building a TRUE scout rifle

It's been a thought of mine for quite some time that a scout rifle could quite possibly be one of the most useful firearms around. I've wanted one for some time but nothing out there seems to fit the description of a TRUE scout rifle. In my opinion, these rifles should be the way Jeff Cooper intended.

Cooper's requirements are:
1. 8 lbs max
2. 39.5 inches or less
3. forward mounted scope
4. ching sling
5. at least 2 MOA accuracy (This isn't a big deal. Let's face it. Just about every modern rifle can accomplish this.)
6. secondary iron sights

There seems to be only 3 factory offerings for this that even get close. They are the Savage Scout, Styer Scout, and Ruger Gunsite Scout. The Ruger is probably the most impressive but still not exactly what I'm looking for. The Styer is nice but who the Hell wants to pay that for a factory rifle that won't shoot any more true than one that cost half as much. The Savage isn't bad but that thing is ugly as home-made sin. I'm normally a fan of Savage rifles but that thing is rough.

In addition to Copper's requirements, I'd like to add a few of my own. It must NOT accept a detachable mag. What's the point in moving the scope forward for access to the top of the action if you're just going to use mags? I'd like to be able to top load one round at a time as opposed to dropping the mag, loading it, and putting in back in the rifle. Fumbling around with an empty mag could cost precious time. I'd also like for all optics (iron sights included) to be mounted via picatiny rails. Flip up sights intended for an AR-15 and a scope that sits in a quick detach mount would be awesome. I'd also like the barrel length to be 18". This will allow for enough accuracy and it would be a little more maneuverable. I'd also prefer for everything to be built on a Rem 700 action. That's not a deal breaker though. Ohh yea. It MUST be a 308 Win.

I'm I too far off the reservation here? Is there anybody that makes a chassis system with picatiny rails yet still allows access to the action from above? How about a competent machinist who may be able to make one? Is there any good way to mount a scout rail to a 700 and have a flip up sight on the front? Any advise or critique of my requirements would be great. Thanks.

Interesting. I hadn't considered the limitations of a forward mounted scope in less than optimal lighting. I wonder if most of that could be overcome by holographic sight and a magnifier or something like a Trijicon Tri Power.