The Art of the Rifle

by Jeff Cooper

Boasting aside, I am quite satisfied with the systems I have developed for the teaching of general-purpose field marksmanship. These systems have not only worked supremely well for hardened male athletes, but also for women and girls, including my own children and grandchildren. In the last couple of decades I have hunted a good deal in Africa and have made many good friends among African professional hunters. These good men continue to horrify me with tales about sportsmen who show up in the biggame fields without any sort of background, theoretical or practical, in the use of the rifle. The Art of the Rifle can correct this dismal state of affairs—if you let it. You cannot learn how to shoot by reading a book, any more than you can learn how to play tennis from a text. However, without a grasp of the text you are making life difficult for yourself and under some circumstances making life dangerous for both yourself and those around you. There is a terrible moment when the professional hunter first sees his client handle his rifle. He can see in a few minutes whether the forthcoming adventure is going to be a trial or a joy. Our good friends among the professional hunters never mention names as a matter of principle, but their campfire tales serve to balance the bloodcurdling against the hilarious. There is not much danger in big-game hunting; with such as there is, the great predominance is the danger of gunfire. You are not very likely to be squashed by a buffalo (though this indeed can happen), but if you go afield with the wrong man there is a pretty good chance that you may be shot. Not everyone, of course, is going to take to the field after big game, and very few of us experience the combination of exhilaration and heart-stopping excitement of a firefight. (You may note that I did not use the word fear. Fear is a bad word, and though we may know it, we do not talk about it nor let it influence our behavior.)

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2020

About the author

John Dean "Jeff" Cooper was recognized as the father of what is commonly known as the Modern Technique of handgun shooting, and one of the 20th century's foremost international experts on the use and history of small arms.

Cooper was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II he served in the Pacific on the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), and then was recalled to active duty for the Korean War, resigning his commission as Lieutenant Colonel in 1956. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Stanford University and, in the mid-1960s, a master's degree in history from the University of California, Riverside.

In 1976, Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute (API) in Paulden, Arizona (later the Gunsite Training Center). Cooper began teaching shotgun and rifle classes to law enforcement and military personnel as well as civilians and did on-site training for individuals and groups from around the world.

Cooper died at his home on the afternoon of Monday, September 25, 2006 at the age of 86

Reviews

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uncle Jeff is 50% hunting stories and 50% practical advice. This was recommended reading by a guide service I was looking into. I worry about their usual clientele. I hardly consider myself an expert, but this is basic stuff.

Even so, at 98 pages it was a quick read and there were a few nice tidbits I've added to my toolbox.

[Péter Csucska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone handling a rifle

Very informative, no-nonsense book, offering pragmatic instruction - with the message delivered in an entertaining fashion. Jeff Cooper is a legend - and the book lives up to the highest expectations of the reader.