And the beat goes on - - -
Caesar1--thanks for the references and reminders–
My copy of
To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth went astray at some point.
My memory of the listing of "Scout Rifle Characteristics" was that a lot of things were mentioned as "nice to have," but that most of 'em were secondary. The real essentials were handiness (including length and weight,) adequate power, and speed of use. EITHER a proper iron sight system, a forward mount scope, or, better still, a combination of these.
My first recollection of the SR discussion is that it almost always included some illustration of the item Jeff Cooper termed "Scout II," IIRC. A Remington 600 with a forward mount scope and a CW sling. No bipod, no clip loading, and certainly no stainless barrel.
I'd very much like to have a good, stiff-but-lightweight Clifton stock with integral bipod on a scout rifle. Maybe the major point that has stuck in my mind was Jeff's
"At the 1983 conference it was decided that a form of retractable bipod should be perfected which would not be offensive to the eye nor extrude from the stock. The Clifton system holds the most promise. . . .
My main experience with sporting rifle bipods has been with the Harris product. Very nifty for the dedicated varmint rifle, surely, but also heavy, noisy, clumsy, and constantly getting hung up on foliage. Not at all up to Jeff's specs.
Oh, yes--I did have an H&K light bipod on an HK91, and it folded (almost) out of the way.
One thing I do NOT understand is the necessity, or even desirability, of high capacity magazines in the SR. Some pretty nice pseudo scouts have been made up on the SMLE platform, which includes the ten shot mag. Riflemen the world over have appreciated the Enfield for a century. But, it originated as a BATTLE rifle, while the SR is an all around piece. Short, compact, lightweight. Adding a lengthy magazine at the balance point of such a piece impedes one of the most comfortable (non-slung) modes of carry. Please recall, with the long barrel and hand guards, the SMLE, the 1888 Mauser, and some other MILITARY rifles had a balance point rather further forward.
The SR is NOT a piece for a sustained battle. If used in an anti-personnel role, the discussion USED to be one shot, maybe two, then relocate and reload. The military or guerilla scout's main job was to look, see, return and report, NOT to engage in patched battle. MIGHT he get cornered, trapped, wounded? Sure--But he has thereby failed in his mission, and it is unlikely an extra five shots in the magazine would change the eventual outcome.
The way I understand the origin of long magazines for bolt action rifles was for aerial use in WW-I. And a balloon observer or backseater in an aeroplane really didn't have to carry his rifle very far.
I like having reserve ammo right with the rifle. The sliding-lid ammo box, just ahead of the rear sling stud, is excellent for the "shoot one, load one" practice. Come to think of it, Clifton offered this as an option on his retractable bipod stocks. (Is he still in operation? Glad you mentioned his name--I couldn't recall it before.)
I use a nine-loop butt cuff on my Savage, and it is okay but could be better. Man I know has made up two SRs for himself, and he did a beautiful job of machining clip slots into the actions. Gonna see if I can get him to modify my Savage that way, and then I'd carry one stripper clip and perhaps four separately looped cartridges on the butt cuff.
This is an interesting topic,
Morgan and others. Please accept my comments as they are intended--General discourse and respectful exchange- - Not argument, and certainly not personal reflections.
Best,
Johnny