About Scout Rifles
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over scout rifles today. The scout rifle concept has endured for many decades, inspiring manufacturers and shooters alike to produce rifles adhering to the concept. We are going to delve into what a scout rifle is while covering traits, features, and other pertinent information. Without further ado, let’s talk about scout rifles.
What is a Scout Rifle?
Scout rifles are best described as versatile, general-purpose rifles that are well-suited for a variety of use cases. These rifles are intended to be a single-rifle solution for use cases such as hunting and fighting, affording a single shooter a great deal of versatility. Scout rifles typically feature iron sights and forward mounted optics such as low power scopes or red dot sights, making them viable for use out to 500 yards. These types of rifles generally going to be found in the form of bolt action rifles, though some semi-automatic form
Who Came Up with the Scout Rifle Concept?
The concept of the scout rifle was introduced by Colonel Jeff Cooper of Gunsite fame in the 1980’s. This concept was unveiled at the “First Scout Rifle Conference” in 1983, an event which was held at Gunsite near Paulden, Arizona. In attendance were hunters, gunsmiths, gun writers, marksmanship instructors, and stocksmiths. The event was attended by representatives of various sectors of the realm of shooting, allowing for the exchange of ideas from diverse perspectives and areas of expertise. It was at this event that the concept of the scout rifle was described and presented to the industry. A year later, in October 1984, Cooper held a second conference regarding the scout rifle concept.
Cooper’s Original Scout Rifle Features
The scout rifle concept as conceptualized by Cooper had a number of distinct features which were desirable for use as a general-purpose rifle.
- A scout rifle was to be chambered in a capable cartridge like the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. Cooper acknowledged the fact that some countries and areas bar the ownership of military calibers and suggested the 7mm-08 Remington as an alternative. Either caliber was deemed appropriate for hunting and fighting use according to Cooper.
- When the scout rifle was conceptualized in the 1980’s, the market did not host the wide variety of reliable semi-automatic firearms that it did today. Due to this fact, the conceptual scout rifle posited by Cooper was to be a bolt action rifle. Cooper was not opposed to semi-automatics by any means, stating that an autoloader which met his scout rifle criteria would be worth considering. In line with this concept, a bolt action scout rifle should feature a three-position safety. One setting allows for firing, the next disconnects the trigger mechanism while allowing bolt manipulation, and the third locks the bolt and prevents the trigger from being pulled.
- Cooper’s concept of a scout rifle included the desire for a light, crisp trigger. A trigger of this type allows for consistency and an easier shooting experience for the shooter. Trigger weights of around 3lbs are in line with Cooper’s vision.
- When it comes to overall weight, the scout rifle should weigh in at around 7 pounds unloaded and fitted with accessories. While a weight of around 7 pounds is most desirable for Cooper, he also stated that a weight of 8 pounds is the maximum acceptable weight of a rifle of this type. A lightweight rifle will make for a good scout rifle as it is easier to move around in the field with a light, handy rifle.
- Length-wise, Cooper envisioned a rifle with an overall length of 39 inches or less. This overall length includes Cooper’s requirement of a barrel measuring 19 inches or less. With a shorter overall length, a scout rifle becomes quite handy while still being capable and viable for many use cases. By omitting a long barrel and keeping the overall package tight, one can more easily negotiate things such as brush and brambles in the field.
- As far as optics go, Cooper’s scout rifle concept emphasized the use of a low powered scope mounted forward of the rifle’s action. This allowed for shooters to maintain a wide field of view and increased situational awareness. Additionally, a forward mounted optic allows for top-loading of the rifle via the action, whether by hand or by stripper clip. It should also be known that the optic is not a mandatory piece of the scout rifle.
- Cooper’s concept of a scout rifle also features a dedicated set of iron sights to be used as either a primary or backup sighting system. As mentioned earlier, Cooper did not prescribe a scope a mandatory addition of a scout rifle. Cooper also emphasizes the importance of rugged and capable iron sights, whether in a reserve or primary capacity.
- As far as gunstocks go, Cooper emphasized a synthetic stock as opposed to a wood stock. This was due to the improvements made with synthetic materials in the era making stocks of the material viable and desirable. A synthetic stock allows an end user to save weight when compared to traditional wood stocks.
- Magazines should be able to provide sufficient protection for ammunition with projectiles such as soft point spitzer bullets. Cooper conceptualized a fixed magazine with a cut-off feature which would allow for single loading while reserve ammunition remained untouched in the magazine if so desired. Additionally, Cooper’s concept also allowed for detachable magazines, either in a standalone format or to be used in conjunction with a magazine cut-off device.
- Cooper’s concept also emphasized the importance of a sling as both a means of retaining a rifle and as a means of stabilizing a rifle while shooting. Specifically, Cooper advocated for the use of “Ching” slings which can be used to aid in stabilization while aiming and in acting as a means of carrying a rifle.
- The rifle should be capable of achieving at least four-inch group sizes (2 MOA) at 200 yards with three shot groups.
Prominent Commercial Scout Rifle Offerings
Initially, scout rifles had to be crafted by gunsmiths or shooters with technical know-how. Commercial support for the concept would not be realized for over a decade after Cooper introduced the scout rifle concept. These commercial scout rifle offerings featured various levels of adherence to Cooper’s concept. Some offerings very closely adhered to Cooper’s concept and even made sure to include some of his optional specifications. Other offerings represent the concept in spirit, making concessions where necessary for price, practicality, and to appeal to modern tastes.
Prominent Commercial Scout Rifle Offerings:
- Steyr Scout
- Savage Arms Scout
- Ruger Frontier
- Ruger Gunsite Scout
- Mossberg MVP Scout
Do Modern Offerings Adhere to Cooper’s Concept?
As mentioned above, some modern commercial scout rifle offerings deviate from the original concept outlined by Cooper. These variations come in the form of different barrel lengths, use of wood stocks, non-forward-mounted optic rails, and overall length. Tastes and desires of modern shooters are also accounted for with many modern offerings, as many rifles feature threaded barrels and factory muzzle devices which are not outlined by Cooper’s concept. Threaded muzzles and certain muzzle devices allow for the attachment of suppressors, another attachment not expressly outlined by Cooper.
Additionally, many other calibers besides the .308 Winchester have been utilized in scout rifles. For example, some modern scout rifle offerings, such as some variants of the Ruger Scout Rifle, can be had in calibers like .450 Bushmaster. As technology has improved, some shooters opt to use red dot sights or holographic sights rather than low power scopes. While some offerings may not dogmatically follow Cooper’s scout rifle concept letter-for-letter, these commercial offerings still capture the spirit of the concept for shooters in modern times.
Conclusion
All in all, scout rifles follow a unique and forward-thinking concept posited by an incredibly respected figure in the realm of firearms. Rifles of this type emphasize practicality and are designed to be viable in many use cases. While these rifles can practically be used for many purposes, one may be better served by getting optimized rifles for specific use cases rather than having one rifle serve many roles. Regardless of whether or not you run a scout rifle, we here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide variety of ammunition to help you get stocked up. Whether you want to buy ammo in individual box quantities or buy bulk ammo, we have got you covered. As always. Happy shooting.
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One Response
Thank you Tyler for such great insights about the Scout Rifle. They are not discussed enough in our industry.