Really old Cooey Model 60

KPSquared

KPSquared

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Hey guys,

So, a few years ago dad gave me the old Model 60 that has been around as long as I can remember. We think my grandpa bought in around 1940. . . but there are some awfully old memories attached to those dates so who knows.

The barrel and components aren't in terrible shape. I shoot gophers with it every spring. The stock has been busted twice and "repaired". I would really love to clean up and fix up this old gun. My knowledge of the internals of firearms is very limited but I learn fast from any info I can find.

Can you guys point me in a good direction for stuff I can do to fix up this gun. I'd love to mount a scope, but not sure if I want to mess with the original look. There's no holes or anything for a mount, so I'd have to drill and tap something.

Just looking for info on how to clean up the internals and maybe hunt down a stock that's never been in more than one piece. I've been reading the Cooey Makeover thread and drooling, but its not much for "how to"

Appreciate whatever help I get. I'll try and post some pics when I get some taken.
 
Would be great to have a club representing these old gems! I learned to shoot with this gun. Unfortunately I never learned to maintain or repair.

I've grown up with guns but never really owned my own. I want to learn to properly maintain and clean my firearms so I can pass that on to my kids.

My wife just got me an SR-22 for my birthday and I hope to have the Cooey all shiny for spring so she'll have something nice to shoot gophers with.

Thinking of adding a .17HMR and would like a shorty 12 guage for camping/wheeling. I kinda like the tactical look so I may build up a .17 "sniper rifle" or "long range precision firearm" as I believe my gun nerd friends call it...

Thinking about throwing my name in the mag fed 12.5" Grizzly pool just 'cause it'll do what I want it to and look sweet doing it!

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'm heading out to where I have the Cooey stored today (never made the last move with me. . .) and am going to start playing with it. Winter is here so my inside projects will begin.
 
I have the same gun. Was my Grampas. I bet it was made in the 40's aswell.
Anyway, is there a place where I can get a new bolt. The firing pin is almost toast on the gun and I hear the pin cost is almost the same as the whole Bolt.
Thanks Andrew
 
Definitely need pics of which Stock you have - I may have a complete gun for you with the right stock.

Mechanically, these are about as simple as a gun can get. Once the stock is off, you can see every part there is - and there are not very many of htem :)
 
Hey, thanks! I'll let you know. I still haven't made it out to the farm today. . . guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow. Got a date with the wife tonight. I would love to get the old girl all pretty again. (the gun, not the wife . . .she's already pretty freakin hot)


I've had it apart and re-glued the stock once. It broke falling out of a saddle scabbard back in the late 70s. . . not sure why dad was riding with a .22 anyway. The glue just got old I guess. I kinda think if I strip and oil the stock, the cracks will become very visible.
 
if it were mine, i would not touch it unless it was not functioning, the repair is a part of the rifles history, if you want, perhaps buy a similar gun to go with it, put a scope on it or what ever, and your kids and their kids can enjoy them both, think of what a wonder a piece of wood that was fixed by a great-great by hand will be to them in a generation or 2
 
scott585 said:
if it were mine, i would not touch it unless it was not functioning, the repair is a part of the rifles history, if you want, perhaps buy a similar gun to go with it, put a scope on it or what ever, and your kids and their kids can enjoy them both, think of what a wonder a piece of wood that was fixed by a great-great by hand will be to them in a generation or 2
Click to expand...

After hearing the hsitory of how it was broken - I'd agree with this statement.

Find a guy locally that knows woodworking, and have him repair the stock for you - anyone good shoudl be able to drill both sides and put a dowel in for you to reinforce the break. Shoudl give you years of use again.
 
Ok, you guys have convinced me. Something felt wrong about changing that stock anyway. I would love to get my hands on another one though. I have loved shooting that thing. Model 60's are cheap. I guess most Cooeys are. My wife prefers iron sights for gophers so I wouldn't really even need a scope. She kinda mentioned wanting a lever action .22 though, so that may change my plans in what I find for her.

I think I'll just clean everything up real good and keep shooting it the way it is. Like I said, I'll post some pics as soon as I get it home. Then you guys can tell me what you think.
 
Ok, I finally got her home. Took a few pics. You can get a pretty good idea of the condition. Not bad for a 70-ish year old gun.

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You can see the worst crack in this one. This is from Dad and the saddle. . .

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Missing a screw for the trigger guard:

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Thinking there is supposed to be an adjustment of some sort under the rear sight?

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Here's the other side of the bad crack:

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This crack runs right down the length but its glued up pretty tight.

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you can fix her up a bit like make a new rear sight elevater(ladder) and find a screw that matchs clean up any surface rust and oil it (some #0000 steel wool and oil for the rust id clean under the rear sight and other parts that have rust under them)

gun parts corp has parts there listed under winchester
 
Yes, there should be a stepped wedge that fits the long groove in the rear sight to let you lift it to the correct elevation.

You realy need to give that barrel and magazine tube some loving with a very oily rag. I find for the older Cooey's, 3-in-1 machine oil (from any hardware store) really penetrates the metal well and protects it.

If it is still structurally sound and shootable, then you coudl remove the butt plate and (being carefull not to touch the wood that is visible) use a dremal or similar to sand out a good pile of sawdust. Use the sawdust with a good carpenter's glue to fill the cracks, then they can be stained and sealed to match the gun. This is the common method of "fixing" thigns like this in woodworking. Usually you would want to remove the current finish on the gunbefore starting so that you can refinish the entire stock and have it looking more uniform.

Same method can be used to fill the dents and gouges as well.

Mix you sawdust ad glue as follows - twice the sawdust you think you'll need for any specific area in a small (shot glass sized) cup/container. Add 1 drop or two of glue until you have a PlayDough like consistency. THen smear into the cracks (i use a popsicle stck to apply a bit of pressure thereally fill the crack). Leave a small bit of extra of the sawdust/glue mix over the area just covered and sand with fine grit paper to bring it level with teh rest of the stock. Same idea applies for filling gouges and dents.

Test some stain to get the right color if needed, then stain the repairs to match the stock, then refinish the entire stock with your preferred protection (Varnish, Oil, Poly, etc..)

Aside from the "character" it inherited from it's horse riding days, I think it's a nice looking Cooey.
 
Great old rifle. Clean it up a bit, but don't "restore" it, or you will bugger it up for good!

It is like an old book - the story lies within, and in this case, on the outside as well. Buy another one if you want a nicer one.

Just my unwanted opinion.:)
 
Don't accost that rifle, especially not with a scope and assorted junk. :redface: .22's are cheap and buy a new one if you want a scoped .22, heirlooms are only heirlooms as long as they're original. One day you'd deeply regret 'fixing up' that gun. My first rifle was a Cooey Model 60, still have it.
 
many of us started out on a cooey model 60 it was my great grandfathers first rifle my uncles and then mine its been in the family since the early 40's

best part is thay shoot great and are not picky on ammo ive shot all kinds of differnt .22lr through it from the loger cased cci stinger to the .22 bb cap and even the federal,winchester and when thay where made remington .22 shot loads(the cci stuff is way too pricey) no problem

clean it up keep it the way it is and shoot it with the iron sights i can hit a squirrel every time

after countless thousands of rounds in mine im only now starting to see the rifling wear out
 
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