Scout rifle possibilities

[msiley]

So I'm pondering some choices of putting together a scout rifle.
It doesn't have to fit the exact Jeff Cooper definition. I'm not going to chop the
barrel. It does have to hold at least 5 rounds though.

So, my options are....

1. Winchester 70 platform
Caliber .308
Add Iron Sights (I figure what about $150-200?)
Front mounted scope.

The only thing I wonder about this platform is fast loading capabilities.
Can I add stripper guides? Is that even feasible and/or practical?

2. K31 (found one for around $350)
Caliber 7.5x55mm
It will need a scope mount, not sure how hard it will be with this rifle.

wow that was easy.
Only downside is ammo isn't as plentiful as .308.

3. Winchester Model 88
Caliber .308
It holds 5 rounds but I read that 4 rounds work better?? so unclear.
Just needs a scope and forward mount.
Mags probably aren't plentiful.

4. CZ 550 FS
Caliber .30-06
Holds 5 rounds in .30-06 (4 in .308)
Not sure if I can mount a forward scope due to the
position of the rear site.
Mag isn't detachable.

5. Mauser K98k (or variation)
Caliber 8mm Mauser (cheap!)
Just needs a forward scope mount.

6. Lee Enfield (I found one for $650)
Caliber .303 British (ammo seem to be getting expensive for this)
Forward scope mount if possible.

I'm leaning towards the K31. It's cheap, accurate and only needs a scope.
(and I can live without a scope for awhile).
Only downside is that it doesn't shoot a common caliber.
But the Win. 88 seems interesting.
But if money was no object I'd go with the Win. 70 platform.

Thoughts?

 

[Robert]

I'd go with the K98. My k98 still drives nails at 65 years old. 8mm is still plentiful and if need be you can have it converted to .308 easy enough. S&K makes a nice looking scout mount for the K98, but I have never used one so I can not speak to the quality. But when I was looking at going the scout route I was going to get that mount.

 

[RatDrall]

Steyr Scout maybe?

 

[msiley]

Steyr Scout maybe?

Too pricey. I want to keep it at or under $1k.
Not that I wouldn't want one.

On that note I saw the Savage Scout but what's with the low cap mags?
Should have offered 10 rounds.

 

[Big_E]

Savage sorta does offer them. I believe you can get the mags at savageshooters.com or something. I also herad you can send in your 4 shot ones into Savage and have them converted to 10 rds.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Can you put a foward mounted scope on a Rem. 700?

 

[HC_Jack]

Can you put a foward mounted scope on a Rem. 700?

I believe B-Square makes a forward mount, but it sits a little high.

If the OP is considering a Win 88, Browning now makes a BLR lightweight with a forward scope mount.

A lot of those options sound pretty heavy, particularly the WWII stuff. Which scout parameters are most important and which are you willing to push a bit?

 

[Dogbite]

Check out that Savage Scout, it looks great.

 

[msiley]

A lot of those options sound pretty heavy, particularly the WWII stuff. Which scout parameters are most important and which are you willing to push a bit?

The Mauser and K31 are around 9lbs I picked them up and handled them a bit.
Heavy really didn't come to mind. But of course I wasn't carrying it for hours.

The most important aspects are:
1. Full powered rifle cartridge so .303 British and above.
2. Long range (.45-70 is full power but not best for long range, Sharps notwithstanding)
3. Forward scope
4. Quick reloads, either stripper or mags
5. Iron Sights of some type
6. Holds at least 5 rounds.

 

[Robert]

I have carried my K98 all day long hiking in the mountains and hunting on the plains. Yeah it gets a bit heavy but it is manageable. I am 5'9" 220lbs and out of shape and it was not that big of an issue. The down side of the K98 is the internal mag only holds five, but can be reloaded quick with strippers, if you have some. And the forward mounted scope removes the rear iron sight completely.

Have you looked into an Ishapore No2A that has been converted to a jungle carbine? I just traded mine for a VZ24 to build into a hunting rifle. The Ishapore would make one heck of a scout rifle. External 10 round mag in 308. But a forward mounted scoped would do away with the irons. And it is a bit lighter than the K98 too. Both the K98 and the Ishapore can be well built for under $1000 including the cost of the rifle if you look real hard.

 

[msiley]

^^ in regards to the Ishapore it's a 12 round mag and I live in Cali. :-(

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Rem. 700 + AI 10round mags.

 

[wad]

I have an S&K scout mount on my K31. Right now I have a 4x pistol scope mounted, which has worked OK out to 200 yards. However the ocular of the scope hangs over the bolt/action just enough the prevent me from reloading the rifle with stripper clips. I hope to get either a Leupold or Burris scout scope soon.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i've always thought of the Enfield #4 as a superior platform for this.

1. it already has the stripper clip guide
2. it's bolt action is very slick and can be cycled without removing it from the shoulder
3. it comes with a 10 round mag
4. the barrel is free floated

 

[msiley]

i've always thought of the Enfield #4 as a superior platform for this.

This may be true. How hard is it to mount a scope on one?

Also, do you think the supply of .303 will last?

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I would check the savage scout first, but if you don't like it....

I had my yugo m48 set up with a forward scope mount and leupold scout scope with quick detach rings. The problem is you need to remove the rear sight so It's not really a scout anymore. There are options to mount a sight on the back of the reciever, but I didn't want to drill my gun (and I'm glad I didn't cause I returned it to it's original configuration)

The 8mm is a great round. I like to hand load mine to replicate 30/30 velocities for target shooting, but you have the option to put full power loads in if you wanted to.

 

[waterhouse]

I don't know how close it fits to what you want, but you may want to look at a used Ruger Frontier. It was Ruger's version of a pseudo scout, and I think CDNN may still have some.

 

[woof]

I had a Win 88 and I can't see it as a scout rifle. A scout rifle should be compact and light, the 88 really isn't either. If I were trying to build a scout rifle I'd start with a Ruger compact at under 6 lbs. With a compact scope well under 7lbs. .308, 7mm-08 or even .260 Rem would be possibilities.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Ruger Frontier(?) seems to make a nice scout rifle / truck gun.

Somewhere, there is a thread about this having been done and that a 10-round M1A magazine fits without having to modify the firearm and with minimal mods to the magazine itself. I believe it was retained perfectly by the trigger guard but lost the ability to be detachable. Still, hand feeding 10-rounds wouldn't be that difficult.


Recently, I converted an Ishapore 2A1 (already jungle gun-ised by the Importer) into a fairly decent scout rifle. I found some original magazines on one of the parts supply places and it carries 3 ea. 12-round magazines without problems. I did take off the 'flash hider' and wooden stock though, replacing them with an FAL flash hider w/ bayonet mount and an ATI plastic stock that I reinforced with epoxy. Surprisingly, for being 16.25 inches it kicks less than what I've come to expect from a 12 gauge. A scout scope mount from XS Sight Systems made it all come together.

p.s. found this - -
Shawn's tactical - Truck Gun

 

[msiley]

^^ I'm now thinking pretty hard about getting the Enfield.
I think the only thing stopping me is my lack of knowledge of pricing
of those rifles. I found one for $650. The coating is about 95%. The stock
for some odd reason has little to no finish left on it. The rifling is ok
but I think there's a big dark spot near the muzzle. Didn't get the best of looks at it.
I'll have to take a closer look.

Optimally, I'd get an Enfield in .308 from that Australian company that makes them.
But I've never seen them for sale anywhere.

 

[9mmepiphany]

This may be true. How hard is it to mount a scope on one?

Also, do you think the supply of .303 will last?

the XS/Clifton is likely the easiest and most cost effective way to mount a forward scope

i picked up a case of PMP when it was available...i think the current source is Prvi Partizan

 

[OrangePwrx9]

I'm in the process of doing the same with a 7.62x39 Saiga. Put a picatinny rail over the gas tube and use a Burris Scout Scope or even a pistol scope.

The Saiga comes with a 10 round magazine and, if you make it 922 compliant, surplus Commie magazines will work, giving you 20 or 30 rounds. With the short 16" barrel, it should be quick and handy. Might be a cheap & fun way to test the concept.

They also make .308 Saigas.
Bob

 

[msiley]

I found out you can use the 10 round mag from the CZ 750 sniper
rifle on any detachable mag CZ 550 in .308! I think for the long term getting
a .308 rifle will prove wise because then I can get a a Saiga or a
M1A or some other rifle and I'll have a bunch of .308 stock piled.

 

[cipher]

I'd really love to know how you guys are mounting scout-style on Remington 700s. For that matter, a Savage? Is it drilled into the barrel, affecting accuracy?

 

[jpwilly]

Ever seen my monstrosity? Well here you go either way:





MUST wear hearing protection! That contraption on the end plays very loud music.