Scout rifle/scope combo.

[jackdanson]

I've been wanting a bolt action .308 for a while but wanted to do something a little different than the normal savage10/rem700 +leupold. I was considering getting the savage scout rifle with a 3-9x accupoint, what does everyone think? It will be used mostly for target shooting under 300 yards, rarely going out to past that. Might be used once or twice a year for hogs. Looks fun, albeit a little tacticool.


This rifle

With this scope
http://www.opticsplanet.net/trijicon-accupoint-3-9x40-rifle-scope-tr20.html

Anyone see any problems with this setup, specifically will the scope work well with the forward mount on the savage? I can see the eye relief being a problem at that distance, but I think the accupoint might work.

 

[EHCRain10]

Might want to look at pistol scopes, i have been playing with the same concept but a 2x7 scope instead of 3x9

i believe that Col Cooper was the creator of the concept

 

[goon]

I used a Simmons ProHunter 2.5x20mm Pistol scope on my Savage Scout when I had it.
It was an effective combination and IIRC, the Prohunter isn't too expensive.
I kept the scope, thinking I might use it again some day.
It's looking like that isn't going to happen though...
Still though, a decent set-up.

 

[rangerruck]

mmeh... I think I would rather keep it open sites, or a peeper on back.

 

[KadicDeshi]

Eye relief will most definitely be a problem. You're most likely going to need around 7-10" of eye relief. With scout rifles, you're pretty much stuck with Burris or Leupold scout scopes. Or, as another poster suggested, you can use a pistol scope. But pistol scopes really don't have the correct eye relief either, generally being set up for use at arm's length with eye reliefs of over 1 foot.

Unfortunately, I really don't have much in the way of a suggestion for something other than the standard Savage/Remington/Winchester.

Barrett

 

[jackdanson]

Eye relief will most definitely be a problem. You're most likely going to need around 7-10" of eye relief. With scout rifles, you're pretty much stuck with Burris or Leupold scout scopes. Or, as another poster suggested, you can use a pistol scope. But pistol scopes really don't have the correct eye relief either, generally being set up for use at arm's length with eye reliefs of over 1 foot.

Thanks, I read more about the accupoint and the eye relief was something like 3-4 inches, definetly won't work... looks like I'm gonna have to find a new plan. Probably just get a standard rifle w/ a standard scope. I was wanting something with a little more zoom than the scout scopes, owell.

 

[rodregier]

The Leupold Scout Scope is somewhat brighter than the Burris, if that is important to you.

 

[Browning]

Like the others have already said eye relief would be a problem with that Accupoint scope if you mount it forward.
The only suggestions that I could make if you wanted it in a scout rifle configuration would be to either get one of the Leopold or Burris Scout scopes which are made w/the correct eye relief or to use a dot sight (Trijicon/Aimpoint/Leopold/E.O.Tech or whatever) and just mount it as a Scout, that would work well especially if you used one of the larger MOA dots. Alot of military style semi-auto rifle shooters are doing that now. I've done it with an E.O.Tech and an AR with a YH rail and it works out pretty well for moving targets.

It's either that or go with a conventional scope. If you're looking for a quick bolt action rifle for snap shots in brush I'd go with one of the dot scopes. Scout scopes tend to be kind of dark and in low light it's hard to see the reticle.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I hate to say it but In the Bushnell Banner line they make a 3x9x40 that has a full 6" of eye relief. I bought one for a hard kijickin 35 whelen project. If you use this scope with a picitinny style mount you can have a rifle that serves the EXACT same purpose as the "scout" style rifles for easily half the price. On the lower 3x maginfication you have wide unobstructed field of view and the 9x gives you the ability to really dial in on 300m targets. With the combination I have pictured below I could probably move the scope forward another inch.



Have the bbl cut down to 18" and there you go

 

[Evenflo76]

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-2-75x-heavy-plex-mat-scout-scopes.html

http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-25x28mm-m8-ier-scout-rifle-scope.html

 

[AK103K]

I have a Savage Scout like the one pictured, except I have a Ching Sling on mine.

I also have both the Leupold and Burris Scout scopes, and Aimpoints. If you go the scope route, the Leupold is the better choice. If your looking for a lit optic, the Aimpoint is the way to go, unless you want to mount the Trijicon in its normal position.

The Scout scopes can have problems in lower light, and when the sun is low behind you, but other than that, they work well and are fast to use. Even though the difference in power between the Leupold and Burris is slight, for me it makes a difference, and I prefer the Leupold. That little extra power on the Burris is annoying. Its a non issue with the Aimpoints.

If you mount the scope and dot on a lever mount/rings, you can remove and replace at will with no loss of zero.

Do a pretty thorough search across the web when searching for the scopes. You'd be amazed at the differences in pricing, and you'll usually find one thats a good bit cheaper than the rest. What out for Optics Planet. I've tried to order from the twice now, and both times they took the order without telling me the items were back ordered at the time of the order, and I had to ask where the item was before being told.

 

[35 Whelen]

I've owned a home-made Scout Rifle for years. It's a 308 on a Mauser action. It is my day-to-day hunting rifle and I've kill many deer with it. My daughter, starting at age 11, killed 4 deer with 4 shots in 4 years with that rifle using cast bullet handloads. I attribute most of her success to the ease of use of a forward mounted low magnification, fixed powered scope. It is scoped with a Burris 2.75X Scout Scope. It is a superb little scope. I personally see little need for lots of magnification for big game hunting. I digress....

Now, I don't target shoot at 300 yards, but I have shot gongs at a local range at 350 yds. and had no problem hitting them. And even target shooting at 300 yds.~ is do-able. You just need to select your target type carefully and be sure to use a bull that can be seen through a lower powered scope.
Good luck with your decision.
35W

 

[MartinS]

Nice rifle 35. Has character, looks like it even smells interesting.

 

[ArmedBear]

IMO a variable and/or heavy scope defeats the purpose of the thing.

A simple, light, low-power scope makes it a fast-pointing gun for field shooting and moving targets, kind of a scoped rifle that a wingshooter can love. It would be a good hog gun. I like 'em.

For regular target shooting, though, a "scout rifle" makes little sense and is just a suboptimal configuration for people who worship Jeff Cooper and believe every word he wrote to be Holy Scripture.

 

[jmr40]

I owned the exact rifle for a while and found I did not care for the forward mounted scope. Other than that I like the concept. Before I am criticized Col. Cooper was fine with the peep sight and no scope. He felt the scope was optional. The nice thing about the Savage is that you can remove the scout rail and mount a scope over the receiver if you wish.

If I had decided to go with the forward mounted scope I would still have the rifle. The Savage actually weighs about a pound more than they show on their website and with a scope mounted conventionally my stainless Rem. model 7 filled the same role and was a good bit lighter. Even though it did not work as well for me as i had hoped I think the Savage Scout rifle is the best deal on that type of rifle and would reccomend them.

 

[Tarvis]

In regards to the "scout" concept, the idea was to have a fixed power forward mounted scope for fast target acquisition with back up irons. I think the scope was ideally around 2-4x and was not a necessity to be considered a "scout" but it doesn't sound like you're stuck on making it true to Cooper's specs. I recommend an extended eye relief scope as opposed to a pistol scope, and most definitely a Leupold over all others. Ruger makes the 77 Frontier with a forward scope base in 308, only thing that kept me from getting it is a lack of a stripper clip groove.