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
GLASS SIGHTS
It was agreed by all present that a true utility rifle should have both iron and glass sights.
The problem of scoping a scout rifle is difficult. This is due to the discovery that the long eye-relief telescope is an essential part of the concept. A proper scout telescope should place its ocular lens directly flush with the rear of the receiver ring, leaving the action clear for single-loading under pressure. In this position the telescope not only facilitates the proper handling of the weapon but it obscures a far smaller amount of the countryside in front of the shooter, allowing him to pick up targets with great speed as well as precision. The difficulty is that the manufacturers of telescope sights do not seem to be aware of this, and finding a good sight is difficult. At one time the Leupold M8-2X was produced with an optimum eye relief of 10 inches, making it eminently suited for scout use. Since the majority of these sights were designed for pistols, it was found that 10 inches was too little and the relief was extended to 14 inches, making it effectively unsuitable for rifle use. Various people have fitted a 14-inch relief glass to rifles by mounting it well ahead on the barrel, but this is made fragile by the slender contour of the scout barrel. At the present time the Burris "intermediate-eye-relief" 3X glass may be mounted correctly and used well for most circumstances. Its minimum eye relief of 11 inches, however, makes it difficult to use from the prone position when the head is slid forward along the comb. The Burris glass will do, though it is not perfect. The Leupold glass is better, but it is no longer available. It is possible that if enough pressure is brought to bear upon the manufacturers of optical instruments, a regular accessory to telescope sights will be a device for altering eye relief. We hope it will go on the front of the tube rather than on the rear, because the positioning of the rear lens is critical.
A proper mount for a scout telescope places the rear lens just forward of the feedway. It should carry the glass so low that it is just possible to get a piece of cardboard between the rear bell and the receiver ring. By choice it should lock onto a vertical lug holding the entire assembly against recoil in compression. It should grip the telescope tube solidly, fore-and-aft, against blows and bending.
The conference agreed that a cross-hair remains the best and most useful reticle for a telescope sight. The "Duplex" system, which gives a broad wire at the outside, narrowing to the center, was discussed, and Ken Howell pointed out that a system of twisting of the wire to make it narrower reduces strength. Whether any precision is gained by narrowing the intersection of the crosswires is moot. Coarse cross-hairs, subtending about two minutes, have the advantage of being both sturdy and fast. Those who feel that some precision is lost may not favor them, but it would be better to try this out on paper before jumping to a conclusion. If a duplex reticle is used some thought should be given to making the blunt wires terminate in rectangles rather than in pickets, especially the bottom vertical post, in order to provide an additional aiming index at long range. The translucent amber pyramid used by the Germans in World War I has much to recommend it, but it has not been seen for so long that almost no one has any experience with it. Sight manufacturers should give it some thought.
The adjustable secondary horizontal wire used in the Leatherwood system was discussed, but no conclusions were reached.
(Aimpoints, Quickpoints, and lasers were not addressed by this conference and shall be taken up at a later occasion.)
Some telescope sights may be had with a black satin finish. Most cannot. Paint is a poor solution, but it is better than high-gloss black.