III. Firearm Information by Type
D. Rifles
3. Miscellaneous
a. What is Jeff Cooper's Scout Rifle?
Will Hartung on rec.guns asked:
I've read Jeff Coopers commentaries that have been recently posted,
and he keeps mentioning a Scout rifle.
So, what's a Scout Rifle? Is it a specific design? A specific role?
[Excerpted from Col. Cooper's column in the March 94 _Guns and Ammo_]
- "Its total weight, including the sight, should not exceed three kilograms.
- Its total length should not exceed one meter.
- Its two initial calibers should be 7.62 NATO and 7mm-08 (this latter caliber
for jurisdictions in which military cartridges are forbidden.)
- The stock should be of high-quality synthetic material affording greater
strength per unit of weight and of uniform non-skid finish. (The exact
configuration and specifications of the stock are matters for further
conference, but length of pull is not to exceed 12.5in.)
- A Scout-type telescope sight should be mounted low over the bore nd forward
of the magazine well. Its magnification should be three diamters, and ideally
all movement and adjustments should take place outside the tube. The reticle
should be etched on the glass.
- Currently, the best action available, in our option, is the ZKK 601, but it
could definitely be improved. Ideally, the fabricator should produce his
own action.
- Reserve retractable iron sights should be incorporated for emergencies.
- The fabrication of the barrel will depend on facilities available. At present,
we use a "pedestal" barrel that incorporates the telescopic bases into the
barrel itself, avoiding the problems of attachment and barrel thickness at
point of contact. We currently use cut barrels, but hammer-forged barrels
would be better if a hammer-forging plant was available.
- Three flush sling-sockets should be included to accommodate either the CW or
the Ching sling.
- At present, we think only of bolt actions, which, of course, necessitate the
production of both right- and left-hand models. We are not prejudiced against
self-loading actions as are the governments of Britain and South Africa, but we
have not yet encountered a self-loading action that is compact enough to fit
the scout concept.
- We anticipate target-type accuracy and a trigger action that will enable the
shooter to get the most out of his weapon.
- Above all, the completed instrument must be durable."