The Cooey .22 That Taught Canada to Shoot (4K)

For many Canadians, especially those who grew up in rural areas, the Cooey .22 wasn’t just a rifle — it was a rite of passage. In this video, I take a close look at my own Cooey Winchester Model 600, the very first firearm I owned, and explore why rifles like this were once so common across Canada. We walk through its history, its uniquely Canadian design, and the thoughtful mechanical features that made it such a reliable and forgiving teaching rifle for generations of young shooters. Along the way, I break the rifle down to show how it actually works — from the bolt and feed system, to the tubular magazine, sights, safety, and even the subtle design choices Winchester added when they took over Cooey production. I also talk about what these rifles taught us beyond marksmanship: patience, responsibility, and respect. If you grew up with a Cooey .22 — or if it was your first rifle — you’re not alone. This video is as much about shared memory and Canadian heritage as it is about steel and wood. I’d genuinely enjoy hearing your own Cooey stories in the comments. SUPPORT THE CHANNEL If you found value in this video and would like to support The Way To Native Chronicles, here are a few simple ways to help: • Support the channel directly on Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheWayTo... • Access exclusive supporter items and extras: https://buymeacoffee.com/thewaytonati... • Get copyright-safe music like the kind used in this video through Epidemic Sound: https://share.epidemicsound.com/k0mqx9 As always, liking the video, subscribing, and sharing it with others who enjoy thoughtful, land-based discussions helps more than you might think. From the land, from experience, and from respect — The Way To Native Chronicles 00:00 - Intro and invite for comments 00:37 - View of the rifle 00:57 - The Cooey as my first firearm 01:11 - Why the rifle was so widespread 01:59 - Model 60 to Model 600 02:18 - Barrel markings 02:34 - Examining the bolt 02:43 - Dry fire warning 03:08 - How to dry fire safely 03:41 - Simplicity of design 04:10 - Cooey single-shot safety feature 04:39 - How to decock safely 05:01 - How the safety works 05:25 - Model 600 features 05:35 - Checkering 05:44 - Rabbit engraving 05:55 - Raised comb 06:08 - Trigger guard 06:18 - Butt plate 06:29 - Should I refinish my stock? 06:56 - What happened to .22 Long? 07:07 - Magazine pros and cons 07:12 - The downside of detachable magazines 07:50 - Loading mechanism shown without stock 08:23 - Controlled feed 08:28 - The sights 08:34 - How to adust windage 08:52 - Making rear sight robust 09:24 - Proof of Canadian origin 09:46 - Memories as well as steel and wood 10:00 - Cooeys as part of Canadian history 10:10 - Request for comments 10:26 - Suggested next video