Scout-ish Rifle Suggestions

FleshGolem

FleshGolem

Private
Minuteman
Jul 14, 2022
6
1
Houston, TX, United States
#1
Looking for some suggestions for bolties that include a few different features. Namely:
  • Chambered in .308 Win
  • Threaded stainless steel barrel, ideally 18-20" and not less than 16", ideally free-floated
  • Open sights, ideally full-length and ghost ring style
  • Detachable magazine that either comes base or can be upgraded to 10 rd. cap.
I'd also love something straight pull, under 2K USD, and with M-LOK attachment points along the forend, but these are less important than the bulleted features. I'm agnostic about glass--just to say I'm not crazy about scout scopes and would prefer a system where I can mount further back/use rear-canted rings. Intended application is hunting and bench shooting c. 700-800 yds., with irons for backup/ occasional guide gun config.

If I could get my hands on a Tikka T3x Lite Roughtech Ember or a T3x Arctic in the US I'd be most of the way to what I'm after - alas. So far the best choices I've seen that I could maybe get my hands on are the Ruger Scout 18.7" SS (now discontinued I believe), or the T3x CTR SS (also discontinued). I've pictured all those here, in order of mention:

Tikka_T3x_Lite_Roughtec_Ember_web_0.png

The Roughtech Ember

Tikka_T3x_Arctic.png

The Arctic

1.jpg

Stainless Scout

7856_1_.jpg

Stainless CTR

Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
#7
I’m confused by your request. What is your reasoning behind this?

You’re asking for a scout rifle (box mag fed, bolt action, scope and irons), but most of the rifles you listed are not scout configuration. You mention you’re agnostic about glass, but the glass is generally the most important part of the gun, and you specifically talked about a scope setup that is conventional and not scout style (and won’t permit irons on the gun). You want to prioritize irons and scout layout, but it’s 2022 - the scout concept is dead, and has been replaced by auto loading rifles. Long gone are the Jeff Cooper days where the solution to the lack of a fighting rifle was to make a really weird bolt action rifle with almost zero workable scopes on the market.

If you want a bolt action that’s quick up close, add a red dot or use a lower power scope. You cannot use iron sights as a backup while a scope is mounted on the gun.

If you want a fast gun, grab a semi auto. Iron sights they’re made for up-close defensive encounters are almost worthless at the ranges a .308 can kill large game at if you’re already looking at using this at 700-800 for target shooting.

The Tikka T3x CTR is still in production, they’re all the rage these days.

This isn’t answering your questions, I just don’t get the point of the package you requested. I don’t mean this to come off as hostile and hope it’s not taken that way.
 
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#8
If after the iron sights and a traditional mounted scope, the cheapest option is the Ruger. The Arctic is a nice rifle while I don't have one, have CTR's in .223, 6.5 and .308. If irons aren't a absolute, get the CTR. I would like to get the Arctic one day though. In my opinion, forget the iron sight requirement, it will make the search easier.
Keep in mind, if keeping irons on the Ruger and mounting a scope you will either need a stock pack or have a chin weld. Then if you plan on having QD mounts, with a stock pack yo can't get low enough for the irons. There's no free lunch.

I'll add shit to the burn pile--Get a Sig Cross, add their small pic rail up front, mount Magpul Pro flip sights and add a scope with QD feature-bam, a bolt action "AR" Or just make a Recce AR and be done with it.
 
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#10
mark5pt56 said:
If after the iron sights and a traditional mounted scope, the cheapest option is the Ruger. The Arctic is a nice rifle while I don't have one, have CTR's in .223, 6.5 and .308. If irons aren't a absolute, get the CTR. I would like to get the Arctic one day though. In my opinion, forget the iron sight requirement, it will make the search easier.
Keep in mind, if keeping irons on the Ruger and mounting a scope you will either need a stock pack or have a chin weld. Then if you plan on having QD mounts, with a stock pack yo can't get low enough for the irons. There's no free lunch.

I'll add shit to the burn pile--Get a Sig Cross, add their small pic rail up front, mount Magpul Pro flip sights and add a scope with QD feature-bam, a bolt action "AR" Or just make a Recce AR and be done with it.
Click to expand...
Ha!!!! I’ve thought about playing with this configuration with my own Cross. Why? I don’t know. Just because. I’m an old Scout aficionado. I’ve shot them, hunted with them and appreciate them for what they are. I think the Cross might make a good Scout, if that’s what you want. (Irrespective of the why)
 
#12
UpSideDown said:
I’m confused by your request. What is your reasoning behind this?

You’re asking for a scout rifle (box mag fed, bolt action, scope and irons), but most of the rifles you listed are not scout configuration. You mention you’re agnostic about glass, but the glass is generally the most important part of the gun, and you specifically talked about a scope setup that is conventional and not scout style (and won’t permit irons on the gun). You want to prioritize irons and scout layout, but it’s 2022 - the scout concept is dead, and has been replaced by auto loading rifles. Long gone are the Jeff Cooper days where the solution to the lack of a fighting rifle was to make a really weird bolt action rifle with almost zero workable scopes on the market.

If you want a bolt action that’s quick up close, add a red dot or use a lower power scope. You cannot use iron sights as a backup while a scope is mounted on the gun.

If you want a fast gun, grab a semi auto. Iron sights they’re made for up-close defensive encounters are almost worthless at the ranges a .308 can kill large game at if you’re already looking at using this at 700-800 for target shooting.

The Tikka T3x CTR is still in production, they’re all the rage these days.

This isn’t answering your questions, I just don’t get the point of the package you requested. I don’t mean this to come off as hostile and hope it’s not taken that way.
Click to expand...
The thought is partially to salvage some of the more useful (in my mind) elements of the scout concept, while dispensing with the more arbitrary things like absolute limits on overall length, weight, and optic config. The other part of the thought is being able to work with different configurations for different ranges using the same rifle. Irons for sub-500 yd target shoots and keeping critters at arms-length when hunting in a pair w/ a partner using glass; glass and a brake when going for longer ranges; a suppressor when useful. This imagines that the irons will be zeroed at 100 yd. most of the time, and altered as needed for shooting paper; basically BUIS. A similar thought about reconfigurations with the detachable magazine - limited # of cartridges when the law requires it (not TX, obviously), ability to change load more quickly than with an internal magazine like on most Rem 700s, etc.

As for being agnostic about glass, I mosty mean that I'm not picky about using any particular brand and that anything between an LPVO and something higher magnification will probably be workable for what I want to do. I prefer NightForce and Vortex glass when I can afford it, and in this case I'd probably end up with something along the lines of a 4-16x or a 5-25x - just to say I'm open to suggestions. Whatever the glass, I'd be trying to run it in the conventional configuration and on a QD mount, for the purposes of being able to switch to irons as needed. Not expecting that I would necessarily still be holding my zero after the fact, and acknowledging that I would probably need an adjustable comb to make things work. I've had a poke around for chassis that would do the job, but hard to make any decisions before I've settled on a base model. While I like the LVPO + RDS system for an AR, I'm trying to work something w/o batteries if I can (while aware of options like Holosun w/ solar backup).

As for the CTR, my brief initial search makes it looks like I could get stainless if I wanted 6.5 CM - stainless .308 looks to be significantly more scarce. A CTR with some irons added might have the edge over the Arctic though, only b/c muzzle devices replace the front sight on that model when installed.

In short, the idea is part application, part preference, and part aesthetic
 
#13
FleshGolem said:
ooking for some suggestions for bolties that include a few different features. Namely:
  • Chambered in .308 Win
  • Threaded stainless steel barrel, ideally 18-20" and not less than 16", ideally free-floated
  • Open sights, ideally full-length and ghost ring style
  • Detachable magazine that either comes base or can be upgraded to 10 rd. cap.
I'd also love something straight pull, under 2K USD, and with M-LOK attachment points along the forend, but these are less important than the bulleted features. I'm agnostic about glass--just to say I'm not crazy about scout scopes and would prefer a system where I can mount further back/use rear-canted rings. Intended application is hunting and bench shooting c. 700-800 yds., with irons for backup/ occasional guide gun config.

If I could get my hands on a Tikka T3x Lite Roughtech Ember or a T3x Arctic in the US I'd be most of the way to what I'm after - alas. So far the best choices I've seen that I could maybe get my hands on are the Ruger Scout 18.7" SS (now discontinued I believe), or the T3x CTR SS (also discontinued). I've pictured all those here, in order of mention:

Tikka_T3x_Lite_Roughtec_Ember_web_0.png

The Roughtech Ember

Tikka_T3x_Arctic.png

The Arctic

1.jpg

Stainless Scout

7856_1_.jpg

Stainless CTR

Thanks in advance for any advice!
Click to expand...

The whole scout rifle religion is one of the stupidest things to ever come out of Jeff Cooper's mouth.

If you want to see what a fast shooting, fast handling, hard killing bolt action rifle is look no further to the kind of rifles central and western European pig hunters use.

And fuck iron sights. We now have optics so strong, durable, and reliable that I'm at the point of considering irons completely irrelevant.
 
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#14
UpSideDown said:
it’s 2022 - the scout concept is dead, and has been replaced by auto loading rifles. Long gone are the Jeff Cooper days where the solution to the lack of a fighting rifle was to make a really weird bolt action rifle with almost zero workable scopes on the market.
Click to expand...
+1


UpSideDown said:
If you want a bolt action that’s quick up close, add a red dot or use a lower power scope. You cannot use iron sights as a backup while a scope is mounted on the gun.
Click to expand...
+2



My solution to the "scout rifle" BS is this
image-4-7-scaled.jpg


Plus this
OIP.XJUuLiIKVhVX65YusWSJvAAAAA
 
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#15
308pirate said:
If you want to see what a fast shooting, fast handling, hard killing bolt action rifle is look no further to the kind of rifles central and western European pig hunters use.
Click to expand...
To be honest, something like the Browning Maral would be perfect - except they don't look to be available in the US, cost significantly more than I'd like to spend, and don't come stainless.
MARAL_COMPO_BROWN_LUNETTE-R-1080x241.png
 
#16
Michael Travis said:
Ha!!!! I’ve thought about playing with this configuration with my own Cross. Why? I don’t know. Just because. I’m an old Scout aficionado. I’ve shot them, hunted with them and appreciate them for what they are. I think the Cross might make a good Scout, if that’s what you want. (Irrespective of the why)
Click to expand...
The handguard on the Cross is too flimsy for an iron sight on it to be reliably accurate.
 
#17
I think the requirements for this rifle are trying to fit into too many theoretical scenarios and the reality is that you’re going to end up with a .308 bolt action with a regular scope and a magazine and all these extraneous requirements will never be used.
 
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#18
FleshGolem said:
To be honest, something like the Browning Maral would be perfect - except they don't look to be available in the US, cost significantly more than I'd like to spend, and don't come stainless.
MARAL_COMPO_BROWN_LUNETTE-R-1080x241.png
Click to expand...

Savage Impulse works. Or just get a Browning BAR. Or learn how to run a turn-bolt fast like Franz Albrecht Oettingen.

ETA: stainless steel is over-rated. 416R will rust.
 
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#19
I have the ruger scout in 308 win, stainless 18 inch barrels. I shoot 165 grain nobler partions at about 2700fps. I live in the north east and where I hunt your mostly in the woods so shooting 100 yards or less and maybe 300 yards when you come out into a field. I got a regular scope on it, it's short so it fits in the truck fine, it doesn't get caught on everything like 8 or 10 inchs of more barrel wood when slung on my shoulder, and im shooting a avg .750 at 100 yards with it. It has a 3 position saftey, and I bought a after marker spring for the trigger that makes it break like glass. It's a 20oz trigger pull but side by side with my 10 Oz trigger tech diamond, that factory trigger with a replacement spring stacks up pretty close to that custom trigger even with the increase pull weight. All in all, for me where I hunt the ruger scout fits the bill perfectly
 
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#23
JBoomhauer said:
I like your style. Had make my own mounting plates and have them anodized to look decent.
Click to expand...
Nice work. There’s enough PH’s in Africa doing this that a couple shops are making the plates, though limited pretty much to RMR’s. Now I just need to have the barrel chopped to 20-21”, don’t want to hamstring the 458 Lott too bad. 😁
 
#24
Mossberg MVP .308 is the budget option. I originally purchased the Patrol version as a bolt gun for guests on our nighttime forays and added a thermal. The threaded muzzle allowed adding a suppressor. And the redundancy of the pmag was nice as I was able to use the same mags/ammo across my .308 platforms. Since then I have added a Meopta Meopro 3-9x40. My son uses it for deer hunting. Without the suppressor it makes a compact truck/buggy and shooting house rifle.

My only complaint is I wanted to take the sights off and never could find the right depth flush mounted screw for the front sight. Finally just put them back on as they sit out of the scope LOS anyway. And if you get one, be sure to take off the rail, clean it, and Locktite it back down. Found mine to be loose from the factory.

They also make a MVP Scout version with a longer scope rail and a small picatinney rail already attached to the fore end of the stick.
 
#25
This is kinda sorta close to what you are talking about
Factory Model 7 action
16" 308, threaded
CDL Laminate stock ( heavy! 42oz)
PTG Stealth bottom metal; be prepared with a Dremel, chisel and files to fit this thing
10rd MDT poly mag shown

Not stainless, and without sights at this time.
 

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#26
Thanks to all who replied with ideas! I think I've settled on the Tikka CTR - I can get my hands on one of the limited-run .308 stainless versions. No irons stock, but I'm willing to get a gunsmith on it in the future if need be. Thinking about the MDT HNT26 chassis as well, which might allow for the mounting of Magpul BUIS
 
#29
IMO if you're buying a rifle with a magazine that extends out the bottom of the stock, there's no reason to go with a forward mounted optic, as you've already lost the biggest advantage to the FMO. Handiness, the ability grab the rifle and carry it with your hand wrapped around the action.
 
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