Pump Action as a Scout Rifle?

[Sheepdog1968]

What will give you the most pleasure shooting for years is what I would get. It's much more about your skill than the weapon itself. I love my lever action rifle and shoot it a lot. I am very confident with it because I like it and practice with it. Everything else IMO doesn't matter. So, want do you want to own?

 

[Reloadron]

Aww, it's not procrastination....it's just that I have a few weeks before I plan to make my purchase. And I like banging ideas around on this forum. I get great feedback and I love the banter. Me thinks you're a bit peeved at my jumping around on rifles? Don't be, it's not worth your energy. Plus, I NEVER considered a pump action in lieu of a lever gun until the idea was raised recently. It seems like a great possibility. Also, I'm kind of moving away from the .44 mag SD concept. What if I need to reach out and touch someone? I'm now thinking .270 in a pump. Why have to loop a .44 at someone 175 yards down yonder?

And one more thing....ISN'T THIS FUN?!

Peeved? No, I am not at all peeved. I want to see you buy something or decide on something that you will very much enjoy shooting and that will serve you well for many years to come. Like I mentioned, right now you are all over the target and just need to tighten the group. Most important is if and when you buy a rifle is that you be pleased with it. Something well suited for your needs and wants.

Aside from the new stuff out there you also may want to consider a slightly used rifle as there are some good deals to be had.

Ron

 

[snakeman]

none of the ones i listed would be my 1st choice either but you live in california right?

 

[jmr40]

I owned 2 and they both sucked on accuracy and quality.

This is not typical and I wouldn't worry about it. The Remington pump rifles are based on the 870 shogun, many parts will interchange. It is well known as one of the most reliable guns ever made. The 760 series also have a reputation for accuracy that equals most off the shelf bolt guns.

I personally prefer a bolt gun, and would use an AR for your purposes, But between a lever and a pump the pump is a far better choice for many reasons. Living where you do a pump makes a lot of sense.

 

[KevininPa]

Don't want a mini, as they are simply less accurate than they should be. The barrels tend to heat up too quickly. Kel-tec? Really now. My buddy had an SU-16 (I think that it what is was called). He dropped it an the stock broke. Saigas are reliable rifles and fit my purpose, but it's a Saiga (yawn...). An AR? I don't get excited about the AR anymore.

I'm starting to think my Yugo M48 looks good for my purposes. One or two 8mm's down range and I imagine the bad guys would skee-dattle.

I get where you're coming from. I have a Saiga in the 7.62 flavor and a Rem 7615P. I got the pump in trade. Didn't even know if I'd like it. It has a sort of "strange" fun and cool factor to it. As I've stated before in posts, when a bunch of us get together, that pump gets shot the most by everyone. And a lot of these people brought ARs and AKs to the session. For some reason it just attracts people. My Saiga is fun, but some reason I have more fun with the pump. I have an unconverted Saiga with the factory wood. I like it just the way it is. With everyone into the "conversion", mine is actually the stand-out different one. I consider it my poor mans Mini-30.

I don't know how you would make a scout out of it. It's design doesn't really lean towards that idea. My plan(if I ever work that long), is to mount a picatinny rail and use a scope with quick-detaching rings for long range. Ghost ring for short range. It already came with the ghost ring.

Good luck in your search! Have fun with it!

 

[henschman]

If you want a "scout" optics setup on a Saiga, an Ultimak scope mount would be a good idea.

 

[Storm]

If you rail the 7615P hopefully it will be low enough that it won't block the rear sight. I have considered scoping mine but I have had so much fun shooting iron sights with the Wilson Combat/XS combination.

One gun mag had an article about the 7600 pump as a SHTF rifle but they were recommending the rifle in .308. For many of the reasons already stated my preference is .223/5.56. Beyond a range toy I see the 7615P as a second rifle as a sort of back-up to my AR. Same ammo, same mags. Why not just another AR? If you saw how compact my 7615P is with the folding stock you would have your answer.

BTW, +1 on the 20 round mags..

As to quality and accuracy, no complaints here. My rifle, like many, was a police trade-in. I'm doubting you will find garbage in most squad cars (hopefully. These guns when they were available new retailed in the $700 range. Not what I would pay, and didn't pay, which was something like $325.

BTW, for anyone in the Atlanta area, Adventure Outdoors had these rifles and may still have some lying around.

 

[henschman]

For a SHTF rifle, if you are going to limit yourself to manual actions, I would prefer to have a nice handy bolt action over any sort of pump or lever gun. Being suitable for "heavy use" would not be an issue then. Maybe something along the lines of a scout rifle. I am working on an FR-8 scout project right now... just waiting on XS to send me the right sized scout mount. Something like an FR-8 might suit your needs just fine. I love how nice and handy it is. It makes a nice brush gun, and with a bandolier full of stripper clips, you can carry plenty of firepower.

 

[Franco2shoot]

For me, a Henry in .45 long colt is the perfect fit. Ammo is usable in my revolvers, and the Long Colt packs a whallop out to 100 yards that will bring down any Zombie you're gonna encounter. Solid performer for a hundred years.

KKKKFL

 

[kBob]

I am not new to the SHTF senerio. About 1972 I started toting a mauser 98 in 7.92 (8mm) in my car trunk along with my "go pack" and a change of clothes and spare water.

I was very familure with M-1 and M-14 rifles at the time and at least had fired a couple (literally) of shots from an AR SP1 Colt. I had then an M-1 carbine that I had hundreds (atleast) rounds through.

I never felt underarmed with the Mauser 98. Of course ammo was cheaper (though maybe not if we compare a 1972 nickle to two 2012 quarters) and I practiced a good bit between very close and 150 meters.

My biggest problem with the 98s for any use is the teenie tiny sights and that they are so pointy. At the time I had had some teenie tiny experience with a 1903 and 1903A3 and a #4 enfield and liked all thse sights better....but I had a Mauser so...... I made do. No way I was going to chance a M-1 Carbine being stolen from the trunk of my car.

If you want to go Scout with it there are LER mounts that replace the rear sight leaf out there. I wonder what a red dot out there would be like on those cannons.

Do be careful if you decide to Bubba that M48 to make it handier to not let folks on here know about it.

-kBob

 

[Domino]

Don't want a mini, as they are simply less accurate than they should be. The barrels tend to heat up too quickly. Kel-tec? Really now. My buddy had an SU-16 (I think that it what is was called). He dropped it an the stock broke. Saigas are reliable rifles and fit my purpose, but it's a Saiga (yawn...). An AR? I don't get excited about the AR anymore.

I'm starting to think my Yugo M48 looks good for my purposes. One or two 8mm's down range and I imagine the bad guys would skee-dattle

Well it sounds like you have already made up your mind on this so I'm not sure why you are asking for advice. Any gun is better than no gun for this purpose but anyone is serious about properly preparing is going to stick to a semi-auto for this purpose. Honestly, it sounds as though an SKS would be your best option but if you want the Mauser then go for it. Just don't fool yourself that you picked the most suitable weapon for the job.

 

[Archangel14]

Any gun is better than no gun for this purpose but anyone is serious about properly preparing is going to stick to a semi-auto for this purpose.

I don't agree about the whole "you need a semi" belief. Several people have told me the same thing. Unless you are going to engage in actual ongoing combat, I think a manually charge rifle is just fine. In the very unlikely event that I find myself standing out in front of my house, 2 weeks post a major disaster, eyeing half a dozen looters up the street, I would not feel unprepared holding a 8mm mauser, or a 30-30 lever gun.

Whoa....I just accidentally answered my original question: .44 mag or 30-30!