Looking for an All-Purpose, compact .308.

When Ruger made the "Compact Magnum" to go with the RCM calibers, they also made it in 308. Ticks off all your boxes and is slicker than the scout. It's just hard to find.
 
Ran a Mossberg MVP Scout for a while. I liked the rifle in general but it had a critical flaw where the trigger wouldn't always reset after cycling the action. Sold it shortly after running into that. Sounds like other MVP owners have run into the problem and that the warranty service for that issue was less than ideal.
 
The Steyr scout meets your criteria, but it's not a Mauser action and the pop up iron sights are hard to use. Still a very well made rifle. I really liked mine but the 10rd mags aren't very useful IMO given that it comes with a spare 5rd mag held in the stock. The 10rd mag messes up the balance, and the pencil barrel's accuracy degrades quite a bit if you try to shoot 10 rounds consecutively.

If you could find a cz550 with a 20.5 in barrel it would meet most of your criteria but might come in at just a hair over 40in OAL. The 10-rd mags are hard to find these days.
There are a few other models of cz557 aside from the range model that would work. A short action lux or any of the others with a 20.5 in iron sights barrel with the short action (SA has mag vs floor plate) would work out well too. Still not a Mauser.
 
Last edited:
The Ruger M77 Compact in .308 with it's 16 1/2 inch barrel doesn't have irons or a detachable magazine but believe me at ~ 5 3/4 pounds and overall length of 35 1/2" it is the handiest little bush rifle I have ever owned.

If you are willing to give up a little you may find it worth looking at.
 
doctor_meltdown said:
The Steyr scout meets your criteria, but it's not a Mauser action and the pop up iron sights are hard to use. Still a very well made rifle. I really liked mine but the 10rd mags aren't very useful IMO given that it comes with a spare 5rd mag held in the stock. The 10rd mag messes up the balance, and the pencil barrel's accuracy degrades quite a bit if you try to shoot 10 rounds consecutively.

If you could find a cz550 with a 20.5 in barrel it would meet most of your criteria but might come in at just a hair over 40in OAL. The 10-rd mags are hard to find these days.
There are a few other models of cz557 aside from the range model that would work. A short action lux or any of the others with a 20.5 in iron sights barrel with the short action (SA has mag vs floor plate) would work out well too. Still not a Mauser.
Click to expand...

The sights just need experience to use them well, just like picking up a steyr handgun with the triangle sights.

If you learned on weapons with these sights and then picked up a north American made rifle with traditional sights, you would have issues
 
Brian46 said:
The sights just need experience to use them well, just like picking up a steyr handgun with the triangle sights.

If you learned on weapons with these sights and then picked up a north American made rifle with traditional sights, you would have issues
Click to expand...

It's not the style of the sights that makes them hard to use but the fact that they are so low (or the comb is too high for them).
 
doctor_meltdown said:
The Steyr scout meets your criteria, but it's not a Mauser action and the pop up iron sights are hard to use. Still a very well made rifle. I really liked mine but the 10rd mags aren't very useful IMO given that it comes with a spare 5rd mag held in the stock. The 10rd mag messes up the balance, and the pencil barrel's accuracy degrades quite a bit if you try to shoot 10 rounds consecutively.

If you could find a cz550 with a 20.5 in barrel it would meet most of your criteria but might come in at just a hair over 40in OAL. The 10-rd mags are hard to find these days.
There are a few other models of cz557 aside from the range model that would work. A short action lux or any of the others with a 20.5 in iron sights barrel with the short action (SA has mag vs floor plate) would work out well too. Still not a Mauser.
Click to expand...

I second that advice. Look for a Lux with a 20.5 inch barrel and factory irons. They are fantastic sights. It's a push feed, but slick as snot, accurate and quick to acquire a target. I'd do something a bit off beat and get one chambered in 8x57, or you can just join the masses and find a 308 short action. A 5-round box mag is all you need.
 
Waterfowler said:
I know it’s not a bolt but what about a remington 7600 carbine. Williams peep sight.
Click to expand...

^^ This ^^ .... I did a 760 cut back to 20" and added a receiver sight a few yrs back. It was perfect & didn't look like a squirt gun either. :)

tq1f4Wml.jpg
 
I know you have already said you are aware of the Tikka Battue, but.....my wife was looking for her first moose rifle this year, she wanted wood furniture and open sights, couldn't budge her on it. Found a Tikka Battue that fit the bill. Took me three shots to get right with the sights, then it became very natural. Bolt action very smooth. Heck of a nice gun.
 
memaquay said:
I know you have already said you are aware of the Tikka Battue, but.....my wife was looking for her first moose rifle this year, she wanted wood furniture and open sights, couldn't budge her on it. Found a Tikka Battue that fit the bill. Took me three shots to get right with the sights, then it became very natural. Bolt action very smooth. Heck of a nice gun.
Click to expand...

Those Battues with the walnut stocks are much nicer than the plastic and much harder to find as well. Nice pick for your wife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom