I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion on these pages that I’m a short range meat hunter. I also love to shoot. Here is my last foray into feeding my addiction. A Cooper Model 22 Varmint extreme, chambered in 308 Winchester.





Had the opportunity to take it out this morning and do a little shooting. When ever I acquire a rifle that is “new” to me, I generally load up several different powders/powder densities and try them out to see what the rifle likes. I will be hunting with 150 grain ballistic tips and Accubonds, so all loads used ballistic tips.

When I first got to the range this AM, the wind was pretty calm. By the time I got my chronograph and targets set up it was already 10mph plus. What’s a guy to do but go ahead and shoot.



Here are several groups. 100 yds. off the bench. Wind blowing from 10 to 4 at 10+ mph. No adjustments were made as far as windage and elevation. I like the fact that the POI for all groups is basically the same, despite different powders/densities/velocities. From my experience, that indicates an inherently accurate rifle.


Accurate but slow




This one definitely is worth looking at. Velocity plus accuracy





This last group is 6 shots with what is my “go to” 308 win hunting load used in a half dozen different rifles chambered in 308Win. Thirty nine rounds through the barrel since its last cleaning when I began this sequence. Chalk up six more rounds. I’ll probably run it at least 70 rounds. I’m of the opinion that most folks clean too often.

No telling what it could do with someone who could shoot behind the trigger, but I believe this one will hunt.

GWB

Looks like a winner for sure.....

She's a beauty GW. I always enjoy seeing your new additions. I love to see what props you use in the pictures.

Thats sweet



If you should get tired of it I have been loking for a 308

SSR

And just think if that cooper guy hadn't single handedly got Obama elected there wouldn't have been record sales of ammo and guns the last four years.

Thank you Mr. Cooper guy for saving the gun industry.

When I save enough money I would like to own a cooper. His contribution to Obama has been the best thing for the gun industry since WW1 or 2.

I wonder if Ruger, Winchester, and the like are pulling for Obama--he's good for business.

That gun is a keeper.

Has that thing got a muzzle break?

Very nice!

I have never warmed up to any 308, but I am pretty sure that one has the temperature rising.

Go forth an make some meat!

G-Dub,

I noticed you very cleverly attempted to cover up the Muzzle Brake on the initial photo ..... this didn't escape Demonical, nor I; as we're now both wondering about the recoil on your New Boomer ..... Thank heavens someone with good taste decided NOT to put some of those stupid venting holes in the forearm, too! I mean .... I know the knife is in the photo & all but, please, please don't carve your initals in that good-looking piece of wood.



Pardon my cynism & all jesting aside; a VERY nice looking & obviously solid shooting piece you've got there. Appears to be a great aquisition for ya.

IMR-4320 & 150 gr. Nosler BT's - one of the best kept secrets of the .308 Winchester, and a few other cartridges, too. Good stuff, Maynard.

Gorgeous!

Lovely indeed! And shoots too (as can the owner)

I have found the 150 gr NBTs to be very accurate as weil ... but they leave a lot of bloodshot meat on our deer. Have gone to 165 gr corelokts, and NABs as I hunt for the freezer.

Really great looking piece of wood on that rifle.

I wouldn't call that a bit slow. 2800-2900 fps for a 308 with 150s is pretty good...

That's soooo boringly accurate. When you get tired of those one hole groups, sell it to me.

Hey Geedubya,
You got a winner for sure. Do you find that RL-15 normally has such phenomenal speed consistency or is it just this rifle? I have recently bought a .308 and RL-15 was the first powder I intended using. If I'm right, M118 is powered by RL-15 as well. Gorgeous rifle by the way!

Wistrapper.
Let's see,IIRC, I've owned a couple rem 700 bdl's, a couple VLS's, an LTR with 2oz jewell, a cz 550, Weatherby Super Varmintmaster, a Savage 10FCP that I can remember offhand. All would shoot RL-15 into tiny groups, with relatively consistent velocity. I zero my scale before each load session, and hand trickle all my loads on a beam balance, I'd have to look at my records to be sure, but I'd say the abnormally low velocity deviation was a fluke.

Don't miss trying IMR-8208 with those 150 NBTs.

Geedubya

You have mentioned that you buy a lot of used rifles. Is this the case with this 308? FS

"A lot" is a relative term. Lets just say that most all the rifles I buy are used. I subscribe to the theory that you make your money when you buy. I usually develop loads for them, tweak them a little, and shoot them. Some I have an emotional attachment to. Those I keep. If someone comes along and offers me a somewhat more than what I have paid for another, well it's usually down the road. Hard to loose by making a profit. Most factory rifles can be replaced. I try to finance my addiction with the money I make by buying right.
All of the Coopers I own, I've bought used. I try to buy them at about 60% of retail or better. I'm patient and keep my eyes open. This 308 was a used, one owner rifle. The gentleman that owned it had come to the stage in life where he decided it was time to part with it He bought it new. I did step up and pay more for this one than I normally would. But it was a VE, it had a factory brake, and a nice stick of wood.

Best
GWB

Let me see if I understand, buy gun-shoot gun-sell gun so you can buy more guns to shoot and sell and ect.....Seems to me are a "gunaholic" You will need expert medical help- call BR549 and ask for Junior!

Robbie,
I guess I resemble that remark.
It didn't start out that way. But a year or so ago I sat down and started counting. I stopped at 55 centerfires. That didn't include rimfires, pistols or shotguns. At that point I started winnowing. Problem is, others just keep following me home. Not to worry though, I'll always have a couple lying around.
See ya at the range.

GWB