Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/116174
Special Editor's Award – Cooper Firearms of Montana, Inc. C Timeless Classic – Browning's Sweet Sixteen W hen John Browning's A-5 semiauto was introduced just a tad more than 100 years ago, it became an instant hit. Produced by FN in Belgium, it was extremely well made, durable, reliable and was the world's first commercially successful semi-auto shotgun. By any standard it is a classic. What then, is the best of them to be called? We call it Sporting Classics' Award of Excellence winner for 2012. Possessing all the panache and sheer functionality of the A-5, it also incorporates the best qualities of its 16-gauge chambering. Sleeker, lighter, better balanced in addition to having near-perfect ballistics for almost any upland game, Browning's "Sweet Sixteen" certainly vies for the title of classiest repeating shotgun ever made! – Robert Matthews S P O R T I N G C 64 L A S S I C S ooper Firearms has been in the rifle manufacturing business for 22 years. That's nothing compared to the 146 years Winchester and nearly 200 years Remington have been at it. But what Cooper lacks in longevity it more than makes up for in quality. Started by Dan Cooper and two other former employees of Kimber of Oregon in 1990, Cooper Firearms became an instant hit with varmint shooters who appreciated not only precisely made, superbly accurate rifles, but nice walnut stocks, a Cooper standard. Big game hunting rifles and synthetic stocks have been added to the ever-expanding line to the disappointment of no one except Cooper's competition. Manufactured in Montana by dedicated local craftsmen and women, Cooper rifles are still guaranteed to shoot ½ MOA, an unheard of standard initiated in 1998. There are no beauty guarantees, but quality of walnut, fit, checkering pattern and finish leave no doubt: Cooper rifles look as good as they shoot and shoot as good as they look, year in and year out. – Ron Spomer