I had some time kill while waiting for my son so I decided to drop by the gunsmith and pick up some ammo and supplies. I always make it a point to pick up a box of .22, 9mm and .303 on each visit even if I am not buying anything else because it important to support a local business! Anyways, while visiting I struck up a conversation with the gun smith and another customer (both older gents in their 60s with me being in my 40s) about Cooey shotguns.
I owned a couple of Cooey 84s and they are the cheapest firearms in my collection. I recently sold a 3rd one which I now regret because I bought these Cooeys over a span of 3 years for $50 each. The two that I have left are in good shape and I use them for trap. I recently patterned a few of my shotguns at 25 and 50 yards and discovered that the old Cooeys patterns best. They have 30" barrels with fixed chokes. I ran my Mossberg with a 25" barrel and removable chokes, A5 with a 30" barrel and a poly, model 12 with 28" barrel and a fixed and Silver Pigion with 28" barrels and removables, against them at the range and the Cooeys consistantly patterned better which is why they are now my trap guns. I mentioned this to the old guys and the gunsmith matter of factly pointed out that the choke on the old Cooeys are further up in the barrel, tappers down and becomes a straight barrel for the remaining half.
Why haven't I noticed this before? When I returned home, I measured the ID with a bore mic and yes, about 10" from the receiver or 8" from the forcing cone is where the choke lives. My questions are 1, am I the only one who is finding that these old shotguns are patterning better? 2, are all Cooey shotguns designed this was or was it just specific years, models, etc.? because I would not mind picking up a few more. 3, where could I find more information about this choke design? There is nothing on the internet about this design. 4, are there any other shotguns with this style of choke design?
Because of cost and convience for the user, I could see why most companies have gone with an adjustable or removable choke design but if only I could find a Cooey 84 in Mod and I/M, I will be set! Probily too expensive to have something like that in an O/U when running two different chokes for skeet but one could dream! Any info is appreciated. Thanks
I owned a couple of Cooey 84s and they are the cheapest firearms in my collection. I recently sold a 3rd one which I now regret because I bought these Cooeys over a span of 3 years for $50 each. The two that I have left are in good shape and I use them for trap. I recently patterned a few of my shotguns at 25 and 50 yards and discovered that the old Cooeys patterns best. They have 30" barrels with fixed chokes. I ran my Mossberg with a 25" barrel and removable chokes, A5 with a 30" barrel and a poly, model 12 with 28" barrel and a fixed and Silver Pigion with 28" barrels and removables, against them at the range and the Cooeys consistantly patterned better which is why they are now my trap guns. I mentioned this to the old guys and the gunsmith matter of factly pointed out that the choke on the old Cooeys are further up in the barrel, tappers down and becomes a straight barrel for the remaining half.
Why haven't I noticed this before? When I returned home, I measured the ID with a bore mic and yes, about 10" from the receiver or 8" from the forcing cone is where the choke lives. My questions are 1, am I the only one who is finding that these old shotguns are patterning better? 2, are all Cooey shotguns designed this was or was it just specific years, models, etc.? because I would not mind picking up a few more. 3, where could I find more information about this choke design? There is nothing on the internet about this design. 4, are there any other shotguns with this style of choke design?
Because of cost and convience for the user, I could see why most companies have gone with an adjustable or removable choke design but if only I could find a Cooey 84 in Mod and I/M, I will be set! Probily too expensive to have something like that in an O/U when running two different chokes for skeet but one could dream! Any info is appreciated. Thanks
