Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Almost bought a used Cooper for twice as much

Saved some money on a 204, first handloads to break in a Rem 700 SPS Stainless, box stock at 100yds, 3 shot groups for now. Next week chronie and 5 shot groups. Barrel gets hot quick at 85 degrees.

Nothing to sneeze at there.
But yeah, 204s do warm up.

Your
Remington shoots mighty nice. Glad you were able to save some bucks. Hope you enjoy it.

Being a Cooper fan, I can't help but respond,

You could have almost bought a Dakota Predator and almost paid four times as much. U dun' good.
Now try buying a 17 ackley hornet, a 17 hebee. a 20 vartarg in a Remington, off the shelf. No can do. By the time you take a Remington action, have it trued, buy a barrel and have it screwed on, the $900 to $1,110 that I pay for used Coopers is a fair price.

I often say, If accuracy was my only criteria, all my rifles would be Savage.



GWB



Cooper Model 21 Classic, Tac. 20

I shoot my buddy's 17 AH Cooper and it has amazing power for such a small powder capacity. We use it for close range chucks and a 17 Rem and my 204 for the long shots. I am dying to float the barrel and bed it but I don't think I can shoot it any better and it will stay untouched. I think it is a freak rifle as I would have been happy with under an inch at 100. It has a tighter chamber than my Ruger 204 as the fire formed/neck sized brass won't chamber in the Remmie. I haven't found a handload yet that a 204 doesn't like, some slower than others powder wise but all shoot good. Nice Cooper you have there, my Remmie looks like something from a K-Mart toy dept. Time to paint it.

I've had excellent luck with 24.5 gr. of Reloader 10x. over 40 gr. Hornady V-maxes. But then I'm based on a 223 case and not a 222 mag case.

Definately count me as a small caliber fan.




Left to right: 17 ackley hornet, 17 hebee, 17 fireball, 17 mach IV, 17 remington, 20 vartarg, 20 Tactical, 22 hornet,218 bee, 221 fireball, 222 rem.

Pretty much will cover the varmint spectrum (varmints, not chamberings).

GWB

Dusty246: I am happy your new Remington SPS is shooting so well for you so quickly, and showing so much promise.
I have several Remington 700's of the SPS variety but they are all heavy barrel models.
I also am very pleased with the accuracy I am getting from mine.
How much scope power do you have on your 204 SPS?
Wishing you continued happiness with the Remington - I know you are going to like the 204 Ruger cartridge.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VGuy I use a VXIII 3.5-10 Leupie and just leave it on 10 unless we do some stalking. Works fine out to my longest woodchuck kill of a lazered 468 yds last year with a Ruger MkII in 204 off the roof of a pick-up, lucky shot. Could use a fine reticle tho. I had a 4.5-14 Leupie but never could deal with the eye relief, always spent more time moving my head back and forth before a shot and my buddy whould smack me and say, "Shoot." Sold it as I missed a few antelope with the same scope in the Crow reservation last year with a 300 Ouch WSM lightweight. Shot the 204 again today and it is dead on at 200yds when 1" high at 100yds, checked at both distances and shot another sick hundred yard three shot group. Does not like 32s yet, loves the 39 BKs and 10X. And, I held into the wind about a foot for that long chuck kill. Now I have to do it again, then I'll start bragging.

Nice! Not to burst your bubble, but a .223 Rem will also cover the entire Varmint spectrum.


Of course, we can't just limit ourselves to one varmint gun, so I use .17 HMR, .223, .22-250, .243 and .25-06 for my varmint spectrum. I'm covered with what I have, but wouldn't mind having a couple Fireballs, too (.17 and .221), and that .20 Vartarg looks very interesting, is it a Fireball case?

Sir,

No bubble to burst. I reload for 22 hornet, 221 fireball, 218 bee, 223, 223AI, 22-250,
220 swift in 22 cal.

In 6mm I load for 6 x 45, 243, 6mm and 240 Weatherby.

In 25 cal, 250 Savage, 250 Savage AI, 257 Bob, 25-06 and 257 Wby.

Your other question............

The 17 mach IV, the 17 fireball, 20 Vartarg (20-221) and 221 fireball are all based on the same case. They seem to be inherently accurate.

Here is something I posted elsewhere in regards to 20 vartarg.



Cooper Model 21 varminter, 20 Vartarg.

and this.............
Had a few minutes to run to the range.
By time I got chrony and targets set up, I had about 20 minutes to shoot. Shot a couple groups with 308 and tac 20. Had about 8 minutes left to shoot these four groups.
Might have done better if not pressed for time.
I've had my best luck with H-4198, Reloader 10X and RL-7 in the small calibers.
Here are 4 different bullets of a different weight, OAL and manufacturer, using 18 gr. Reloader 7.
100 yds, off bench, wind +/- 5 mph., +/- 90 degrees F.

GWB









and the best from a session last May

Holy crap! I think I want one! Those Coopers are really nice; I can't even afford to LOOK at 'em though.

ShootDogs,
I'm up near a dozen Coopers now.
Take your time, watch and be patient. I don't know what your budget is, but all but two of my Coopers I've bought used, and paid between $900 and $1,100 for each. To my way of thinking, that's a fair price for a rifle of that quality and at that price, I can turn them into cash pretty quick if I have to and not take a bath.

Best

GWB

I have always been a Sako fan, even have a few custom rifles made on Sako actions with Lilja barrels. They all shoot good, but the 2 best shooters in my possesion are:

Sako single shot 6mm PPC,

Cooper 17 HMR.

I bought the Cooper used here at the 'fire from Brassman and with nothing but factory ammo, I didn't have time to load my own, this gun shot a 3/8 inch group with s bit of a crosswind.

I am now a believer in Coopers...

Shrapnel,

10/4 on what you said!

I have a 20 year plus love affair with Sako's. To my way of thinking they are mighty fine rifles. Out of the twenty or so I've owned I only had one (a 338 Federal stainless synthetic) that would not shoot sub inch at 100 yds, after a little tweaking, using my handloads. Actions typically are "true" and are slicker than owl [bleep], triggers can be dealt with. I particularly like the set triggers on the later "Varmints".
In fact, I've had 2 & 1/2 follow me home in the last six months. One, an l61r in 7mag. I bought it cause I'm planning on re-barreling it into a 300 H & H, another l61r cause it was a beater and needed the stock refinished. I plan to do a 6.5 STW on it. The "1/2" I had to put on lay-a-way (due to financial embarassemt) was a to-die-for clip fed Vixen in 222 Rem. Had the aperture sight that would set for 100 or 200 yards. Talk about a walking varminter. Absolute beauty. Doesn't look like it has ever been fired.

Now as to Cooper. I'm a Todd Kindler fan and Small Caliber Junkie. Got introduced to Coopers around 1997. Over the last several years I've kinda gone nuts on those too. Fine rifles, excellent fit and finish, and can be had reasonable. The classics make excellent "totin" rifles. The Jackson Game is probably my favorite stock style. The Varminters are typically more numerous and can be had cheaper. Buy em' used, at a reasonable price. I don't think you can go wrong, IMHO

Best
GWB

Geedubya,

Right now there's no budget for more guns. Any deals gotta be in trade and I don't have much I'm willing to part with. I'll have to be happy with what I have, and just admire the pictures of everyone else's fancy stuff.

Not that my collection's really anything to cry about: A couple Kimber Classics, Win 70 XTR featherweight, MRC 1999 "custom" .25-06, etc...

But I like to dream

ShootDogs,

I tell folks, when I was born, my folks were so poor they couldn't afford a name for me, only Initials.

Growing up I read 2nd hand gun mags passed down from a friend.

I swore that if I ever made any money I'd own some rifles. Well, I'm old now, I did make a little money, and I've completely gone overboard on rifles. What is the mossy oak slogan, it's not a passion, it's an obsession. I can relate.
I started collecting and trading up 20 years ago. I'm patient and try to make good deals. From the time I first saw the 20 Vartarg in a Cooper till the time I got mine was 10 years. Now I probably bought close to 100 rifles in between, but I waited till I could find one used, at my price. I'd say enjoy what you have, make the most of it. Be disciplined. If the time comes trade up. I've been lucky in that one of the shops where I trade has a no interest lay-a-way. I can put 20% down on a rifle and pay it out weekly till its mine. Also gives me a place to go take in a little coffee, let a little out, and get out of this Texas Gulf Coast Heat. It will prolly be over 100 degrees F. today, and it ain't even July.

Best
GWB

I'm in the market for a .223 bolt gun and would love to have a Cooper IF they ever decide to put out a repeater. Already have a single shot-don't need another. They finally did the .243. Maybe .223 sized cases will be next.jt