Beginners .22: Mossberg 702 vs. Remington 597 vs. Cooey

TheCoachZed

TheCoachZed

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I want to buy a .22 sometime in the next couple months. I'm looking at either a Mossberg 702 or a Remington 597, or possibly a used Cooey.

What are the pros and cons of each?

I see it like this: From what I've read, the Mossberg jams less than the Remington, but the Remington is much more accurate out of the box (it's even supposedly more accurate than a stock 10/22.) Both guns are about the same price from SIR/Cabela's (they have a sale on the 597s).

But the dark horse in the race is the Cooeys. There are a few bolt actions on here (which shouldn't jam at all) and a few semi-automatics too. How do these older guns stack up against the newer .22s? From years of working on antique motorcycles that I couldn't get parts for, I don't want to get into the same situation for my rifle. Still, if they are good rifles, for a lower price, too, I'd look at one.

I'm sure some will suggest the 10/22, but it's about $100 more than the 597, and is allegedly less accurate in stock form, and I have no interest in adding aftermarket parts. And, the used 10/22s on here are as much or more than the new ones.
 
TheCoachZed said:
But the dark horse in the race is the Cooeys. There are a few bolt actions on here (which shouldn't jam at all) and a few semi-automatics too. How do these older guns stack up against the newer .22s? From years of working on antique motorcycles that I couldn't get parts for, I don't want to get into the same situation for my rifle. Still, if they are good rifles, for a lower price, too, I'd look at one.
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Not sure about how hard it would be to find parts for a Cooey but if it is shooting condition it will probably stay that way for a long time short of being dropped hard or something. I have two old (my grandfathers) Cooey single shot rifles that function with any kind of ammo and are very accurate.

The best thing is if you can handle each rifle you are interested in before purchasing one. If it doesn't fit you or feel good in your hands you probably won't shoot it the best.
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The Cooey model 75s and 60s (bolt action) I shot were very accurate (as good as my CZ452). The model 64s (semi) not as accurate as the 75s & 60s, still good for plinking. The 64s is really easy to completely disassemble & maintain, really nothing to break other than the ejector (hey some been around and abused for more than 40 years...). The model 75s & 60s, probably take at least a midsize truck to do something to them.
 
OK heres the skinny on the mossberg as ive recently purchased one.

accuracy - far exceeded my expectations , mines shooting an inch group at 100m in the wind on cci mini-mags HP 36gr

havent had a jam yet and put 200 rounds down it without any cleaning ( my bad i know :D )

recoil - non existant

semi auto - FUN

cheap plastic stock - sweet cos you can custom camo it if that rings your bell.. i did mine in urban digital

and for a begginners .22 - CHEAP .. they dont cost much , so why not , im thinking about getting a second
 
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the remington 597 is an excellent gun ill admit i havent shot many other modern .22's but i bought the 597 and it works flawlessly the accuracy is great and since remington replaced the old cheap plastic magazinces with metal ones it works flawlessly also if you get one that jams occasionly you can reduce the torque on the bolt guide rails (simpe job) and it fixes most 597jaming problems. overall reat gun i would highly reccomend it to anyone....:)
 
go for the cooey its cheaper than the other choices, plenty accurate, parts are a dime a dozen, and the cooey name is a big part of canada.

i have a cooey model 60, 75 and 39, all bolt guns (60 is a repeater with tube mag). and a cooey 64 semi auto. semi auto jams up a bit, but if you find the right ammo you will find them to be reliable too.
 
I have a Cooey model 60 ( tube fed bolt) and a Cooey model 64( mag fed semi) and I am very happy with them. I paid 75 bucks each. The 64 is impressively accurate for its age and its price. I have put over 1000 shots though it and only get feeding problems after about 300 shots ( after cleaning it). I think all model 60's came with holes drilled and tapped for scope mounts. I got weaver rings and base, plus a tasco scope for about 70 bucks. My 60 is now very accurate out to 75 yards with the scope.

I am happy with my two cooeys.
 
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Cooey single shots are amazing in my eyes. Sure it's a little slower while plinking but the accuracy is more consistent in my experience. I'd rather pay the same price for a Cooey as a Mossberg or 597.
 
I've seen many CGN'ers swear by the Cooey 64 (well, at least in terms of "out-accracy-ing" a 10/22). If you can get a well-functioning one and a couple of mags (3 is a good minimum), it's a nice-looking firearm and one that will last you well. Check (or ask) about the shape that the extractor and barrel are in, though, though. :rolleyes:

The 597 is highly underated IMHO - so if you can get a good price on it (there's usually a nice-shape used one floating around), go for it! It's often cheaper than a 10/22 andthe hi-cap mags are what Remmie shooters had been waiting for. :p

I've no knowledge about the Mossberg...sorry...:(

The Cooey 60 is a great bolt-gun, and if you can find one "D&T'ed" for a low-ish price, jump on it. :D

One thing most "experienced" folks here tend to forget is that, starting off, a new shooter may not have a large amount of $$$ to throw around, or may not be "mentally-prepared" to spend a lot on a firearm. I know that (aside from my first .22 - and AR-7 paid for by the 'rents), I was at first unwilling to go over $120 for a rifle. Now, of course the E & E changed that ;), but the things is that a used 597 and some hi-cap mags could very realistically be had for about $150, and that a decent Cooey 64 can go around $110-$130. IMHO, a 10/2's for when you feel like shelling out some real dough on your .22-habit. :)
 
Paid $40.00 for my used Cooey model 60 back in 1986. Still shooting strong without a single problem. Id estimate ive put a good 10k rounds through it since I bought it and who knows before then. This summer I had a win xpert rupture on me around the rim. Cleaned the rifle thorougly and still shooting strong - no damage. Can't really say enough good things about the '60.
 
Have you had a look at the marlin model 60 or 795? I got the 795 after having the 10/22 and will never look back. Inexpensive gun and more accurate than all other .22's i've shot in that price range.
 
The Marlins look like good value for the money, but I really had my search narrowed down to either the Remington 597, the Cooey 60, or the Mossberg 702. Thanks for all the information/advice, though, guys. I appreciate it.

Now if only I could find someone selling these locally, to compare the feel. The local gun store doesn't have much stock, and used markets are pretty slow. New Brunswick just isn't as happening a gun scene as Ontario or Alberta.
 
I was looking at SIR (Now Cabela's) Mail Order and noticed that the Marlin 795 should be in your price range too.

http://www.cabelas.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=460082&cat_id=54&subcat_id=32&PHPSESSID=dfo64t2r5n4bfhaa2qan6d2562
 
coachzed, all bolt cooeys that went through my hands were decent shooters and some were excellent ones, as good as it gets. Semi-auto Cooeys on the other hand, are very old design and not the best one. Accuracy is very spotty to say the least, some shoot as bad as shotgun pattern. Some Cooey 64s are just never jam no matter what you feed them though and of course Cooey (or Savage 64b) can be found cheap, like 50$-75$ range.

My Remington 597 is very accurate, about 3/4" at 50 yards but this is more expensive model with heavy barrel. I am not sure if lower end 597s are any good, I never had confidence in sporter-barreled 22.

Can't say anything about Mossberg because I never had one.
 
Ha, I meant anywhere in Ontario but Toronto.

Anyway, if I got a Cooey, I'd almost for sure buy the bolt gun. The Semi-auto just doesn't have the same appeal to me in an older gun, although I suppose the Marlin 60 is probably just as old a design and is reliable enough.

The one thing that makes me cagy about Cooeys is.....what I've read of them online indicates they have some quirks, like a bolt that may be a little tricky to take out, and an inability to load single shots without bending the extractor.

Those of you who own Marlins, how do you like that "last-shot" option on the bolt?
 
I personally love the last shot bolt hold open. It takes away the having to count your rounds everytime or chance dryfiring. Then when you feel like letting all the rounds fly as fast as you can, again no possible dry firing. And to release the bolt after you put a new mag in it's just a little metal clip you pull on.
 
thecoachzed

I have all three of these rifles, and they are all good in their own right (in my experience).

Cooey model 60.(Thanks Dad!) Accurate enough, never jams, can't feed singles, slight pain in the rear to get disassembled for cleaning.

Remington 597. Surprising accurate for the cost. Can be fussy. Can be a pain disassembling for cleaning until you have the spring trick/s figured out.

Mossberg 702. Quite accurate, considering the cost. More fussy than the Remington if it doesn't like what you feed it.. Easy to break down and clean.

There are a lot more things I could say, but I'm not an authority on these rifles, just an owner.:) YMMV

pm if you need to know something specific, might be able to help.
 
TheCoachZed said:
The one thing that makes me cagy about Cooeys is.....what I've read of them online indicates they have some quirks, like a bolt that may be a little tricky to take ou
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If you know that to unscrew something you have to turn it counter clockwise then thats how difficult is to take the bolt out - just have to turn a bolt on the bottom of the action so that the feed mechanism detaches from the bolt and then the bolt slides out. The only aspect that is a little annoying is you have to undue one action screw to separate the barrelled action from the stock to loosen the bolt. So, unscrew one bolt, loosen another bolt, done...

TheCoachZed said:
inability to load single shots without bending the extractor.
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There are two angled extractors that the cartridge feeds into (controlled round feed) so if try to feed a single round than force the extractors over the cartridge rim and not made for that. But... its a repeater so load 10 rounds, shoot, load another 10 rounds... not much of an issue is it?

Anyways, if you havent owned guns before it goes like this :stirthepot2:
First rimfire Cooey
First rifle Rem 700
First shotgun Rem 870
First pistol Glock

Then after that...
 
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