I was wondering how many at the campfire enjoy Jeff Cooper's monthly contribution to shooting and the shooting fraternity?

Great reading.

Cooper is someone I respect for his knowledge, and his service to our country, but like some other great (some late great) "gun experts" Is not someone with whom I would like to share a hunting trip or a campfire.
The resident expert at this board, Dr. Howell is not included in that group. I would very much like to spend time around him.

Tracks,

I'm like you on this. I suspect he might be a difficult person to be with for long. But it is his writings I find interesting and amusing.

I like what Peter Hathaway Capstick wrote but understand he might not have been the eaiest of people to like in person.

Thanks for the response.

I look forward to reading Cooper every month. A lot of what he writes I agree with and some of it I do not. I believe that the statements that he makes are back up with personal experience.

Don't have a subscription to G&A but I read "Cooper's Corner" every month at the grocery store. Don't agree with every thing he says but I enjoy reading his stuff.

Cooper's Corner is the first thing I read when I get my Guns and Ammo. His views are always worth considering, but I don't agree with him or anyone else all of the time. I've been trying for years to follow him on the wonders of the "scout rifle", but can't seem to get as enthusiastic as him about it. I can see his logic in some areas, but in others (such as it having to be a bolt action) I just don't see it. At any rate, someone with his experience and intelligence shouldn't be taken lightly.

I imagine he's a gruff old cuss and kinda hard to like, but I look forward to his monthly column.

The guy has the experience to back up his opinions and his way with words is uncanny. Just a few sentences are enough to convey what might take other people paragraphs to say.-KT28

I met his wife and daughter a few years ago at the SOF convention (I was working at a booth trying to raise money for Refugee Relief International ) . They were very pleasant to talk to. I bought the biography his daughter wrote it is pretty good read. I was disappointed that the LTC wasn't there.

You can also read him online here: http://www.dvc.org.uk/~johnny/jeff/

I don't always agree with him but he is worth reading if for no other reason than to keep you thinking!

Jeff and I have corresponded some, and I have met and talked with him a couple of times. He's not near as gruff as he sounds in print! In fact, he's a pleasure to be around, and one of the few writers in the gun business who actually knows English. His book THE ART OF THE RIFLE cuts through a lot of the blather about actually shooting, and is written from a world of experience.

Cooper is the only reason I purchase G&A.

Give me a man who has enough grit to relate his thoughts and without straddling the fence and you have my attention. My thoughts do not always mirror his,but I am always tickled that he has the balls to speak his mind.

I'll take substance over fluff and EVERY time...................

Mule,

Thanks for the comments and the info about the book. I know I don't need another book on the "To Read" stack but I am going to get Mr. Cooper's book.

Thanks for the tip.

Big Stick,

I hadn't noticed your august status as Kahuna, 5000+ posts in 2 years.
Amazing!!

Substance over fluff--couldn't has said it better myself.

Thanks for the reply.

Mule Deer,
Interesting that you mention the point about Cooper knowing English. I just received my copy of Handloader yesterday, and in scanning the magazine, I noticed a couple of glaring mistakes (nothing you wrote). Then, this morning I bought a copy of Guns & Ammo so I could read Boddington's article on 9.3s. The second sentence in the editor's column had an equally glaring subject/verb disagreement. I looked through the magazine a found a few more mistakes.

Having worked for a magazine, I find it surprising that editors at gun magazines let so many mistakes make it to the printer. My editor was one of the most demanding people I have ever met. In fact, most of the staff was scared of her, but she let very few mistakes get through.

By the way, great story on the "Bob." Did you take the picture of the pronghorn with the grass in his horns? That's one of the best wildlife photos I've seen in a while.

Depty Norm,
You reckon they use the puter to keep them from going crazy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> up there? I wouldn't want to stir around outside in the "-degrees", so I know I would have to find me something to do inside. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I would probably end up being a total blown out drunk or something of that nature. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I could reach the end of the internet...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

7400hunter

7400Hunter,

Anything is possible. Also as I get older, and I am older, I tolerate the low degrees less and less. And I can't take antifreeze any more.

At the time I was a senior in High School I was reading Gun's and Ammo. Elmer Keith and Jeff Cooper stood out real tall. So being that Jeff's home was on my way home from work (after school) and he had just moved in the area, I thought it my christian duty to welcome Mr. Cooper to Arizona. I worked at a sandstone quarry just north of Jeff's place, a place called Drake Jct. We did a lot of blasting with dynamite and used a jack hammer to drill 20' holes. By the end of the day I would be black with oil head to toe from the jack hammer. It was in this
condition that I drove onto Jeff's property and up to his then living quarters. A mobile home. Jeff came out to met me and without a hint of what he might have thougt of the way I looked he stuck out his hand for a
shake and asked me my name. I told him, he asked me what I did for a living. I told him. He said are you hungry? I said yes. He invited me into his place and I mean man I am a complete mess. He asked me to sit down at his table, he cut his filet mignon in half and
put it on a plate in front of me. Then Jeff started asking question's about the local area. I told him what I knew.
This was the first of many trips that I took to see Mr. Cooper. He used me to experiment or test some of his
rifle hunting ranges. I was the first to go through his fun house.

This is the Jeff Cooper I know.

So he is like a Canadian, only with an accent. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

SU35,

This is a great place to be. I never had the honor to meet Mr. Cooper but I know more about what kind of man he is from people who know him first hand. Thanks for the post. Much appreciated.

Partsman, GO TO YOUR ROOM! LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

T Lee:
I guess I have to go to my room, I was taught to respect my Elders and do what they say. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Bill

Back in the 60's I had the great fortune to meet both Bill Jordon and Skeeter Skelton at a couple of LE seminars, they like you describe Col. Cooper were gracious and friendly. Grat men need not be pretentious.

I hope one day to at least share conversation over a cup of coffee at least our own Dr. Howell.

It was OK till the accent crack! LOL <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Don't ya love full auto smilies?

I do envy those that have met these great men.
I think the defining character of everyone of them is defined by our own Dr. Howell, who has said basically he is nobody special. Or something along those lines.
The ones we call great, do not consider themselves anything but mortal.
Bill

Cooper's Corner is one of the only good thinkgs left in G&A.

I don't always agree with him either, but I find I agree more than I disagree.

I think "the Art of the Rifle" is an excellent book. It's clear, and to the point. Also, it doesn't go into cartridge selection much. (Which is always a personal thing), and helps to keep the book about shooting, rather than selection.

Great story about the filet. It gives insight as to the way we SHOULD treat people.

MrMD--Glad you liked Bob. No, I didn't take the photo. It's a great one, isn't it!

Part of the reason so many gun magazines have writing mistakes is that gun editors are mostly hired for their expertise in firearms, not English. There are some very literate gun editors though. Craig Boddington has a degree in English and was one of the very best editors I ever worked for, not only because he knew what he wanted and made decisions fast, but didn't screw up copy.

Last year at SCI I was wandering the aisles, when I saw a stately-looking gentleman fondling a double rifle. He seemed familiar, then the light dawned. So I wandered over, stuck out my hand, and said something to the effect of "It's an honor to shake your hand, Col. Cooper. Thanks for all you've done for us." He responded very graciously, with genuine pleasure in response. We chatted for a moment; his wife smiled and thanked me for stopping to visit with them, and we went our ways.

I believe in the old saying: "The true measure of a person is how they treat someone who can do nothing for them."

Clearly I had nothing to offer the Colonel except my good wishes, but he treated me with grace and respect. Jeff Cooper may be gruff and irascible with some sets of the populace, but among hunters and gun cranks, he was quite pleasant and friendly.