{"id":16630,"date":"2021-02-11T20:32:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-11T20:32:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/?p=16630"},"modified":"2021-02-28T19:45:53","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T19:45:53","slug":"analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis of the Scout Rifle: Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is the first in a series of articles concerning Scout Rifles. It could be considered an addendum to my book, The Scout Rifle Study<\/span><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem with the Scout Rifle Concept<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As those who frequent the Scout Rifle forum<\/a> and its similar Facebook page<\/a>: Jeff Cooper\u2019s Scout, know, there are ongoing arguments about what is and what is not a Scout Rifle. The argument is not just between those in the know and those who are not, it exists between many who have been a student of the Scout Rifle for a very long time. This series of articles will attempt to address some of the reasons for these disagreements, but more importantly it will look at the enigma that is known as the Scout Rifle by questioning \u2013 with no disrespect to Cooper intended \u2013 the concept, the name, the rifle, the community that worships it, and perceived or practical performance standards of a general-purpose rifle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Jeff Cooper preached the gospel his Scout Rifle Concept, in print and in person, from the early 80s until his death in 2006.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Based on some work Jeff Cooper conducted with a Remington Model 600 in 308 Winchester, to which he had attached an aperture sight and a low-powered intermediate eye relief scope, he devised what would be called the Scout Rifle Concept. This concept rifle Cooper would refer to as a general-purpose rifle was inspired in part by the Winchester Model 94 and Mannlicher Schoenauer which he praised. They were what Cooper considered \u201cprecursors\u201d to the Scout Rifle and he felt that they, \u201coffered the combination of extreme lightness, short overall length and ease of use and maintenance with power and accuracy perfectly adequate for field use against four-footed game short of the very largest\u2014or against men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
This is Jeff Cooper’s 1894 Winchester rifle, which he considered a “precursor” to his Scout Rifle Concept.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While influenced by these weapons, the concept was also rooted in the duties of a military scout who was trained in ground and cover, movement from cover to cover, map reading, marksmanship, observation and accurately reporting the result of the observation. Most likely, due to his early adventures in Arizona, near where Cooper established the Gunsite Ranch, and later in Africa, where Cooper greatly enjoyed hunting, this notion of a scout was \u2013 to Cooper \u2013 exemplified by Frederick Russell Burnham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years Cooper worked with a variety of rifles configured in an attempt to meet the parameters of the definition he created. A definition that, if it did not evolve, was at least somewhat inconsistent. Ostensibly, Cooper\u2019s Scout Rifle can be defined as having the following characteristics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Weight of less than 3.5 kilos (7 pounds, 11.45 ounces) but ideally less than 3 kilos (6 pounds, 9.82 ounces) with the optical sight and sling attached.<\/li>
  • A maximum length of one meter (39.4 inches)<\/li>
  • Chambered for the 308 Winchester, with allowances for the 7mm-08 Remington where the 308 Winchester could not be legally owned, and for the 243 Winchester for those who are recoil sensitive.<\/li>
  • A short-action with a 19-inch barrel.<\/li>
  • Axillary iron ghost-ring sights.<\/li>
  • A fixed, low-power telescope mounted as low over the bore as possible.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    There were some other suggested optional accouterments, but this is most likely the best homogenous and unrefuted definition that can be assembled from all of the writings Cooper offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Two very important defining but somewhat ambiguous characteristics are missing from this definition. Cooper felt his Scout Rifle should be friendly, meaning it was easy to carry, fast to get on target, and well configured to allow for excellent marksmanship from field shooting positions. He also felt that it should fill the need of a general-purpose rifle, meaning that it could effectively perform general-purpose rifle tasks anywhere in the world. In other words, while it might not be perfect<\/em> for any single task, it could passably<\/em> perform all tasks. It was not to be a specialized rifle but one that was very generalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    This flow chart is a great tool to identify the possible qualification of a Scout Rifle based on Jeff Cooper’s concept. Some will argue that a forward mounted scope and a shooting sling are optional.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    It should be noted that Cooper\u2019s intent was not to devise the ideal general-purpose rifle for a single individual, but one for any individual. The primary problems with this concept are twofold. He specified a very specialized<\/em> rifle for very generalized<\/em> use, which is a necessity for, well, almost no one living now or even when Cooper devised his concept. This is mostly because most of us will live and operate in a very small area for our entire lives, meaning our needs are not that wordily, but also partly because we are not restricted to one rifle for the things we need a rifle to do. It is also rather ironic because specialization was what Cooper intended to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    This is Sweetheart or Scout II as it was referred to by Jeff Cooper. It was a precursor to the Steyr Scout Rifle and a rifle Cooper bragged about.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Another problem centers around the definition, which specified \u2013 by most written documentation \u2013 a riflescope with an eye relief of about 10 inches mounted forward of the rifle\u2019s action. This aspect of the definition essentially established a genre that lumped all rifles with a forward mounted optic into one described as Scout Rifles, with no concern about the remaining requirements. And, the totality of the definition was so difficult to adhere to that those attempting the task would ultimately decide to forgo one or more the requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, what Cooper gave us was a blueprint for a rifle that was nearly impossible to create \u2013 Steyr, one of the best rifle manufactures in the world, tried to do it and failed. And, at the root of the concept is a rifle that, arguably, no one in today\u2019s world really needs, and that was crafted for a man and time that no longer exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    The Steyr Scout Rifle was created with input from Jeff Cooper. He felt it was close to meeting the definition of his concept but still fell short.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    The message here is that when discussing the Scout Rifle as defined by Jeff Cooper, it should be done with an understanding of what Cooper was attempting to define. In Cooper\u2019s writings I can find no reference to an attempt to define a rifle that everyone would like, chambered in a cartridge that was everyone\u2019s favorite, or that was specifically configured to address the individual and specialized problems or desires they might have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, Bob might really want a scout-like general-purpose rifle, but also one that was ideally adapted to deer hunting in his home state of Oklahoma. The result is that Bob chooses a scout-like rifle but outfits it to best serve not only his general-purpose need, but also to best help him kill deer where he hunts. There is nothing at all wrong with this. In fact, there is a lot right with this. However, we all \u2013 including Bob \u2013 must accept that Bob\u2019s new rifle is not a Scout Rifle as conceived by Jeff Cooper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This uncovers the problem with the Scout Rifle Concept. It is not the only rifle most people need. It is however the one rifle Jeff Cooper thought most people needed. Need is a relative thing and without a proof-positive performance benchmark, it is also something that is damned hard to prove. Needs vary as do the speculations on how to fill them. Your needs and speculations on fulfilling them do not support the alteration of another man\u2019s concept, they only mold and define yours.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In Part 2 of this series, we will continue by examining the problems with the name Cooper chose for his concept rifle.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    This is Bill Mazelin, a member of the Scout Rifle Safari group. His rifle is a Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. As configured, it does not meet the Scout Rifle definition as put forth by Jeff Cooper. However, it proved to be ideally adapted to an African safari and the needs of its owner.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This is the first in a series of articles concerning Scout Rifles. It could be considered an addendum to my book, The Scout Rifle Study. The Problem with the Scout Rifle Concept As those who frequent the Scout Rifle forum and its similar Facebook page: Jeff Cooper\u2019s Scout, know, there are ongoing arguments about what is and what is not a Scout …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2820,3024],"tags":[3025,3027],"class_list":["post-16630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-scout-rifles","tag-general-purpose-rifle-2","tag-remington-600"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/6-head.jpg?fit=1337%2C435&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-4ke","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16643,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":16630,"position":0},"title":"Analysis of the Scout Rifle: Part 2","author":"gunwriter","date":"February 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the second in a series of articles concerning the Scout Rifle. It could be considered an addendum to my book, The Scout Rifle Study. The Problem with the term\/name, Scout Rifle Maybe the largest problem Cooper created was with the name he chose to give his concept rife.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest"","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Patriot-Scout-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C652&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Patriot-Scout-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C652&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Patriot-Scout-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C652&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Patriot-Scout-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C652&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16690,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":16630,"position":1},"title":"Analysis of the Scout Rifle: Part 4","author":"gunwriter","date":"March 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the fourth in a series of articles concerning the Scout Rifle. It could be considered an addendum to my book,\u00a0The Scout Rifle Study. The Problem with the Scout Rifle Community The members of the Scout Rifle community exasperate all of the problems with the Concept, the name, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest"","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/SRC-2016-Assorted-263.jpg?fit=1000%2C529&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/SRC-2016-Assorted-263.jpg?fit=1000%2C529&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/SRC-2016-Assorted-263.jpg?fit=1000%2C529&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/SRC-2016-Assorted-263.jpg?fit=1000%2C529&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16462,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/daily-blog-12-20-20-scout-rifles\/","url_meta":{"origin":16630,"position":2},"title":"Daily Blog: 12\/20\/20 (Scout Rifles)","author":"gunwriter","date":"December 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The interest in Scout Rifles continues to elevate and I believe that is a good thing. Given the world we are living in, having one rifle that is capable of handling any task a rifle is suited for is a good idea. What concerns me is that many do not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Daily Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Daily Blog","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/daily-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/NULA-Scout-LR.jpg?fit=1000%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/NULA-Scout-LR.jpg?fit=1000%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/NULA-Scout-LR.jpg?fit=1000%2C338&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/NULA-Scout-LR.jpg?fit=1000%2C338&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13688,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/the-ultimate-scout-rifle\/","url_meta":{"origin":16630,"position":3},"title":"The Ultimate Scout Rifle","author":"gunwriter","date":"July 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 It could be argued there is, only has been, and ever will be, one true Scout Rifle. Cooper referred to all of the Scout Rifles he created as prototypes and proclaimed the Steyr Scout Rifle the best personal rifle in the world. You see, Cooper did not own the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SS-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16676,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":16630,"position":4},"title":"Analysis of the Scout Rifle: Part 3","author":"gunwriter","date":"February 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the third in a series of articles concerning the Scout Rifle. It could be considered an addendum to my book,\u00a0The Scout Rifle Study. The Problem with the Scout Rifle The primary problem with the Scout Rifle is that today it is used by a generation of folks who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest"","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_0493.jpg?fit=1000%2C417&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_0493.jpg?fit=1000%2C417&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_0493.jpg?fit=1000%2C417&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/IMG_0493.jpg?fit=1000%2C417&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11775,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/what-is-a-scout-rifle\/","url_meta":{"origin":16630,"position":5},"title":"What is a scout rifle?","author":"gunwriter","date":"June 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you know the answer to this question? Or, do you just think you know the answer?\u00a0Maybe the more important question to ask is, can the scout rifle be definitively defined? Conducting research and experiments to support my upcoming book, The Scout Rifle Study, I\u2019ve spent the last two years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Scout-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16630"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16743,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16630\/revisions\/16743"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}