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videos >Scout Rifle concept
- By Pete Moore
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9
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- Last updated: 27/01/2017
Comments
Have the vast majority of rifle shooters been brainwashed, conditioned by marketing and advertising to the point where they could be ignoring arguably the greatest improvement in rifle design and functionality for generations? Before you ignore this out of hand, bear with me as this statement may be truer than you think. Since its inception the scout concept has attracted derision and ridicule, the intent of this article is to furnish the reader with enough facts to be able to form a more educated opinion.
In the 1960’s the late American shootist Col. Jeff Cooper recognised the niche of the so called ‘scout rifle’ and developed its concept. This had always been there, filled in the past by such notable rifle designs as the lever-action carbine and the Mannlicher- Schönauer. Cooper asked questions such as: “what is it for and and what is the task I need to accomplish?” Marketing ignores this in the main as its priority is to sell units; as long as we keep buying they do not concern themselves with whether the item is the optimum tool for the job.
Consider the telescopic sight, what are its advantages over metallic sights? It does not make a rifle any more accurate than before it was installed but it helps to allow it to shoot more accurately. Cooper’s concept states: “if a rifleman can see his target they should be able to hit it!” Optics do not aid in holding the rifle steady and don’t contribute to a good trigger release. The ability of a scope to magnify the sight picture is secondary to its main advantage, which is providing an aiming mark (the reticule) in the same focal plane as the target.
Open (iron) sights require three focal points; the eye needs to line up both the rear and front elements and the target. Aperture sights are slightly better in that they require only two, the front sight and the target. The advantages therefore conveyed by a scope are those of speed and precision, which become nullified by too high a magnification. This slows down the ability to ‘get on the shot’ and increases apparent tremor. I know there is a school of thought that the tremor is there anyway and it is better seen than hidden. But what is not always understood is that we shoot our bullets to a pattern no matter how well we hold. In the field, even at hunting ranges, bullet dispersal becomes more of a concern than drop!
Of course magnification can be useful, it enables the shooter to see the V-bull and therefore hit it, or the kill zone on a crow at 300 yards. However most of us can see the kill zone on a deer at ethical hunting ranges with the naked eye and if we accept the premise that magnification is a secondary advantage of the scope we encounter a problem. Why is it that high magnification variable scopes have become the norm? The scout-scope is lightweight, of intermediate eye relief (IER), mounted forward on the barrel with a magnification of between x1 to 4. This combination is designed to offer the optimum use of the true advantages of the telescopic sight.
The extended eye relief gives several attributes; unencumbered bolt manipulation, ease of carrying at the point of balance. No danger of getting scoped (hit by the eyepiece under heavy recoil) or getting ‘lost ‘; here you aim but due to the small field of view caused by high magnification lose sight of the target. Whilst the small objective lens is still useful in low-light due to the minimum magnification. The most useful ability may be that with both eyes open, (one seeing the reticule superimposed on the target, and the other providing an unlimited field of view) it cures the problem of losing sight of the target due to recoil.
The scout-rifle is often described as a general-purpose or utility rifle and indeed this is correct. Unfortunately this may lead to confusion as ‘general purpose’ can give the impression that an item performs many functions, but none of them well! The scout rifle is the opposite of a ‘specialised’ rifle, there are those who are happy using a ‘tactical’ rifle (whatever that is) for purposes out of its specialty. The person who is determined to take their Accuracy International AWP .300 Win Mag with a US Optics scope stalking places many restriction on themselves. They will force this to work in spite of themselves, after all it shoots ¼ moa on the range right? Of course it does, it was designed as a long-range platform. A general-purpose rifle is designed to do all things well apart from a very few specialised exceptions e.g. formal target disciplines and hunting some of the greater beasts.
A general- purpose rifle should be chambered for common and for that read readily available calibres. In the UK that would mean 243/308 Winchester and 223 Remington. All short action very much grab and go ammunition. There is such a thing as a ‘super-scout’ which is intended to fire a heavier calibre for heavier game, but that is approaching specialty. The 308 was chosen for several reasons; international availability, short action, intrinsic accuracy and its ability to take game of up to 400 kg with the appropriate bullet. The shooting culture appears to hold a long time obsession with cartridge design to the point where we have numerous calibres, many of which offer little if any benefit over some older favourites. It can be appreciated that half the fun is seeing what cartridge is coming out next, but things have gotten a little out of hand. Again applying the principle of ‘what is it for?’ may be useful here!
What advantages does the general purpose rifle have over our more traditional sporter-types? My personal experience is with the Steyr Scout rifle, however the Steyr does not stand alone as a few companies offer something similar if not so radical in design – with Savage, Marlin, Mossberg and Ruger being the latest with their Gunsite Scout, which is more like Cooper’s original CZ-based prototype.
But it is the Steyr I refer to in this text as it comes the closest to Cooper‘s original concept and is a very clean, ergonomic and practical design. It is often lighter, but not always, it offers the forward-mounted scope, integral bipod, 3 point ‘Ching’-sling, spare magazine storage in the butt and auxiliary (fold-down) iron sights and a bipod integral to the forend. Sensibly it also has rear scope mounting points too and Steyr also offer optional 10-shot magazines, which adds to its versatility. However the rifle is more than the sum of its parts, as the overall attribute of the build is and I have to quote Cooper here as I can find no better word: “friendliness!”
Meaning there is nothing awkward about it, everything seems to help you in whatever you are doing, whether it is carrying it over long distances or shooting off-hand, and vitally for the hunter/stalker, quick assumption of position. Is it perfect? No, the chamber opening could be bigger as feeding from the top is fiddly and it has never been offered in a left-hand version. On my personal rifle I have moved the rear sling attachment point to the right side as I found it fouled the mount in off-hand shooting. I have also changed the optic from the original Leupold x2.3 scout scope to a forward-mounted Nikon Monarch x2.5-8 IER. I tend to use it as Cooper intended; down at minimum magnification. However, I’m not knocking the ability to wind it up to its x8 maximum magnification! Mainly for range work but there are times in the field when a bit more mag can be of use too!
The scout concept is part methodology and part philosophy, (The Art of the Rifle) incorporating rifle design, shooting technique and gun-handling. Its four rules of gunhandling should be heeded by all who shoot and are especially useful to those of us who use firearms in the field.
ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER
ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY.
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER
UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET.
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET, AND WHAT IS BEHIND IT.
The intent of this article has not been to advertise the Steyr Scout rifle or any of the other scout designs, or encourage anyone to drop everything and go out and buy one. However if you run into someone with a short little rifle with a funny looking scope, give them the benefit of the doubt! Contact: Sportsman Gun Centre, 01392 354854
I used to own a Steyr Scout in 243 Winchester and picked that calibre because I thought a 308 Win would be too kicky. As it turned out it was not, but I did some good work with mine and it served me well for 6-years. Matt’s article got me thinking and I have asked the Steyr Mannlicher importers’ – Sportsman Gun Centre to borrow a 308 as I have not looked at one in some time.
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
Comments
Have the vast majority of rifle shooters been brainwashed, conditioned by marketing and advertising to the point where they could be ignoring arguably the greatest improvement in rifle design and functionality for generations? Before you ignore this out of hand, bear with me as this statement may be truer than you think. Since its inception the scout concept has attracted derision and ridicule, the intent of this article is to furnish the reader with enough facts to be able to form a more educated opinion.
In the 1960’s the late American shootist Col. Jeff Cooper recognised the niche of the so called ‘scout rifle’ and developed its concept. This had always been there, filled in the past by such notable rifle designs as the lever-action carbine and the Mannlicher- Schönauer. Cooper asked questions such as: “what is it for and and what is the task I need to accomplish?” Marketing ignores this in the main as its priority is to sell units; as long as we keep buying they do not concern themselves with whether the item is the optimum tool for the job.
Consider the telescopic sight, what are its advantages over metallic sights? It does not make a rifle any more accurate than before it was installed but it helps to allow it to shoot more accurately. Cooper’s concept states: “if a rifleman can see his target they should be able to hit it!” Optics do not aid in holding the rifle steady and don’t contribute to a good trigger release. The ability of a scope to magnify the sight picture is secondary to its main advantage, which is providing an aiming mark (the reticule) in the same focal plane as the target.
Open (iron) sights require three focal points; the eye needs to line up both the rear and front elements and the target. Aperture sights are slightly better in that they require only two, the front sight and the target. The advantages therefore conveyed by a scope are those of speed and precision, which become nullified by too high a magnification. This slows down the ability to ‘get on the shot’ and increases apparent tremor. I know there is a school of thought that the tremor is there anyway and it is better seen than hidden. But what is not always understood is that we shoot our bullets to a pattern no matter how well we hold. In the field, even at hunting ranges, bullet dispersal becomes more of a concern than drop!
Of course magnification can be useful, it enables the shooter to see the V-bull and therefore hit it, or the kill zone on a crow at 300 yards. However most of us can see the kill zone on a deer at ethical hunting ranges with the naked eye and if we accept the premise that magnification is a secondary advantage of the scope we encounter a problem. Why is it that high magnification variable scopes have become the norm? The scout-scope is lightweight, of intermediate eye relief (IER), mounted forward on the barrel with a magnification of between x1 to 4. This combination is designed to offer the optimum use of the true advantages of the telescopic sight.
The extended eye relief gives several attributes; unencumbered bolt manipulation, ease of carrying at the point of balance. No danger of getting scoped (hit by the eyepiece under heavy recoil) or getting ‘lost ‘; here you aim but due to the small field of view caused by high magnification lose sight of the target. Whilst the small objective lens is still useful in low-light due to the minimum magnification. The most useful ability may be that with both eyes open, (one seeing the reticule superimposed on the target, and the other providing an unlimited field of view) it cures the problem of losing sight of the target due to recoil.
The scout-rifle is often described as a general-purpose or utility rifle and indeed this is correct. Unfortunately this may lead to confusion as ‘general purpose’ can give the impression that an item performs many functions, but none of them well! The scout rifle is the opposite of a ‘specialised’ rifle, there are those who are happy using a ‘tactical’ rifle (whatever that is) for purposes out of its specialty. The person who is determined to take their Accuracy International AWP .300 Win Mag with a US Optics scope stalking places many restriction on themselves. They will force this to work in spite of themselves, after all it shoots ¼ moa on the range right? Of course it does, it was designed as a long-range platform. A general-purpose rifle is designed to do all things well apart from a very few specialised exceptions e.g. formal target disciplines and hunting some of the greater beasts.
A general- purpose rifle should be chambered for common and for that read readily available calibres. In the UK that would mean 243/308 Winchester and 223 Remington. All short action very much grab and go ammunition. There is such a thing as a ‘super-scout’ which is intended to fire a heavier calibre for heavier game, but that is approaching specialty. The 308 was chosen for several reasons; international availability, short action, intrinsic accuracy and its ability to take game of up to 400 kg with the appropriate bullet. The shooting culture appears to hold a long time obsession with cartridge design to the point where we have numerous calibres, many of which offer little if any benefit over some older favourites. It can be appreciated that half the fun is seeing what cartridge is coming out next, but things have gotten a little out of hand. Again applying the principle of ‘what is it for?’ may be useful here!
What advantages does the general purpose rifle have over our more traditional sporter-types? My personal experience is with the Steyr Scout rifle, however the Steyr does not stand alone as a few companies offer something similar if not so radical in design – with Savage, Marlin, Mossberg and Ruger being the latest with their Gunsite Scout, which is more like Cooper’s original CZ-based prototype.
But it is the Steyr I refer to in this text as it comes the closest to Cooper‘s original concept and is a very clean, ergonomic and practical design. It is often lighter, but not always, it offers the forward-mounted scope, integral bipod, 3 point ‘Ching’-sling, spare magazine storage in the butt and auxiliary (fold-down) iron sights and a bipod integral to the forend. Sensibly it also has rear scope mounting points too and Steyr also offer optional 10-shot magazines, which adds to its versatility. However the rifle is more than the sum of its parts, as the overall attribute of the build is and I have to quote Cooper here as I can find no better word: “friendliness!”
Meaning there is nothing awkward about it, everything seems to help you in whatever you are doing, whether it is carrying it over long distances or shooting off-hand, and vitally for the hunter/stalker, quick assumption of position. Is it perfect? No, the chamber opening could be bigger as feeding from the top is fiddly and it has never been offered in a left-hand version. On my personal rifle I have moved the rear sling attachment point to the right side as I found it fouled the mount in off-hand shooting. I have also changed the optic from the original Leupold x2.3 scout scope to a forward-mounted Nikon Monarch x2.5-8 IER. I tend to use it as Cooper intended; down at minimum magnification. However, I’m not knocking the ability to wind it up to its x8 maximum magnification! Mainly for range work but there are times in the field when a bit more mag can be of use too!
The scout concept is part methodology and part philosophy, (The Art of the Rifle) incorporating rifle design, shooting technique and gun-handling. Its four rules of gunhandling should be heeded by all who shoot and are especially useful to those of us who use firearms in the field.
ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER
ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY.
KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER
UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET.
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET, AND WHAT IS BEHIND IT.
The intent of this article has not been to advertise the Steyr Scout rifle or any of the other scout designs, or encourage anyone to drop everything and go out and buy one. However if you run into someone with a short little rifle with a funny looking scope, give them the benefit of the doubt! Contact: Sportsman Gun Centre, 01392 354854
I used to own a Steyr Scout in 243 Winchester and picked that calibre because I thought a 308 Win would be too kicky. As it turned out it was not, but I did some good work with mine and it served me well for 6-years. Matt’s article got me thinking and I have asked the Steyr Mannlicher importers’ – Sportsman Gun Centre to borrow a 308 as I have not looked at one in some time.
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
