204 Ruger, which factory rifle?

[Tom Kat]

That is some really pretty wood

[MTPaul]

I thought I'd wrap up this thread, or at least my initial reason for posting the question in the first place, and report that I've FINALLY found the rifle I was looking for! It is a Cooper model 21. I took possession of the rifle two days ago and for the past several days it has been in the very capable hands of my trusted gunsmith for a thorough stem to stern (yes, I was in the Navy ) inspection which included taking a peek at the barrel internals with a borescope. The serial number indicated the rifle was manufactured in 2005 and it was initially shipped to a dealer in Maryland. My gunsmith reported back to me today with his findings;

The rifle is in excellent condition. Everything checks out okay. It has been very lightly used and it has almost no throat wear.

With that report, my search has ended but the search for the perfect round (yes, sadly a factory round as I have yet to be bitten by the reloading bug) has but begun. I've started rounding up options from Hornady, Fiocchi, Winchester, Sierra Prairie Enemy, Nosler and Remington, all from 24 to 36 grains. I'll post a few "gun porn" pictures when the opportunity presents itself.

My sincere thanks to the many people who have provided guidance along the way.

[Jim White]

I thought I'd wrap up this thread, or at least my initial reason for posting the question in the first place, and report that I've FINALLY found the rifle I was looking for! It is a Cooper model 21. I took possession of the rifle two days ago and for the past several days it has been in the very capable hands of my trusted gunsmith for a thorough stem to stern (yes, I was in the Navy ) inspection which included taking a peek at the barrel internals with a borescope. The serial number indicated the rifle was manufactured in 2005 and it was initially shipped to a dealer in Maryland. My gunsmith reported back to me today with his findings;

The rifle is in excellent condition. Everything checks out okay. It has been very lightly used and it has almost no throat wear.

With that report, my search has ended but the search for the perfect round (yes, sadly a factory round as I have yet to be bitten by the reloading bug) has but begun. I've started rounding up options from Hornady, Fiocchi, Winchester, Sierra Prairie Enemy, Nosler and Remington, all from 24 to 36 grains. I'll post a few "gun porn" pictures when the opportunity presents itself.

My sincere thanks to the many people who have provided guidance along the way.

Outstanding I'm glad to hear you landed what you were looking for and a superb find it is. The only problem you'll run into, is having just one. I went from nothing to about 9 varmint rigs.

Enjoy,

[Jim White]

Nice stock wood on those two Coopers there, Jimmy! For routine factory stock wood offerings, Cooper was pretty much at the top of the pile during their production period. It's most likely now a thing of the past, as I have zero hope NH will continue what the MT Cooper factory did for so many years.

Pity, as there is still quite a market for single shot bolt guns with nice features that outfits like Cooper offered. Dakota is one high-end production rifle maker that still offers these features, but it seems anyone born after 1990 just must have something 'Tacticool' instead.

They are nice looking if I say so myself. Almost too nice to take out but I only have one true safe-queen, a Remington 720 SECNAV Trophy Rifle I won many years ago. Next to that would be a M1D and a variety of SECNAV Trophy Rifles.

[Jim White]

the early Coopers had some nice wood on them. Until Rick's post, I didn't know Cooper had sold out so going FWD I don't what beholds with them.

[MTPaul]

Hi Jim. Yes, how true it is...having one Cooper rifle does lead to having/needing another, as the 204R will be joining a Cooper model 21 in 223. Will this morph into still yet another Cooper rifle ending up in the gun safe? Never say never...

[Tom Kat]

Now I want a Cooper LOL congratulations, let us know how your load development goes.

[Rick in Oregon]

Hi Jim. Yes, how true it is...having one Cooper rifle does lead to having/needing another, as the 204R will be joining a Cooper model 21 in 223. Will this morph into still yet another Cooper rifle ending up in the gun safe? Never say never...

Paul, it might be a good thing personally for me now nice Cooper rifles will be more difficult to find, as Jim mentioned, one leads to another, then......

My meager Cooper rifle stash started out the same way....the "first one". I have a friend in MT that has over 30 of them, all with collector-grade wood. Mine are pretty much mundane compared to his.



And don't overlook their Phoenix models too. They used H-S Precision Stocks with black/grey coating with a red spiderwebbing overcoat. Not as nice looking as their Claro walnut, but very functional for those times in the wild you don't want to goon up a nice walnut stock.



I'm of the mind that anyone looking for a Cooper rifle from MT should keep in mind that they are now not being produced, and the used market will start showing inflated prices as these gems move into the semi-unobtainium catagory, and unfortunately, the prices will start to rise also as a result.

[Life2A]

Been following this thread since your OP and great to see you finally found what you were looking for. Sounds like you really lucked out and got a beauty. I'm sort of in the same boat that you were when you started your search for a factory offering. Although I've heard that some 12 twist, particularly Savages, have handled 40's pretty well, I'm leaning towards the build option (11 twist) simply to increase my chances of stabilizing the 40's.

Enjoy your new gun!

[skipper]

Life2A

Welcome aboard. Any assistance we can offer?? We love spending other peoples money.

[jsh]

Bringing up Cooper, I have one I traded into a few years back, my introduction to 22BR. I forget the model, black fiberglass stock with a Jewel trigger. It shoots fantastic, my complaint is if one was going to shoot any kind of BR stuff with it, opening and closing the action upsets it I. The bags or rest and you have to start all over every time. If I had bought one brand new with plans of a match rifle I would have been very upset to say the least.
I have it promised to a buddy in Oklahoma when ever I decide to part ways with it.

[skipper]

JSH

You need to look into a Farley Coaxil rest with a joy stick. They're expensive, but they're worth every penny. Getting back on target is soooo easy with the joy stick. Check them out.

[Rick in Oregon]

Bringing up Cooper, I have one I traded into a few years back, my introduction to 22BR. I forget the model, black fiberglass stock with a Jewel trigger. It shoots fantastic, my complaint is if one was going to shoot any kind of BR stuff with it, opening and closing the action upsets it I. The bags or rest and you have to start all over every time.

jsh, the Cooper model you refer to is the Phoenix, black composite with red spider-webbing. I have one in 221FB that shoots like a laser.
The issue you experienced with the hard bolt lift that disturbs the rifle in the bags is the design of the action with three lugs, 120* apart with a steep angle on the cocking cam. Being right-handed, I just use my left hand to hold the bottom of the stock while lifting the bolt handle. These are not Bench Rest rifles, but varmint rifles. I use mine for varmints, don't have any issues with 'bag disturbance' using the method described.

You need to look into a Farley Coaxil rest with a joy stick. They're expensive, but they're worth every penny. Getting back on target is soooo easy with the joy stick.

I'll agree that the Farley Coaxial may be the best BR rest out there, but for bench varmint shooting, it may be a tad over the top in terms of cost vs actual usefulness. For a competitor, I'll give it a solid "yes", but for what most of us here do with our varmint rifles in the field, probably not ideal considering the cost vs actual usefulness.

Not the panacea by any means, but since about 1997, I've used the Sinclair All-Purpose Rest for bench shooting varmints. For years prior, I used a Witchata Front Rest....okay, not ideal but served the purpose for years. With the Sinclair All-Purpose Front Rest, the front bag rest is adjustable for narrow sporter/hunting rifles, and adjusts out past 3" for BR-stocked rifles. All my custom rigs, Coopers and everything else fits perfectly with just a front adjustment to keep the fore end snug in the bag on both sides.



Like everything related to rifles and accessories, the sky is the limit, the choices are endless, and only you can decide how far to go. I sometimes grin inwardly thinking about how most of us got started.....laying on the ground, maybe with a bipod, always with a stiff neck afterwards. We've come a long way baby!

[varmit_master]

Nice rifles . I was shooting RL10. I was loading it with a 39gr BK. But went too H4895. Using a Berger 35gr hp. I think i have close to 10 pds of RL10. Guess if i ever shoot all my H4895 up. I will have to go back to RL10.

[skipper]

My 204's both like Alliant RL 10X. That's a staple at my house, not a second choice.