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
METALLIC SIGHTS
It was agreed by all present that a true utility rifle should have both iron and glass sights.
[For iron sights] a square front post was favored over a bead, for a more accurate index of elevation. It should be ramped, and hooded with a conventional detachable hood so that mud can be quickly removed if present. It was not considered important that the front post be colored, but if it is the color should probably be red, rather than white which can be lost against snow, or gold which can be lost against dry grass. Since a properly mounted telescope will use that section of the barrel normally reserved for a rear open sight, a rear aperture on the receiver bridge is the best auxiliary. This rear aperture should be of the "ghost ring" configuration, with large aperture and small rim. Current accessory sights (such as the Williams) were not favored except as a second-best solution. The retractable rear aperture of the ZKK Czech action is the best arrangement. Such a rear sight may be fabricated for any of our component actions, but the cost is high for an emergency device.
Several members of the conference stated that consideration should be given to a scout rifle which has no glass sights. Whether a utility rifle should be equipped with a telescope sight is at least moot. Telescopic sights have many advantages, but we sometimes forget that they are not really necessary except for those whose eyesight is failing, especially considering that the scout rifle is not ordinarily to be used on minute targets such as squirrels and gophers. A scout rifle which is to be only sighted with an aperture should properly be equipped with a conveniently adjustable rear ring. This is not as necessary if the rifle is going to depend primarily on the glass.