Samsmix a lever scout was approved by the cooper. Greg warne was one of the first to provide mounts and rings, he did so on many types of rifles including levers. My marlin 35 rem 336 has a forward scope done by warne. Recommended to me by a good friend who, not only attended many gun site courses but was friendly with cooper and was an ardent student in coopers beliefs. He too had lever scouts as well as bolts.
Decided to try a scout rifle
- Thread starter Madball6
- Start date
Whilee visiting Stony a few months back he presented me with a brand new Ruger Scout in .223. I set it up similar to his with a conventional Tru Glo luminated scope and a Veltor extended flash hider (hate the Ruger style) and it too will drive nails at 100 yards. I was surprised at the weight of the rifle but then it is a short walk to the pig blinds so i shall survive.
As for the is it a "Scout" or not? Who cares! I like the platform and hope to enjoy many hunts with it.
Now if someone will make a five round polymere mag so i can get rid of the long "Abrams tank tough" and heavy mag, i will be happy.
As for the is it a "Scout" or not? Who cares! I like the platform and hope to enjoy many hunts with it.
Now if someone will make a five round polymere mag so i can get rid of the long "Abrams tank tough" and heavy mag, i will be happy.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
was going to post a link to Midway, for the 5 round magazine, but noted above request was on a 223 rifle... 
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I've not personally seen the 233 version... I'm wondering if the link I provided for the aftermarket mags for the 308 doesn't make one to fit the 223???
... just checked, & it appears Alpha doesn't make any 223 mags...
... just checked, & it appears Alpha doesn't make any 223 mags...
Well, there are, and have been, all manner of bolt-action Scouts and lever-action Scouts.
Some have even applied the essentials of Cooper's concept of a "Scout" rifle (or carbine) to autoloaders, one of which is that a Scout was never intended to be a vehicle for discharging huge amounts of firepower - i.e., it was never intended to be yet another "assault weapon."
In my case, the base weapon for my 7.62mm Mini-G "scout" is the well-known and battlefield-proven warhorse, the M1 Garand, which still has about the best iron sights in the world. Fed by reliable, U.S.-made, 8-rd en bloc clips, the Mini-G runs an Ultimak rail unit which allows for the mounting of a low-powered optic or RDS (here, a 2.75x Burris) forward of the action and thus facilitates quick reloading.
Obviously, both the op rod and the barrel (a 16.1" Criterion) have been reduced from standard M1 configuration, but that also cuts down on heft and weight. The T-37 FH reduces the "bark" and flash of 7.62 ammo from the shorty barrel. On the other hand, the Mini-G is really not any more "blasty" than the 16" and 18" .308 ARs I've encounter at the range, especially those wearing muzzle brakes.
While perhaps not a *perfect* spec-for-spec rendition of the Scout concept to an autoloader, the 7.62 Mini-G is still pretty darn good.
Some have even applied the essentials of Cooper's concept of a "Scout" rifle (or carbine) to autoloaders, one of which is that a Scout was never intended to be a vehicle for discharging huge amounts of firepower - i.e., it was never intended to be yet another "assault weapon."
In my case, the base weapon for my 7.62mm Mini-G "scout" is the well-known and battlefield-proven warhorse, the M1 Garand, which still has about the best iron sights in the world. Fed by reliable, U.S.-made, 8-rd en bloc clips, the Mini-G runs an Ultimak rail unit which allows for the mounting of a low-powered optic or RDS (here, a 2.75x Burris) forward of the action and thus facilitates quick reloading.
Obviously, both the op rod and the barrel (a 16.1" Criterion) have been reduced from standard M1 configuration, but that also cuts down on heft and weight. The T-37 FH reduces the "bark" and flash of 7.62 ammo from the shorty barrel. On the other hand, the Mini-G is really not any more "blasty" than the 16" and 18" .308 ARs I've encounter at the range, especially those wearing muzzle brakes.
While perhaps not a *perfect* spec-for-spec rendition of the Scout concept to an autoloader, the 7.62 Mini-G is still pretty darn good.
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Magnum Wheel Man
New member
^^^ interesting... is the Ultimak rail unit stable enough to be a "real" scope mount ???
for a long time my Garand wore a B Square side mount, but I've since retured them all to GI condition
I did have a see through mono mount on my 30 carbine for a while... but that doesn't have the energy needed to be a true scout rifle either...
for a long time my Garand wore a B Square side mount, but I've since retured them all to GI condition
I did have a see through mono mount on my 30 carbine for a while... but that doesn't have the energy needed to be a true scout rifle either...
Yes, but just so you understand the set-up, ...
... Mr. Shuff (the Mini-G's creator) modifies the underside of the Ultimak mount in certain key spots to allow for uninhibited reciprocation of the op rod.
As you know, or should know, if the op rod on an M1 doesn't function properly, the rifle doesn't either. The same is true of the Mini-G.
That said, while I've had no issue with the stability of the mount per se, the vibration from a lot of rounds fired over time will tend to loosen the mount's lock screws unless they've been locktited. I did that on mine and so far, so good.
Well, I collect M1Gs, and have several chambered in 30.06 in great "G.I" condition as well.
FWIW, I've never been impressed with B-Square mounts, and wouldn't use them on any rifle I own. Just sayin'.
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Okay, just weighed my Mini-G (MG) for all you inquisitive dude-skis.
With everything you see in the previous picture, beyond the base MG itself and the sling, ... and just to be clear that includes:
1) the Ultimak mount;
2) the 2.75x Burris scope w/ low 1" QD riings;
3) the T-37 FH;
4) the Ologopo stock pack which, as pictured, is holding two loaded 8-rd clips of new production IMI 7.62 ball ammo.
5) With the safety on during weighing, I loaded 1 clip of the same ammo to weigh it fully charged (i.e., 24-rds of ammo on the weapon);
... so, on my home weight scale, the total weight read right at 10lbs.
So, yeah, it doesn't achieve Cooper's theoretical target weight for a Scout rifle, but again, you need to understand how this MG is set up.
Other MG owners might run theirs irons only with no stock pack and no muzzle device. But even at 10lbs, mine still handles really well.
Now, I can tell you that my 7.62/.308 18" "Tanker" Garand weighs in at about 7.5-8lbs, if I recall correctly. There's no mount and no scope (irons only), but it does wear a Schuster MB and the same Ologopo stock pack. (It's my "trunk gun."
)Obligatory pic of both of these shorty M1s:
16.1" Mini-G and 18" "Tanker" Garand.
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GSR not a "Scout"?
My Ruger GSR is 35" long and weighs 6.5 lbs with polymer 10 rd mag and Wilderness Ching unscoped, 7.25 lbs scoped with Leupy 2.5 Scout scope and QD rings. Obviously I waited to buy my GSR until this last January when they brought it out with a syn stock. No offense to the OP, but that heavy laminated stock is the reason I never bought a GSR, til this last spring. As mine stands I am hard pressed to see where it fails to meet Cooper's standards as a Scout. As far as the forward mounted optic being one of Cooper's "mistakes"? Well, I beg to differ. I love the handling characteristics of my two scout rifles. The idea that its only purpose was to accommodate stripper clips is of course, flawed. I own two dozen conventionally scoped bolt guns and they cannot hold a candle to the carrying balance and characteristics of the scout rifles. My leverguns and Remington model 14 are equal to the scouts in that regard, but then they have other limitations when discussing thegeneral purpose rifle Cooper espoused. The primary reason for the forward mounted, low powered optic was for two eyes open fast target acquisition whilst maintaining situational awareness. It works magnificently for me, but as always, OMMV.
I believe the Ruger GSR is one of the best "general purpose" rifles, in the spirit of Col Cooper, to have come down the pike in the last twenty years. Even with the synthetic stock though, I think it is still too heavy, there is no need for such a heavy barrel on this type of rifle. The threaded barrel and DBM are a nod to all the mall ninjas that will buy the rifle because of these features. Put a flush mount magazine in it and it will balance quite nicely with your hand able to wrap the action. I still have to give the nod to my custom Rem 600 Scout. It weighs a mere 6 1/2 lbs including a heavy leather ching sling and is a dream to carry and shoot.
My Ruger GSR is 35" long and weighs 6.5 lbs with polymer 10 rd mag and Wilderness Ching unscoped, 7.25 lbs scoped with Leupy 2.5 Scout scope and QD rings. Obviously I waited to buy my GSR until this last January when they brought it out with a syn stock. No offense to the OP, but that heavy laminated stock is the reason I never bought a GSR, til this last spring. As mine stands I am hard pressed to see where it fails to meet Cooper's standards as a Scout. As far as the forward mounted optic being one of Cooper's "mistakes"? Well, I beg to differ. I love the handling characteristics of my two scout rifles. The idea that its only purpose was to accommodate stripper clips is of course, flawed. I own two dozen conventionally scoped bolt guns and they cannot hold a candle to the carrying balance and characteristics of the scout rifles. My leverguns and Remington model 14 are equal to the scouts in that regard, but then they have other limitations when discussing thegeneral purpose rifle Cooper espoused. The primary reason for the forward mounted, low powered optic was for two eyes open fast target acquisition whilst maintaining situational awareness. It works magnificently for me, but as always, OMMV.
I believe the Ruger GSR is one of the best "general purpose" rifles, in the spirit of Col Cooper, to have come down the pike in the last twenty years. Even with the synthetic stock though, I think it is still too heavy, there is no need for such a heavy barrel on this type of rifle. The threaded barrel and DBM are a nod to all the mall ninjas that will buy the rifle because of these features. Put a flush mount magazine in it and it will balance quite nicely with your hand able to wrap the action. I still have to give the nod to my custom Rem 600 Scout. It weighs a mere 6 1/2 lbs including a heavy leather ching sling and is a dream to carry and shoot.
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Dan Morgan
Inactive
My opinion, Ruger should have have used an already available magazine. It would be very convenient to have common mags for the scout rifle and the AR. Yeah I know, when your talking .308 there are more then one so called standard mags. But they didn't even use there own Mini 14 mags for the .223 version. Doesn't make sense to me. 
I like the the whole concept of a 'scout' rifle. I am a retired senior Infantry (Army) NCO with extensive combat rifle experience.
And i don't really expect to see any more combat but the scout seems like a pretty good cross between combat, hunting and general purpose.
I picked up a Ruger Gunsite first and still have it. I had to learn to shoot an optic with both eyes open when I first started but that actually turned out really well. The Ruger steel magazine is okay but the polymer version is much better. Still, an M14/M1A magazine would have been better. My first need for the rifle was as a truck/tractor/atv rifle and that didn't work out so well because the Ruger Scout while not really pricey it is getting close to being 'pricey'. I didn't want to bang it up so I then bought a Mossberg MVP patrol in 5.56 with a sort of cheap UTG 3x9 scope. It takes M16/AR15 magazines, is much less expensive
than the Ruger so letting it bang around with me is not much of a problem. But, 5.56 is not what i want in a 'go to' rifle, I need something a little stronger for hogs, coyote and the ever possible 'whatever'.
So, I still have both those rifles but for me, my chosen 'scout' rifle is a Spanish Mauser FR-8. It is a franken gun in that it is hald Mauser 98K (back half) and half Centme (front half). It only holds five rounds and no detachable mag but onmigosh what a great little rifle to throw over your shoulder on a strap and do just about anything you want.
If you can find one of these, grab it. They seem to be running about $4-500 on GunBroker. You got to admit, it looks like a Scout (but no optic)
And i don't really expect to see any more combat but the scout seems like a pretty good cross between combat, hunting and general purpose.
I picked up a Ruger Gunsite first and still have it. I had to learn to shoot an optic with both eyes open when I first started but that actually turned out really well. The Ruger steel magazine is okay but the polymer version is much better. Still, an M14/M1A magazine would have been better. My first need for the rifle was as a truck/tractor/atv rifle and that didn't work out so well because the Ruger Scout while not really pricey it is getting close to being 'pricey'. I didn't want to bang it up so I then bought a Mossberg MVP patrol in 5.56 with a sort of cheap UTG 3x9 scope. It takes M16/AR15 magazines, is much less expensive
than the Ruger so letting it bang around with me is not much of a problem. But, 5.56 is not what i want in a 'go to' rifle, I need something a little stronger for hogs, coyote and the ever possible 'whatever'.
So, I still have both those rifles but for me, my chosen 'scout' rifle is a Spanish Mauser FR-8. It is a franken gun in that it is hald Mauser 98K (back half) and half Centme (front half). It only holds five rounds and no detachable mag but onmigosh what a great little rifle to throw over your shoulder on a strap and do just about anything you want.
If you can find one of these, grab it. They seem to be running about $4-500 on GunBroker. You got to admit, it looks like a Scout (but no optic)