Scout rifle

The Scout Rifle is a class of general-purpose rifles defined and promoted by Jeff Cooper in the early 1980s.

These bolt action carbines are typically .308 caliber (7.62mm), less than 1 meter in length, and less than 3 kilograms in weight, with iron and optical sights and fitted with practical slings (such as Ching Slings) for shooting and carrying, and capable of hitting man-sized targets out to 450 meters without scopes. Typically they employ forward-mounted low-power long eye relief scopes or sights to afford easy access to the top of the rifle action for rapid reloading. Steyr, Ruger, Savage, and several other gun makers now manufacture Scout rifles that roughly match Cooper's specifications, but most lack auxiliary iron sights.

A lifelong student of small arms, and recognized expert in the field, Cooper realized that rifles in the late 20th century differed little from those made one hundred years before, and that advances in metallurgy, optics and plastics could make the rifle a handy, light instrument--"scarcely less handy than a swagger stick." His described purpose was:

"... a general-purpose rifle is a conveniently portable, individually operated firearm, capable of striking a single decisive blow, on a live target of up to 200 kilos (440 lbs) in weight, at any distance at which the operator can shoot with the precision necessary to place a shot in a vital area of the target."

Defining characteristics

Drawing inspiration from several sources, specifically the Austrian Mannlicher-Schönauer of 1903 and the Winchester Model 1894, Cooper defined several distinguishing characteristics of a scout rifle:

* A maximum unloaded weight, with accessories, of 3.5 kilograms (≈7¾ lbs), 3 kg (≈6½ lbs) optimal.
* An overall length of 1 meter (≈39 in.) or less.
* A forward-mounted telescopic sight of low magnification, typically 2-3 diameters. This preserves the shooter's peripheral vision, keeps the ejection port open to allow the use of stripper clips to reload the rifle, and eliminates any chance of the scope striking one's brow during recoil. Cooper has stated that a telescopic sight is not mandatory.
* Ghost ring auxiliary iron sights: a rear sight consisting of a receiver-mounted large-aperture thin ring, and typically a square post front sight.
* A "Ching" or "CW" sling. Against common practice, Cooper advocated the use of a sling as a shooting aid. The Ching sling offers the convenience of a carrying strap and the steadiness of a target shooter's sling with the speed of a biathlete's sling. (The CW sling is a simpler version of a Ching sling, consisting of a single strap.)
* A standard chambering of .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO caliber; 7 mm-08 for locales that forbid military chamberings; and .243 Winchester for young or recoil-shy people. Cooper also commissioned "Lion Scout," chambered for the .350 Remington Magnum cartridge.
* Accuracy: Should be capable of shooting into 2 minutes of angle or less (4") at 200 yards/meters (3 shot groups).Other optional features included a retractable bipod, detachable magazines, a butt magazine, and an accessory rail for lights and other attachments. The addition of some of these features often render the rifle technically not a scout as originally defined, but this has come to be accepted by many as still conforming to the spirit if not the letter of the concept.

These features dictated short, thin barrels, synthetic stocks, and bolt actions. For many years scout rifles were only available from custom gunsmiths. However, in the late 1990s, Steyr-Mannlicher of Austria began series production of the Steyr Scout, which is also known as the Mannlicher Scout. Jeff Cooper spent many years of reflection and working with Steyr before they began production built to the specifications developed. A heavy-caliber version, the "Dragoon Scout," is chambered for the proprietary .376 Steyr cartridge, but exceeds (by approximately one inch) the overall length limit of the Scout Rifle specification. This version carries four rounds in the magazine, compared to five in the standard Steyr Scout. A version is also produced in the 5.56 mm .223 caliber used in various current military carbines. This is below the Scout Rifle caliber standard, so this version of the rifle has become known as the "Cub Scout."

Commercial Variants

There are several manufacturers warming to the Scout trend. The version considered by many to be the benchmark is the Steyr Scout at $2000USD+ c.2007. Savage Arms reinvented their Model 10FCM complete with the adjustable AccuTrigger in .308 only, at $675USD c.2007. Sturm, Ruger has several M77 Frontier rifles in various chamberings from varmint to heavy game with Ruger's known reliability and build quality $750USD+.

By mounting the long-eye-relief telescopic sight on the Winchester Model 94, a rifle with many of the desirable characteristics of the Scout Rifle is created. Colonel Cooper dubbed this the "Brooklyn Scout," in honor of the location where the combination was first developed.

Characteristics of the Scout Rifle

Originally an experiment, the Scout Rifle configuration has proven its value. Although it is unusual in appearance and design when compared to traditional rifles, the features which set the Scout Rifle apart were selected for utility rather than appearance. The scope sight is mounted on the barrel both for stability and to allow a faster acquisition of the sighting line when the rifle is brought to the shoulder. The length of the buttstock on the Steyr model is easily adjusted, through the use of detachable sections, though Cooper promotes the practice of removing all of the sections to allow bringing the rifle to the shoulder faster.

The Mannlicher Scout features an integral bipod, as well as storage for a spare, loaded magazine. The rifle is also designed to allow either single-shot, manually-loaded fire or normal magazine feeding. This is accomplished by simply including a second notch in the magazine catch, which permits the magazine to ride in the weapon slightly too low for the bolt to engage the top cartridge. The shooter may immediately switch to magazine feeding by driving the magazine all the way into the well. Single-round feeding is aided by the mounting position of the scope.

Being slightly shorter than most full-caliber rifles increases the muzzle blast from the Scout Rifle, and being lightweight increases the felt recoil (to a significant level in the Dragoon Scout).

Should the scope be damaged, it can be rapidly removed and the retractable ghost ring sight extended.

There are very few options and accessories for the Scout Rifle, because the necessary and desirable features are designed into the standard configuration. The primary choices are caliber, color of stock (grey or black), and type of bolt handle (flat or ball-end). Some owners opt for aftermarket or custom slings, which are easily removed and adjusted. Most owners will also purchase extra magazines and an ammunition holder which mounts to the stock.

Market Acceptance

Modern in design and somewhat more expensive than traditional rifles, the Scout Rifle has not sold in numbers as great as desired by manufacturers and dealers. This has resulted in the Dragoon Scout being discontinued, then brought back into production as demand for the larger caliber increased.

References

*Jeff Cooper, "To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth"
*Armi E Tiro (Italy), January 1998, Anteprima - Steyr Mannlicher Scout calibro .308 Winchester - L'Esploratore, p. 56
*Law Enforcement Technology, January 1998, Firearms Column, The Steyr Scout Rifle, by Tom Ellis, p. 27.
*Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, February 1998, The "Scout Rifle" Arrives, by Gary Paul Johnson, p. 18
*IWM-Internationales Waffen Magazin (Swiss), January - February 1998, Der neue STEYR-SCOUT- Repetier fur (fast) alle Zwecke, p. 13
*Petersen's Rifle Shooter, February 1998, Steyr's Scout Rifle, by G. Sitton, p. 30
*Soldier of Fortune, February 1998, Steyr Scout Rifle - A Gun For All Seasons, by Peter G. Kokalis, p. 48
*Special Weapons for Military and Police (1998 Annual) - The Steyr Scout, by Chris McLoughlin, p. 10
*The Mannlicher Collector-No. 51, Cooper and Hambrusch Début The Steyr Scout, by Don L. Henry, p. 2
*INTERSEC-The Journal of International Security, March 1998, Firepower for Security, by Nick Steadman, p. 89
*ARMI Magazine (Italy), April 1998, Scout Rifle da Steyr, p. 20
*Guns & Ammo, April 1998, The Steyr Scout Breaks Out, by George Sitton, p. 52
*Safari Times Africa, April 1998, Steyr-Mannlicher introduces Jeff Cooper's "Scout Rifle" concept, p. 4
*Shooting Industry, Steyr Unveils Coop [er's Scout Rifle, April, by Cameron Hopkins, p. 44
*S.W.A.T., April, Rifle Roll-Out--Steyr Scout, by Michael Harries, p. 46
*Visier-Das Internationale Waffen-Magazin (Germany), April 1998, Vorschau, Gary Paul Johnston, p. 42
*Rifle, May 1998, It's a Scout! - Cooper's Dream Rifle, by Don L. Henry, p. 26
*CIBLES (France), June 1998, Banc d'essai--Le Fusil Steyr Scout, p. 25
*Deutsches Waffen-Journal (Germany), July, Generalist, by Wolfgang Kräusslich and Walter Schultz, p.1022
*Caliber (Germany), July 1998, Attraktive Attacke aus Austria, by Stefan Perey & Michael Fischer, p. 26
*Guns & Ammo, July 1998, The Scout Rifle: Some Principles, by Jeff Cooper, p. 74
*Metsästys ja Kalastus 7 (Finland), July 1998, M&K Esttelee-Steyr Scout, Teksti Louhisola & Kuvat Soikkanen, p. 56
*VISIER (Germany), July 1998, Auf frischer Fährte, by Siegfried Schwarz, p. 110
*Armas (Spain), August 1998 (#195 issue), Steyr Scout - Capricho Tactico, by Luis Perez de Leon, p. 10
*Gun Tests, August 1998, New Steyr Scout Rifle! An Interesting Performer, p. 22
*SA Man/Magnum (South Africa), August 1998, The Steyr Scout, by Koos Barnard, p.35
*SAM Wapenmagazine No. 94 (Netherlands), August/September 1998, Het Steyr
*Scout geweer, by Door B. J. Martens, p. 12
*Vapentidningen (Sweden), #5,Vol. 5, 1998, Jägarens nyap vapen, by Sverker Ulving, p. 38
*Våpenjournalen (Norway), #4, 1998, Steyr Scout, by Geir Wollman, p. 8
*The American Rifleman, September, 1998, The Steyr Scout Rifle Realized, by Mark A. Keffe, IV, p. 34
*AAK56 Wapenmapenmagazine (Holland), October 1998, Steyr Scout-Millennium Proof, p. 22
*Der Anblick (Austria), October 1998, Der Steyr Scout--auch ein Jagdgewehr, by Ralph Schober, p. 56
*IWM-Internationales Waffen Magazin (Swiss), October, 1998, Steyr Scout & Tactical Rifle, by Martin Schober, P. 524
*Jager Hund & Våpen (Norway), October1998, Våpen Test --Steyr Scout Rifla for alle-til alt, p. 92
*Deutsches Waffenjournal (Germany), November 1998, Flint 98-Design und besondere Leistungen (Steyr Scout awarded the Flint 98 Award for design)
*GUNS, November 1998, Scout, by Hold Bodinson, p. 38.
*St. Hubertus (Austria), November 1998, Steyr's Scout Rifle, by Roland Zeitler, p. 31
*Small Arms Review, December, 1998, Steyr Scout Factory Modifications, by Nick Steadman, p. 10
*Waffenwelt (German), Issue 15, 1998, Steyr Scout-Repetierer in .308 Winchester, p. 20
*Allt om Jakt & Vapen (Sweden), January 1999, Den lille scouten, by Eric Wallin, p. 16
*Guns & Ammo, January 1999, Afield with the Scout, by Jeff Cooper, p. 72
*Small Arms Review, January, 1999, The Steyr Scout Rifle, by Charles Q. Cutshaw, p. 23
*Small Arms Review, January, 1999, Steyr Scout Tactical Rifle, by Nick Steadman, p. 15
*American Survival Guide, February 1999, Steyr Scout Rifle, by Phil W. Johnston, p. 70
*Todo Tiro (Spain), February, 1999, Banco de pruebas: Rifle Steyr Scout. Un perfecto todo-terreno", by A. J. Lopez. p. 10
*Rifle Magazine, March-April 1999, Two Steyr Scout Rifles, by Finn Aagaard, p. 38
*Jaktmarker & Fiskevatten (Sweden), Nr.4, 1999, Mannlicher Scout - önskevapen för rörlig jakt, by Fredrik Franzén, p. 42
*Deutsches Waffen Journal (Germany), July, 1999, On Tour Mit der Scout Ri
*fle im Yukon, p. 1148
*Shooting Sports Magazine (UK), August 1999, The Steyr Mannlicher Scout Rifle, p. 22
*Shooting Times, January 2000, Shooting Steyr's Scout Bolt-Action Rifle, by Rick Jamison, p.42
*Guns Magazine, February 2000, Steyr's Scout Rifle, by Barrett Tilman, p. 70
*American Rifleman, March 2000, Big Bore Alternative: The .376 Steyr, by Scott E. Mayer
*SA Man/ Magnum (South Africa), April 2000, New .376 Steyr Blooded on Bison, by Jeff Cooper, p. 27
*Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, September 2000, New Steyr .308 Tactical Scout, by Al Paulson, p. 40
*The Tactical Edge (NTOA Journal), Fall 2000, Vol 18, No. 4,
*Countermeasures Column, Steyr Scout Tactical serves multiple needs, by Robert W. Parker, p. 78
*African Hunter, Vol 6, Number 6 (Indaba Issue or December 2000) Ingozi -The Accident Rifle, by Jim Dodd, p.20.
*The Mannlicher Collector, #62, 2000, Portable Powerhouse the .376 Steyr Scout, by Eric Ching, p. ?
*African Perspectives, Vol ? Number ?, Current African cartridges: The .376 Steyr, by Eric Ching, page I.
*List from the Steyr Scout Website www.steyrscout.org

External links

* [http://www.steyrscout.org History and details of the Steyr Scout rifle along with information on some other manufacturer's scout rifles, with pictures]
*PDFlink| [http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/mosinscoutrifle/pdf/mosinscoutrifle.pdf Using a WWII Mosin Nagant carbine as the basis for an inexpensive scout rifle] |297 KiB