I noticed that Josh of South Park Pundit was musing about a Cooper-style Scout rifle. After half-jokingly suggesting this monster
 
…I started thinking about using a Scout rifle at longer ranges. Generally, you can’t. The key limitation seems to be the low-power, long eye-relief scope (typically 2.5x or 3x) prescribed for a Scout. In fact, that was pretty much the reason I bought my Sako .308 instead of a Steyr Scout as my first rifle. (Well, the insane price for a Steyr Scout, and that it doesn’t come in a left-handed version, were also factors.)
But hmm, thought I, I’ve just attended an ultra-long-range shooting clinic where we shot handguns with normal riflescopes. They weren’t long-eye-relief scopes, either, but they remained very usable. All that happens is that the image gets smaller as the scope gets further away from your eye. There was still plenty of image left for precision shooting at long distance (albeit an image with a big black donut around it), even with the scope out at arm’s length. That’s only a bit less than where it would be if mounted out over the rifle barrel, Scout-style.
The Steyr Scouts have been alleged to be sub-MOA rifles. If so, there’s really no reason you couldn’t have your Scout scope in a quick-detach mount, with a spare target rifle scope ready to go if you wanted to make a long shot. Hey, it really is the only rifle you need! Now if it only came in a left-hand version….
Leupold sells the VX-III 2.5-8×32 pistol scope. I’d been thinking of a scout mount for my K31.
I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a K31 for a while now, but Big 5 seems to have stopped selling them in my area since about February.
How’s yours shoot? They’re supposed to be very accurate.
Ah, yes, the left hand issue with the Steyr Scout. If I’m going to drop that much money on a rifle, I’m not going to make many accommodations to it, and certainly not a right-hand bolt.
and, David– As for the K-31, I have one that I shoot regularly and it is fun, accurate, and if I’m not shooting it from a bench rest, easy on the shoulder. Much easier than a .30-30 Winchester lever or a Marlin, about the same as a Garand. Get one. You won’t regret it. The major website is Swissrifles.com, and anything you need to know is there. Guisan and Pierre and Parashooter are experts. Ammunition costs from .38 to .50 or even $1.00 per round. An accurate rifle is more fun than blazing away with .20 ammo not hitting anything. Watch it, though, one K-31 leads to more!
Pingback: Random Nuclear Strikes » New Addition to the Family