Once you hear the time period “falling block,” what do you consider? I consider the Sharps Rifle from Quigley Down Beneath. An incredible large rifle that throws an enormous projectile over lengthy ranges. I wager you image one thing comparable. What you possible don’t image is the Stevens Little Scout. The Little Scout is a rimfire .22 LR rifle that offers you a micro-sized falling block design.
Falling block designs had been extremely strong and able to firing huge, heavy-duty cartridges. Making one in .22 LR appears foolish, however I can see why Stevens did so. The Western motif was distinguished within the early twentieth century. Tales of frontiersmen, cowboys, and adventurers occupied novels, motion pictures, and extra.
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Stevens produced the Little Scout from 1906 to 1941, the heyday of the frontiersman and cowboy in common tradition. The Little Scout was excellent for the enterprising boy seeking to play cowboy. The usage of .22 LR saved issues low-cost and extensively obtainable. Numerous squirrels, rabbits, and different small sport creatures had been possible faraway from their mortal coil on account of a Little Scout.
The Little Scout Design
Stevens produced two Little Scout rifles: the usual Mannequin 14 with the slab inventory, after which the extra widespread 14.5 mannequin with a forearm. The Little Scout was marketed by means of magazines like American Boy and fell right into a class of firearms often known as “Boy’s Rifles.” Boy’s Rifles are sometimes reasonably priced, single-shot rimfire firearms.
The Little Scout makes use of a falling block motion the place the breech block falls downward for extraction and loading. The block comes again up once you’re prepared to fireplace. The hammer is then cocked and drops when the set off is pulled. It is a strong system that’s well-proven and simple to make use of. It’s harder than a rolling block, although, with .22 LR, that energy didn’t actually matter.
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Most Little Scouts are .22 LR fashions, however Stevens produced a number of others. The sooner weapons had been stamped .22 Lengthy and solely chambered .22 Lengthy. Stevens additionally produced gallery gun fashions for indoor ranges and carnival video games that used .22 Brief solely. There was even a “backyard gun” variant with a smoothbore that fired ratshot-like cartridges.
Fashionable .22 LR masses in the present day are a bit hotter than the a great deal of yesteryear. I’d counsel utilizing low-cost, fundamental .22 LR masses. Sizzling masses just like the CCI Velocitor or Mini-Magnums are a no-go for me. They could work positive, however I’m not risking one of many coolest rifles in my assortment to shoot ammo that’s a hair hotter.
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The Little Scouts got here with both 18-inch or 20-inch barrels; the 14.5 fashions had the 20-inch barrels. The 14.5 is a take-down gun that makes it straightforward to retailer. It’s nothing greater than a thumb screw that separates the barrel from the receiver.
Capturing the Little Scout
Capturing the Little Scout is a ton of enjoyable. Single-shot rifles are hardly ever all that fascinating, however the Little Scout retains me coming again. The falling block motion permits me to faux I’m Quigley Down Beneath, however with a .22 as an alternative of these huge .45-110 cartridges.
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The Little Scout has tiny sights, however they work. The positive dimension makes it straightforward to see small targets. If I had been a ten-year-old within the Thirties, I might simply have put meals on the desk by taking headshots at rabbits and tree rats. My rimfire dueling tree offers me ultra-small targets to take intention at, and at 25 yards, I can work my approach down the tree, constantly hitting the little metallic gongs.
I would must take just a few additional pictures on the smaller targets, however I can nonetheless hit them pretty simply. The Little Scout is an correct little gun. Quigley put six rounds in a newspaper commercial at 900 yards; I can put six rounds right into a enjoying card at 25 yards with ease. The set off is mild and crisp with a good bit of overtravel.
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I’m not the one one who likes this rifle; my kiddos take pleasure in it too. It’s tremendous light-weight and simple for them to deal with beneath my supervision. The falling block motion is a bit novel for contemporary shooters, so it retains issues fascinating. The hammer-fired design makes it fairly dependable, and that hammer hits onerous, so igniting rimfire primers isn’t a problem.
The Little Scout Immediately
That is an outdated gun, however it’s nonetheless a viable possibility. I wouldn’t beat it up or give it a life within the discipline, however the Little Scout is correct, dependable, and simple to shoot. The take-down design makes it tremendous useful for toting and storing. It’s ultra-lightweight and snaps collectively and comes aside with ease.
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For those who see one in all these weapons and it’s in good situation, snatch it up. You received’t remorse it.
