Savage Scout rifle thoughts

[bikemutt]

I already have a Steyr Scout but Christmas is coming up and I could choose a Savage Scout. I handled one recently and really liked it. Wondering if anyone here at THR has experience or thoughts on the Savage Scout?

 

[alexander45]

I have been trying to decide between the savage and the ruger I really like the savage stock and trigger but the proprietary magazines kill the savage for me why they couldn't just build it to take aics magazines I really don't know

 

[justin22885]

what about the mossberg MVP in 7.62x51? takes AR10 or M14 mags and has a rail that allows scope mounting in a better,more balanced location and they use a barrel and nut system similar to the savage

 

[Elkins45]

I had one and sold it. As a lefty I just couldn't work up any love for it ergonomically, which was a shame because the accuracy was amazing!

 

[AK103K]

I had one of the early Savage Scouts, and it was a decent rifle. Mine didnt have the "accu" type trigger, but that wasnt a hindrance at all. Mine had the removable mags, and they worked fine. I added a third sling point (never understood why they didnt) and a Ching sling.

The rifle was very accurate with ammo it liked. I was never real hot on the B Square mount/rail, but it did work. I had a Leupold Scout scope on it.

The irons were OK once zeroed. The little gold ball broke off soon after I got it, and I filed what was left into a square post, which I prefer anyway.

I ended up selling it off as I really want using it.

I was looking at the Ruger American Ranch this time last year, and tried to get one, but they were tough to find. Ended up with a Mossberg MVP since Id heard some good reports. If I were to do it over, Id get another Savage, and probably one of the "Hog Hunters". Just wish they had one with a shorter barrel. If they had, I wouldnt have bothered with the others.

The MVP hasnt been very impressive, and I wouldnt recommend them. Mine is in .223, as I was looking for a suppressor host. The fact it took AR mags was a plus as well. Ends up, thats about all I like about it.

Its not what Id call "accurate", but its accurate enough at 200 yards. Best Ive been able to get at 200 has been around 3-4" or so. Havent seemed to be able to find a load it likes. Because of the AR mags, youre limited in your bullet choices, as the OAL has to be standard .223/5.56 OAL to fit in the mags.

The most annoying thing about it, is the action. Its very "hitchy", and the bolt does not work smoothly at all. Sometimes you have to pull back a hair after the round is chambered, and push it forward again, to get the bolt to close. Ive shot it a good bit, and hoped it would break in, but that hasnt been the case.

 

[Art Eatman]

I shot a couple of mag's worth through a friend's Ruger Scout. My only gripe is the hang-down mag, since quite often I like to carry a hunting rifle at the balance point. But, I understand that a short mag is available.

MOA accuracy, I noted.

 

[AK103K]

The mags on the older Savage guns were flush, and did not hang down. That button on the side of the stock, is the mag release.



This was a 20 round group, shot from prone off a bipod, at 100 yards, using my reloads, and over about a half hour.

 

[bikemutt]

My goodness AK103K, nice shooting! I've shot one round groups bigger than that

 

[bikemutt]

I did own a Ruger Scout in 308 which I couldn't get to shoot very accurately, I ended up selling it. On the other hand, I have one in 5.56 which is a tack driver with ammo it likes.

Like AK103K, I had a Mossy MVP in 5.56 that was just not accurate, I'm sure it was just my specimen as I've seen guys at the range doing much better with their's than I ever could.

The only inaccurate Savage I've yet to own is a used 22lr rifle I impulse-bought at a gun show. That thing was a shotgun in disguise; it patterned, not grouped. I sold it to my mother-in-law

So, that's why I'm thinking I could have some fun with another Savage.

 

[Balrog]

Does the Ruger Scout in 308 take M14 mags?

 

[AK103K]

No, I believe they are specific to Ruger. I would imagine the M14 mags would have to be modified anyway, unless the rifle was designed to "rock" the mags in. Something you dont see much of these days in new designs.

There are other alternatives too though (FAL, G3 mags), and with all the cheap surplus mags out there, you would think that they might go in that direction, but then again, they make more money on selling their mags.

The fact the Mossberg takes AR mags was a plus to me, until I wanted to use longer bullets. So there are pluses and minuses.

 

[The Big D]

I really like the ruger synthetic scout. The other commercial offerings are too heavy to be scouts.

 

[Crowcifier666]

+1 on the Ruger synthetic scout, glad I waited for that to come out. Still working up loads with it, but I think she's a shooter.

The Ruger will not take M14 mags, but will accept AICSmags supposedly, I have not tried.

No experience with the Savage, but they are a bit cheaper...

 

[bikemutt]

I have a stainless Savage Scout on hold until Monday, that particular variant seem hard to find. If I do buy it, I want to take a different approach than I did with my Steyr Scout. I have no idea what a ching sling is but I'm not too old to learn, and enjoy.

 

[The Big D]

The speed sling (whether 2-point "Rhodesian" or 3-point "Ching") is IMO far and away the best part about the scout rifle concept. It's far more stable than a sling in hasty position.

I think they belong on nearly all field rifles.

 

[AK103K]

I think they belong on nearly all field rifles.

I agree. They are the quickest and most stable field slings Ive used.

Once youve used one, you understand. I just think many, if not most people, have never had the opportunity to try the concept to know.

 

[bikemutt]

My eyes being what they are (not?), I really need to scope a rifle for it to be useful. Let's say I stick with the scout rail, any recommendations for an EER scout-style scope? I need as much magnification as I can get.

Is there a way to scope it while keeping the irons available? I know there are see-through rings but I've seen plenty of "don't do that" comments on those.

 

[AK103K]

The two scout scopes I have experience with are the Leupold 2.5x, and the Burris, 2.75x. I think the thought behind them, and I find I agree with it is, the lower power scopes work best. They are meant to be used like a red dot, with both eyes open and focus on the target.

The Burris is only slightly more powerful, but I didnt like it nearly as much as I did the Leupold.

I see some now offer higher power scout scopes, but I dont know how well they would work. Seems they would put the emphasis on the scope eye, as opposed to the target.

As far as the see through mounts, I think in that case, youre best bet would be to mount the scope on the scout rail using zero repeatable lever rings. That way, you just flip the levers, and the scope pops off.

Mounting scopes on the see through mounts normally puts the scope way to high to get a natural cheek weld, especially on stocks made for iron sights.

 

[chicharrones]

I've tried 4x in the scout position. The field of view starts getting tiny on 4x and above on a scout scope. It works okay shooting from a bench, but kinda sucks otherwise.

 

[chicharrones]

The Scout was the biggest Joke Cooper ever foisted off on the gun community. I bet he's still laughing about it, wherever he is these days. There's no reason at all to give up the fast repeat shots of a good autoloader.

Sure there is. Weight.

A .308 autoloader weighs quite a bit more than even a traditional hunting bolt action rifle.

 

[The Big D]

Sure there is. Weight.

A .308 autoloader weighs quite a bit more than even a traditional hunting bolt action rifle.

Not to mention that autoloaders don't really speed up accurate shots very much. Most of the time between shots is spent reacquiring a sufficiently accurate sight picture and stable hold to hit on the next shot. The time taken to work the bolt is comparatively inconsequential.

Spend any time on an Appleseed line, and you will quickly realize that who shoots fast and accurate is completely independent of who's shooting a bolt vs. a gas gun.

 

[Balrog]

The scout rifle fills a niche that only exists theoretically. I can't think of a situation I would be in where my preference would be 308 bolt with a forward mounted scope.

 

[bikemutt]

Based on my limited experience, I can safely say if the SHTF and I only got to take one rifle, it'd be my Steyr Scout. To each his/her own I guess. I'd like to expand on the category that it is, just for fun, if nothing else.

 

[dh1633pm]

I went with the Scout with the composite stock. Very accurate and about 6.5 pounds of rifle. Break works well unless your standing to the left or right. Stand there and it knock your hat off. Put an XS rail on it (have an extra one for sale one here) and mounted a traditional Votex 3x9. I liked the Savage, but not the propitiatory mags. I already had extra five rounders for the Ruger from another rifle. They are ideal.

 

[Newtosavage]

I've been intrigued with the scout concept since first learning about it. It just "looks" like a battle rifle.

I mounted a Weaver 4x Scout on my Winchester 94, ahead of the receiver, and it works very well on that rifle.

I've also used a Ruger Mini-14 with a 2.75x Burris scout scope in the forward position and it is an excellent scope as well.

I'm not sure of the two, which I prefer except that the 4x is better for longer shots (obviously) which is why my M94 hunting rifle wears one. I want to be able to take advantage of that particular gun's accuracy and the Hornady Leverevolution ammo.