Scout Rifle For Hunting

I've built several pseudo-Scouts over the years, beginning in the '80's and flailed away at the concept until the early part of this decade. I constructed fairly effective scout-ish examples in 6.5x55 (M96), .308 (Brazilian and Israeli Mausers) and in .30-06 (1903 Springfield). None of them were true customs and none of them were completely true to Coopers vision, and (most significantly) none of them made weight.

2 and a bit years ago I finally caved and had Irungunz bring me in a Steyr in mud brown and I've seen the light so to speak. It made weight (at least with the Burris Scout scope that I initially mounted for about 8 seconds) and has the absolute best out of the box trigger of any rifle I've owned, and is without doubt the most accurate factory rifle I've owned with the exception of a Ruger MkII V/T .25-06 from a few years back.

Due to some serious eye surgeries back in '09 the LER optic does not work for me - I can shoot it OK but not quickly - so I mounted a Leupold VX-3i 1.5-5 and have never looked back. The conventionally mounted optic works great for me, although the vertical stadia of the reticle has a slight curve to it. I'll make up a second identical rifle shortly because... redundancy.

Having said all that, if I ever come across a Ruger Frontier in .358 like the example that hoytcannon mentioned above, well then I guess I'll be selling a kidney.

If you get the chance, grab a copy of Richard mann's "The Scout Rifel Study" - it's an eye opener and a great look at the scout rifle from A to Z...

Anybody in the market for a mounted once but never used Burris 2.75x scout scope???
 
mark k said:
I chopped and Scout scoped a Swede M96 in the 90’s. I found it easy to hit stuff fast. Particularly moving targets. I believe there is merit to the concept. I currently have a .30-06 1903 Springfield pseudo Scout. It’s about 7oz overweight and 2” too long. It still feels good in the hands.
Click to expand...

I think that was part of the merit of the design for sure, quick moving close targets, deer crossing the trail at almost a dead run. Perhaps hunting has changed that much where that need is just a niche. Regardless, I still want to have a scout build in the safe, not sure if Id ever use it though.
 
I put this together last spring have yet to hunt anything with it. I think I will try it out on coyotes this winter.
xFLRyEr.jpg
 
I hunt with the mossberg scout rifle (.308) well built, very handy in thicker bush. Mine has a UTG 1x4x28 scope, no complaints here.
 
I have a pre 64 model 94 with a red dot mounted forward for the top eject. Red dot works for both eyes open shooting but I don’t know if I would like a scope much as I like the idea of a scout rifle. My setup works for short range hunting in rifle season I can rarely see more than 75 yards.
 
scott_r said:
I tried the scout scope thing, hated it and went with very low power in the standard configuration on my Savage scout .308 instead.
Click to expand...

There's a pretty good chance that sort of set-up is capable of handling most of what folks do with a rifle short of long range precision matches and bench-rest. That's mostly what you see at Randy Cain's Practical Rifle courses, shorter bolt guns with conventionally mounted LPV or fixed optics in short action calibers like .308/.260/.243/7-08...
 
mudgunner49 said:
I've built several pseudo-Scouts over the years, beginning in the '80's and flailed away at the concept until the early part of this decade. I constructed fairly effective scout-ish examples in 6.5x55 (M96), .308 (Brazilian and Israeli Mausers) and in .30-06 (1903 Springfield). None of them were true customs and none of them were completely true to Coopers vision, and (most significantly) none of them made weight.

2 and a bit years ago I finally caved and had Irungunz bring me in a Steyr in mud brown and I've seen the light so to speak. It made weight (at least with the Burris Scout scope that I initially mounted for about 8 seconds) and has the absolute best out of the box trigger of any rifle I've owned, and is without doubt the most accurate factory rifle I've owned with the exception of a Ruger MkII V/T .25-06 from a few years back.

Due to some serious eye surgeries back in '09 the LER optic does not work for me - I can shoot it OK but not quickly - so I mounted a Leupold VX-3i 1.5-5 and have never looked back. The conventionally mounted optic works great for me, although the vertical stadia of the reticle has a slight curve to it. I'll make up a second identical rifle shortly because... redundancy.

Having said all that, if I ever come across a Ruger Frontier in .358 like the example that hoytcannon mentioned above, well then I guess I'll be selling a kidney.

If you get the chance, grab a copy of Richard mann's "The Scout Rifel Study" - it's an eye opener and a great look at the scout rifle from A to Z...

Anybody in the market for a mounted once but never used Burris 2.75x scout scope???
Click to expand...

I very well may be, in a few weeks.
 
I love the concept of a light handy bolt gun (I have a mossy MVP) but I tried a LER scope and wasn't really a fan. I think it's a dated concept that had a place before modern red dot optics - now that we have red dots and low power variables I think the LER concept doesn't have much to offer. Of course, that does account for personal taste and 'just because'.
 
I tried a scout scope long enough to decide that I can use one, it works well, but it's not really for me.

Mine wears a SWFA 1-4 Illuminated scope which is one the the best compact type scopes I've tried. It has a good field of view, and an illuminated diamond dot center of the reticle. You can use it in a similar manner as a standard red dot sight or for shooting a little further out you just use it like a regular scope. It's easy to use with both eyes open like a scout scope if you prefer.


41427759_2217650535182546_2635188132332437504_o.jpg
 
Tried it one year at hunt camp. Just could not acquire the image fast enough. All I saw was black and then it would appear. Maybe that is me but could not risk it.

Love the scout guns but not scout scopes.
 
Gatehouse said:
I tried a scout scope long enough to decide that I can use one, it works well, but it's not really for me.

Mine wears a SWFA 1-4 Illuminated scope which is one the the best compact type scopes I've tried. It has a good field of view, and an illuminated diamond dot center of the reticle. You can use it in a similar manner as a standard red dot sight or for shooting a little further out you just use it like a regular scope. It's easy to use with both eyes open like a scout scope if you prefer.


41427759_2217650535182546_2635188132332437504_o.jpg
Click to expand...

Great setup. Where did you get the SWFA?
 
Ordered it from SWFA

They have a big sale on, not sure if they are shipping to Canada anymore, I recall someone on CGN saying they weren't. But that's just the internet.

Here is the reticle

ss14x24ir-r.jpg
 
Gatehouse said:
Ordered it from SWFA

They have a big sale on, not sure if they are shipping to Canada anymore, I recall someone on CGN saying they weren't. But that's just the internet.

Here is the reticle

ss14x24ir-r.jpg
Click to expand...

The scope is in the right spot on your receiver, but that reticle has way too much distraction in 'er for fast shootin' on game or moving targets for me. I prefer the post/crosshair type meself. I use a Bushnell Holo Sight on my 870 trap gun though as it works so well for me.

WEAVER K4.jpg
 

Attachments

  • WEAVER K4.jpg
    WEAVER K4.jpg
    75.3 KB · Views: 259
nowarningshot said:
Friend has a Ruger Scout 308. Always surprised at how loud losing 6" of barrel makes it.
Click to expand...

Odd, i found the GSR i had 18" to be rather pleasant to shoot in that regard. If it was the 16", the brake on the end really is a loudener... swapping that out makes a big difference.

I hunt with a 16" 5.56 Ruger American Ranch regularly and i don't find that loud either.
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
The scope is in the right spot on your receiver, but that reticle has way too much distraction in 'er for fast shootin' on game or moving targets for me. I prefer the post/crosshair type meself. I use a Bushnell Holo Sight on my 870 trap gun though as it works so well for me.

View attachment 328651
Click to expand...
Im a die hard German post reticle fan but the red dot diamond is easier and faster to pick up. Low light there is no comparison. The extra bits of that reticle blend into the background and aren’t distracting as you’d think, you’d never see them in the heat of the moment
 
Last edited:
SHELL SHUCKER said:
The scope is in the right spot on your receiver, but that reticle has way too much distraction in 'er for fast shootin' on game or moving targets for me. I prefer the post/crosshair type meself. I use a Bushnell Holo Sight on my 870 trap gun though as it works so well for me.

View attachment 328651
Click to expand...


If you ever get a chance to try one out, do so. You will find it is very fast. And if you want to make precise hits at longer range, it will do that too. The diamond is all you need from 0-300 for shooting at game though.

I will say that I prefer a standard type reticle for working up loads, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom