Willie Sutton
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- Apr 28, 2013
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As many know, the concept of a Scout Rifle by name and formal definition began taking place in the late 1970's and early 1980's at Gunsite, as run by Colonel Jeff Cooper. Rather than do a "top down" decree, Colonel Cooper invited a group of people to participate in a series of Scout Rifle Conferences, at which (among good fellowship, strong drink, and evening declaimations) the concept and actual hardware was discussed, analyzed, a proceeding statement was written, and the participants went forth, built rifles, and then came back to another conference. The rifles, of a variety of patterns, were shot side-by-side against the clock for score, and their strengths & weaknesses discovered. Over time this process distilled down what was good from what was not as good, and the final concept was laid down and defined.
The working synopsis of the mission was agreed on and published as follows:
"a general-purpose rifle is a conveniently portable, individually operated firearm, capable of striking a single decisive blow, on a live target of up to 200 kilos in weight, at any distance at which the operator can shoot with the precision necessary to place a shot in a vital area of the target."
The working definition was agreed on and published as follows:
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.
Action: Magazine fed bolt action.
Sling: Fast loop-up type, i.e. Ching or CW style.
Caliber: Nominally .308 Winchester (7.62 x 51 mm).
Accuracy: Should be capable of shooting into 2 minutes of angle or less at 200 yards/meters (3 shot groups).
The original set of rifles built were generally built on Remington 600 and 660 actions, which at the time were the most suitable off the shelf designs available. Other actions studied were those of CZ (which were impossible to import at the time), Krag Jorgensen (loved due to being able to be topped off while the bolt was closed), Springfield 03 (studied for it's magazine disconnector that allows it to be used as a single shot until flipped, at which point the reserve magazine is available), as well as a few others. But in the end, the Remington 600/660 series was the go-to rifle for building up the first prototypes.
The rifle I show is one of the first beta-test Scouts put together at Gunsite in the early 1980's. It's a 660 Mohawk, stocked in synthetic, with Burris IER scope, Williams aperature rear backup sight, three sling swivels for Ching Sling, and that's about it. It is shown on a digital scale to prove weight. It shoots into about an inch and a half with military ball ammo and into about 7/8 of an inch with handloads. It's one of the very first true Scouts, and is both a practical rifle and a small piece of history.
I have also a further development, the Lion Scout, in my collection that I will show later. It's a Remington Model 7 in .350 Rem Mag that I had built at the Smithy, which has some refinements that were defined and then tried after a subsequent Scout Rifle Conference. I've also got two of Eric Chings personal rifles bought from him just before his death, his .458 Winchester, set up by Ken Brockman as an African heavy rifle, and a CZ in 9.3x62, also set up by Brockman as an African medium rifle. One rifle at a time, guys....
Willie's comments: "Scout Rifles" have become popular, and the design has been perverted by some for the sake of commercial sales. Example: The current Ruger "Gunsite Scout Rifle". Regarding it's name, the "Ruger" part is truth in advertising, but the rest isn't. It isn't a Scout, doesn't make weight, has features not appropriate to a pure Scout, and would not be recognized as a Scout by any of the old hands at Orange Gunsite. I am certain that Colonel Jeff would never have permitted the Gunsite name to be attached to it. This is not to denigrate a fine tacti-cool commercial success in the marketplace, but... it's not a Scout Rifle. The following photos are of the real thing: Designed at Gunsite. Built at Gunsite, Tested at Gunsite by Colonel Cooper and many others, and now safely in my safe, where it's often the go-to rifle taken out for a day of shooting. It's DNA is pure, and it's projectiles shoot true. It's a privilege to posess it. When I pass it will be returned to The Sconce, from whence it came.
Willie
.
The working synopsis of the mission was agreed on and published as follows:
"a general-purpose rifle is a conveniently portable, individually operated firearm, capable of striking a single decisive blow, on a live target of up to 200 kilos in weight, at any distance at which the operator can shoot with the precision necessary to place a shot in a vital area of the target."
The working definition was agreed on and published as follows:
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.
Action: Magazine fed bolt action.
Sling: Fast loop-up type, i.e. Ching or CW style.
Caliber: Nominally .308 Winchester (7.62 x 51 mm).
Accuracy: Should be capable of shooting into 2 minutes of angle or less at 200 yards/meters (3 shot groups).
The original set of rifles built were generally built on Remington 600 and 660 actions, which at the time were the most suitable off the shelf designs available. Other actions studied were those of CZ (which were impossible to import at the time), Krag Jorgensen (loved due to being able to be topped off while the bolt was closed), Springfield 03 (studied for it's magazine disconnector that allows it to be used as a single shot until flipped, at which point the reserve magazine is available), as well as a few others. But in the end, the Remington 600/660 series was the go-to rifle for building up the first prototypes.
The rifle I show is one of the first beta-test Scouts put together at Gunsite in the early 1980's. It's a 660 Mohawk, stocked in synthetic, with Burris IER scope, Williams aperature rear backup sight, three sling swivels for Ching Sling, and that's about it. It is shown on a digital scale to prove weight. It shoots into about an inch and a half with military ball ammo and into about 7/8 of an inch with handloads. It's one of the very first true Scouts, and is both a practical rifle and a small piece of history.
I have also a further development, the Lion Scout, in my collection that I will show later. It's a Remington Model 7 in .350 Rem Mag that I had built at the Smithy, which has some refinements that were defined and then tried after a subsequent Scout Rifle Conference. I've also got two of Eric Chings personal rifles bought from him just before his death, his .458 Winchester, set up by Ken Brockman as an African heavy rifle, and a CZ in 9.3x62, also set up by Brockman as an African medium rifle. One rifle at a time, guys....
Willie's comments: "Scout Rifles" have become popular, and the design has been perverted by some for the sake of commercial sales. Example: The current Ruger "Gunsite Scout Rifle". Regarding it's name, the "Ruger" part is truth in advertising, but the rest isn't. It isn't a Scout, doesn't make weight, has features not appropriate to a pure Scout, and would not be recognized as a Scout by any of the old hands at Orange Gunsite. I am certain that Colonel Jeff would never have permitted the Gunsite name to be attached to it. This is not to denigrate a fine tacti-cool commercial success in the marketplace, but... it's not a Scout Rifle. The following photos are of the real thing: Designed at Gunsite. Built at Gunsite, Tested at Gunsite by Colonel Cooper and many others, and now safely in my safe, where it's often the go-to rifle taken out for a day of shooting. It's DNA is pure, and it's projectiles shoot true. It's a privilege to posess it. When I pass it will be returned to The Sconce, from whence it came.
Willie
.
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