I have been lusting after another scout. After a few abortive attempts I found a new Mud one for $1300. I am going to try out a Leupold fixed 4x scope in the standard position this time. If I don’t like it I will sell it off and put a Scout Scope on it. I also ordered a thread Adaptor for my surefire can, a light mount for the UIT rail, a Ching sling from the awesome Andy’s slings, and some Tally Scout rings.
Absurdly, I have lost track of all the scouts I have owned…here is a list of what I can remember.
I had two Steyr Scouts for years back in the early 00s. Don’t ask why I had two. I sold them to buy my M16
I had a Springfield M14 Scout. A pig and I had to replace the damn extractor after less than 500 rounds.
I had a THIRD Steyr Scout that I took with me to Alaska. I have no idea why I sold it, maybe to buy a car.
I had a Ruger GS. The bolt was a mess and I had to get rid of it.
I had a Second Ruger Scout synthetic. I had to ship it back to get the bolt not to bind. but after that it was cool. Can’t recall why I sold it. I had a firedot on it.
I had an AWESOME Brockman 1895 Marlin “scout” with 16 inch barrel and scout scope. NEVER should have sold that gun.
Anyway, my stuff should be hear early next week if my house doesn’t blow away.
I have always admired the Steyr Scout rifles and thought it would be a neat addition to the family. But something else always came up that took my money. I do have an early 70’s Winchester Model 94 30-30 that I have pondered turning into a scout rifle. It is just so light and handy it is begging for the scout rifle treatment.
Came in today. I ran about 15 rounds to check the irons and test fitted the scope tonight. I will do some more formal testing this weekend then properly mount/loctite everything.
So far I am digging the general handling of the 4x fixed Leupold.
One negative, the Steyr Thread adaptor doesn’t seem to fit.
That is a sharp looking rifle. I have the Ruger Scout that wears a fixed 2.5 scout scope. That fixed 4x Leapold looks nice, I did not even know they made one outside of there rimfire line. I use there 2-7 on my 7.62x39 American but I pretty much leave it on the 4 power setting all the time. Enjoy.
Honestly, I didn’t close the deal to buy another one until I found this 4x Leupold. I do not like variables, and I have had some good ones (VCOG, Zeiss Victory, Trijicon Accupoint). I just hate fiddling. I love the ACOG on my SCAR and my aim points. My previous scouts all had 2.5s which were pretty great. But I wanted to try the 4x this time. It had a very flexible eye relief, and it helps the balance of the rifle. I Practice shooting plates with my Ruger american with 4x Nixon and it is pretty fast, even close up. Always fun trying something out.
I just leave variables on the lowest setting unless I need to crank up more magnification.
If a target is close low power works great, and I can address it as quickly as possible. If I need more magnification the target is further away, and probably unaware, and that probably also means that I have time to fiddle as you put it.
I am just too lazy to develop the appropriate habits for working a variable. It’s just personal preference, not claiming I know better than anyone.
I tried to mount a picitany rail where the UIT rail is and it really isn’t very useful. If you leave it in place it makes it uncomfortable to handle, if you mount a light you have to remove the sling. Back to the drawing board. What I would like is a good way to mount a light and laser.
Got her zeroed about an inch high with some military surplus. Next weekend I will fine tune it with some 175 gr match. Everything is looking pretty good. The trigger has a touch of creep, but nothing bad, just not perfect. Hopefully Steyr gets my new suppressor adaptor next week then I can start working on finding a low profile IR laser to clamp on it.
That is most certainly a beautiful rifle Greg Bell. Those Steyr Scouts are classics, that are worth every penny. I do not own one, sure wish I did, but a shooting buddy of mine does. I ran a few rounds through his gun, and really was impressed at the quality “feel” of the gun.
I own several bolt guns, and although they shoot well for me, none of them have the feel that his Steyr has. Ruger and others have done their best to replicate the Steyr, and even though they are fine rifles in their own right, they are not a Steyr.
I called steyr about the thread adapter not fitting in they sent me a new one in the mail with a return sticker for the old one —the new one fit perfectly.
Unfortunately I noticed after zeroing the scope and getting the eye relief set correctly the low Talley rings just barely…I mean barely would not clear the bolt handle. So I am sending them back for mediums. Damn!
It may look “weird” but having experience with both, I will take a traditionally mounted scope every time. The new brown Steyr looks awesome!
The same concept of an all around “practical rifle” is what I recently did the final fine tuning on my daughter’s rifle. Three scopes later, (Leupolds are fine if you aren’t twisting turrets) we have opted for a fixed 6X SWFA MIL/MIL on her 20" T3 .308 tikka. She LOVES it.
The handiness of a light, short bolt gun, appropriately scoped is something that cannot be understated in my opinion after having used one in the field for quite a good period of time. I have used mine on everything for Jackrabbits to elk, and been very satisfied.
The Steyr should make a great all around gun with the 4x Leupod on it.
Old thread but I do love my Steyr Scout. I also have a traditionallyl mounted scope, Swarovski 1x6. My only question is where can you get those detachable sling swivels now? Millett used to make them but they are discontinued.
