Scoping a Cooey 39

CanadaCollector

CanadaCollector

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I have an old Cooey 39 that my gf often uses to shoot. Shes mentioned that she wouldn't mind having a scope on it.

Ive done some research on this issue and from what I can find it has to be drilled and tapped to accept a scope. This hardly seems worth it and would prob cost more than the rifle is worth.

What i was wondering, is it at all possible to attach some sort of rail to the existing single screw hole where the peep sight is attached? Ref picture below:
 
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scoping a 39

Time to upgrade your gf's gun :)
I had a 39 scoped and yes you have to have it drilled and tapped, I was lucky, a gunsmith I knew did it for nothing for me at the time, but that was many, many years ago when the hardware was also readily available (side mount scope mount hardware).
You are better off to keep the 39 without any modifications, it is worth more that way too, and upgrade to another gun that can be scoped with off-the-shelf current hardware.
 
It is a choice you have to make. is it an heirloom piece or one you picked up for her? there are many of them around if you are a collector but if you and her are shooters,, the gun is about a $100-$150 gun, if in great shape.. Getting the gun drilled and tapped, and scope mount bases will be about $90. Probably the same amount to get dovetails.
If she really likes the gun and it fits her, then why not? i modified a couple Marlin 81s with D&T and even though they may be worth a few dollars more than i paid in a few years, i can enjoy them now. Just my opinion...
 
I see the Cooey as a piece of Canadiana. A part of Canadian history given how good these inexpensive (cheap implies poor quality) rifles were, and how many learned to shoot on one.

So to that end I would never modify one.

I shoot my 39 regularly, and love every minute of it.

There are plenty of $100 to $200 rifles out there to modify without the guilt I would feel.

Mine is not an heirloom, was not passed down through the family, and the sentimentaliy I feel toward it is that it is Canadian history.

Your milage may vary. If it does, then as others said, cost would outweigh.
 
Yogi05 said:
I see the Cooey as a piece of Canadiana. A part of Canadian history given how good these inexpensive (cheap implies poor quality) rifles were, and how many learned to shoot on one.

So to that end I would never modify one.

I shoot my 39 regularly, and love every minute of it.

There are plenty of $100 to $200 rifles out there to modify without the guilt I would feel.

Mine is not an heirloom, was not passed down through the family, and the sentimentaliy I feel toward it is that it is Canadian history.

Your milage may vary. If it does, then as others said, cost would outweigh.
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i feel the same way about every gun through each one has a history behind it
 
Yogi05 said:
I see the Cooey as a piece of Canadiana. A part of Canadian history given how good these inexpensive (cheap implies poor quality) rifles were, and how many learned to shoot on one.

So to that end I would never modify one.

I shoot my 39 regularly, and love every minute of it.

There are plenty of $100 to $200 rifles out there to modify without the guilt I would feel.

Mine is not an heirloom, was not passed down through the family, and the sentimentaliy I feel toward it is that it is Canadian history.

Your milage may vary. If it does, then as others said, cost would outweigh.
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I also feel this way. Cooeys are a historic example of a bygone era and a bygone company.

I recently acquired an older Model 39 from before Winchester bought the company and it actually says "Made in Canada" on it... not too common these days (for any product actually). Yes, they were mass produced, but mass produced here, and a fairly long time ago too.

I think I might be okay with scoping it if it was a beater and all banged up (and not an heirloom), but yours looks fairly nice. Of course, you could also wonder why you're scoping a beat up gun and the economics of it, as already mentioned.


To answer your question, you could always try it and find out! Might take some ingenuity (that and maybe some metal fabrication ability...) on your part trying to figure out how to get a rail to stay put so that it holds zero. The problem is mainly that you have only one attachment point and you might be tempted to rely on pulling tension to hold anything in place. I'm no gunsmith but I can imagine lots of problems with that idea.
 
go through the Cooey makeover thread...few scoped singles there.

The Cooey singles shots I have owned all shot very well, and honestly am curious how much more enjoyment could be had with optics.

I'm not as puritanical about the Cooeys as some seem to be...I didn't scope mine for the financial aspect....I'm a frugal shooter. My local smith has added bases to Cooey 75's n' 39's. I'll have to double check, but I think his cost was about 75 bucks...15 bucks for a base, and 15 bucks per tapped hole. He notches a single piece base so the chamber is accessible. Still tight area to load 'em if you have big fingers.
 
I once permanently mounted a scope on a Model 39, and never drilled a hole.
I used JB Weld, epoxy glue.
Use whatever type mount you want. sand the bluing off the rifle, just where the mount will be.
Have the scope in the mount and when all is ready, aply the epoxy and use rubber bands around the whole outfit, to hold the scope tight.
Since JB Weld is slow in setting, you have plenty of time to take the bolt out and bore sight it.
When it is line up, use the rubber bands to hold things in place. Leave it overnite and the next day you will have a permanently mounted scope.
You will likey be amazed at how much better you can now shoot with it.
 
Hey all,
I have to agree with H4831, the J-B weld trick does indeed work. I bought a Cooey single shot, yes a Canadian one, for my son to learn on. He couldn't for the life of him figure out the iron sights. Used J-B to affix a rail, put a scope on it and, PRESTO!!, he's hitting the targets almost all the time. Since then he's learned about the irons and has advanced onto my SKS. The trick with the rail on a Cooey is to make sure the rail fits the curve of the receiver, or rear portion of the barrel, really close and also make sure you don't use too much J-B; use what is needed to get just a little squeeze-out and you're good to go. And as far as "ruining" a piece of Canadiana, they made just under a gajillion of them. If they really were worth so much the prices would reflect as much. My .002
Cheers!!
 
there are a few 39s for sale in the EEs. buy one and choose which to alter. The guns are meant to be shot, not stuffed into a safe or closet. Still part of canadiana but pleasing to the shooter.
. I shoot all except one of my many and it is a collector commemorative winchester unfired.
 
Winnipeg Toymaker said:
there are a few 39s for sale in the EEs. buy one and choose which to alter. The guns are meant to be shot, not stuffed into a safe or closet. Still part of canadiana but pleasing to the shooter.
. I shoot all except one of my many and it is a collector commemorative winchester unfired.
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EXACTLY!!!

I can't help but laugh at the puritanicals ...Millions (no exaggeration) of Cooeys built n' sold in our fair land. You're not ruining history, or collectability here. You're making a utilitarian rifle more enjoyable for your g/f...That should have different dividends all unto their own! (wink wink, nudge nudge Y'know what I mean? Say no more)

The Cooeys are what they are...utilitarian rifles, that shoot very well. I can't help but believe, you can reach further with them after adding a scope. I'm too cheap to cough up for a D&T because I usually have a dozen .22's on hand (currently down to 10), and as stated, cost of work equals cost of rifle....afterwards, cost of rifle won't change much.
 
I don't think anyone is going to argue that Cooeys are worth a lot of money or should be relegated to being safe queens, but they are no longer produced Canadiana and can be considered cheap collectables you can still shoot. Collectable does not have to mean expensive or even rare.

True, they were mass produced, affordable, utilitarian, and meant for the entry level buyer, but so was the Ford Model T. And that was a long time ago too. Of the millions upon millions of those that were produced how many still survive today? Are they considered valuable collectables now? The same goes for firearms. Today's mass produced milsurp/department store/bargain basement sporterizer-special throwaway eventually becomes tomorrow's historical collector's piece.

Guns are a lot like cars actually. They are both tools and pieces of history, and you are not necessarily wrong looking at it more one way than the other. So my opinion is just that, as is everyone else's. Like any vehicle, you can use a gun as an implement like you would a power saw, or customize and modify it to your tastes, or preserve it in original condition. Whichever way though, shoot it.
 
So you guys have Naaco's too?

Believe it or not, adding a scope, doesn't make them less of a rifle. It opens up the enjoyment field, not limit it. ESP if the Grandaughter wants Granndpa's rifle, and a scope.

The OP isn't turning it into a tacky lamp for the cottage, he's inquiring about mounting a scope. I like the car analogy...how many Model "A"'s came with big block Chev engines? Even an auto purist likes the rumbly sound of one passing by. It is still a car, but now capable of highway speeds. If a vehicle is given a "recall" notice, does your vehicle become more collectible by ignoring it? It might. Remington recalled .17HMR semi's...one might still be more valuable, than the .22Mag version the recall converted them to.

It's groovy we all love our Canadiana, and our history. Curious how many "purists" still have their childhood toys, in the original package? Would make for a very bored child, with some pricey collectibles.

Thread started about how to scope it, not if it should be scoped. The joys of a forum, where discussions can shift from "could" to "should".

I even went so far as to inquire where OP is. Why? So I could loan him a scoped rifle. They [OP n' G/f] can take a scoped rifle out to play, and see if it justifies the cost.

How many of you googled Naaco before reading this far?
 
Just bought one with the side mounted 4x15 Werner scope on it today. Just got back from picking it up. Nothing fancy but does it ever shoothttp://
 
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camster said:
EXACTLY!!!

I can't help but laugh at the puritanicals ...Millions (no exaggeration) of Cooeys built n' sold in our fair land. You're not ruining history, or collectability here. You're making a utilitarian rifle more enjoyable for your g/f...That should have different dividends all unto their own! (wink wink, nudge nudge Y'know what I mean? Say no more)

The Cooeys are what they are...utilitarian rifles, that shoot very well. I can't help but believe, you can reach further with them after adding a scope. I'm too cheap to cough up for a D&T because I usually have a dozen .22's on hand (currently down to 10), and as stated, cost of work equals cost of rifle....afterwards, cost of rifle won't change much.
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No need for the superiority complex. You're free to do what you want with your stuff.

My post was MY feeling about Cooeys, and what I would or would not do.

I ended with the suggestion that if OP wanted to modify, then it may be wise to weigh the cost seeing as he suspected it may not be worth it.

The OP isn't turning it into a tacky lamp for the cottage, he's inquiring about mounting a scope. I like the car analogy...how many Model "A"'s came with big block Chev engines? Even an auto purist likes the rumbly sound of one passing by. It is still a car, but now capable of highway speeds
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Purists would turn inside out if they saw a Model T with a BB Chevy in it. Others love the look and sound.

A pristine "showroom condition" model t is worth more than a "modernized" one because they are in original condition.

Either way I don't think anyone told the OP not to modify his cooey.
 
Yogi05 said:
No need for the superiority complex. You're free to do what you want with your stuff.

My post was MY feeling about Cooeys, and what I would or would not do...
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You can type, you must be able to read...

OP inquired about utilizing the rear sights screw to facilitate a scope mount.

Re-read your wonderful, and constuctive advice , and then deny my titters...
 
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