Are there only choices?

[jakfrost]

Since my BNIB Steyr Scout ( black .308 ) in on its way to my mail box I've been looking around for 'suitable' optics, i.e. a 'scout' mounted optic.

It seems there are only 2 'dedicated scout' EER scopes to choose from, the Leupold 2.5 and the Burris 2.75, and lots of discussion over the merits of either.

Keeping all the possible pistol glass out of the mix, anyone have experience with, or thoughts on, using an 'aimpoint' style sighting device? I assume the eye relief would be there, the weight should be fairly low, and with the theory of 'quick target acquisition' being their reason for being...wouldn't something like that be a natural for the Steyr?

The rifle comes ready to mount an optic pretty much anywhere...

Jim

 

[plainSight Solutions]

I have a Steyr Elite, which is very similar save it has an adjustable cheek rest and a longer rail. I have experimented by mounting the following and checked eye-relief, check-weld, off-hand shooting positional comfort, etc:

Minox 1.5-8x32 with a versa plex reticle
Swarovski 3-9x36 plex
Swarovski Z4i 1.25-4x24 with a cd reticle
Swarovski Z6i 1-6x24 extended eye relief with the cd reticle
Schmidt Bender Short Dot 1.-4x
Trijicon ACOG TA11E
Elcan SpecterDR 1.5x-6x with 7.62 reticle

For the money ($399), the Minox 1.5-8x32 was pretty decent. Next, the Swaro 3-9x36 offered outstanding glass and a practical mag range for hunting, at an excellent price ($825).

If money is not an issue, then (for me) it would come down to the Elcan or the Swaro Z6i extended eye relief.

The Swaro with the extended eye relief and illuminated reticle was by far the most comfortable scope to throw up - target acquisition is very fast and easy. The Elcan, on the other hand, has a lot to offer with the snap-zoom, the ballistic reticle, and the illumination options which allow the Elcan to be run as a red dot style scope (as would the Z4i or S&B Short Dot) or an illuminated velocity reticle.

There's my $0.25 on the matter.

 

[jakfrost]

WoW, great feedback. Thanks, I think...now you have me drooling over the Elcan . Nice gear, but does it have EER? From the specs it looks like a rear mount. Not a problem, but I was thinking a forward ( scout ) mounting would be more in keeping with Mr. Cooper's original ideal. So that case it would be the Swaro since you indicated it came with the 'extended eye relief', plus, it seems like a $$ bargain compared to the Elcan.

Edit: just did a quick search for the Swaro with the extended eye relief, not much difference in $$ from the Elcan...surprise!

Which mounting system were you using for the Swaro? A.R.M.S.?

Jim