[CAV]

Always worth a read. A link to the Commentaries

 

[Rich Z]

I get Guns & Ammo magazine delivered to the house, and do tend to read all the quotes made by Mr. Cooper on the back page of the magazine. Generally he is right on the money, but every once in a while he appears to go way out in right field.

Once quote I especially got rankled out was when he was talking about hunting. He claimed that every human being has an inate yearning to kill. And this yearning is the drive for hunters to hunt, a kind of quenching of the thirst kind of thing. Well, maybe I am just different, I guess. I really don't care to hunt at all, although I have absolutely no problem at all about the idea. If I needed to I certainly would. And I have a war going on with squirrels over possession of my bamboo groves, which seems to require gun play to resolve in my favor. (Maybe. The war is not over yet, and there is no clear winner.)

Anyway, I kill squirrels because I have to, not because I like to or have this overpowering desire to kill something. I like to shoot, but putting holes into paper where they are supposed to be when I pull the trigger is satisfying enough for me.

I think the real reason people like to hunt is the exercise of technology. Kind of like getting a bodacious stereo system and trying to seek out the best tune to play on it to really stretch those speakers. That sort of thing. Viewing the results of a bullet impact on a deer at 200 yards is the cumination of a lot of factors, much of which is the technology that composes the gun you are using. Are YOU good enough to make the shot, and is the gun good enough to do it's job?

Anyway, just thought I would post my thoughts on this. I just can't help but think about that one quote every time I here Jeff Cooper's name any longer.

Oh yeah, a while back I did get real tired of him plugging that Steyr Scout rifle every other paragraph he typed. But truth is, he was right about that. It IS a hell of a gun.

 

[.45 COLT]

I've always liked most of Cooper's ideas. They pretty much mirror my own opinions.

DC

 

[eli95]

There are still places in this country that subsistance hunting is done, especially Alaska, and other then on the tundra most shots are under 100yds. Most people up there live with their guns on their person or very close at hand, not only for protection but because tomorrow's dinner just might walk by. I have some friends that only come into twice a year. You should hear them talk about hunting and gun rights.

 

[Clint Boyer]

I like Cooper too.

Although, as Rich stated, he can be way out there sometimes.

But, if you come to expect his excentricities and accept them, then it just wouldn't be the same if he were more reasonable. Most Masters are a bit on the extreme side! :bow01:

 

[Guest]

Jeff's flat full of it, on most occasions.

When he publish Giant Gunsite Gossip (vol 1) he invited criticism of it, so I sent him 170 pages, using nothing but his OWN words, where he'd said the exact opposite of something that he said in GGG, at one time or another (and never has recanted a word)). For instance, in his COOPER ON HANDGUNS, he said that" a .20 gr .22 spitzer, at 2200 fps would be able to both penetrate any practicible armor, and deliver adequate stopping power, by means of hydrostatic shock."

Just leave out the armor issue, and take a look at the 223, which Jeff is so insistent about being "feeble". Well, start a 40 gr spitzer at 3600 fps, as can be done with the 223, and it will still have 2200 fps a LONG ways out there. Far beyond the range at which 99+% of INTENTIONAL, non-accidental hits occur in combat.

A 24" barreled HBAR, with 1" of flashhider. is JUST as short as is a 22" barreled M1A, with its 3" flashhider, and that 24" 223 will get a 75 gr Hornady, mag-friendly softpoint to 2800 fps, and it will still have 2200 fps left at 300 yds, and still expand in flesh at 500 yds(where it will still have 1800 fps, and 500 ft lbs. 40 grs at 2200 fps only has 400 ft lbs, and it's got 50% more momentum out there, than a 40 gr, 2200 fps slug has at the muzzle. Jeff's big on momentum, too.

When Jeff proposed making the 223 suffer the "minor caliber" scoring handicap, for IPSC rifle matches. I asked him why the .230 gr .45, at 800 fps (184 momentum-factor) was so superior to the 223's 70 grs at 3000 fps (210 momentum-factor). He just glared at me. Where would you rather have a failure to stop, at 300m, where the guy can't hit you anyway, once he's suffered a ."mere" .22 hole in his chest) or at axe swinging ranges, hmm? Either the 223 has PLENTY of stopping power, or the .45 aint jack crap. choose.