Steyr Scout in .308

[ap3572001]

What are Your thoughts on Steyr Scout .308?

[shoebox56]

Thin barrel, will heat up too quickly. I'd still want one though

[wooger]

I had one, shot pretty good for a mass produced gun. I hated the bipod and all the cast metal pieces.

Handled fast with a 2x scope though.

[ap3572001]

Mine came with original Leupold scope. ( 1998 Cooper package), what scope can I get for a significant improvement?

[wooger]

A 2.5x10 action mounted scope is almost as fast.

[elSquid]

[rm1911]

Honestly, scout rifle is the answer to a question nobody really ever asked.

[elSquid]

Honestly, scout rifle is the answer to a question nobody really ever asked.

-- Michael

[Mute]

It's a decent general purpose bolt action rifle, but for the money, these days, I'd just get myself a Seekins Havak.

[sigstroker]

It does a bunch of stuff well, except bench shooting. I seriously considered getting one awhile back. I ended up with a Tikka for half the price. It doesn't do all that a Scout will do though.

The other reason I didn't get one is that few gun shops carry them and the only one I could find (Cabela's) will not let you dry fire it. I was also a little concerned with the comb being too low for a scope. It has a Pic rail in the standard scope position and also in the silly Cooper Scout use-a-pistol-scope position. It's lightweight AND has a threaded muzzle for a silencer. If you're in Cali the last doesn't matter much. My Tikka's barrel is too thin for muzzle threads. The magazines are expensive but it's not a gun for extended shooting sessions anyway. If you like to bang away at the range the barrel is going to get hot and probably affect accuracy. It probably won't hurt the barrel, being cold hammer forged to last a good long time. The steel is pretty tough.

[1859sharps]

What are Your thoughts on Steyr Scout .308?

I love mine. They are excellent rifles. Worth every penny in my opinion. you do get what you paid for and if you are interested in the Scout Rifle concept, and you want to experience something close to what Cooper was going for, they ARE the only way to go.

They are very accurate.

Light to carry, which is important since the rifle is meant for field work.

Designed to make putting rounds on target as easy as possible, particularly the first shot.

Good for hunting or self defense

They are meant to be shot from field positions. It is hard to "get" the rifle if you just shoot from the bench at the local range.

it's thin barrel really isn't an issue.

Nor is it's weight. due to the stock design, if you mount the rifle correctly, recoil is very mild feeling.

Contrary to popular belief, you are NOT limited to a forward mounted scope and still be a "scout rifle". But IF you do go conventional, go low power and try and keep it light as possible. think 4 x fixed or something along those lines.

The forward mount scope was a thought out sighting system meant to facilitate the snap shot, and NOT about stripper clips. it has it's pros and cons. though properly explained, many people seem to feel it's pros out weight the cons.

http://www.scoutrifle.org/ and https://empty-cases.com/blog/ are hands down the authority on these rifles. Some of the guys who participate on scoutrifle.org knew Cooper personally, one in particular talked a lot with him about scout rifles, and even brought rifles over to Cooper to get his feed back as he tried to build a scout rifle pre Steyr days. So it's a good resource.

Richard of empty cases is probably the preeminent expert on scout rifles now that Cooper is gone. he has hunted a wide range of north American game as well as African game with scout and scout type rifles.

So if you really want to dive into some solid information...those are pretty much THE places to go.

Why get one?
#1 reason...because you want one.
#2 cool rifle, with lots of thought out features
#3 you are interested in the scout rifle concept
#4 you need a rifle that answers the question....I am heading into the field, I KNOW I will need a rifle, but I am not sure why until I need it... The scout rifle is designed to address that need/question.

[1859sharps]

I was also a little concerned with the comb being too low for a scope.

If you use a correctly mounted, forward mounted scope, the comb is perfect.

even a "traditional" mounted 1 inch tube scope with a smaller objective and low or fixed power will be fine.

these days, no one uses pistol scopes for scout rifles. the scopes are all designed to be used on rifles.

[splithoof]

Everything 1859sharps offers here is very true.
I would also add that the rifle is fully capable of excellent accuracy, as I personally observed Harld Pichler (chief engineer of the Steyr Scout production, from Austria) place bullets into very respectable small groups from a bench at 100 yards. BTW, Harld is an excellent field shooting marksman, and can run that platform better than anyone I've ever seen.
About the only issue seems to be the "back-up iron sights", which are a folding plastic affair, but that is a whole other issue that we discussed at length. A number of folks have found that a small RDS in a QD mount carried with field gear is a viable option for that issue, when the primary optic must be removed.
Lastly, there may still be a promotion going on that includes an excellent three-day class with the purchase of a new Steyr Scout; that alone makes it worthwhile.

[wooger]

My Tikka out shot it for 1/3rd the price. That ended the discussion for me. And allowed the excuse to spend more on glass..

I remain dedicated to the scout rifle in principle, and count myself fortunate to have owned one.

I feel compelled to add that wild pigs don't know the difference.

[giaking70]

Theres one of these for sale at the San Bernardino Turners Store on consignment for $1300.