Need some opinions: Scout Rifle

Jungle Carbines Kick like a mule,Tikka Arctic is a great rifle,but its difficult to find Rings or a mount that is tall enough to clear the rear sight wings.I went thru a few scopes and rings trying.Ended up with a Leupold VX 3-9 with a Vortex Pro Cantilever used backwards to get enough height.I could have gone with a scout scope [LER] i suppose.That way if I ding the scope out of zero just pop it off and can use the Iron sights.Really like the Ruger Gunsight platform in 308.If I did it again I would go with that. My 2 cents,Dave
 
I'm as big of a scout rifle fan as the next guy and have sought out a few all purpose .308 bolt guns myself...but

Throwing an idea out of left field here. You say your going to be using it for deer/bear/moose at relatively close ranges <200m in some pretty thick bush. .308 almost seems like too much for those ranges.

Have you considered a lever gun in 45-70? They are ideal for those ranges, have the stopping power for all 3 game species and enough punch to get through thick bush. They are also compact, lightweight and come with iron sights.

My 1895 GBL that I picked up new for $800 weighs just 7.3lbs and makes for the perfect Bush gun. The Marlins are hard to come by now but I'm betting one of the other brands offers a 45-70 for cheaper than a Gunsite scout. Just a thought.

EDIT: I see you went with the Ruger in 450 Bushmaster so you sort of met me half way. Hope you enjoy it!
 
Milt Dale said:
I would get a Ruger Gunsite over a Savage, I have one in 450BM not 308, prices have gone a little crazy not sure if you could do a Ruger with scope for $1500, another option for a scout set up is a BLR, I would also take a Tikka over a Savage not sure about an actual scout scope set up for a Tikka though.
Click to expand...

I have two ruger gunsites, a 450 and a 308, they are great, put bottom metal mag well and trigger guards on them and it makes a cheaply finished gun, very nice. As for the savage, I wasnt interested until I went to Thunderhogs gun shop and tried out a Savage haymaker, two inch longer barrel than the savage scout and no iron sights, these are very well made guns, all metal magwell and trigger guards plus steel mag release, bedded and adjustable in many ways, I feel they are of higher value than either of my ruger gunsite scouts, although initial price wouldnt seem to confirm that. I ordered a Savage Scout and its on the way in 450
 
One of my back-burner projects is a Scout Rifle based on a No. 4 Lee Enfield. Barrel had been shortened. I've blasted and parked the receiver. I obtained a scope base that installs on the breech of the barrel. Taps into place on the barrel breech, then secured with adhesive and screws.
 
should be some great options for ya, I'll say if you can swing it try the Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 green for a scope. A bit on the higher end side of things but that battery free illuminated dot reticle and awesome glass I think you'd come to appreciate far more than you know for the game you're going to chase, buy once cry once, I run it on ruger American short barrel and it's a great hunters scope, the dot illuminates on dark bodies where reticles go to die in low light and it will do so past legal shooting light and is very intuitive and fast in real hunting situations on game, it only weighs 13.4 ounces, 1" tube and mounts in low rings and still clears barrel for proper eye alignment with most rifles without having to lift your head or add riser options to the butt stock, and if you have aging eyes x2 on this post, you can thank me later ;)
 
Last edited:
have owned a couple of savage scouts and moved them along as i didn't like them. savages are butt ugly but work. currently own a tikka battue and ruger scout both in 308. the ruger is laminate ss and have tried it with forward mounted scopes but never liked the setup. now has a zeiss 2x7 mounted over the receiver and a 5 round plastic mag. tikka has a lupoid 2x7 in one piece talleys. both are keepers and get hunted a lot.
 
armybuck041 said:
Hey Guys,

I'm getting back into the hobby after a number of years off pursuing others things.

I'd like to take up hunting once again. I'm back in New Brunswick where big game is essentially white tail deer, moose and black bears.


My wife has got me hemmed in, so I'm not going to be able to get a bunch of rifles. It's going to be a one and done affair. Looking at the terrain around here, there isn't exactly allot of wide open spaces to hunt, so I'm estimating that most engagements would be well this side of 200 meters. Probably more like 75 to 125 meters.

I've been drawn to the idea of a scout rifle in .308. Got a budget of +/- $1,500 plus an optic. Ruger and Savage seem to have some decent scout rifle options, as does Tikka with the T3X CTR. Beyond that, I've also been kicking around the idea of just getting an Enfield Jungle Carbine with a no-drill scope mount.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

Scotty
Click to expand...

If you like a scout rifle than buy it I have had a few and the view through the scope is worse than a more conventional setup. Also a quality scope with quality mounts it is extremely unlikely that you ever need the iron sights. I am from NB but I do not hunt and I to assumed that it would be a close range in the woods but it was explained to me that you might need some distance in clearings. A 308 can easily handle anything we have here in nb and can still do the job if the range opens up a bit.
 
armybuck041 said:
Hey Guys,

I'm getting back into the hobby after a number of years off pursuing others things.

I'd like to take up hunting once again. I'm back in New Brunswick where big game is essentially white tail deer, moose and black bears.

My wife has got me hemmed in, so I'm not going to be able to get a bunch of rifles. It's going to be a one and done affair. Looking at the terrain around here, there isn't exactly allot of wide open spaces to hunt, so I'm estimating that most engagements would be well this side of 200 meters. Probably more like 75 to 125 meters.

I've been drawn to the idea of a scout rifle in .308. Got a budget of +/- $1,500 plus an optic. Ruger and Savage seem to have some decent scout rifle options, as does Tikka with the T3X CTR. Beyond that, I've also been kicking around the idea of just getting an Enfield Jungle Carbine with a no-drill scope mount.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

Scotty
Click to expand...

I built a couple of scout rifles on Rem 600's, back in the day. I really like the style. Light, fast to shoulder, quick on target. Anything between the 6.5 and the 358 will do what you want it to. The scout rifle I kept is in 308, which I still use as a great all around game cartridge. - dan
 
Leg said:
:eek: no idea what a No.5 is worth these days but I would think using an already sporterized No.4 would be the way to go should you choose this route.

I’ve long been enamoured with the concept but I have never followed through with a build. I do love this rifle on the Scout Rifle forum though:

KBIeycc.jpg


I have PH sporterized No.4 that would be a good candidate. I wonder how much it would cost to have sight mounts installed similar to his.
Click to expand...

Rarely do I see a sporterized Lee Enfield and think “that’s ###y”. As in this is the first time. Feels awkward.
 
todbartell said:
Just buy a Tikka T3x Lite SS 308, get a gunsmith to cut & recrown at 19". Top it with a Leupold Vx3HD 2.5-8x36 and you're set
Click to expand...

Sage advice. This is my attempt at a one and done for the East. Mint used .308 T3x swapped into a used Compact stock. Installed a vertical grip and a kydex cheek riser. Used VX-R 2-7 in DNZ mounts. Soon to be chopped 3" and will just hit your budget range. I've had Battues in the past and they are stellar but I can't justify their new price point. In 50+ years of hunting I've never needed irons due to optic failure. You could use a rail and red dot for backup.

 
Last edited:
My Ruger Scout didn't come into it's own until I rebarrelled it to .338 Federal, now she rocks! 1 in the chamber and 10 in the magazine give me 35,508 ft. lbs. of energy at my disposal.
 
Ardent said:
Rarely do I see a sporterized Lee Enfield and think “that’s ###y”. As in this is the first time. Feels awkward.
Click to expand...

It is purdy ain’t it? I’d prefer if the original rear sight base was there with the L flip sight and stripper clip guide but that would also take away from the sleek look. Don’t think Williams makes that rear sight base for Lee Enfields anymore, which I would need for the sporter I have.
 
JBD said:
If you like a scout rifle than buy it I have had a few and the view through the scope is worse than a more conventional setup. Also a quality scope with quality mounts it is extremely unlikely that you ever need the iron sights. I am from NB but I do not hunt and I to assumed that it would be a close range in the woods but it was explained to me that you might need some distance in clearings. A 308 can easily handle anything we have here in nb and can still do the job if the range opens up a bit.
Click to expand...

There is / was a book by Richard Mann - "The Scout Rifle Study" - was "copywrited" in 2018. He seems to review what Jeff Cooper's idea was, and various maker's attempts to produce that. Some years ago, on CGN, I bought a Burris Scout 2.75X scope - so has longer eye relief than a conventional scope, but shorter than a handgun scope. Within past few months, I received a Savage Axis II "Scout" rifle in 7.62x39 - so about three "new" things for me - I never had a "Scout" configured rifle before, never had a rifle chambered in 7.62x39, nor had I ever owned a Savage Axis before - so is three new things for me.

First impression after mounting that Burris IER (Intermediate Eye Relief) scope in Warne brand Quick Detachable rings - is certainly different than what I had been used to!!!. Not real certain about what is the point though, except for "looks" - as made, the Savage Axis uses detachable magazines - so loads from the bottom - has no capacity to use stripper clips (chargers) to reload magazine from the top - so idea of fussing to get that scope further forward to allow access to magazine opening, is defeated by the Savage Axis design. I have hunted deers in Saskatchewan since late 1960's and never had a scope die in the field - I have had some die on the target range, or when taken to the target range, but never while hunting. So the need for "back up" aperture sights may be more about "looks", or "what if" thinking, rather than a "real" need.

But if I removed that Scout scope mount base, and the rear aperture sight - installed conventional scope bases and a conventional scope - I would be more or less back to a conventional "inexpensive" 7.62x39 bolt action rifle - not something that I would have gone out to buy on purpose. And I think a CZ 527 would probably had been a better choice for a "conventional" arrangement, in that cartridge.

Generally, I think Jeff Cooper's thought of a lone rifleman wandering the wilderness for months, without re-supply, may already have been 50 or so years out of date when he "solved" the problem of what rifle that guy should carry. But, I never owned one before; never used one; and now I have one to play with. I am still not convinced I would grab it in the night when something goofy going on in back yard or nearby bush - is a role that I am very satisfied that the 9.3x62 Mauser 98 with M8-3X Leupold handles quite well.
 
Last edited:
Potashminer said:
But if I removed that Scout scope mount base, and the rear aperture sight - installed conventional scope bases and a conventional scope - I would be more or less back to a conventional "inexpensive" 7.62x39 bolt action rifle - not something that I would have gone out to buy on purpose. And I think a CZ 527 would probably had been a better choice for a "conventional" arrangement, in that cartridge.
Click to expand...

I built one, was a slick little rig, I actually often think of revisiting it.

aZ0mUyG.jpg

2TQG7tl.jpg
 
A "cool" looking little rifle, Ardent! Maybe explain the purpose of the front sight?? I do not see a rear sight, and I suspect that tools would be needed to remove that scope with those Warne style rings? Or possibly the QD levers are on the right side of the rings, like some people (and Warne) prefer to install them? I presume that you notched or drilled that integral front receiver ring scope base to accept a recoil notch? - It appears that CZ rear base (with the recoil notch) is not used? Or is a recoil stud even needed on 7.62x39?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom