"Scout" rifle

[leeroy71]

What? No AR's? Say it ain't so.

Just kidding. The last thread I was on hialed the AR as the "Holy Grail". Not hatin', just iratated. Not everyone loves the AR and clones.

AS for scout rifle, I'd have to say the new gunsite from ruger is an outstanding example.

 

[bowyer19]

I tried the scout scope concept on a M-94 ,30-30. It was fine except when I carried the rifle in rain or snow. Then the balance point was such that it was too easy to get water or snow on the rear lense rendering the scope useless until the lense was cleaned. Not good if you need a shot in a hurry. I found a low power scope (or a variable starting at low power no higher than 3X at the bottom) to be as fast or faster and never had a problem in 45 years of carrying that set up except in a blizzard when only irons would have worked.

 

[CraigC]

I voted 336 .30-30 but I'd rather have a traditional 1-4x than a forward mounted scout scope.

 

[redbullitt]

I picked 44 mag option because you could share ammunition with a pistol. If no pistol, then the mini 14 is looking pretty good to me simply because the ammo is light weight, common, and works well.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Butler Creek caps keep the rain & snow out, and flip up fast. No need to have the weather foil your shots anymore.

 

[nortexeric]

I voted other...

Not saying the levers were a bad choice. In fact, I almost voted for the 30-30 option. Since I assume ARs are out of the discussion, I'll present what I'm doing. I'm toying with a Remington 700 BDL in .308 with a 20in barrel. I have iron sights on it at the moment. I'm thinking I may put a low power scope with a decent objective lens on it, possibly with light up reticle, mounted on a quick detach. Eventually, I'd like to convert it to 5 rnd mags, but haven't decided on that yet. Eventually will swap the wood stock for synthetic. This in my mind is a practical all around bush rifle/scout rifle. I will admit that the .308 may be a bit too much for some cases, but its very versatile.

Other options would be that CZ someone posted earlier, that sure is a pretty rifle. Mini-14/30 is a good choice, but getting a little more pricey. If you really want to spend money, then go with a M1A SOCOM or Scout. Something you could look into for a cheap project, look for a Stevens 325(?), its a bolt action rifle in 30-30 produced in the 50's and later IIRC. Light weight, low recoil, fun to shoot, and CHEAP!

Anyways, just my 2 cents worth, nothing more,

-Eric

 

[wraith56]

I vote 44 Mag.
It has less range than either, but you can reload cheaper practice ammo then either. Loaded 44 ammo is mostly cheaper than 30-30 ammo. the advantage of the 336 is that you can easily add an aimpoint or lesser red dot in the regular position. (no advantage to scout position with a red dot and a marlin 336). 44 makes the biggest entry hole too.

However you can't reload much below the price of 223 plinking ammo right now though, I have to admit that. 223 mini-14 would be my second choice. If reloading bores you to death I think you'll be happier with the mini-14. 30-30 is great for hunting but not the best for an urban environment.

 

[conrad427]

with such a wide range of caliber choices from the op, i am thinking he should get all three. one would be good for bad guys and the other two would be good for killing deer/black bear. If it were me, i would get a dpms sportical .223 for an urban rifle. At the time i bought mine they were cheaper than the mini-14, and you could mount the scope far enough forward to make it look like a scout rifle. For the other two, personally i would mount a small weaver variable in the normal place. I personally have had no time with a "scout" scope, but it seems to solve a problem that did not exist in the first place.

 

[eazyrider]

Or at least used to. It's true it's overpriced, especially for the American buyer. Much better rifle than the other two. (I owned one in .376 Steyr)

I was excited when the Ruger when it came out. The "Gunsite" bullshyte bugged me (I don't like to pay extra for silly -and fake- branding), but I've been a Ruger fan for years, so as I would have to have one imported specially for myself, I ask an American gunsmith friend of mine to make a review.

This is what he wrote:

-Overpriced semi-proprietary single stack mag that can't take strippers or be topped off with scope in place, defeating part of the "Scout" concept.
-Muzzle brake is garbage.
-Trigger is soggy.
-Sights were either crappy and hard to align.
-Whole rifle feels cheap and shoddy.

Conclusion: A Savage is half the price and better.

Just my two cents.

I detect that your "friend" is a little biased against Ruger. I love the line about how it feels cheap and shoddy. That line tells me that your "friend" never really handled the rifle.

 

[NM Mountainman]

Like Nortexeric, I voted "other." Cooper made many important contributions to the world of shooting and served his country with honor. Cooper's concept of the "Scout rifle" is interesting from a historical perspective, but there is no reason for us to feel constrained by it, IMO. The fact that the OP has developed a very flexible concept of a scout rifle (which can include a lever action with a tubular magazine) is a good thing.

If you want a light, good handling, accurate, powerful rifle for its shooting and handling qualities, rather than for a certain "look"; decide on the purpose of the rifle, the action type (bolt, semi, lever), and cartridge. My concept and specifications are similar to those of Nortexeric. The specs would include a good quality, well balanced, short action bolt rifle with a high quality synthetic stock that fits me, medium sporter barrel, detachable box magazines (5 and 10 round), and a good trigger. 20 inch barrel. The barrel and action are made of stainless steel with a matte black coating. Cover with camo tape when needed. Mount a good quality low magnification (1.5 to 6, or 2 to 8) variable power scope with a wide field of view in the usual location. Include a detachable peep sight (or a compact red dot sight) which can be attached to the scope base when the scope is removed. The rifle I have described would be a versatile hunting and survival rifle which would work well at short range in thick cover as well as for long range shots in excess of 300 yd.

After you have perfected your design concept and defined your specifications, you will likely find that there are few if any off the rack commercial rifles which fit your specs. In my example, I would have few stainless steel bolt action rifles with a durable matte black coating and detachable 5 and 10 round box magazines available to consider. Finding a synthetic stock which will fit me would also be a big problem.

Make any modifications to my proposal or the original scout concept (or just start with a clean sheet design) which will result in a handy accurate rifle to fit your needs. Enjoy your rifle in the knowledge that Cooper would approve of your good sense and excellent intelligent choices to assemble a rifle that fits your needs best rather than following a pattern which is the product of another rifleman's concept of an ideal rifle.

 

[Molasses]

I tried conventionally mounted scopes, including low magnification ones for a long time before the first time I messed with the forward mounted (scout) one. For me, it works faster, at least as long as the stock and scope mount fit me. YMMV. It's not for everyone. In my case, I liked that setup enough that I eventually decided to sell some other guns and haunt GunBroker until I found a Steyr I could afford on that money.

Another option that I'd recommend looking into, although it's heavy and still spendy, would be the M1A SOCOM series. Picked up a barely-used SOCOM 16 (with a number of mags) for $1,100+tax a few weeks ago: it shoots/functions well, feels nice in the hands and came factory ready to take forward mounted optics.

 

[hardluk1]

Lever rifle but with the 357 mag cartidge. Add a low power 1-4 power scope to it for better control of shots along with gost sites. You can get a 158gr over 2000fps out of a lever gun. Still be able to shoot 38 special too

 

[Ledhore]

lever rifle in .357 with ghost rings and quick detack scout scope would fit the bill for me! I've got one set up this way and it would make an excellent urban tool. .357 picks up horsepower in the carbine with slow burning powder.

 

[hardluk1]

And the 357 with 180gr or 200gr bullets on the high end to 110gr ,125gr on the low end with sp,hp and HC bullets it would do most anything you needed.