July 25th, 2023
7minute read
In the English language, the word legacy has multiple meanings.
When we consider the origins of modern pistolcraft, the legacy of Jeff Cooper is without peer.
Throughout his life, Jeff Cooper wore many hats with distinction.
Lt. Col. John Dean “Jeff” Cooper (U.S.M.C., ret.) is a legend in the shooting community credited with many things, including establishing the American Pistol Institute (A.P.I.). Images: Gunsite
In many ways, this was the genesis of the Modern Technique of the Pistol.
Large unobstructed targets were the order of the day along with generous time frames.
A great deal of unsighted fire was proscribed, often at unrealistic distances.
Jeff Cooper spent a lot of time training students at A.P.I. — later known as Gunsite — in Paulden, Ariz.
However, change was in the wind.
For those not familiar with it, the Modern Technique is comprised of five elements.
Today, with improvements in handgun ammunition, that point may be debated.
In addition to teaching, Lt. Col. Cooper is known for writing about firearms and refining shooting techniques.
But at one time, the .45 ACP was the undisputed king of the hill.
Competition proved sighted fire to be better than point shooting from the hip.
The flash sight picture might be described as a very fast alignment of the sights to confirm target acquisition.
Lt. Col. Cooper is also given credit by many for the concept of a general-purpose rifle that he called a “scout rifle.”
Another notable deviation over what came before had to do with getting your gun into action.
That may or may not be.
For me, his concepts remain valid to this day.
Among other things, Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper developed a list of safety rules that have served the shooting community well for several decades.
Today, every public and private school involved in firearms training uses a variation of these rules.
No doubt we will see further improvements in the years to come, in both technology and technique.
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Lt. Col. Cooper believed that mental preparedness was one of the first steps to winning a defensive encounter.
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Gunsite Academy
In the photo above, Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper is seen demonstrating how to shoot a pistol at A.P.I.
