Looking for first rifle purchase: advice welcome!

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Sheepdog1968 said:
With my 30-30 lever action with a Leupold scout scope I feel quite comfortable shooting it out to 400 yards (range work on steel, not hunting). I think you will like a scout scope.
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Good to go. Thanks. I hope you're right!
 
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When a good "scout" scope, i.e., an intermediate eye-relief scope, is fitted forward the visual effect with both eyes open is amazing. A good scout scope is not powerful but it is the right tool for the job through 300 yds, little more.

Here's a little bit about forward-mounted telescopes from Chuck Hawks, who claims he was using a forward-mounted telescope quite awhile before Col. Jeff Cooper coined the term "scout rifle"...

Chuck Hawks

I first tried a scope mounted forward of the receiver back in the middle 1960's, when the first IER (intermediate eye relief) Leupold M8 2x scope was introduced. That was long before the late Jeff Cooper coined the term "scout rifle" for such a rig, of course. I still use a pre-'64 Winchester Model 94 carbine with a forward mounted scope. (Another Leupold, but now a FX-II 2.5x28mm IER model.)

That first "scout scope" used a Leupold mount on a Winchester Centennial '66 rifle. I went with the forward mounted scope because it made more sense to me than the other alternative, which was an offset side mount. An offset side mount introduces lateral parallax as well as making a proper cheek to stock weld impossible. The scope had to be either offset to the side or forward of the receiver because the traditional Winchester Model 94 ejected upwards from the top of the action. Later, the advent of "angle eject" made such jury rigs unnecessary.

The forward mounted scope would have died except that Jeff Cooper wrote an article about, if I remember correctly, a Remington Model 600 bolt action carbine with a forward mounted scope. He called it a "scout rifle," and the name stuck. Frankly, I have never understood why such a set-up appealed to Mr. Cooper, or what he was scouting for.

Read the rest of the article, here ---> http://www.chuckhawks.com/scout_scopes.htm
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Later, Col. Jeff Cooper wrote down his idea of the concept which is saved here on Eric Ching's page: http://chingsling.com/ - scroll down to the subject, "The Forward Telescope"

Jeff Cooper

For those who have not tried it, an explanation of the advantages of the forward telescope is in order. First, and most important, the forward glass does not obscure the landscape. With both eyes open the shooter sees the entire countryside as well as the crosswire printed on his target. For this reason it is important that the magnification of the telescope be no greater than 3X (some hold that 2X is maximum) in order to avoid excessive disparity between the vision of the two eyes. This forward mount, properly used and understood, is the fastest sighting arrangement available to the rifleman...There are those who think that a glass of low power is necessarily less precise for long-range precision work, but we have not found this to be the case in any sort of realistic test.

Read the rest of the article, here ---> http://chingsling.com/
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So we see that as with the rest of life itself, there are differing opinions on the matter. Personally, I like the forward-mounted telescope for close-range work. (I am also aligned with Cooper's concepts in that I have always liked short, handy rifles and I think the 1911 the only pistol for me.)

Leave the scopes that guys can use for astronomy when it's too dark to shoot to the long-range hunters. :p


I love looking through the Leupold VX-II 2.5 X 28 "Scout" scope on my rifle, but currently I'm learning to use the ghost ring sights to 200 yds and beyond.

Here' s pic of mine with the scope mounted:

20140613_153340_zps75fd63e9.jpg

At least there's one thing Mr. Hawks approves of: the Leupold version of the low-power, fixed, intermediate eye-relief scope. He says it's the best there is.

:)
 
@200apples

Thanks! I appreciate the link. I am worried about having a duplex reticle. Thinking I want a bdc for changing distances.

I know when I was using iron sights on my m16 it was a click on the rear aperture for yardage.

I have some things to think about.
 
Yep I pulled the trigger... damnt I'm impulsive.
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That would have been my choice. Everything you need there, even a ghost ring site. Not many people can shoot with those but they are a kick out to 100 meters. Guy needs to be able to hit with irons out to 100 meters. Optics are great but you can't get the true feeling of the physics of good marksmanship.

Congratulations.
 
CoalTrain49 said:
That would have been my choice. Everything you need there, even a ghost ring site. Not many people can shoot with those but they are a kick out to 100 meters. Guy needs to be able to hit with irons out to 100 meters. Optics are great but you can't get the true feeling of the physics of good marksmanship.

Congratulations.
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Thanks. Really appreciate it.
 
Yep, I decided, I am gonna wait on getting a LER scope and become more intimate with the rifle itself and use the iron sights. I am excited.
 
Fella's;

Wow! I was amazed to see the Tikka CTR stainless .308 was less costly than the Ruger. I've got several Tikka rifles and probably would have gone that way if it had been my decision. Nonetheless, I'm sure the Ruger will do the job and you'll be happy with it.

Now start saving for that .22 long gun.

900F
 
CB900F said:
Fella's;

Wow! I was amazed to see the Tikka CTR stainless .308 was less costly than the Ruger. I've got several Tikka rifles and probably would have gone that way if it had been my decision. Nonetheless, I'm sure the Ruger will do the job and you'll be happy with it.

Now start saving for that .22 long gun.

900F
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I picked up my ruger for 800. I think that is alot better than what tikka was offering. Plus iron sights.

stainless, composite stock, iron sights, proven a1 mag, and hickok45 loves it! its also american and has a proven action. Maybe not as smooth an action. the tikka is nice, but it was above my threshold on spending. Ruger comes ready to go out of the box, seemed more attractive to me.

I will think about the 22 haha.
 
You will be happy with the Ruger. Be warned, if you ever shoot a Tikka you might not go back though. Just kidding.happy shooting.
 
To many people buying a first gun feel it will be the only gun they will ever
buy. They try to buy the most all around gun in the world. Go out and buy
the gun you like. Don't try to be super practical, after all it is a hobby most
of the time. If you don't like the first gun you buy then be like the rest of
us. Buy another one, and another one and another one...................

Zeke
 
kH2OPT.jpg


found my old marine corps slings, and I found my old shooting gloves. nostalgic haha. But I do feel like these slings will go nicely with my rifle, particularly the black one.

6829.jpg

My question is how do I get the right rings for the studs for this sling? Anyone point me in that direction?
 
Segm3nt;

Go back to Midway, but instead of looking at Outdoor Connection's Brute swivels, look at the Outdoor Connection Titan sling swivels. I've switched out all my old one's from another company to these. They don't break.

900F
 
I'm living vicariously through this thread. I want a scout bad. Really like the GSR, and think you made the right choice. That's the model I would've gone for. Thank you for your service.
 
Crowcifier666 said:
I'm living vicariously through this thread. I want a scout bad. Really like the GSR, and think you made the right choice. That's the model I would've gone for. Thank you for your service.
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thanks. haha vicariously! I am really stoked and ecstatic about holding this rifle in my hands. I cant wait to post another thread with picture and reviews of my first range visit with this rifle.
 
chicharrones said:
Not really. I've been using the same old screw together rod system with slotted tips, jags, and brass brushes like you can find anywhere. It's not a compact field use cleaning kit, but works fine for when you are home.
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Thanks. I'll just stick to what I know for now. Picked up an Otis kit for this rifle with some eyelit swabs and bf CLP.

Also grabbed the TOC titan ring swivels for the studs.

That will be it for now. But in the future, leupold ler scope probably and a pelican travel case (trip to AZ to visit buddies is planned and we'll go shooting!).
 
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Lots and lots of choices. You might take a look at the Mossberg MVP Series. They're very reasonably priced bolt action rifles available in a number of variations in either 5.56 or 7.62.

Edit--sorry, I didn't see you already picked up the Ruger.
 
I think you'll be happy with the Ruger.I bought a Ruger,laminated stock,stainless 16.5 inch barrel youth model in 2005.The purpose was deer hunting on deer drives in woods.Also carry it in wet weather instead of my old wood stocked Win. model 70.I lengthened the stock with a limbsaver.Accuracy is fine for hunting to 200 yards.Its a .243(necked down .308).
 
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