The AR platform is a suppirior fighting rifle to any bolt action type when chambered in 6.8 or 6.5
I wouldn't quibble if you gave it to me in 5.56. Neither would Pat Rogers or Tim Lau, both former Gunsite instructors.
True, using today's gear, but todays' gear didn't exist in 86, or was scarce as hen's teeth. A Daniel Defense/LMT with an Aimpoint and 77gr SMK's is a fight stopper, because you can quickly get effective, fatal hits at those engagement ranges. An iron sited A1 loaded 55gr would not have been my choice but it certainly would have evened the odds. I still have to wonder if anything short of a 308 TAP would have taken the fight out of Platt, that's why the Scout stays on my list.
JWP, Cooper begrudgingly accepted the Glock as a proper fighting pistol, he saw it as having no "soul" in comparison to the 1911, the gun he carried in two wars. He never accepted the 9mm as a proper defensive round, to my knowledge. But lots of his former instructors did and carry 9mm Glocks every day. I'm certain you realize that the 9mm ammo in Coopers' heyday doesn't compare to what we have today.
