Okay, I told myself I wasn't going to reply, but since it was asked...
An excellent summary of the scout rifle concept:
http://www.gunsmokeguns.com/gssteyrscout.html
Scout Rifle Definition
By the definition of the Scout Rifle Conferences held under the auspices of Jeff Cooper the scout rifle has been defined as a general purpose rifle suitable for taking targets of up to 400 kg (880 pounds) at ranges to the limit of the shooters visibility (nominally 300 meters) that meets the following criteria:
Weight-sighted and slung:
3 kilograms (6.6 lb). This has been set as the ideal weight but the maximum has been stated as being 3.5 kg (7.7 pounds ).
Length:
1 meter (39 inches)
Barrel length:
.48 meter (19 inches)
Sighting system:
Forward and low mounted (ahead of the action opening) long eye relief telescope of between 2x and 3x. Reserve iron sights desirable but not necessary. Iron sights of the ghost ring type, without a scope, also qualify.
Action:
Magazine fed bolt action. Detachable box magazine and/or stripper clip charging is desirable but not necessary.
(A qualifier here as I don't recall the Col. ever stating that this was optional. I do however recall him stating stripper clip or box magazine for speed of reloading.)
Sling:
Fast loop-up type, i.e. Ching or CW style.
Caliber:
Nominally .308 Winchester (7.62 x 51 mm) or 7 mm - 08 Remington (7 x 51 mm), with .243 Winchester (6 x 51 mm) being considered for frail individuals or where "military" calibers are proscribed.
Built-in bipod:
Desirable but not mandatory.
Accuracy:
Should be capable of shooting into 2 minutes of angle or less (4") at 200 yards/meters (3 shot groups).
Rifles that do not meet all of these
specifications are technically not "scout rifles." Thus rifles of this general design in calibers other than those stated above are not true scout rifles but actually "pseudo-scouts."
As you can see, this is a pretty specific set of instructions. And while I'll be the first to say that I wouldn't use them for my own general purpose rifle, this is what is set forth for the "Scout Rifle".
I personally have a Marlin 336 with XS ghost ring sights and forward mounted scope. But I don't call it a scout rifle because it doesn't use .308 Win., it isn't magazine or stripper charged, and I'm not certain that it makes weight.
I have a non-matching yugo mauser that I am sportering. It will have a forward mounted scope and ghost ring sights (again, XS) but it will not be called a scout. It will remain in 8mm caliber. It will not make length as it has too long of a receiver and I will cut the barrel to 20" or 21", not 19", to make better use of the 8mm cartridge. It will not make weight, being too heavy.
I, personally, consider it disrespectful of Col. Cooper, who has put much effort into the concept of the scout rifle, to throw the term around so loosely. If others wish to do so, I'm not so uptight that I feel the need to correct them unless they ask. But it irks me, just like folks calling cartridges "bullets", magazines "clips", and semi-auto military-style rifles "machine guns".
Okay, rant off. Sorry 'bout that. I'll go take my meds now.
Barrett