'Scout' pistol?

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I don't see how revolvers are ruled out :p

A medium frame .357 revolver. Seems pretty good to me.

As I understand it, a scout rifle is a lighter and handier rifle than the primary battle rifle carried by his comrades. But it is still the same rifle.

Therefore, if you are making a 'scout' pistol, it ought to be a smaller and handier version of your usual carry gun.

Perhaps a J-frame .38 might actually fit the bill :p:p:p:p
 
Perhaps a J-frame .38 might actually fit the bill
If I understand the concept right, shouldn't it be sort of a "do all" thing?
The .38 j-frame probably isn't going to be hitting a medium target at 75 yards or taking deer anytime soon, for all practical purposes. (Okay, maybe if you have an olympic shooter, who's very good at stalking.)

Is CCW included in the list of things it should be able to do?
If you're very large, or CCW isn't in the list, the desert eagle just might actually be practical here. Probably doesn't weigh more than a .308 rifle.
Maybe the .44 mag version would be best here, for follow-up shots.
 
An all purpose pistol able to do double duty at relatively long range...I think 75 yards was even mentioned? That's going to be a tough order to fill, but my best guess would be a .357 magnum revolver with at least a 4" barrel and adjustable sights. That likely means a medium or large frame Smith and Wesson, Ruger, etc. though there are a few small frames that would work, such as the S&W Model 60 Pro.
 
I don't really think it would be useful, but I think the closest you could come (excluding pistol versions of rifles like the ar-15) would be something like a Glock 20 racegun with a 6" barrel.
 
It seems that people are answering two distinctly different questions here.

One is what would be the pistol equivalent of the scout rifle and the other is what would be the sidearm of the scout rifle concept. They are two very different questions.
 
"It seems that people are answering two distinctly different questions here.

One is what would be the pistol equivalent of the scout rifle and the other is what would be the sidearm of the scout rifle concept. They are two very different questions."

I like this thread. But I disagree somewhat with that assessment -- I think there's overlap between those questions.

I'd extend the list of characteristics of a "scout pistol" a bit, too, I think in keeping the spirit of Cooper's scout rifle concept:

- Light(ish) (at least not outrageously heavy!)
- accurate
- reliable
- easy to maintain
- uses common / conventional (thus readily available) ammunition

Arbitrarily, I'm going to suggest I'd like 9mm in such a pistol -- modern ammunition is good, and the caliber wars will always be with us, but I'd rather *carry* (not just shoot at the range) 30 or 50 rounds of 9mm than 30 or 50 rounds of .45.

So: I like the Cz-75, or the P-01 :) (Though neither one is *light* ...)

But a 9mm Glock (17, say, or 19, or 26) would fit well, too. I like a grip safety, though, so I'd also nominate an XD in 9mm.

timothy
 
JCMAG revolvers are ruled out simply because the OP specified a 'Pistol', not a handgun, revolver, or piece.
 
Did not Jeff Cooper loudly and proudly proclaim and teach that THE pistol was some iteration of the Browning designed 1911? Seems to me, that said pistol would be what he would likely pair up with his scout rifle.

Not my choice, I would go with a 45 caliber, S&W N frame with a 4" barrel.
 
Hook686, that's a language question. A great many people, including myself, consider "pistol" and "handgun" to be interchangeable, so a "revolver" is just one kind of "pistol."

Even the dictionaries don't agree--Merriam-Webster defines "pistol" as a small firearm with the chamber integral to the barrel (i.e. not a revolver) but American Heritage and Oxford just talk about a firearm for one hand.

The point is, there is no reason to rule out an entire class of weapon over semantics. The ease of using varied and specialized ammunition with a revolver might make it ideal as a "scout pistol" depending on your definition of that.
 
I don't think the need exists.If you're scouting or acting as an FO, I would think a SBR would be called for! If you are thinking about a back-up sidearm,just about any mil-spec pistol will do for that.
 
Goblin makes a good point. If the "Scout" is a forward observer/recon type, almost any mil-spec handgun will serve the purpose. In my way of thinking, the "Scout" is intended to be a person who moves with stealth. Observation is the key task. Being able to move quickly, quietly, while remaining stealthy is how the task is accomplished. The is the rifle is intended to be a semi-sniper rifle, though lighter in weight and faster into action in case the need arises for engaging multilpe targets to allow evasion and escape.

With this task in mind, I blieve that the ideal handgun for the scout will be a semi-automatic handgun with the ability to utilize a suppressor as a part of the scout's kit. Being able to remove a sentry or engage a member of a patrol with minimal sound would be invaluable, and a lot better than a knife and a prayer. Keeping with the Colonel's spirit, a .45 is appropriate. Perhaps this is the real niche for the HK SOCCOM .45...
 
If we're talking about a backup PDW for a scout, I'd recommend a FN P-90 with the shorter barrel (12-15"). Plenty of punch for short to intermediate (150 yds & less) engagements and light enough to carry with a couple of mags.

For a scout, I just don't see any advantage to carrying a non-military-standard sidearm, but I do think a .44Mag revolver would be cool. In an old gun mag article, Leroy Thompson talked about a S&W 29 w/ tiger-stripe camo finish he carried on a protection assignment in the jungle. Very impressive-looking piece.... :cool:
 
I can't believe that no one has mentioned the 9x23mm Winchester yet!

My home assembled Gov't model shoots as flat as a similar .357 Magnum revolver.

Ammunition is relatively lightweight. Seems perfect for the job.

Not that a 10mm would be a bad choice.
 
my english teacher's son (7th special forces group from Fort Bragg, 2 purple hearts and a silver star. now in Afghanistan again) carried a Glock 17 9mm and a HK USP .45ACP in addition to an MP5 and scoped rifle (he failed to say what type of rifle) when he and 27 other SF guys were sent to Columbia in the late 1980s (might have been early 1990's, cant remember without asking). CIA sent them there to hunt down some leftist gurrillas that had kidnapped a bunch of americans in Bogata. long story short, mission was a success. unfortunately, 2 soldiers were killed in action.

so if SF had him carry a Glock 9mm and HK USP for pistols, seems to me those would be the "scout pistols" that this thread is talking about. cause i'd say the son's mission to columbia definitely fits the scout moniker.
 
That new pistol the "Kriss"

controllable recoil to keep on target while trying to break contact. (even in full auto)
compact but foldable stock
can be used as a pistol
pretty decent firepower can be brought to bear
:cool:
(i use the term "pistol" loosely but I watched video of a guy controlling it one handed)

http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg96-e.htm
 
Where did you get that information?

There's an old military adage that says: "A good scout is a dead scout."

The original purpose of scouts in military use was to go far ahead of the main body of troops and find the enemy, oftentimes by walking into them. Survivability was oftentimes low, but they helped to save the main body of troops.

Col. Cooper's concept was to help to prolong the life of a scout. Modern Marine Scout/Snipers came about when US troops became much too valuable to expend in the battlefield so they became a specialist class.
 
silenced 22 pistol, anyone?

If I would pick one, I would want a semi-auto with silencer. Something that I can shoot the Aguila SSS accurately.

May be even with a latch to lock the slide in place, so I can keep it from ejecting the brass. This means that if I want, I can keep the slide cycle noise down, and rack the slide manually.
 
Scout pistol

The Scout, as in LRRP (lurp), is supposed to locate enemy emplacements, formations, bivouacs, etc. - his job is not to engage the enemy, but to report back to the main body the location of his find. LRRPs are instructed to remain unseen, unheard and unknown by the enemy. An ideal pistol for a military scout would be a silenced pistol of suitable caliber to provide close up personal protection in case he was stumbled upon by the enemy he is "scouting".
 
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