AusVarmint

I picked up the Coopers rifle a couple of days ago, and thought I would share a couple photos.

I am 100% happy with my purchase, as the rifle is very well made, and looks a treat. The barrel cleaned easily.

I took it to the range today to run the barrel in and fireform the brass. Fireforming resulted in nothing going over 0.75" for 5 shots at 100m. It looks like it's great shooter!

Loading up some 32Vmax and 26 Barnes Varmint grenades (see if I can get them to shoot) to work out a gret load and then it will be crow/bunny time next week. Really looking forward to it.

The only thing I am not 100% happy with is the trigger. I have reduced the weight, but it is still heavy in my terms. I will look at importing a Jard trigger for this rifle, which then will make it absolutely fantastic.

As for the caliber, I can already see that it is a very promising little round. Spent a while preparing brass, and after the next firing I will anneal the necks. Using Remington 221FB brass to form.

I will post some load work early next week, but it is going to be pretty darn handy.






Cheers
AI

verry nice rig there Ackley Improved

im still trying to get a good load with the 26g VG for my 204 no luck yet trying WIN748 could only get about 1.5in at 100y
they got abit better up near max loads but then the necks started to split as the day heated up
but good luck with that lil ripper of yours.

That is beautiful AI. Love the timber too and I bet once it's run in she will really tighten up in the groups.

Cheers
Dave

nice

that woods too nice to take into the field mate

very nice

later
p

ogre6br wrote:nice

that woods too nice to take into the field mate

very nice

later
p

i was thinking the same thing, if i put a scratch on it i wouldnt be able to forgive myself!

G'Day all,
either AI has it in the field for the photo's or he's been spending too much time with his toys and not enough on the garden!

PS lovely piece of wood AI, I cant wait for further reports!

Cheerio Ned

very pretty indeed. Good luck with it

shit hot looking rifle mate, love that stock
what scope have you got on it?
cheers

Yes very very nice.

I will agree with everyone else, looks great

Is there a thread on here with the specs of it? Eg barrel, stock, etc etc

Ok, some details.

The rifle is a Coopers M38 MTV chambered in 20Vartarg. These are a factory rifle, made by Coopers in the US. They make the stocks, the M38 action. The barrels from what I have read are Wilson, which have lifted their game a fair bit from a while back (read this somewhere), so they are a pretty bloody good factory rifle. Really, they are getting very close to a custom rifle, near as close as you could get for a factory I guess you could say.

The scope is a Leupold VXIII 8.5-25X50 L/R, target turrets with the varmint hunters reticle. Suits the rifle very well indeed. Bases and rings are standard Leupold. The rifle comes with the startard Leupold bases.

Bipod is a Harris BRMS, with PodLoc.

I had to put in the stud for the stud for the swivel, cordless drill and this nice stock near had me thinking of giving this job to someone else, Mr Clancy. Very easy no problems though.

I am using Remington 221FB brass, Redding comp seater and Type S FL and NK die. I have two bushings, one for partial necking down and the other for final neck tension.

I had to modify a shell holder to push the shoulder back enough to chamber the new formed cases, but I put this down to the Type S bushing die. They do not size all the way to the neck shoulder junction (does now with modified shell holder). Just ground off around 0.75mm from the shell holder top.

Only flaw is the trigger at this stage, but that is being picky. I am used to good BR triggers, which makes this a little heavy.

The barrel cleans very very well, much better thatn a average off the shelf rifle, and is right up there with a full custom barrel, which it is anyway!

I will try the 32Vmax to start with using 2207. If these shoot great I will stick to these. If not the 32 Sierras, and even the 35 Bergers. Although I have a box of 26 Barnes Varmint Grenades to try. Heard a lot of poor reports on the Barnes, so time will tell.

Cant think of anything else... yes grass needs mowing.... Looks nice and thick there but put it to seed last year and it has struggled ever since. Once mowed, very sparce!

Cheers
AI

Thanks for the detailed post AI. Good luck with the crow and bunny bustin

yep, your being picky. That trigger is much better than any factory varmint rifle I've felt. And the wood looks better in real life, dont ding it when you take it out!

Well, I pulled the barrelled action out of the stock again and had another fiddle with the trigger. I have reduced it a little more, and now it is at the stage at where I am liking it a whole lot better. I would be guessing its somewhere around the 1lb mark now. Will test it tomorrow on a trigger gauge.

Sunday will be the final test once I shoot it doing load development. I dont think I could make it any lighter safely from where it is now. It will not slam fire, nor go off when tapped or bounced on the butt pad. Change in temperature may change things, but it is usually cold weather that makes them a little issue.

Cheers
AI

Nice rifle mate. Out of interest, where did you get it from? I'm thinking about a TAC20 and the Coopers are lovely. They even do synthetic stocks from what I'm told?