Steyr scout opinions

[clipofblanks]

I have been all over the net looking at reviews for this gun,seems to be all over the place, looks like you love it or hate it.I handled one in a local gun store seems good and smooth and loved the concept but the bipod felt loose.what do cal gunners think of this gun? Been saving and eyeballing it for years. And weak points on rifle? Common problems? Thanks everyone

[Dannicus]

Google around.

I found a review a while back. The only thing that stands out in my memory is that the trigger guard is plastic and broke in a couple places on the test rifle.

[-vK]

The Steyr Scout pros and cons.

IMHO

The good:
Very accurate because of its fine adjustable trigger and it's precision hammer forged free floated barrel. Sub MOA is possible with match ammo and even better with hand loads. It's extremely safe because of the Steyr Safe Bolt System that has been adopted across most of their rifle line. The bolt operation is very smooth with nickel plated version. And the three position safety wheel is easy to operate and ambidextrous. I really like the three point Ching Sling and the underside accessory rail that will accept a hand stop like a competition rifle. It makes it quick and stable when shooting from improvised field positions. I have found the sling to be very useful addition in field shooting during springtime when the high grass excludes the use of a conventional prone position. It has a built in bipod that I don't use much because I'd rather place the rifle on a field bag or use the sling. But I did use it once during a hunt, on a side of a hill where it was difficult to use the before mentioned techniques and it worked very well. The gun is relatively lite and carries well for such a full featured rifle.

The bad:
Pricey. In my opinion the value is there if you compare the engineering, features, and the accuracy to other rifles of it's type. Still the cost is high to get started. It's ugly like other Austrian firearms. Glock comes to mind. I like them and "form follows function" like they say. Like the Glock they perform and function very well. On some models the nickel plating on the bolt is absent and isn't as smooth without it. I'm not sure why they removed this step for .223 and .376 version. The back up sights are best use as back up sights. They sit to low for a natural cheek weld and you have to strain to use them. At least they're out of the way when flipped down.

Low power scout scopes are useful but leave something to be desired.

I currently have mounted on my .308 and .376 scout the Trijicon TR21 1.25X4 in Tally 1" medium rings made for the Steyr. The scope is mounted forward of the bolt handle and the ocular bell housing bulge sits just inside of the ejection port. The ocular lens position is very low over the rear of the receiver allowing for a proper cheek weld. It also allows you to manipulate the bolt handle quickly because the scope is forward and out of the way. The eye relief on the TR21 is unique and very long. It's perfect at X1.25 for fast, both eyes open snap shots using a post and fiber optic triangle reticle. At X4 you must move your head forward to get a full view. This seems to naturally occur during sling use and while prone and is more deliberate during offhand. It has the speed and ergonomics of a traditional scout scope but with the relative precision of a X4 power scope and is close to perfect for a general purpose rifle.

My .223 Scout has a Burris 3X12x32 handgun scope with A/O and B-plex. It's mounted in 1" Weaver medium extended rings forward like a traditional scout scope and works well as a varmint rifle. Let me qualify that statement. I know that true varmint rifle should have a long heavy barrel accompanied by a high power scope and a large rigid stock. This scout setup works well as a walking around ground squirrel rifle and that's how I use it. It allows me to get a lot of practical trigger time in the field and practice sling use and shooting from improvised positions while hunting.

It's a very nicely designed package, well executed and a rifleman's dream. Well, Jeff Cooper anyways and I agree. It's a rifle with modern European engineering from a company who's been making firearms since 1869.

I know this was long, but I hope it helps. -vK

Here's a link to the Steyr Scout owners manual. As you can see there's a lot that go's into making one. With all the engineering and features, judge for yourself if it's worth the extra dollars.

http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/FIREARMS/steyr_scout.pdf

Also this is the best site for information on the Steyr Scout.

http://www.steyrscout.org/project.htm

I'll try to post some pictures of the scope setups so you can get a better Idea.

[toby]

I handled one, shot it, hated it, stock feels like cheap PLASTIC and just felt awkward/bulky for me, makes the barrel look super skinny? After this I had no appeal for a scout setup at all. Just my opinion.

[8200rpm]

I've never owned one or handled one in person, but I've used one in a video game. So, here is my official Calgunner review:

PROS:
1. It's available in .223 so you can use the same ammo as your Franklin Armory SHTF AR15.
2. It's available in .308 so you can use the same mil surp ammo as your SOCOM16.
3. It has factory BUIS in case your Tru Glo green dot and CTD 3x magnifier goes down.

CONS:
1. It doesn't take M1A magazines.
2. It costs 6x more than a Ruger American or Savage Axis.
3. The 19" barrel doesn't provide enough velocity the reach out to 1000 yards for all North Ameican large game like Cape Buffalo.

This is just another expensive, over-priced, European bolt-action designed and marketed for people who like XDs.

[toby]

I've never owned one or handled one in person, but I've used one in a video game. So, here is my official Calgunner review:

PROS:
1. It's available in .223 so you can use the same ammo as your Franklin Armory SHTF AR15.
2. It's available in .308 so you can use the same mil surp ammo as your SOCOM16.
3. It has factory BUIS in case your Tru Glo green dot and CTD 3x magnifier goes down.

CONS:
1. It doesn't take M1A magazines.
2. It costs 6x more than a Ruger American or Savage Axis.
3. The 19" barrel doesn't provide enough velocity the reach out to 1000 yards for all North Ameican large game like Cape Buffalo.

This is just another expensive, over-priced, European bolt-action designed and marketed for people who like Glocks.

Fixed it for ya!....

[SloChicken]

[QUOTE=8200rpm;13186552]

...
3. The 19" barrel doesn't provide enough velocity the reach out to 1000 yards for all North Ameican large game like Cape Buffalo.

QUOTE]

I think you mean American Bison.

Cape buffalo will need more round than anything the Steyr is chambered in.

Neither of which will be taken at 1000yds.

Bison aren't really the type to be spooked, and neither are Cape Buffalo, so there is no reason to take that distance of shot.
Except for your own safety in the case of the Cape Buffalo at least.

Back on topic, the Steyr has a barrel so skinny it makes pencils look obese. Never did understand their concept (except for ease of carry).

Not the rifle for me. Seems a lever gun will be just as light and much cheaper answer for quick acquisition shooting, and for farther shots, a standard bolt rifle will do fine.

Seems an answer waiting for a question IMO.

[8200rpm]

I think you mean American Bison.

Cape buffalo will need more round than anything the Steyr is chambered in.

Neither of which will be taken at 1000yds.

No. I absolutely meant cape buffalo...

Here's a photo of one taken in Canada...

[-vK]

Here are a couple of photos of the scope setups I mentioned earlier. Notice the leather Turner Saddlery sling and The Wilderness nylon web sling. Both great Ching Slings. The Galco version, not so much. It's to thin and it digs into the shoulder when carrying the rifle. Also notice the Anschutz hand stop. You can really get locked into the sling with the addition of a hand stop.






I know this gun isn't for everyone. Think of it as a custom rifle. I've tried my best to give it a fair and honest assessment for those who are interested. If you tried to build this from scratch, it would cost about the same. Around $1500 and wouldn't be as accurate or as ergonomic.

The last thing I'll say is that It's attributes become readily apparent out in the field. And that is where all the "custom" touches come into their own.

Now for more thread crapping. -vK

[8200rpm]

My posts were in jest.

I would field a Steyr Scout in .308 in a heart beat. If I hunted routinely, I'd buy one without hesitation.

[NapalmCheese]

If you like scout rifles, and you played a lot of Counterstrike in college, then it would seem like getting one of these in .223 (and an 'AWP' .338 LM, yeah, an AWP, not an AWM, ibcs1, In Before Counter Strike 1.0) would be nearly mandatory.

[Sicarius]

It is a neat rifle and has some nice features and for me, fits quite comfortably. I have only shot the 308 tactical elite but it feels quite solid. I think people forget it is a "scout" rifle. Steyr has has always made a quality product and their craftsmanship is excellent, this rifle is no exception to that. My only gripe is the cost of the firearm and how expensive the magazines are. I understand that you pay for quality but there are a few rifles in the same market that are extremely competitive and cost less. If you are in the market for a scout rifle and like Steyr quality. I think you will be pleased.
Kevin

[Mr.Hipp]

Last time i took the .376 out i shot 13 rounds and had a silver dollar size bruise on my shoulder. The ammo for the .376 is well over $50 for a box of 20.

[CrippledPidgeon]

Back on topic, the Steyr has a barrel so skinny it makes pencils look obese. Never did understand their concept (except for ease of carry).

Not the rifle for me. Seems a lever gun will be just as light and much cheaper answer for quick acquisition shooting, and for farther shots, a standard bolt rifle will do fine.

Col. Jeff Cooper came up with the Scout rifle concept as being a jack-of-all-trades rifle - one that might not excel in any one area, but be good enough to be used in nearly any situation. It should be accurate, but small and light enough (under 1 meter long, and under 6.6 lbs) that it's easy to pack. It should be magazine fed, and have provisions to store a second magazine in the stock. It should have an integral bipod. It should be a .308, so that it can take most game in North America. It should have provisions to use long eye relief scout scopes, but also have backup iron sight. It should be able to use the (I'm sure, cutting edge at the time) Ching Sling.

The Steyr was built to Cooper's specifications. If I were to buy one, I'd probably use it as an SHTF or survival rifle. Clamp it in the trunk or something, and use it if I got stranded in the middle of nowhere, or something. It fills a certain niche, being a decent compromise to fulfill a variety of requirements, just know what its limitations are.

Granted, if I were looking to build a scout rifle, I'd probably base it off a Remington 700 action than a Steyr, just because it'd be far less expensive to put together a kit of spare parts, but that's me.

[ERdept]

Google around.

I found a review a while back. The only thing that stands out in my memory is that the trigger guard is plastic and broke in a couple places on the test rifle.

Steyr seems to keep dong the plastic trigger stuff.