Enter Mike Hill. Commonly known in close circles as my Uncle Mike. Enter Todd Kindler, David Kidd, Pete Rose, Glen Nepil, Hal Marr (Hal Marr knives and Soldier of Fortune), RCBS, Bill Wiseman, Dieter Anschutz, Fiocchi, Jimmy Calhoun, Walt Berger, the reamer people, good lord the list goes on and on...I never wanted to really make the 17CCM simply because of the powders available and the pressures this little guy produced. Simply stated...gophers explode with a little cartridge pushing 3400 fps and thanks to all the above and the 38 action sub 1/2" MOA was easy.
I presented then President H. W, Bush with one of the first 17 CCM's in fall of 1992 on opening day of hunting season hunting season in MT. This would start a casual relationship with the President whom I loved and admired. Ever get a call from Bethesda operator number 85? LOL After I presented the rifle, a ride in the Pres limo, and a call to the factory from Air Force One to all the people at Cooper, about a month later we received what is nothing less than a coffin, a carefully crafted box and a note from the President asking that we scope the rifle and send ammo and a check. (the check was pretty nice LOL) coming off of the victory in KUWAIT who aint gonna do the Pres a favor. We scoped the rifle and sent 200 rounds of the last of the 17 CCM ammo/brass we had...all hand loaded and shipped it back.
A month goes by and I get yet another call...Bethesda 85...honestly they are the greatest calls to get "This is Bethesda operator 85 I have a call for Daniel Cooper from the President of the United States" who in the hell aint gonna answer that LOL...i'm like "yes Mr President what can I do for you?' "Well Dan the Marine Sharp Shooter team shot up all my ammo at Camp David. They can't believe how accurate the rifle is. Can you get me some more ammo? I'm going on a turkey hunt with Rhodes in TX." We did the best and produced.
Then comes the real shocker, it was Sunday night at the factory about 10:30pm, I was having a Johnny blk and looking over things (wonder why my marriage failed?lol) here comes the call, thought it was my wife but no good ole Bethesda operator 85...Pres Bush: "Dan, Rhodes is here with me and we can't get the rifle to feed" Through several attempts by the Pres he tuned it over to Rhodes and we finally got it to work...the mag was not fully clicked in.
In my book if its good enough for Pres G W Bush and Todd Kindler it's good enough for me