Scout Rifles?

[ScottyD]

Just curious as to any opinions about scout rifles (i.e. the rifle developed/promoted by American Jeff Cooper)

What say you guys?

[wrenchman]

i dont have a opinion good or bad its more about is it works well for you the nice thing is most companys that make them so if its not you can move a scope back on it.

[bigrich]

Betcha Jeff cooper had a 303 Jungle carbine I had a scoped 308 ruger gunsite that was a compact accurate rifle . Open sights don’t work for me. I moved it on as I like old time stuff, and even though it’s practical, there was too much plastic on it for my liking. I’m packing a 8x57 Mauser “carbine” now

[CAVEMAN]

I rate my 308 Ruger scout, the concept is interesting in its employment. But at the end of the day it is mainly a short handy rifle. It does kick and its loud, but its surprisingly accurate and you can run the scout scope or the more traditional scope setup. And the iron sights aren't bad for larger targets.

I like the exposed action as its easy to clear an obstruction or a miss fed round, and easy to top load. It points well feels natural in the shoulder and the laminate stock is sturdy as buggeries. It also chews up any ammo i don't worry about treating it like a princess from Russian steel cased to ADI 168's (the ADI actually grouped no better than cheap Federal for me). And i've fired some old milsurp 7.62 and dodgy 308 hand loads that all the cases cracked quite bad, but that big Ruger/Mauser action just took it all.

Treat it for what it is and not a 0.5 MOA bench queen and it will work wonders. But she is a tad heavy.

And the vortex 2-7 scope is brilliant for the price.

[SCJ429]

Wow that is some eye relief you have there. Did the rifle come with those mounts?

[CAVEMAN]

Yep, picatiny mounted forward of the receiver. Meant to be a low power long eye relief scope. To allow for broad field of view and rapid target acquisition, but also with new adjustable mag scopes you can dial it in for more precise work. My rifle is nearly to his specs, i'm still learning how to properly use a ching sling to stabilize my positions. And still maintain iron sights as a backup or for low light work.

The following video gives a good brief over view of Jeff Cooper's idea, its quite an interesting and utilitarian concept. Id sum it up as one rifle to do many thing but not necessarily any one thing perfectly. A jack of all trades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x7N8hLI2yM

[bladeracer]

Just curious as to any opinions about scout rifles (i.e. the rifle developed/promoted by American Jeff Cooper)

What say you guys?

I struggle to think of a "scout rifle" in any definitive term. To me it's any short, light, bolt-action that won't allow a conventional scope mounting, and ideally, with a detachable box mag. But I also consider lever-action carbines to be "scout rifles" in essence.

I have a scout scope I use for load development on rifles difficult to mount conventionally, and it certainly improves accuracy, but I really haven't gotten comfortable trying to use it in the field.

[bladeracer]

Wow that is some eye relief you have there. Did the rifle come with those mounts?

The barrel-mounted scope is usually the first thing that describes a "scout rifle", long eye relief, but not as long as a pistol scope.

[mickb]

Caveman which vortex scope is it, is that one their actual 'scout' models. I'm curious to know what the published eye relief is.

I'm looking at scopes for a lever action. The yanks have a lot of affordable options including ultralight handgun scopes in 2x20mm etc. Some have eye relief in usable ranges. Nothing affordable like that in Australia so I am trying to find the next lightest options.

[CAVEMAN]

https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-crossfire-ii-2-7x32-vplex-moa-scout-scope.html

That's the one, i picked it up for $235 on special and cleavers have them for $249. They take a bit of a knocking too, as shooting off a post with a scout scope typically ends up with it bumping the post on recoiling. But even with that i haven't bothered it at all.

[bladeracer]

Caveman which vortex scope is it, is that one their actual 'scout' models. I'm curious to know what the published eye relief is.

I'm looking at scopes for a lever action. The yanks have a lot of affordable options including ultralight handgun scopes in 2x20mm etc. Some have eye relief in usable ranges. Nothing affordable like that in Australia so I am trying to find the next lightest options.

I use an NCStar 2-7x32.

[bladeracer]

This popped up today in my YT subs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5rbshECK0Y

[ScottyD]

Thanks for the helpful comments everyone. They do strike me as being a decent handy quick aiming rifle, likely a good candidate for my purposes. I’ve been starting to focus on something in .243 (especially Winchester Model 70), but I don’t think I could bring myself to get a scout rifle in anything other than .308

I’m also curious about lever options, particularly the Marlin 1895 in 45-70. It seems to almost fit into the category of handy mid-range scout fife, but I’ve ruled it out mainly due to the cost of ammunition.

[ScottyD]

This popped up today in my YT subs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5rbshECK0Y

This is a brilliant review of the Styer Scout, thanks bladeracer

I also enjoyed his review on the Savage 11

[ScottyD]

Yep, picatiny mounted forward of the receiver. Meant to be a low power long eye relief scope. To allow for broad field of view and rapid target acquisition, but also with new adjustable mag scopes you can dial it in for more precise work. My rifle is nearly to his specs, i'm still learning how to properly use a ching sling to stabilize my positions. And still maintain iron sights as a backup or for low light work.

The following video gives a good brief over view of Jeff Cooper's idea, its quite an interesting and utilitarian concept. Id sum it up as one rifle to do many thing but not necessarily any one thing perfectly. A jack of all trades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x7N8hLI2yM

I like your Ruger caveman, good to hear the Scout concept is working well for you

Great video too, it’s one of the ones that got me so interested in these rifles.

[bigrich]

Here’s my new scout rifle project, 1903 oberdorf made “Turk “ 8x57 Mauser, the barrels pretty sad, but it will still shoot under 2” @ 100 with the apparture rear sight. There’s no rifling for about the first two inches past the throat somebody went to a lot of effort to sporterize this a long time ago, it’s been bedded and numerous tweaks done to it . I’m still sussing it out , it’ll probably get rebarreled . I’ll probably keep it 8x57, but 358 win does have appeal . It’s nice to point with a 20” barrel too

[Stix]

Nice flooring look BR... ...Spotted Gum...?

Nice little rifle too...go smack some goats with it before you re-barrel...

[CAVEMAN]

Could that be re barreled to 308, and does it still have stripper clip guides?

I've played with the idea of building a bespoke scout on a K98 or SMLE, converted to 308 and utilizing stripper clips. I feel that feeding by stripper clips fits perfectly in the guise of a scout rifle, by being able to carry extra shots easily without the necessary bulk or expense of magazines.

Even looked at modifying the Ruger action, but since there investment cast i don't think they would like having the rear of the receiver notched out.