AI Coopermatch suitable for 6.5x47L without bushing the firing pin?

[284Shooter]

First, this is my first post here. If I am violating any protocol, please just PM me and I'll fix it.

 

The Accuracy International Coopermatch us a pretty rare rifle in the US and I am finding it impossible to locate anyone here who has tried to rebarrel a Coopermatch in 6.5x47L, or even 6BR Norma. I am pulling down a 6.5x284 (three currently in rotation for NRA style shooting) and I have concerns about piercing primers and an inability to buy a replacement bolt head for this rifle.

 

Any chance anyone here has tried one of the high pressure, small primer chamberings in a Coopermatch? If not, any chance of pointing me in the right direction?

 

Thank you for any advice regarding this project. Worst case scenario is I build another 6.5x284 and keep it as a backup to my other two, which is what it's basically used for now. I have considered other chamberings but I am totally set up for 47l already and would prefer to stick with it if possible.

 

I am kicking around the idea of knocking the threads off one of my pull offs and chambering a used barrel just to see if it pierces primers. Only issue is my used barrels are 8.5 twist, not 8. Not exactly apples to apples but it should give me an idea if what the primers are going to do.

 

Again, thank you.

 

Chris

Nashville, TN

[brown dog]

Chris,

 

Does the Coopermatch not have an identical bolt to the AW series?

 

Many, myself included, have successfully run 6.5x47Lapua in AWs without any primer issues at all - I was once told the CCI 450 small rifle magnum primer was the route to success with regard to primer piercing; and it's all I ever used.

[284Shooter]

I think there are some differences, but I can't say for sure. If I recall the majority of the AIs I have seen are a three lug design and the Coopermatch is 6 lug. The shroud on the CM is also rounded, but the actual cocking piece and firing pin may be the same. I dont shoot practical matches which is where most of the AIs here are used. No one used a CM for these as its a single shot flat bottom. At least this one is.

 

Numerous AI users here have had to a just pin protrusion but few, if any, smiths will bush the bolt face because they are case hardened.

 

The 450m is my go to primer for both of my 6BRs with Varget and will be where I start with the 47L.

 

Wish is had a better answer on the bolt parts, but 90% of the shooters use Remington 700 or custom actions based on them (Borden,surgeon, stiller, kelby, panda, etc) with the remaining target shooters mixed between Barnard's (love mine but damn they are ugly) Winchesters and one offs.

[brown dog]

I think you'll be fine.

Without handling a Coopermatch, the shroud looks like the original AE shroud which -as you say- had the same firing pin etc as the AW. The bolt head looks like the current AT and AX bolt head.

I doubt you'll have to change anything, but, if you have to, adjusting firing pin protrusion on an AW (and therefore, I suspect, on a Coopermatch) is a very very simple 5 minute do-it-yourself job. If you need pics, I have the AW workshop manual knocking around somewhere.

 

Edited to add pic of current AT bolthead:

 

[284Shooter]

That's what I'm hoping.

 

I used to be in touch with a former UK soldier (Pete) who worked for the ESA in Germany and he was my go to for stuff like this. Last time I heard from him he was considering starting his own gunsmithing business, but I have no idea if that ever happened. We lost touch about 10 years ago. Shortly after JR Oneil left Border Barrels and came back to the US to work for KAS.

 

If I need to tweak the pin I'll reach out for the procedure, but primer strikes have been perfect for both 6.5x284 barrels/chambers. Only issue I have is I have to drop the charge back .3gr to ease the bolt lift as I hate a sticky cam over while in a sling. Other than that it has been a fun and accurate rifle. I had a friend machine a Ti 20MOA scope base to slide onto the dovetail and a 4 way buttplate to replace the spacer stack and rubber buttpad. I currently have Alex Sitman making me a AA California Claro walnut stock in Sitman prone profile so it matches the stocks on my other match rifles. Should be an interesting piece with the medium palma barrel and the sitman walnut stock as opposed to the 29" fluted HV Borders I've had, especially when the laminte pine stock it came with takes it's place in the back of a safe.

 

No matter what I end up doing with it though, it will not be cut on. Too rare to mess with. I'd rather just barrel it in 308 Palma and shoot it once a year than cut on something with so few in circulation.

 

I appreciate the help.

 

Chris

 

 

EDIT: That bolt is VERY similar to the coopermatch. If I had it here I'd snap some pics but it's currently with my gunsmith, motivating him to buy metric gears for his lathe to get it out of his safe

 

Old pic of rail but you can see the pins for the bolt head

[Chris-NZ]

....t 90% of the shooters use Remington 700 or custom actions based on them.....with the remaining target shooters mixed between Barnard's (love mine but damn they are ugly) ...

 

Chris-

 

To shamelessly paraphrase Forrest Gump, pretty is as pretty does. I have only one Barnard in my collection, a 6.5x47L, and that just happens to be the most accurate rifle I own. I'm not just saying that as a Kiwi.

 

If they made a more stylish shroud, that would help. I also agree with comments I've seen that it's a shame they don't offer an SS version. The UK shooters would appreciate that option with their weather

 

ChrisNZ

[284Shooter]

Chris,

 

Just busting Barnard's chops a little. I built my daughter's 6BR with one (albeit in an Eliseo tube gun) but I have no problem with the way they look beyond the plain-ness. They are a well designed, beautifully made action and a good value in the US with the trigger included. (They were a steal at $950 US a few years ago) If I had to pinpoint the general lack of love for the way they look in the stock it's probably the HUGE area of exposed black tubing Just miles of plain, shiney black paint.

 

If I had to build another rifle today and it didn't have to be a repeater, it would be a Barnard. I love the way they function. I do, however, reserve the right to talk a little smack about their vanilla looks. They have it coming.

 

Of course their response could be along the lines of, " if you were shooting a P model this thread wouldn't exist."

 

Chris

[baldie]

You CAN bush the firing pin. All is required is the correct tooling. The bolt head isn't case hardened , its fully hardened. The correct carbide tooling will allow the job to be done.

 

If you want help, PM me.

[DL.]

That's what I'm hoping.

 

I used to be in touch with a former UK soldier (Pete) who worked for the ESA in Germany and he was my go to for stuff like this. Last time I heard from him he was considering starting his own gunsmithing business, but I have no idea if that ever happened. We lost touch about 10 years ago.

 

 

 

Ah! He who shall not be named! This is the guy- http://ukvarminting.com/forums/user/134-deltav/

 

He's not mentioned on a lot of the UK shooting forums due to having disappointed a lot of customers though.

[284Shooter]

Ah! He who shall not be named! This is the guy- http://ukvarminting.com/forums/user/134-deltav/

 

He's not mentioned on a lot of the UK shooting forums due to having disappointed a lot of customers though.

Not sure if that is him or not. That profile has zero info

 

A quick Google search found him and the gunsmith business in Germany. Kind of surprised his website doesn't have an English option, only German. Hopefully we are talking about a different guy.

[284Shooter]

I got the Coopermatch back. Took it out last Friday and had some concerns. Some decent cratering with 38gr Varget under a 130 VLD .0012" in. Some case head swiping but primers were still round. I only put six rounds down to get a zero and see if it would pierce.

 

I had a little time yesterday so I took it out to the range and put 90 rounds down the pipe. 65 rounds with 136-142gr bullets and the remaining 35 with 38gr varget and 130s.

 

Tested with 36.5-37gr Varget and RL-15 under each "heavy" bullet. Tried both CCI 450Ms (my go to with Varget) and Tuka SRMs.

 

I can list specifics but it boils down to no pierced primers. Still have cratering but it's just the extra space around the pin. It's not deep enough to pierce.

 

Loaded 65 rounds with 142 sierra and 30 with 140 Berger Hybrid for tomorrow's 1k match. The SMKs had the best average group size, the Bergers had the smallest. Both SDs were 8fps. Not great, but good enough for Highpower.

[284Shooter]

Took it to 1k yesterday with 142SMKs and 140 Berger Hybrids. It was respectable, but cetainly no 6.5x284. There was less fatigue after 85-90 shots in the heat. (85-92°f).

 

Only issue I had was it had some serious bolt face sweep and hard extraction on the first six or seven roujds. To the point of pealing a sharp ridge on the case head with the ejector hole. This is the second time this setup has had higher than normal pressure on a clean barrel. I refuse to shoot moly, so i'm going to have to figure out WTF is going on. I can't be tossing 6-10 sticks of brass in the trash every time I clean. Guess I could see how long it will shoot before it needs cleaning? Or send 6-7 light load foulers into the berm, but that creates a safety issue.

[Leeman]

284 shooter,

 

I can't explain why the first few rounds should show higher pressure than subsequent ones assuming the're all the same batch of cases, loaded the same way etc, but I found with three 6.5x47 barrels that Varget was too fast burning and showed pressure signs a lot earlier than ADI 2209 (H4350) and Vit 550 that I used with 140 class bullets. If you could find a supply locally you could try those or another powder similar in burning rate. With regard to the bolt face, if cratering does become an issue, Greg Tannel (Gre-tan rifles) in Colorado specialises in bushing the firing pin hole. He's done three for me, not sure if he does the AI rifles but a Quadlite bolt I sent him presented no problem and it was the first he'd done.

 

Richard.

[284Shooter]

Richard,

 

I don't think Greg does the AI bolts, but Speedy does. Thing is I don't want to cut anything on this rifle due to it's rarity in the US. Parts are unobtainable for these now so a mistake is going to be expensive.

 

I have roughly 20lbs of H4350. It's my next step since I can't seem to find Moly 142s locally, which is good because I hate moly. I think I can get a little more speed out of H4350 as well. I am getting 100% burn with varget way back in a 28.5" 5R Border barrel. After 90 rounds the crown has just the faintest star from powder. I bet 41-43gr of 4350 would get me at or just over 2800.

 

In the event that this doesn't work out I picked up another Barnard P yesterday. I had a AA+ Claro Walnut stock made for the AI but ordered it flat top just in case. I'll be getting it inletted for the Barnard with a WTC recoil lug and going with traditional bedding. Nothing wrong with the pine laminated AI stock so I'm going to leave it as is until I figure out what caliber I'm going to permanently . Maybe 308win so I have a Palma rifle...

 

Chris

[284Shooter]

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