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This happened to pop up on the ytube this evening. You could call this a classic "old school" documentary on shooting. Love him or hate him, Cooper had a way with words.

That was pretty cool.
Tks, I read his column for years, never have heard him speak.
Everytime I see a shooting instructor I think of this clip. Says age restricted... what a crock.
Wow, I actually liked him there. His writing style, unfortunately, I found absolutely unbearable.
Originally Posted by LJBass
Everytime I see a shooting instructor I think of this clip. Says age restricted... what a crock.

Clint Smith ran Col. Cooper's Gunsite operation for a while. I think one of the things Clint Smith is famous for is his 60 Minutes interview in which he said "some people deserve to be shot." Liberal heads exploded over that!
Ah, the father of the modern gun fighting technique.

Never met him (though the old man had). Never much read him too much until just before and after I went through Gunsite. Met his wife, very sweet and true lady. Ate her fresh cooked, still warm brownies (apparently she is known for them), and they were amazing!

Got to see and sit in his gun room at Gunsite and tour the house. To see his home is to appreciate a defensive position.

Love or hate his writing, he was spot on with many things. He came off much better in the spoken word than he did in writing, and I doubt there are but a few here at the Campfire who would not relish a conversation with him and agree with 98% of what he said. Really appreciate much of what I've read of him in the past years. Yes, a brash Marine. Don't mean he wasn't right in so much of what he said and wrote. He was a natural teacher, and was ahead of his time. Much of what he taught back then (Orange Gunsite) is still taught today.

I had considerable training in military, LE, and from a previous LEO father and his pals. Learned a lot at Gunsite. Wanting to put the W through a course there soon. If you have the opportunity to go, quite worthwhile, and a blast.

Just a few pics of many. Simply a great (and educational) time.

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Myself, Col Cooper's amazing wife, and Mike Hughes (great instructor, who died tragically in a plane crash at Gunsite a few years later).

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The Colonel, in the room where he "held court".

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Myself, sitting in the Colonel's chair. Quite the privilege.

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Thanks for sharing your photos. I always enjoyed reading Jeff Cooper and this thread as well. Great way to start my day with my first cup of coffee.
LIKE^^^^^^^^^
very cool pictures for sure, thanks for posting them
Some cool photos and story!
I was a fan of his, and read several of his books. I followed his blog, religiously.

PS I'm almost certain that 60 Minutes did a profile of him and his ranch, also. I remember watching it when it aired, and I'm 99% sure it was 60 Minutes.
Notice that if a handgun wasn't a Colt 1911, it was an S&W K-Frame double action revolver.

Great video. Thanks for posting it.
Originally Posted by LJBass
Everytime I see a shooting instructor I think of this clip. Says age restricted... what a crock.

I always love me some Clint. Just his style.
Originally Posted by The_Real_Hawkeye
Notice that if a handgun wasn't a Colt 1911, it was an S&W K-Frame double action revolver.

Great video. Thanks for posting it.
true for the 1911 ,could have swore i saw a Colt Python being shot on that video
Originally Posted by rem shooter
Originally Posted by The_Real_Hawkeye
Notice that if a handgun wasn't a Colt 1911, it was an S&W K-Frame double action revolver.

Great video. Thanks for posting it.
true for the 1911 ,could have swore i saw a Colt Python being shot on that video
Yeah, I was driving in my car today thinking about what I said, and then I remembered seeing a Python or two. I was going to comment about it when I got back, but you beat me to it.
Originally Posted by Birdwatcher
Tks, I read his column for years, never have heard him speak.

I was lucky enough to have a phone conversation with him several times. Sold him a few guns, too.
Regret that I didn’t get to meet him in person.
First time I'd seen him instructing, seemed to be good at it without thinking he had to be a screaming drill Sargent.

I read his words from the 70's on & I too had a hard time with his style at first. But got used to him & enjoyed his works.

Thanks for the vid & the photos!!!
Thanks DaveR those photo's were great.
I pretty much learned to read on G&A mags. Later when he had coopers corner on the back page, the first thing I did when the new issue arrived was flip to the back page and read it. Col. Askins, Elmer and Jeff.
Enjoyed the Video!
I grew up reading the Colonel. His voice is just as I imagined as a kid, great to hear.
My Uncle gave me his Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times and various other gun magazines as I grew up in the mid 70's - early 80's. Made a big impact.
Thanks for posting SBTCO.

Although I like Clint and his teaching, his delivery is a little less.
Liked his articles.
I attended Gunsite in April, 1981, just a week of so after Clint Smith took over for Chuck Taylor. Taylor and Cooper had had some differences of opinion over procedures. I learned a great deal about defensive shooting and enjoyed my six days stay. I still have my orange Gunsite tee shirt but it's in my drawer. wink

Thanks for the video. Brought back memories of long ago and far away.


L.W.
Interesting side note on Gunsite....

In order to attend, must have a background check completed, and have a letter from the local Sheriff or Law Enforcement Agency attesting to the fact you have a clean record and are in "good standing". Gunsite refuses to train anyone they do not believe are 100% in the "good guy" realm.

Don't recall the actor, but he had tried to go through Gunsite in preparation for a movie in which he played the "bad guy". His application was denied. Gunsite had no interest in teaching techniques via the big screen to "bad guys".
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April, 1981. I'm on Cooper's right; a friend from Oregon on his left.

L.W.
For those that are interested an here is an archive of Jeff Cooper's Commentaries from 1993-2006.
Originally Posted by Beoceorl
For those that are interested an here is an archive of Jeff Cooper's Commentaries from 1993-2006.
I was subscribed to that when he was alive. Read every one of them. Great stuff.
Originally Posted by Beoceorl
For those that are interested an here is an archive of Jeff Cooper's Commentaries from 1993-2006.
That looks like a cool link to checkout later. Most of what I remember of Cooper was all from “Cooper’s Corner.”
Originally Posted by DaveR
Ah, the father of the modern gun fighting technique.

I think he had a lot of influence on hunting rifles as well. Took a lot longer, but the Steyr Scout was mostly his handiwork and the thinking behind it lead to rifles like the Kimber Montana, Barrett Fieldcraft, and Seekins Havak.

Light, well balanced, quick handling, highly reliable low power optics, durable synthetic stocks…It might be those rifles would exist without him ahead of them but I don’t think so.
Originally Posted by Stickfight
Originally Posted by DaveR
Ah, the father of the modern gun fighting technique.

I think he had a lot of influence on hunting rifles as well. Took a lot longer, but the Steyr Scout was mostly his handiwork and the thinking behind it lead to rifles like the Kimber Montana, Barrett Fieldcraft, and Seekins Havak.

Light, well balanced, quick handling, highly reliable low power optics, durable synthetic stocks…It might be those rifles would exist without him ahead of them but I don’t think so.
Yes, that was largely his doing .
Col. Cooper would dismiss this a a true Scout in a direct but calm manner, as the scope is misplaced & it's a bit over weight. But I 've often wondered what he would think of a dependable, quick change mag system like readily available today.
Does that eliminate the need for action access & a forward mounted scope? Partially, I think.


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Originally Posted by Jim_Conrad
Liked his articles.

Wait you can read? I just assumed your kids read the comments for you..
Originally Posted by Stickfight
Originally Posted by DaveR
Ah, the father of the modern gun fighting technique.

I think he had a lot of influence on hunting rifles as well. Took a lot longer, but the Steyr Scout was mostly his handiwork and the thinking behind it lead to rifles like the Kimber Montana, Barrett Fieldcraft, and Seekins Havak.

Light, well balanced, quick handling, highly reliable low power optics, durable synthetic stocks…It might be those rifles would exist without him ahead of them but I don’t think so.

I sold Mr Cooper a Steyr Scout in .376 Steyr caliber.
I’m shocked Steyr didn’t gift him one. 🤪
Good people.
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