After Thousands of Rounds, These Are the Best Scout Rifles

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In the early 1980s, Jeff Cooper, gun writer, former Marine, and founder of Gunsite Academy, began pondering the perfect all-purpose rifle and eventually codified his now-famous “Scout Rifle” concept. The rifle, he said, must meet the following parameters:

• Measure less than a meter long
• Weigh under 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) with sling and scope
• Be capable of 2-MOA accuracy
• Have a 19-inch barrel
• Be chambered in .308 Winchester
• Have ghost-ring rear and post front sights
• Have a scout scope with about 10-inches of eye relief

What Cooper hypothesized was a general-purpose weapon, with world-wide application, that was just as effective for big-game hunting as for survival or military scouting. At the time, the only way anyone could lay his hands on such a rifle was with the help of a custom gunsmith. That changed in 1997, when Steyr introduced the Steyr Scout Rifle, which Cooper helped design.

Now, a quarter-century later, the scout rifle remains somewhat of an oddity to many, but there are several copycat options to choose from. None, however, completely meet the comprehensive definition Cooper laid out. But all are very practical, handy, and useful rifles. Here are the best scout rifles you can buy today.

• Best Overall: Steyr Scout Rifle
• Best Budget: Mossberg MVP Scout
• Most Variety: Ruger American Gen II Scout Rifle
• Most Adaptable: Savage 110 Scout

Best Overall: Steyr Scout Rifle

Specs

• Chamberings: .308 Winchester & 6.5 Creedmoor
• Action: Steyr SBS bolt-action
• Weight: 6.0 lbs 12.5 oz.
• Length: 38.5 to 39.4 in.
• Barrel: 19 in., fluted
• Stock: Synthetic with adjustable length of pull
• Capacity: 5+1 (detachable magazine)
• Trigger: Adjustable
• Accessories: Spare magazine, sling swivels, hard case

Steyr designed their Scout Rifle with input from Jeff Cooper, and while the finished product did not meet Cooper’s maximum weight limit of 3 kilos, it checked off most other boxes. The rifle offers a few nice features, including an adjustable length-of-pull, flip-up open sights, an integral bipod, and the ability to store an extra detachable magazine in the butt stock. The magazine also has a detent that allows you to feed single rounds into the action while keeping the full magazine in reserve and available with just a push. The Steyr Scout Rifle will also accept a traditional riflescope as easily as a scout scope. Weighing in at just over 6.6 pounds, the Steyr Scout Rifle, which is chambered in either .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor, isn’t cheap. They are however tack-drivers, and if you’re willing to pay, you’ll get the best factory-made Scout Rifle on the planet.

Best Budget: Mossberg MVP Scout

Specs

• Chamberings: .308 Winchester
• Action: Mossberg MVP
• Weight: 6.0 lbs 13 oz
• Length: 37.5 in.
• Barrel: 16.259 in. (threaded)
• Stock: Synthetic
• Capacity: Shipped with a 10-round detachable magazine
• Trigger: Mossberg LBA adjustable
• Accessories: Picatinny rail on each side of the forend

Mossberg wisely adapted their excellent MVP platform, which, when chambered in .308 Winchester, will feed from AR10 or M1A magazines to offer some of the features Cooper specified for a Scout Rifle. The gun is less than a meter long, comes with a full-length rail that’s compatible with traditional or scout scopes, and it’s outfitted with an aperture rear sight and a fiber-optic front. At 7 pounds, it exceeds the 6.6-pound limit, but those extra few ounces get you a threaded muzzle, flash hider, and two short sections of Picatinny rail on either side of the fore-end for accessory attachment. The MVP Scout Rifle is the least expensive option on this list, and a version is offered with a Vortex scout scope from the factory.

Most Variety: Ruger American Gen II Scout Rifle

Specs

• Chamberings: .308 Winchester, .450 Bushmaster, .350 Legend
• Action: Ruger Hawkeye bolt action
• Weight: 6.0 lbs 5.76 oz. to 7 lbs 4.06 oz.
• Length: 36.25 to 38.5 in., depending on barrel length, 
• Barrel: 16.1 or 18.7 in. (threaded)
• Stock: Synthetic, hardwood laminate, or walnut
• Capacity: 4 to 10 depending on chambering (detachable magazine)
• Accessories: Length of pull spacers and scope rings

Ruger worked with Gunsite Academy to develop what was originally called the Gunsite Scout Rifle. Although it was never intended to meet every aspect of Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept, the rifle does capture the essence of his idea. Now known more simply as the Ruger Scout Rifle, it comes in multiple variations chambered in .308 Winchester, .350 Legend, and .450 Bushmaster. The bare rifle can weigh as little as 6.3 pounds and features fixed sights, a scout scope rail, a detachable magazine, and an adjustable length-of-pull, with the option of a walnut, laminated hardwood, or synthetic stock. These are rugged rifles that will last a lifetime, and a left-hand version is available.

Most Adaptable: Savage 110 Scout

Specs

• Chamberings: .308 Winchester, .450 Bushmaster, .223 Remington
• Action: Savage 110
• Weight: 6.0 lbs 12 oz.
• Length: 37.50 to 38.50 in.
• Barrel: 16.5 in. (threaded)
• Stock: Synthetic, with AccuFit length of pull and comb height
• Capacity: 10+1 in 308 Winchester and 223 Remington, 4+1 in 450 Bushmaster, detachable magazine
• Accessories: Length of pull spacers and comb insert adjustments

Over the years, Savage has manufactured a variety of Scout Rifles. Their current offering is the 110 Scout, which right at 8 pounds, is well over Cooper’s weight limit. However, it does incorporate the excellent Savage AccuFit stock, which has an adjustable length of pull and comb height to help the shooter better interface with the rifle. This is critical with a Scout Rifle so that you get a proper cheek weld when shooting through the optical or open sights. It also comes with Savage’s great AccuTrigger. In addition to .308 Winchester, Savage also offers the 110 Scout in .223 Remington, and .450 Bushmaster. All have a threaded muzzle with a very large and loud, but recoil-reducing muzzle brake.

How We Picked The Best Scout Rifles

There aren’t many rifles marketed solely as scout rifles. Currently, there are only four that represent Jeff Cooper’s concept, at least in spirit. Field & Stream has protocols in place to evaluate rifles, but these rifles were tested a bit differently. Between 2015 and 2018, while I was conducting the research for my book, The Scout Rifle Study, I conducted a comprehensive evaluation of all of these rifles. I hunted with them, shot them from field positions, and shot them from a bench. Thousands of rounds were expended, and many animals were taken to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each rifle.

In addition to how closely each rifle adhered to Jeff Cooper’s codified definition of a Scout Rifle, the following elements were also evaluated.

• Shooter Interface: How well does the rifle interface with the shooter in the field?
• Quality of Construction: Were good materials used, and were fit and finish executed well?
• Reliability: Could the rifle be trusted to work all the time?
• Precision: What level of precision could the rifle be expected to yield?
• Adaptability: How well could the rifle be configured to fit different shooters?
• Price: Does the price match the quality and performance the rifle delivers?

What to Look for When Choosing a Scout Rifle

When it comes to buying a scout rifle, the first decision you must make is if you’re OK with a rifle that fails to meet Jeff Cooper’s full definition, but that at least embodies the spirit of his concept. This is important because a factory rifle that meets every element of Cooper’s concept has never been produced. If you want a rifle that will meet Cooper’s definition, you’ll have to go the custom route, and it will cost a lot of money. Expect to spend more than $2,500.

Maybe the most important thing to consider when buying a scout rifle is what you will ultimately be doing with it. Will you be hunting with it? Shooting for fun? Or will you try to use it like Cooper suggested you could, as the only rifle you’ll need for everything? If you’re just curious about what a Scout Rifle is like, go with the least expensive option you can find and give it a go before you commit a lot of money.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

All the rifles listed here are good, dependable rifles, but the Steyr Scout Rifle is hands down the best option, even at its near two-grand price. It’s heavier than Cooper wanted a scout rifle to be, but as far as factory rifles go, it best exemplifies the essence of his idea and will better immerse you in the scout rifle experience than any other gun.

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