×50. The Cooper action has a proprietary mounting pattern with bases made by Talley. The way the scope was mounted was a touch too high for my liking, so a comfortable and repeatable cheek weld was hard to come by while lying prone.
Though uncomfortable, the first shooting session still impressed me. Three-, five-, and 10-shot groups were all sub-MOA, with the best group of the day just under .75-MOA. All groups were shot with factory Hornady 143-grain ELD-X loads. I was incredibly happy with the outcome, but Nighthawk guarantees this as a half-minute rifle.
Knowing that it was likely me in a poor shooting position, I took the rifle to the range and got acquainted with a bench. Being upright made it much easier to get behind the scope. That accuracy guarantee proved to be true—with three different factory loads. The ELD-Xs hovered right at half MOA, while the 140-grain ELD-Ms produced around.42-MOA groups. The best group came from the Federal 135-grain Berger Hybrid Hunter. Four shots printed a .36-MOA group—I probably should’ve stopped at three, but I couldn’t help myself.
Casing the Heritage Rifle back up at the range, I couldn’t help but think how fun it would be to take the rifle deer hunting in Montana. In my mind, this is a true hunting rifle. Not just a collector’s item meant for the safe, but one that collectors will love, use, appreciate, then pass down to the next in line. Unfortunately for me, though, my time with the Montana Heritage Rifle has come to an end, or maybe my son will have to get used to the idea of paying for his own college.
Cost: If you have to ask…
Pros: Classic walnut stock; Montana-made Cooper action that runs smoothly; excellent ergonomics; accurate; Proof barrel threaded to accept suppressors; combines a classic look with modern technology.
Cons: You have to find out the price at some point.
