I keep holding off on a scout rifle because I’m not sold on the idea when other set ups can be more useful.I’m not wrapped around the axle about every feature having to line up perfectly with the Cooper definition. I see it as a controlled feed bolt action .30 caliber rifle with a 5-10 round detachable magazine, iron sights and an optic option that allows relatively accurate both eyes open shooting with the expectation of hitting a man size target out to 400 yards. Around 7 lbs. with a decent sling. Hunting, self-defense, survival tool. I can’t see what other boxes could be checked.
I shoot with both eyes open on everything. Nothing really relevant in saying that just saying I do.
Cooper thought 30 cal was king. I don’t share that view. I do think for hunting a 30 cal is better but for a scout rifle it’s not just about weight of the gun it’s about recoil. I think a light recoil is desirable. I could dare say the perfect scout round is 7mm-08. It has better wind drift for some reason than a 6.5 cm or Grendel and obviously recoils less than a 308 or definitely a 30-06.
Lvpo scopes pretty much make a scout scope irrelevant though. If I’m not obsessed with grouping out of a warm or hot barrel and combat accuracy is ok, I could take my arsenal sam7sf or better yet my cmmg mutant with a red dot that will hit a torso at 425 yards pretty fast. The cmmg with a can is long but it’s light.
A scout rifle seems to hold no value over guns I own. My 78 remington sportsman in 30-06 with a 9 power scope is more than acceptable also.