.30-06 Scout

[bratch]

Search isn't working with 30-06 so if this has been done sorry,

I currently have an older Savage Scout in 308 that I love. It has a great balance and feel and is mighty handy.

Latley I've been thinking about switching to '06 for my .30 cal in my rifles. I already have in my semis (Garands) and am looking at it in my bolts.

If I go this route I'd definatley want to replace the Savage with a similar rifle in 30-06. Do any such beast exist? All of the Scouts I've seen have been short action.

 

[Smokey Joe]

What's to be gained???

Bratch--Switching from .308 Win to .30-'06????? I can't imagine why you'd bother. Same with switching from .30-'06 to .308 Win. What one can do the other can do. While some may argue that there is an advantage to be gained one way or the other (versatility advantage in the '06; accuracy advantage in the .308) the difference is really too small to bother with.

You like the .308 Savage Scout? Great balance and feel? Mighty handy? What do you suppose you'll gain by dumping such a rifle? Some people search all their lives w/o finding a rifle that has those qualities for them.

You have .30-'06 Garands (which I take it you are happy with) and they do what you want in a semi-auto rifle.

Besides the very slight advantage of having to keep only one cartridge on hand, it doesn't seem to me that you have anything to gain by dumping the Scout.

And the Garands and the bolt '06 will likely require different loads anyhow, necessitating your stocking separate ammo for each, even though both are '06's. Garands (and most semi-autos, BTW) are fussy about what they will shoot well. The bolt rifle might well prefer some other bullet weight or powder charge or ammo brand for best accuracy. If you reload, you'd keep the cases for each rifle separate and use those cases only in the one rifle, anyhow.

Most riflemen I know would rejoice at having their preferred semi-auto and also a well-balanced, handy bolt rifle that feels good to them. The issue of wanting them all in the same cartridge would never even arise.

So, anyhow, good luck with your search. They're YOUR rifles, after all. Please keep us posted on your results!

 

[Gator]

Current ammo prices make a .30-06 scout a very good idea!
The only reason most scout rifles are short action is to make the weight limit. If thats not important, have at it! I've seen scouts made from Swiss 31s, Mosins, and Swedish, Turkish, and Yugo mausers. Those are not short actions.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Gator: Current ammo prices make a .30-06 scout a very good idea!

Emphasis mine.

 

[jmr40]

Ruger used to make the old tang safety model 77 in 30-06 with an 18 1/2" barrel and iron sights. They also made it with a 20" clean barrel. My brother has 1 of each and could be the basis for a scout rifle.

Winchester also made the push feed model 70 in a 20" carbine rifle for a while during the 1980's that could work.

One of the 1st factory fiberglass stocks came on the Weatherby Fibermark, also during the 80's. These also came in 30-06 with a lightweight 20"barrel.

Probably the easiest route would to be find a Remington 7600 pump with 18 1/2" barrel. These are fairly common and 10 round magazines are available.

 

[bratch]

Biggest reason is to cut down on ammunition . By cutting back to '06 I'd have less brass, powder, and loaded ammo storage.

Granted the factory bolt ammo probably wouldn't work in the Garands, handloading could enable ammo capatability.

 

[lacoochee]

Factory/Commercial 30-06 will work in a Garand you just need an adjustable gas plug to keep from beating up the op rod.