Most Reliable Bush .22?

Cooey's aren't all that expensive; easily less than $100. Really, if you pay more than $75 shipped for a 39, it had better be for one in mint condition.

They are the penultimate in .22s if you want a reliable and accurate meat gun though; they will stroll right through every possible punishment you could ever experience in the bush. I have the Cooey 39 that my Grandfather learned to shoot on, back in the 1930s. The blueing is worn down and the bolt knob had fallen off a long time ago, and the stock had quite a few nicks and scratches, not to mention the varnish wearing out in places, but I used it to knock down more than a few partridge 60 years after my grandfather had.
I replaced the knob with one from my busted Lakefield, and last year I took the stock off and sanded it down all the way to 400 grit until it was butter smooth and then gave it a dozen rubs with boiled linseed. Now I'd like to get it re-blued...

I'm not going to have children, but my brother already has a pair and I'd like to give it to them in prime condition when they're old enough. These are rifles that get passed down for generations because they simply do not break.
 
catnthehatt said:
The long rifle tend to mess up squirrels a lot more than shorts do if you don't hit them properly right in the eye.
Myself, I used to use the long rifle match .22's but for beavers i like higher velocity stuff.
I used a Browning lever gun for a total of one season on a fly-in line, and quickly went back to a single shot C.I.L. 180 the next season.
The tube mag was nothing but a complete hassle.
Cat
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Don't hit them properly??? I thought all trappers were dead eye shots? ;) Thanks for the info Cat. It's good to hear directly from someone with field experience.

tommyguitar said:
I put up an ad for a Cooey 39. What kind of price should I expect to pay?
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I've seen Cooey 39s at local gunshows in VG condition for as low as $30 to $50. I'm sure if you barter you could get the lower end pricing.
 
the nylon 66 is the most reliable 22 ever, PERIOD- look at the torture tests and the field record- shooting galleries to field use to buffalo and bears way up north. the only regret i have is that there was never a centrefire version or program based on the techology
 
BCP said:
The Nylon 66 would fit the reliability, durability, and tubular mag requirements. It's reputed to have shot over 100,000 rounds without a misfire. I read the nylon acts as a natural lubricant for feeding and makes the stock durable. But it won't feed shorts or longs, just long rifle rounds.
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actually, the GALLERY SPECIAL will feed shorts. that's what its built for, SHOOTING GALLERIES- it will also feed bb caps- now granted it MAY be tough to find, but if need be great, you can probably MAKE one if you find a barrel and spring- that should be all that's needed. the way to tell the gs model is to look for a forearm sling swivel, or hole for one- that's how they chain the rifle to the bench so people don't walk off with them
 
t-star said:
actually, the GALLERY SPECIAL will feed shorts. that's what its built for, SHOOTING GALLERIES- it will also feed bb caps- now granted it MAY be tough to find, but if need be great, you can probably MAKE one if you find a barrel and spring- that should be all that's needed. the way to tell the gs model is to look for a forearm sling swivel, or hole for one- that's how they chain the rifle to the bench so people don't walk off with them
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Yes I recall reading about the gallery special now that you mentioned it. Unfortunately the OP wanted one gun that will shoot shorts, long, and long rifle .22 ammo. The 66 GS will shoot shorts, but will it also shoot the long or long rifle?
 
BCP said:
Yes I recall reading about the gallery special now that you mentioned it. Unfortunately the OP wanted one gun that will shoot shorts, long, and long rifle .22 ammo. The 66 GS will shoot shorts, but will it also shoot the long or long rifle?
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no , its the length of the chamber that determines what 22 cartridge it can use. the sg could only shoot shorts or bbcaps, the regular should only shoot long rifles or possibly longs - possibly you could shoot longs by changing using a short spring and a long rifle barrel, but i haven't seen/heard that cmbination. Come to think of it most semi-autos are long rifle only, and are balanced for that cartridge, as the other 22 cartriges tend to be somewhat rarish, save the 22 short for pest control
i don't think i ever shot anything but long rifle, and that's 40 plus years of shooting
 
t-star said:
no , its the length of the chamber that determines what 22 cartridge it can use. the sg could only shoot shorts or bbcaps, the regular should only shoot long rifles or possibly longs - possibly you could shoot longs by changing using a short spring and a long rifle barrel, but i haven't seen/heard that cmbination. Come to think of it most semi-autos are long rifle only, and are balanced for that cartridge, as the other 22 cartriges tend to be somewhat rarish, save the 22 short for pest control
i don't think i ever shot anything but long rifle, and that's 40 plus years of shooting
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The two Nylon 66s that I've seen only handled LR. Longs do not feed from the tube reliably. I'm not sure the GS version would handle L or LR as it's designed for shorts.
 
old school and reliable, you should be able to find one used 150 - 200


ht tp://www.cabelas.ca/index.cfm?pageID=71&&section=1187&section2=1725&section3=1739&ID=5035

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/30+G

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Perforator said:
The Browning lever BLR.22 is very small and light, will cycle all the .22's and has nice irons.
Not the best trigger for precise target work but it's a great carry rifle.

I would have to say the least complex and therefore most reliable would be some tube fed bolt action rifle.
Certainly the easiest to keep clean would be a break action or single shot bolt action. For sure they'll feed anything.
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I was kinda thinking a BL aswell. Great little guns.
 
crosman177 said:
Who here even shoots shorts or longs anymore? they are not worth the $. and are tuff to find.

Nylon 66 all the way!
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x2 on the nylon. love mine ...
i do shoot longs. they are more money but great for use around places where people want their quiet.Place where i shoot property owner likes his... so do not disturb factor is the reason, also less power at short distance targets.
they are as easy to get as .22lr. cci makes lots. $7 a box of 100 and they are perfect
 
257Roberts said:
Just returned from Lanark gun show. Seen at least 6, Cooey 39s and all $100 and up.
One of them I would't have paid $50.
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that is insane...gun show prices got ridiculous lately. i am selling 75 for $95 on EE. maybe i am asking too little? but it is not selling :confused:

did see some 39 on the auction sold for 30-50 bit rough...
 
drslav said:
x2 on the nylon. love mine ...
i do shoot longs. they are more money but great for use around places where people want their quiet.Place where i shoot property owner likes his... so do not disturb factor is the reason, also less power at short distance targets.
they are as easy to get as .22lr. cci makes lots. $7 a box of 100 and they are perfect
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Are you referring to CB longs? Those are the only '22 long' cartridges I've seen for sale in retail stores, I thought that the 22 long was pretty well dead in favor of '22 extra long' AKA 22LR.
 
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