Jake V
Active member
Cool contest. Might not be as exciting as other entries built, but functionally, I feel like it’s tough to beat the simple, classic Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06 with LPVO and FE Sling. Nothing a true scout can do, that it cannot do as good or better. Short enough 22 inch barrel, 42 overall, right around 7 lbs with light 4.5-14 x 42 Burris on Talley rings, shoots factory loads less than an inch, CRF action for reliable feeding, fail-proof hinged floor-plate with 5 round capacity, chambered in do-it-all 30-06. The only thing it’s missing to make it a true scout is shorter barrel, back-up irons, and forward mounted optic (I don’t even find that to be an advantage with adjustable zoom and forgiving eye relief), but I find target acquisition plenty fast on 4.5 zoom. If I need quicker acquisition or more maneuverability than it offers, I’ll draw a semi-auto sidearm with irons and dump a mag. Thank you to the rest of you for competing. Is it cheating to be the first to enter a time tested rifle design and cartridge? Probably, but that’s what winners do. Can’t beat tried and true. I think this is the perfectly balanced Goldi-locks sweet spot that the Scout embodies. Nothing new under the sun, and this has set the bar for a long time. I question if any true scout can beat it, unless it’s eliminated for missing the assignment entirely.
30-06 gets slight edge over 308 (308 wishes it was a 30-06 with extra length and velocity), 6.5 Needmore (30-06 way less gay), 243 (child’s play), 7-08 (hard to knock, but it ain’t a 30-06), 270 (30-06 light) class cartridges for ability to shoot up to 220 grains, before stepping up to 7 mag, 300 Win Mag or bigger 35 Whelen, 9.3, 375 class cartridges. Short action could be considered a benefit, but does the minor change in length make that much of a difference? Not being magnum, have slightly more capacity and better barrel life. Still manageable enough recoil out of a 7lb rifle, don’t need added weight, deafening brake or suppressor which would add overall length.
Synthetic stock probably better for longevity and maintenance, but wood just looks prettier and has more character.
CRF king of bolt actions for reliability. I’d take a bolt gun over auto for reliability as well.
Hinged floor plate lighter, simpler and don’t have to worry about loosing a mag.
Hard to beat accuracy of ~ 1/2 inch. 2 inch scout standard unacceptable.
If the defining feature aside from weight (it’s 1 lb. don’t be a pansy) maneuverability (measure 3 inches on a tape) and reliability (undisputed) is quick target acquisition and short range, that’s a low bar almost any gun will perform fine and a side arm probably the better tool for the job. Removing optics if they fail to access irons isn’t fast enough if you need it in a pinch. Instinctive shooting , or even looking down the barrel will do if you’re talking about less than 50 yards. Low power optic is just fine.
100 yard 3 shot group with factory Norma BondStrike load.
30-06 gets slight edge over 308 (308 wishes it was a 30-06 with extra length and velocity), 6.5 Needmore (30-06 way less gay), 243 (child’s play), 7-08 (hard to knock, but it ain’t a 30-06), 270 (30-06 light) class cartridges for ability to shoot up to 220 grains, before stepping up to 7 mag, 300 Win Mag or bigger 35 Whelen, 9.3, 375 class cartridges. Short action could be considered a benefit, but does the minor change in length make that much of a difference? Not being magnum, have slightly more capacity and better barrel life. Still manageable enough recoil out of a 7lb rifle, don’t need added weight, deafening brake or suppressor which would add overall length.
Synthetic stock probably better for longevity and maintenance, but wood just looks prettier and has more character.
CRF king of bolt actions for reliability. I’d take a bolt gun over auto for reliability as well.
Hinged floor plate lighter, simpler and don’t have to worry about loosing a mag.
Hard to beat accuracy of ~ 1/2 inch. 2 inch scout standard unacceptable.
If the defining feature aside from weight (it’s 1 lb. don’t be a pansy) maneuverability (measure 3 inches on a tape) and reliability (undisputed) is quick target acquisition and short range, that’s a low bar almost any gun will perform fine and a side arm probably the better tool for the job. Removing optics if they fail to access irons isn’t fast enough if you need it in a pinch. Instinctive shooting , or even looking down the barrel will do if you’re talking about less than 50 yards. Low power optic is just fine.
100 yard 3 shot group with factory Norma BondStrike load.
Attachments
Last edited:
