WHY THE MINI-SCOUT-MOUNT ™ ?

Forward-mounted Sight Systems have been around for many years, but the "Scout" rifle concept was significantly refined by Col. Jeff Cooper.  In more recent years, Ashley Emerson has pioneered the design of affordable Scout mounts with application to many models of rifles. Most traditional sight systems are designed to help a shooter accurately place bullets on a piece of paper while firing from a rest at a gun range. However, when such target-oriented sight are taken to the field, they usually prove to be cumbersome, heavy, and slow to engage game or threats. The real merit of Scout mounted sight systems rests on how well they address the shooter's needs in the field, whether hunting game or in battle. The most distinct advantages of Scout mounted sight systems are:

SPEED... Getting your sight on the target to accurately place shot in the shortest period of time will usually be the determining factor in whether you get your game, or get yourself killed. Scout mounted systems have proved time and time again to be the fastest means of getting on target, especially under field conditions, This works because Scout mounted sight systems enable the shooter to focus their eye on the target and bring the sight into line between the two. This is faster than focusing on the sight them putting them on the target, especially if that target is moving.

PERIPHERAL VISION... Traditionally mounted scopes block out virtually all of the shooter's peripheral view, which is not a big problem when shooting a paper from a bench at the range. But when weaving your way through the brush and trying to pick out the trophy in a moving herd, or identify a threat in a dynamic environment, you need both eyes open and as much field of view you can get. Scout mounted sight systems are placed further from the shooter's eye and only obscure a small part of the field of vision.

WEIGHT... Ounce for ounce, Scout mounted sight systems are almost always lighter than traditionally mounted scopes. Long eye relief scopes (pistol and scout models) are invariably lower power, smaller and lighter than most traditional rifle scopes. Red Dot Sights are often lighter yet. The balance and handling characteristics of the rifle are usually improved by moving the weight of the sight system forward on the rifle.

SIMPLICITY... Most shooters over-scope their rifles for their intended purpose. Variable power rifle scopes are the most popular by far and are usually cranked to the highest power for the range. In the field, higher power scope settings are almost never utilized except in very open county, so they are usually set back to the lower power. Scout mounted sight systems, if magnified at all, are usually a fixed low-power and provide the greatest field of view through the sight. Low-power sights are more than adequate for proper shot placement and zero adjustment at almost any practical and/or responsible engagement distance. The simplicity of this system reduces the chances that the shooter will forget to turn down the power setting on his scope. One of the most common excuses heard among hunters for botching a shop opportunity is that they couldn't find the target in their scope because it was too close!