Mini Scout.

I think part of the rationale of the forward mounted scope concerns the fact that a conventional receiver mounted scope is right at the balance point of most rifles. You can't carry the danged thing comfortably in one hand unless you cradle it in the crook of yer elbow. So a regularly mounted scope makes it easier to hit your target but a lot more unwieldy to carry your rifle. JM2C
 
You can get light, but you have to pay for it. My Ultra Light Arms .270 weighs 5 pounds 12 ounces with scope and that's with a 22" barrel. They will make you up a 20S actioned rifle for .223 that will come in at about 5.25 or less. Weight is like speed, how much money you have directly affects how light (or fast) you want to go. Personally, at 5.75 all up the rifle is not as easy to shoot accurately, as one about 7. Picking up an under 6 pound (all up) rifle feels like a Daisy Red Ryder.....
 
It sounds like what you need is the Mighty Lemming Scout that was discussed at length on this board a year or two ago.
 
att'n Deaf Smith
Ranch Products makes a Weaver mount that replaces the top half of the gas block, and still lets you see the front sight through it. I have one on a mini14 folder with an Optima 2000 and it is sweet. Also use it with a 2x pistol scope, and can't really decide which i like better.
 
Am I missing something here? I dont comprehend the utility of a 223 scout...I think if you want a 223 scout, you get a 308 scout and load light loads for it!?...

I reiterate...Whats a 223 scout FOR???
 
At the risk of quoting myself, a .223 rifle of scout styling would be to take advantage of the inexpensive, accurate, lightweight and reasonably lethal .223 ammo available all over the world, and in bulk.

It would not be a "General Purpose" rifle. Instead, it would fit the same role a mini-14, M1 Carbine or SKS would- a light weight, handy rifle. By using a purpose made bolt action and scaling the rifle and materials around the low recoil .223 round, the gun should be practically weightless yet offer 1 MOA accuracy.

I can't believe people are confounded my the idea of scaling a rifle to it's cartridge-that's the reason the 10/22 is so popular.

I think the .308 Scout is an excellent idea. But just as the design allows itself to be scaled up, why not down?

If .223 is such a horrendous idea for a useful cartridge, why is so much of it sold? And why should 7 or more lbs. be an average weight for a bolt action so chambered?
 
Oh, I'm not beatin up the .223, on the contrary, I like it. I must like it, I own more .223's than I do .308's (3/2). All Mini's and no complaints. Maybe I thought this would be your only rifle or something. To me, scout rifle means the rifle you'd get stuck with if TSHTF, or whatever, and thats it. You gotta hump it everywhere, and have it be capable of everything you ask, so you better make it to be light and very general purpose. In this situation, I'd rather have the more versatile .308. The .223 is very fun to shoot, and vey deadly, and will get you out of ALMOST every situation you could imagine. Its the almost that gives the nod to the .308 for me.

At first, the .223's were a reasonable compromise to the .308 I wanted and couldnt afford. Now that I finally got a .308, they make nice "extra" rifles...;)

A Youth Scout! In .223 like you say. To train younger shooters. Thats utility enough to buy. I went with the Mini's for my kids though.
 
I have recently also been thinking of a mini scout rifle; may I add a slight twist to your thread, Handy.
Am I correct in my understanding of the scout rifle concept as being a light, quick handling, quick to action, rifle? My idea is based on a Ruger .44 magnum Carbine (since I own one) or the new Deerfield Carbine.
Does anyone know of a mount which would allow for the forward mounting of a scope on either of these rifles? If not, could anyone recommend a gunsmith who could fabricate such a mount for my rifle? Wouldn't the scout concept make these great brush guns even better for their intended purpose? Maybe even moreso for the Deerfield since it ejects cases up into the bottom of the scope!
Your thoughts and opinions would be appreciated since I already hunt deer at woods ranges with the Carbine with a 2.5 power (shotgun) scope mounted to it, on see through mounts. In over twenty years, and many deer, I have never used the iron sights through the mounts. While sitting on my stand about a week ago, having lots of time to think about it, I came up with an idea for a forward, low mounted scope, maybe 4X. I think it would work well, but have no experience with scout rifles. It sure would look COOL! Unlike the .223, there is no question that this rifle would have a purpose.
Would someone please elaborate on the faults of the scout rifle mentioned above? Would they apply in the case of my idea?
Thanks
 
As I read and learn more about scout rifles, I must admit, I don't see myself putting a bipod on my Ruger carbine. But, about the forward, low mounted scope...opinions?
 
keano: (Recalling from a Ruger .44 Carbine I once had) You'd have to do a bit of creative woodwork on the stock to make room, but a good machinist could make a clamp-on mount which would be solid enough to mount a scope in a forward position. (Possibly a bridge-type mount, with holes drilled and tapped on the receiver ring, and a "C"-type clamp forward.)

For the hunting you've described, I wouldn't go up to a fixed four-power, though. If you walk up on a deer or hog at close range, your field of view might be too narrow.

Art
 
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