Friendship really only reaches a small number of American hunters or even some other countries. Boards like this probably reaches more regular American hunters than does info from Friendship.

I did not mean to imply that Friendship has anything to do with quality. I meant that what ever happens at Friendship really has no bearing on what I might do in a hunting situation.

I think I can write this and be proven correct - the Cooper will shoot and it will be accurate - probably better than most might think. It does not need to be shot at Friendship to prove that it needs to be shot by you and I and our assessment for other most normal hunters would provide greater weight than Friendship.

Why does it need Friendship to prove it's accuracy? Getting the information out on forums like this will reach a lot more folks that might be interested in the rifle.

Shoot out here we rarely here anything about Friendship nor is it a scheduled event that is followed that widely.

I also agree that the new Knights shoot extremely well. My favorite is the Ultra-Light but you probably would never see it at Friendship as the barrel is to short. The Mountaineer was increased an 1" in length with possibly the thought of Friendship competition but what did that do for the average American hunter???

I am sure Friendship is a great and fun event for those that attend but what does that do for most American hunters? In just my mind - not much.

I would much rather you told me and showed me what you did with your hunting rifle in a hunting situation along with your personal range sessions - especially if it is done non-sophisticated equipment like most of us might use.

Sorry, i left out Ken Johnston. I will correct that now. :D

I don't know Mike. There sure is a of of bragging on hunting forums about how their gun did at Friendship.

true and if they didnt run factory set up, that imo doesnt really give an honest view of how they actually did.

And I responded back. I believe Barnes was the only other one who saw it. Now I hope all is well and no feelings or egos were bruised. Merry Christmas.

Sorry but its more than just what a single individual may want or do. Its about marketing. Friendship wasn't mentioned much in the past, granted many still don't know what that's all about. However since the in-lines have been included, its brought in an entirely different group of shooters, most of whom have never done anything other than hunt with muzzleloaders. Those same shooters at the matches also use the internet and there's much more talk and discussion about the Friendship shoots than there ever used to be on the internet. The new shooters ask for accuracy and distance for hunting and believe me, they're reading and asking. They want to know how well these rifles are shooting and what rifle is doing the best. Unless their daddy recommends it, how many new shooters are purchasing flints or percussion as their first muzzleloader?

The shooting of in-lines at Friendship isn't done off lead sleds or other sophisticated equipment. Its shot from hunting positions, prone, kneeling, sitting or from a bench with a front rest and the shoulder only. Kind of like resting on a bale of straw, rock or over a branch, a hunting situation.

The "average American hunter" isn't going to buy a Cooper, they could care less about a custom built rifle costing $1,500 or more. They are exactly the same people that will purchase a shrink wrapped rifle from Wal-Mart and be extremely happy with it.

Its all about marketing when selling a product, especially bringing out a new product. Heck if the internet was going to do it, Toby has already done that, yet here we are still discussing it. The hunting seasons are either over or in some places almost over. Getting that rifle out in the spring and showing its quality build and its accuracy is a great marketing strategy that will go world wide, including this forum and the others.

Most all shoot the "factory setup" and those factory Knights are holding their own.

Well, what happens if they went to Friendship and got their "clock cleaned" by production rifles like knight that cost half as much? How is that great promotion? Lol.

I'd bet it would promote engineering changes or, shooter changes. :s1:

Lol, that probably would happen. I personally don't believe accuracy measures quality. I feel the same with bullets. The most accurate bullets aren't necessarily the best for game.