Question No. 1: Does the Steyr Scout belong in the Precision Rifles section, or is it a hunting rifle?
Well, who knows? It definitely does not have the barrel of a target rifle, but I have a bunch of SSG comparison pictures here as well, so I`ll go with this section.
This is my second Scout. I had one before with the forward mounted fixed 2.5 power Leupold scout scope. I sold that, but when this came available from Praetorian Tactical in Calgary (plug, plug), I couldn't resist getting it. I had no interest in going back to the 2.5 scope, but I wish I still had the leather Ching-sling. The rifle comes with the quick detach swivels, so I just need to order one from Galco.
This is my old (2001) Scout with an older configuration of my 1989 produced SSG 69. I sold this Scout to help finance the 2004 produced SSG which is shown later in this thread.
My new Scout now wears the Schmidt & Bender 2.5-10x40 Summit scope that was on the SSG above. It is mounted with Leupold matte black "high" PRW rings, and I got lucky in ordering those (from Frontier, plug, plug) as everything just barely fits (as you will see) and the scope is mounted very low. 40mm objective is perfect. 42mm objective would be too much (scope caps would not fit anyway, unless the rings were higher):
Note also this Scout is newer production (2010 vs. 2001 for my old one) and they all have the round bolt knob now. The butterknife bolt knob is classic Steyr, but times have changed and the market likes these better I guess. Both work perfectly fine:
See how close the objective is to the stock. There is no dip here as on most rifles:
You can see the front back-up sight folded down here:
And in this photo you can see that the bolt handle just barely clears the scope with this height of rings. It looks like it is going to hit it, but I have experimented with this many times, and it is not possible for them to touch.
So... the SSG vs. Scout. Apples and oranges, but... so what. Fun to put these threads together. This is a 2004 produced Steyr SSG 69 with Kahles 6x42mm scope. Package deal from the factory. One of the most satisfying, awesome, fun firearms I've ever owned. Why you don`t see more of these I don`t know. At my range, I am the Steyr rifle guy. I never see ANY other people with them. Cost I suppose. Crappy distribution in Canada, etc. I mostly shoot at the same range as "Nemo" (Roger), and he has everything, but he is not a Steyr guy. He had a black SSG years ago, but that was before I knew him.
You get a pretty good shot of how the safeties are different here. The safety on the SSG is on the side. It is off (red) here, obviously. Forward is off. Slide it straight back and you will see a white dot. You remove the bolt by holding the trigger down as you move the bolt all the way back. All the newer Steyr rifles, including the Scout, use this SBS (Safe Bolt System) which is a rotating disc on the tang. Red is fire. White is safe. A white notch popping up is locked/safe. When it is on locked/safe it sucks the bolt handle down closer to the stock so it doesn't stick out as much. To remove the bolt you open it, then turn it to locked/safe, and it slides right out.
The mags on the new Steyrs (SBS rifles) are quite a bit different than the old Steyrs. Rotary mags, like the butterknife bolt, are a Steyr tradition. Realistically the new style mags are probably simpler, tougher and more idiot-proof than the old mags. I myself have not had problems with the rotary mags though. Note that the new (Scout) mag is marked: "243 Win.", "260 Rem.", "Scout", "7mm-08Rem.", and "308 Win." The rotary mag is marked "7.62x51", "SSG", and the Steyr logo, although I have some that say ".308 Win." as well.
Bolts... the longer one is the Scout. There is some family resemblance here, but the newer style actually has a shape to it that fits against the chamber. I am no gunsmith, but the photos probably tell a fuller story than I can. Note the proof marks on the underside of the SSG bolt.
This is what I am talking about in terms of fitting against the chamber:
A weak attempt to get an in focus shot of the chamber from the side:
So what is the 25 cent version of the difference between these rifles in practice?
SSG - massive accuracy potential, really limited only by the skill of the shooter, the ammunition, and - in some ways - the optics. Heavy barrel. Longer barrel. Much better heat dissipation. Much softer shooting (on the shoulder);
Scout - way lighter to carry around. Feels like half the weight (although I expect it works out to more like two thirds).
Both are cool rifles that are fun to shoot. I will try and get some pictures of some Scout groups up soon. Basically, for me as a not particularly experienced rifle shooter or someone who has been shooting these rifles a long time: Scout - 1 MOA at 100 metres. SSG - 1/2 MOA at 200 metres.
This is enough work for now, and enough for the few guys that are interested in these to discuss... for now.
Here is the Scout at the range with the 1989 SSG (now with S&B 4-16x50 PMII):
The 2004 SSG out on Range 7 at PoCo:
And here are the two SSGs I have together:
Well, who knows? It definitely does not have the barrel of a target rifle, but I have a bunch of SSG comparison pictures here as well, so I`ll go with this section.
This is my second Scout. I had one before with the forward mounted fixed 2.5 power Leupold scout scope. I sold that, but when this came available from Praetorian Tactical in Calgary (plug, plug), I couldn't resist getting it. I had no interest in going back to the 2.5 scope, but I wish I still had the leather Ching-sling. The rifle comes with the quick detach swivels, so I just need to order one from Galco.
This is my old (2001) Scout with an older configuration of my 1989 produced SSG 69. I sold this Scout to help finance the 2004 produced SSG which is shown later in this thread.
My new Scout now wears the Schmidt & Bender 2.5-10x40 Summit scope that was on the SSG above. It is mounted with Leupold matte black "high" PRW rings, and I got lucky in ordering those (from Frontier, plug, plug) as everything just barely fits (as you will see) and the scope is mounted very low. 40mm objective is perfect. 42mm objective would be too much (scope caps would not fit anyway, unless the rings were higher):
Note also this Scout is newer production (2010 vs. 2001 for my old one) and they all have the round bolt knob now. The butterknife bolt knob is classic Steyr, but times have changed and the market likes these better I guess. Both work perfectly fine:
See how close the objective is to the stock. There is no dip here as on most rifles:
You can see the front back-up sight folded down here:
And in this photo you can see that the bolt handle just barely clears the scope with this height of rings. It looks like it is going to hit it, but I have experimented with this many times, and it is not possible for them to touch.
So... the SSG vs. Scout. Apples and oranges, but... so what. Fun to put these threads together. This is a 2004 produced Steyr SSG 69 with Kahles 6x42mm scope. Package deal from the factory. One of the most satisfying, awesome, fun firearms I've ever owned. Why you don`t see more of these I don`t know. At my range, I am the Steyr rifle guy. I never see ANY other people with them. Cost I suppose. Crappy distribution in Canada, etc. I mostly shoot at the same range as "Nemo" (Roger), and he has everything, but he is not a Steyr guy. He had a black SSG years ago, but that was before I knew him.
You get a pretty good shot of how the safeties are different here. The safety on the SSG is on the side. It is off (red) here, obviously. Forward is off. Slide it straight back and you will see a white dot. You remove the bolt by holding the trigger down as you move the bolt all the way back. All the newer Steyr rifles, including the Scout, use this SBS (Safe Bolt System) which is a rotating disc on the tang. Red is fire. White is safe. A white notch popping up is locked/safe. When it is on locked/safe it sucks the bolt handle down closer to the stock so it doesn't stick out as much. To remove the bolt you open it, then turn it to locked/safe, and it slides right out.
The mags on the new Steyrs (SBS rifles) are quite a bit different than the old Steyrs. Rotary mags, like the butterknife bolt, are a Steyr tradition. Realistically the new style mags are probably simpler, tougher and more idiot-proof than the old mags. I myself have not had problems with the rotary mags though. Note that the new (Scout) mag is marked: "243 Win.", "260 Rem.", "Scout", "7mm-08Rem.", and "308 Win." The rotary mag is marked "7.62x51", "SSG", and the Steyr logo, although I have some that say ".308 Win." as well.
Bolts... the longer one is the Scout. There is some family resemblance here, but the newer style actually has a shape to it that fits against the chamber. I am no gunsmith, but the photos probably tell a fuller story than I can. Note the proof marks on the underside of the SSG bolt.
This is what I am talking about in terms of fitting against the chamber:
A weak attempt to get an in focus shot of the chamber from the side:
So what is the 25 cent version of the difference between these rifles in practice?
SSG - massive accuracy potential, really limited only by the skill of the shooter, the ammunition, and - in some ways - the optics. Heavy barrel. Longer barrel. Much better heat dissipation. Much softer shooting (on the shoulder);
Scout - way lighter to carry around. Feels like half the weight (although I expect it works out to more like two thirds).
Both are cool rifles that are fun to shoot. I will try and get some pictures of some Scout groups up soon. Basically, for me as a not particularly experienced rifle shooter or someone who has been shooting these rifles a long time: Scout - 1 MOA at 100 metres. SSG - 1/2 MOA at 200 metres.
This is enough work for now, and enough for the few guys that are interested in these to discuss... for now.
Here is the Scout at the range with the 1989 SSG (now with S&B 4-16x50 PMII):
The 2004 SSG out on Range 7 at PoCo:
And here are the two SSGs I have together:
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