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Cooper Arms 1989-2009

Dan, thanks for some fine rifles. I’ve had the pleasure of owning 7 of your M21’s and M38’s. My favorite is a M38 classic in 17AH as a walk around laser beam. My good friend BAM is the reason I own so many of these fine single shots.
Thank you kind sir for your comments, we sure enjoyed making them.
Dan, just wanted to say thank you… For many things but especially the 17 CCM which brought me some of my best rifle memories!

I had a model DLC 21, and was told it started life as a magazine fed but was somehow converted to single shot. Brought me many awesome memories!

Much of the original brass it came with either had and/or was splitting neck.Since it came with an extra 17 &22 CCM barrel, I decided to have the extra 17 CCM barrel made into a short 17CCM to still use that brass. it was like a 17 Mach 2 shooting HMR velocity.

I bought a bunch of Schroeder made 17 (&22) CCM brass which functioned great. I also got my hands on a bunch of Hornady reject 17 gr vmax bullets which combined with RamShot Enforcer was by accident a perfect combination. I always preferred your 17CCM over the short because driving that 17 gr vmax at around 3450 fps was awesome on prairie dogs! Todd Kindler was kind enough to publish an article in SCN on my short version of your awesome 17CCM.

One time I was shooting PDs with my friend Rem and Doug (who worked at Hornady) who Doug (who was spotting at the time) turned and asked me, “What the hell are you shooting those PDs with?” The quiet 17CCM was just putting PDs to sleep (very quickly clean 1-shot kills) way beyond what it should have been doing (like 300 yards). Sorry, I could go on and on…

Sadly in a weak moment when I wasn’t shooting much due to my arthritis, I sold it and still miss it. Still shoot the 22 CCM in a contender barrel but the awesome memories are still with me!

Met you at I think the 2009 shot show when my good friend Ray H pointed you out. I believe you was with the owner of Wilson Barrels. It was awesome to put a DLC personality with my CCMs!

Thank you again!
Warms my heart to hear you have enjoyed the 17CCM. I remember Doug from Hornaday. 300 yds? Brother that's a fantastic shot!! Great story and thanks you for sharing it with me. Had a wheat farmer friend, also a friend of Todd's that used to guide praise dog hunts in northern MT. When a client would miss a dog at 100 he used to shoot over them with a 17 CCM. One shot one kill. Loved it! Once again, thank you sir.
 
Utterly fascinating thread!

Dan, not asking you to lob rocks at anyone, or throw anyone under the bus... but what's your opinion of the quality of current-manufacture Cooper rifles? I recently tried to find a Model 21 Montana Varminter in .222 Rem and couldn't find one anywhere. Part of that is my fondness for an out-of-favor caliber, no doubt... but it definitely seems like the factory is selling everything they can make.

Would love to hear your thoughts.
To answer your question, honestly I just don't know. I have not shot or felt a newer Cooper since 2009. I have heard they are all the same quality if not better. Finding a 222 in Mt Varminter is going to be hard. You may want to search for one of the Scheels Varminters in 222 or simply a Varminter in 222 which is the same thing all but the wood. When we made them they mainly went to back east dealers in PA. Sorry I could not have been of more help sir. But good to hear from you.
 
Dan,
Really great to have you here and how open you are to all our questions! And I do have another question. What was the reason for using so many different barrel manufacturers throughout the years?
Well Cooper was/is a company committed to Classic beauty and accuracy. After all, "only accurate rifles are interesting". We sought the most accurate bbls we could find at the time. Bill Wiseman, Shilen and Douglas were willing to supply. But as Cooper grew we needed a supplier who would play game with our ever increasing production schedule. In the formers defense we weren't the greatest at paying bills on time. We were growing so fast. George Wilson and Linda and Steve took on that task. They designed a production lapping machine and with that came air gauge inspected barrels that were consistent in quality and we could afford to pay on delivery according to our production schedule. The reason you have the Varminter series is because of Wilson. I hope that answers your question sir. And thank you
 
This thread is absolutely fantastic. Always wanted a cooper with those sexy Buick vents. Did you call them Buick vents? Who came up with those? Did anyone think they were horribly ugly.
I grew up in a family who immigrated from Canada during the industrial revolution. My Uncle was Pres of Dana Spicer Axle, my grandparents owned at one time Graham Page Huppmobile and the ever famous Auburn Cord Duesenburg. I grew up in the closed down Auburn factory, later loved Frazier Farm Equipment and my most loved Chris-Craft boats (I think it was just because I wanted to be Clark Gable at an earlier age lol).
I called them the "buick holes" because my other great uncle was Pres of Fischer body. They reminded me of the older Buicks. And yes I came up with the term. Never heard anyone say they were ugly. They were there to provide ventilation for my fellow avid varmint hunters. I was once on a varmint shoot where a friend made the stock of a M21 smoke. That's when I said we need ventilation if you're going to pound 500 rounds thru a bbl in that short of time!!!
 
No questions here. Just want to thank you as a legendary rifle maker for being so generous with your time as to post a fascinating story of Cooper Rifles! On second thought I do have a question. If you were to build any rifle of your choice today, what would it be?
Simply stated, a recreation of the M21 single shot in 223. Although I spent a lot of time on the 57 and 52 I spent most of my leisure time behind the 21 in 223.
 
I grew up in a family who immigrated from Canada during the industrial revolution. My Uncle was Pres of Dana Spicer Axle, my grandparents owned at one time “ Graham ” Page Huppmobile and the ever famous Auburn Cord Duesenburg. I grew up in the closed down Auburn factory, later loved Frazier Farm Equipment and my most loved Chris-Craft boats (I think it was just because I wanted to be Clark Gable at an earlier age lol).
I called them the "buick holes" because my other great uncle was Pres of Fischer body. They reminded me of the older Buicks. And yes I came up with the term. Never heard anyone say they were ugly. They were there to provide ventilation for my fellow avid varmint hunters. I was once on a varmint shoot where a friend made the stock of a M21 smoke. That's when I said we need ventilation if you're going to pound 500 rounds thru a bbl in that short of time!!!
Do you happen to remember a gentleman by the name of Blair Graham
 
Remember Donald Trump, prior to becoming our 45th President, donated a BUNCH of money to democrats. I don’t see many disparaging him on here. One would do well to remember that before casting too many proverbial stones at Mr. Cooper.
Sometimes you gotta donate to get things done. Being in the gun industry donating to the democrats keeps em on your side and fighting for you.
 
Dan, thank you for joining us and sharing your knowledge. I am a great fan of Cooper and have several. All shoot GREAT of course.
I have enjoyed quite a few of the One Shot competitions, both East and West, even have some paintings and a rifle.
when were they started? Who came up with the painting idea?
Thank you,Dan
 
Sometimes you gotta donate to get things done. Being in the gun industry donating to the democrats keeps em on your side and fighting for you.
The banks have been playing that game for decades.

I coughed up the bucks for a 57-M classic something back in 2005. Gorgeous rifle & accurate as all heck. Looks like its figured black walnut. Little glossy M8 Leupold looks perfect on top. Get a lot of "drive bys" at the range. Thanks Dan!
 
Hello Dan- I've owned 3 Cooper rifles, 220 swift, 22 hornet and 6.5X284 - all shot really well. I stopped by the shop in Stevensville in 2005(?) and got an informative tour. I remember the checkering on the unfinished stocks being particularly amazing to view. Always liked the test targets with the handload info included. The bluing / polish on the 22 HNT were just amazing - It had an Anschutz Mag if I remember correctly. Thanks for all... :)
 
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Dan, thank you for the insight and history of your amazing rifles.

The question I have is, as wildcats appeared, what made you decide which calibers to chamber and offer and why not others? Obviously the list of wildcats is significant, just curious why you picked some over others.

Thanks again for coming onboard such a great shooting community.
 
Dan, thank you for the insight and history of your amazing rifles.

The question I have is, as wildcats appeared, what made you decide which calibers to chamber and offer and why not others? Obviously the list of wildcats is significant, just curious why you picked some over others.

Thanks again for coming onboard such a great shooting community.
Here again I could write a book on that. I'll be honest and say it was driven by money and pressures and what liability I was willing to absorb. Of all calibers that drove me to serious consideration was the 17 HeeBee. LOL Oh wait the .14 CCM was fun but not too friendly. From the wildcat side tom Thomas at the Outdoorsman and Todd Kindler drove most of my approvals. My favorite to test shoot? 17AKHornet just because Dave Kidd loved it, 221 is not a wild cat but damn, what a nice thing to shoot. We would do wildcats but it required the extra expense of reamer and die cost. That hindered most individual chambering Thank you for your question sir. I you have more questions just ask.
 
Hello Dan- I've owned 3 Cooper rifles, 220 swift, 22 hornet and 6.5X284 - all shot really well. I stopped by the shop in Stevensville in 2005(?) and got an informative tour. I remember the checkering on the unfinished stocks being particularly amazing to view. Always liked the test targets with the handload info included. The bluing / polish on the 22 HNT were just amazing - It had an Anschutz Mag if I remember correctly. Thanks for all... :)
As an owner of Cooper, with all the corporate, design, accounting and good Lord everything else, my production manager used to tell me to stay out of the production area. I tried but I never complied LOL After all I owned it. When I was in the middle of a difficult decision I would go back to the checking department and just sit and watch and listen to Karen. That was my peaceful spot.
 
The banks have been playing that game for decades.

I coughed up the bucks for a 57-M classic something back in 2005. Gorgeous rifle & accurate as all heck. Looks like its figured black walnut. Little glossy M8 Leupold looks perfect on top. Get a lot of "drive bys" at the range. Thanks Dan!
Your 57 has Claro walnut. Great choice of scope. thank sir for your comment.
 

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