Proceedings of the First Scout Rifle Conference
Held at Gunsite Ranch, Arizona, on 6, 7,
8 December 1983,
under the auspices of the Ekeiboloi
Society
OVERALL APPEARANCE
The question was raised as to whether any thought should be given to esthetics in the consideration of the ideal scout rifle. It was argued that since esthetics are subjective in nature no one can be pleased by any one answer and that, therefore, only functional perfection should be sought--on the assumption that form follows function. While we all agreed that the first consideration is efficiency, it was admitted that, if efficiency can be achieved with good looks, at least some consideration should be devoted to good looks. The man who thinks that all metal should be high gloss in finish and that any plastic stock just looks like a mistake will not be amenable to this notion. Others with possibly a more open mind may come to the conclusion that velvet and satin are as pleasing to the eye as brass and glass.
The start of the show, esthetically, was the "High Country Super-Light" fabricated by Chet Brown of California. This little gem was made up on a Remington action and, even when fitted with an enormous six-power Zeiss telescope, it weighed only a whisker over five pounds. The stock was crinkle finished in two tones of green and gray and the metallic parts were in white, except for the sight which spoiled the overall effect. (When we admired the rifle we had to ignore the appearance of the sight.) Even so the little gun drew admiring expressions from all hands. A legitimate probelm might be the recoil of a five-pound 308. It does kick. Whether it kicks "too much" depends upon the person shooting it rather than any absolute measurement. An inexperienced rifleman will doubtless find the belt of the little gun disturbing--about like, for example, the recoil of an 8.5-pound 375.
Another standout of the demonstration was the "Sakorobar Scout II". This piece was fitted with a graphite stock by McMillan, with a high-gloss finish that will be changed, but the satin black of the barrel, sight mount, and telescope formed a pleasing accompaniment to the astonishing accuracy of the little gun. This rifle weights 6.7 pounds with all accessories in place, and it will shoot straight Xs on all our field tests as long as the marksman does his part.