{"id":16643,"date":"2021-02-15T07:01:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T07:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/?p=16643"},"modified":"2021-02-20T13:21:53","modified_gmt":"2021-02-20T13:21:53","slug":"analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis of the Scout Rifle: Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem with the term\/name, Scout Rifle<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe the largest problem Cooper created was with the name he chose to give his concept rife. He intended it for a scout, so he called it a \u201cscout rifle.\u201d Incidentally, Burnham, who Cooper envisioned as the ideal man for his gun, was the inspiration for Baden Powell\u2019s creation of the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts, at least up until recently when they became boy and girl<\/em> Scouts – and then went bankrupt – set a high standard for the term “scout.” A standard that was respected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the term \u201cscout\u201d is used to describe all manner of respected outdoor, hunting, survival, and military icons. We\u2019re talking men like Burnham, Crockett, Boone, Wetzel, Hickock, and even the fictional Natty Bummpo, also known as Hawkeye from Cooper\u2019s – another Cooper’s – Leatherstocking tales. We’re talking about men like Captain Chris \u201cSchulie\u201d Schollenberg, and members of the famous and highly decorated Alamo Scouts in WW II, who by the way never<\/em> lost a man! More recently the term describes Scout Snipers like Chris Kyle or thousands of American military men that have been bestowed the 19D MOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shoulder patch authorized by General Walter Krueger for wear by members of the Alamo Scouts, non-retained graduates of the Alamo Scouts Training Center, cadre, and camp overhead personnel.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By any stretch of the imagination, a weapon sharing its name with men of this caliber will be something that men \u2013 of the same and lesser caliber \u2013 will want. A rifle identified as a \u201cscout rifle\u201d has immense appeal if in nothing but name alone; it almost carries a hero-like aura. Today it can be used to describe anything from a rifle similar to what cooper envisioned, to a rifle specifically set up for combat action, to even a rifle for a young man to learn with or use. Maybe more than anything, the term \u201cscout\u201d when now applied to a rifle means a rifle that is damned useful when a useful rifle is really needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one way, the name was perfect for Cooper\u2019s concept weapon, and in another it was terrible. As an example, when Melvin Forbes created his magical less than five-pound bolt action rifle and presented it to potential investors, they demanded the company be called \u201cUltra Light Arms.\u201d Melvin wisely disagreed, but money talks and Ultra Light Arms was born. The problem was that his rifle inspired a plethora of copycats, all known as \u201cultra light arms<\/em>,\u201d like some beers and even cigarettes were also known. Much like with Cooper\u2019s Scout Rifle, the rifles of Ultra Light Arms \u2013 now New Ultra Light Arms<\/a> \u2013 inspired a genre of similar guns that would carry the description. Thus, in the end, these guns marginalized the rifle\/concept that started the genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Melvin Forbes’ incredible rifle created a genre of ultra-light rifles just as Cooper’s concept Scout Rifle did. Unfortunately, none of the imitators live up to the original example of either.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By Cooper naming his concept rifle a Scout Rifle, it opened up the interpretation of the weapon system to legitimate real-deal, mondern-day scouts all over the world. And, while they all might have similar general-purpose rifle needs, they all also have very specific needs that need to be addressed such as suppressors, high capacity, more power, less power, and subsonic performance. (A modern day 19D US Army cavalry scout does not need the rifle Cooper identified as a Scout Rifle, he needs something different.) Had Cooper simply called his concept rifle something else, like maybe the Cooper Rifle, today we would not find ourselves involved in so many arguments over what is and is not a Scout Rifle and what a Scout Rifle should and should not be. The way it is now, the term \u201cscout rifle\u201d could legitimately be used to describe rifles used by real scouts, as opposed to illegitimate wannabes. But, because Cooper coined the term and set the definition, all these so-called “scout rifles” are measured against his “concept,” with arguments to support their differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CVA Scout<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Manufacturers understand that consumers like the term “scout rifle” so they now apply it to rifles that are sorta in line with Cooper’s definition. And, they also apply it to rifles that have nothing to do with Cooper’s definition. This of course has nothing to do with Cooper and everything to do with selling rifles. Some of these rifles are in fact very nice rifles, they are just not a Scout Rifle as defined by Jeff Cooper. This of course complicates the understanding or what a Scout Rifle really is, while at the same time marginalizing what a Jeff Cooper Scout Rifle is supposed to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Howa Scout Rifle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This desire to belong to the Scout Rifle club<\/em> also incentives shooters to attempt to make a Scout Rifle out of the rifles they already have or like. It’s not uncommon for someone to mount a scout scope on an M1A and call the resulting 10 pound rifle a Scout Rifle. They’ll also Jenny Craig an AR10, throw on a red dot sight, and proclaim it a Scout Rifle as well. Others just take a lightweight bolt-action rifle that’s well-configured for general purpose use and say, “This is my Scout Rifle.” All of this is perfectly legal and within their right, but it is also outside Cooper’s definition and intent. These rifles are either too heavy, unwieldy, have a barrel that’s too short, are ballistically substandard, or otherwise incompatible with Cooper’s intent in one way or the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Inland M1 Scout Carbine<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If Cooper has used a different – less cool – name, none of this would be happening. Essentially, all this Scout Rifle bickering can be broken down to the simple explanation that the term \u201cscout rifle\u201d sounds really neat and desirable, and represents skill set that is respected by outdoorsmen and soldiers, who desire a rifle that reflects their trade and mindset. If Cooper had named, it the \u201cCooper Rifle\u201d all but a handful of folks would really care if their rifle met his definition or not. (I’ll wager most who own a so-called “scout rifle” have no idea who Jeff Cooper was.) If someone is hunting deer and is armed with a rifle, they have a deer rifle, if someone is operating as a scout and is armed with a rifle, then that rifle is a scout rifle, regardless of any definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Springfield M1A Scout Squad Rifle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cooper, calling his rifle a \u201cScout Rifle\u201d was a great, and at the same time, terrible idea, and about as practical as declaring one woman as the “perfect woman.” As any resulting discussion would reveal, that woman would have many different names…and measurements! Some like blondes, some like red heads, some like good looks, some like good cooks…perfect for one is not perfect for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Part 3 of this series, we will continue by examining the problems with this thing<\/em> called a Scout Rifle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a Wilson Combat Protector Series Carbine chambered for the 300 HAMR. As configured, it would serve well as a general-purpose rifle. However, as much as someone might like to call it a “scout rifle” it is not, at least by Jeff Cooper’s standards.
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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READ: Analysis of the Scout Rifle PART 1 (The Problem with the Scout Rifle Concept)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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. He intended it for a scout, so he called it a \u201cscout …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14453,"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":[3029,3028,3030,1980],"class_list":["post-16643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-scout-rifles","tag-alamo-scouts","tag-burnham","tag-chris-cshollenberg","tag-scout-rifles"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Patriot-Scout-3.jpg?fit=1000%2C652&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-4kr","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13379,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/the-lion-scouts-half-brother\/","url_meta":{"origin":16643,"position":0},"title":"The Lion Scout’s Half Brother","author":"gunwriter","date":"May 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"While researching Cooper\u2019s various scout rifles it come to my attention that Super Scout IV was assembled by Melvin Forbes of New Ultra Light Arms. This rifle would come to be known as \u201cLion Scout\u201d and was \u2013 as best as can be determined - a combination of work by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EDITORIAL"","block_context":{"text":"EDITORIAL","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/editorial\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"FP-26","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/FP-26.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/FP-26.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/FP-26.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/FP-26.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16676,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":16643,"position":1},"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":16143,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/coopers-load\/","url_meta":{"origin":16643,"position":2},"title":"Cooper’s Load","author":"gunwriter","date":"June 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In his book, To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth, Cooper stated, \u201cAll scouts up to now have been in caliber .308, and the chronograph insists that the proper loading can start a 150-grain bullet from a 19 inch barrel at a couple clicks over 2700 f\/s. These ballistics\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-06-14-at-9.45.28-AM.png?fit=1000%2C504&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-06-14-at-9.45.28-AM.png?fit=1000%2C504&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-06-14-at-9.45.28-AM.png?fit=1000%2C504&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-06-14-at-9.45.28-AM.png?fit=1000%2C504&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11070,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/mossbergs-new-mvp-scout\/","url_meta":{"origin":16643,"position":3},"title":"Mossberg’s NEW MVP Scout","author":"gunwriter","date":"January 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We can trace the beginnings of the scout rifle concept to about 1966. That\u2019s when COL Cooper penned an article entitled \u201cThe Carbine Compromise.\u201d In it he discussed various carbines of the day and a semi-custom carbine he had built on a Remington Model 600. This rifle and later variants\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Guns & Ammo Photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16690,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/analysis-of-the-scout-rifle-part-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":16643,"position":4},"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":13688,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/the-ultimate-scout-rifle\/","url_meta":{"origin":16643,"position":5},"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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16643","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=16643"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16706,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16643\/revisions\/16706"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}