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Cooper Arms 1989-2009

Bamaslammer

Shooters, I see a lot of questions regarding Cooper history of design etc including historical information. I am here to answer your questions if you are interested. I can help as much as I can from a historical and design standpoint. My knowledge is yours to tap. sincerely, Founder, Daniel Cooper
 
Wow, what a treat to have the man himself here. I’ve only heard the best about Cooper rifles. Thanks for coming here.
 
One question I have is this, Where did you source barrels throughout the years? And what are your thoughts on past and current barrel makers.

few more

For the rifles you guys built what did you do for bedding? I would imagine the guys that did it in house for a living got pretty good at it. Do you have any estimate or data on how much time went in and to bedding? A complete rifle?

Now that you are not involved with cooper firearms what are some of the rifles you built for yourself
 
I have several and really like them but oddly I have been shooting mostly Savages for the last few years. My Coopers, mostly 2000-2008 all shoot very good. I don't understand why Cooper stopped making the m38 in the 221 based case.
 
When did you first decide to start making your own actions and is this when the business as we knew it started? You must have built quite a few rifles on everything else prior to your own line. Was there a favorite action that you based yours off of? Welcome by the way, I've always wanted an older Cooper rifle but could never afford one 15 years ago. It's still on my list of things to get though!
 
I have what I believe is an early model 21 custom classic in 223. Has a little gold inlaid CC disk on the bolt handle. Amazing wood. Bought used serial # A11x. Was wondering when this was made and who made the barrel?
 
spitfire_er said:
I've always wanted an older Cooper rifle but could never afford one 15 years ago. It's still on my list of things to get though!
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My advice would be "Do not buy one"!

Why? Many years ago I took a friend on a prairie dog hunt with me. He bought a new Cooper 21 Phoenix in 223 for the hunt. He let me shoot it a few times during the hunt. I wasn't impressed.

Time went forward and I kept looking at the used ones on GB. Finally I found a similar rifle (Model 21 Phoenix with the Kevlar stock) in 204 Ruger. So I bought it. What I found was it shot the widest range of loads extremely well. Better than any other rifle I ever owned. I came to love the tiny 3 lug bolt in the Model 21 action.

You probably already can guess the rest of the story. I added another, then another, then another. Next thing you knew, I had 8 of them. And this was from a guy that wasn't that impressed with them. I thinned the herd by selling a few, but added more back.

And all of them shot better with less time spent on load development than any other rifle I have worked with. So that is why my advice is not to buy one, unless you are ready to jump into the deep end of the pool.
 
Most excellent to have you here with us, Dan. I've got three Cooper VR's, a Phoenix and a MTV in "rat calibers". All shoot my pet loads into 1/4" or less, all are keepers.

Wish I had some pertinent questions for you, but the rifles just plain shoot, so I'm happy with just that.
Welcome aboard!
 
Rick in Oregon said:
Most excellent to have you here with us, Dan. I've got three Cooper VR's, a Phoenix and a MTV in "rat calibers". All shoot my pet loads into 1/4" or less, all are keepers.

Wish I had some pertinent questions for you, but the rifles just plain shoot, so I'm happy with just that.
Welcome aboard!
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Thank you for your kind words sir, happy to hear you’re shooting them, God bless
 
Dan,
I have massive respect for the guns designed and sold during your time at the helm. Almost exclusively single-shots, amazing list of useful wildcat chamberings and (IMO) fairly priced products. In recent years it’s seemed that the company has forgotten which customers brought Cooper to the dance.
 
Question, may I request an overview and goals/ purpose of the 17CCM? Interesting cartridge, but for what/why, would love to hear the story.

-Mac
 
I’ve an early M21 in 223. Very low s/n. It differs from the other M21 I have plus the others I’ve seen in that it has a lighter weight barrel on it. About a Douglas #4 contour. Also has the offset trigger screws. Curious to know if all the early guns had lighter barrels?

Also have a 204 I bought used at a real bargain. I was intending to resell it but made the ‘mistake’ of shooting it first. Laying it over a rolled up sleeping bag while laying in the bed of my truck it shot a 1/2” five shot group! When I got back the wife asked how much I was going to sell it for? She got a bit upset when I said “it shot too well to sell!” Oops .

I also have a nice 22 BR Phoenix model but I haven’t gotten around to shooting it yet.
 
varmintshooter said:
I have several and really like them but oddly I have been shooting mostly Savages for the last few years. My Coopers, mostly 2000-2008 all shoot very good. I don't understand why Cooper stopped making the m38 in the 221 based case.
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They have stopped making the Model 38 period...

I have one. Wish I had more. Mine is a LH Montana Varminter, French Walnut. .22 Hornet, with a BLUED and fluted barrel no less. Someone at Cooper, maybe one of the gunsmiths, told me that they have for years maybe only made about an average of FIVE 38s per year. I THINK that is the number he told me. In any case, it is a small production amount if they gave me accurate facts. If correct, imagine how few LH Model 38s there are.

Danny
 
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