Questioning the Scout Rifle concept.

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Very nice!

I think "pseudo scout" is as close as most of us will ever come.
Thanks! A "pseudo scout" because it is a little bit heavier and about 5/8" too long, but otherwise it works very well. Others have mentioned that the forward scout scope makes little sense (to them, that is). In the case of my FR-8, mounting the scope forward of the action means a couple of different things. First of all, I could leave the excellent FR-8 military "back-up" sights alone. The rear sight stands tall on the rear receiver ring, just as it did when it left the arsenal in Spain. Second, no modifications were needed to the already excellent Mauser military safety, since there is no low-mounted scope that it must clear. Third, no bolt handle mods are needed, though I did have the bolt handle "bent" on mine (for aesthetic reasons alone--I just think it looks better than the straight bolt handle). Then, as others have mentioned, it is easy to carry with a hand wrapped around the receiver, and reloading--via either stripper clips or single loading--is easy to do with no conventionally mounted scope in the way. On the FR-8, anyway, the forward mounted scout scope makes a great deal of sense.
 
I think the idea of a handy rifle in a popular caliber is very attractive.
After all folks have been using the service rifles and modifying them to make them utilitarian.
But the problem with fashions is that might put folks in a position where they are told how to do something before they know what and most importantly why.
If one wants plenty field of view one might choose an ACOG glass and open sights might not be for everyone.
A popular magazine makes a lot of sense but also sistetic materials and stainless/treated materials to be more durable and reliable utilitarians.
Could a handy rifle look like the advertised scouts? Maybe it will, maybe it wont.
Maybe that perfect utilitarian is an auto-loader saiga in 18" and 308 that will never let you down.
I think fashions and style can put huge limitations to ones choices so one needs to think first why they need a rifle and then the how should come after.
It is like calibers selection. I think there are a huge number of calibers that can do exactly the same thing so perhaps it is better to start with a nice bullet,
for the job at hand and develop from there. Everything starts and ends with a bullet, hopefully a good one.
The rest like the case, rifle and shooter are just the means to deliver that bullet.
 
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