The Ultimate Scout Rifle—Full Review

The Steyr Scout is the culmination of Jeff Cooper’s concept of a light yet capable rifle. Image courtesy of the manufacturer.

With two magazines on board, the Steyr Scout Rifle is easily tac-loaded and the operator need not carry additional ammunition on their belt.

For more information, visit https://steyrarms.com.

The idea of owning only one rifle does not appeal to many Americans. In some European countries, government restrictions make it more common and is why drillings and vierlings—rifle and shotgun combination guns with multiple barrels—are popular there. In the United States, we can own multiple rifles specialized for almost any specific task. While this is very appealing if not an ideal situation, so is the idea of owning a single rifle you can do almost anything with.
U.S. Marine and Gunsite Academy founder Jeff Cooper began experimenting with carbines – short rifles – as early as the mid-1960s. His work with these reduced rifles led to his conceptualized solution to the one rifle question. Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept is now often looked at as mostly a set of ridged specifications regulating the physical makeup of the firearm. What is very often overlooked is the practical application and friendliness of the rifle Cooper was trying to create.
In the early 80s Jeff Cooper held a number of conferences with riflemen and others he respected. The goal was to put forth the criteria of the Scout Rifle concept Cooper had formulated around the idea of a rifle that would best suit a man working alone in the wild while operating as a military scout, hunter, or both. Though Cooper massaged the specifications over the years, his Scout Rifle could be broken down into these 10 elements.

• Compact bolt-action rifle chambered for .308 Winchester
• Barrel of 19 inches or less
• Overall length of 39 inches or less
• Forward-mounted, low-powered, long eye relief optical sight
• Reserve ghost ring sights
• Ching or C.W. shooting sling, with hammerhead recessed attachments
• Good trigger
• Integrated bipod
• Mechanism for storing extra magazine or ammunition in the buttstock
• Maximum weight of seven pounds unloaded, with all accessories attached

Cooper’s definition went far beyond elemental makeup; he wanted a rifle that was “friendly” and stipulated its most outstanding characteristic was “handiness.” He wanted a rifle that was ideally adapted to the snap shot, while still providing two MOA or better precision out to any reasonable shooting distance. Cooper wanted a “general-purpose” rifle.

This is Cooper’s second prototype Scout Rifle and he called it Sweetheart; it is the rifle Zedrosser from Steyr worked with when he came to Gunsite.

Cooper worked with a variety of gunsmiths trying to construct prototypes meeting these specifications, but what he really wanted was that a major firearms manufacturer to mass-produce his conceptualized carbine. Over the next several years Cooper came close to creating a Scout Rifle with his prototypes, but it was 1990 when a major firearms manufacturer finally showed interest. Cooper met with Steyr Mannlicher to explain his concept rifle, but Steyr was too busy with other projects to commit at that point. However, the idea was not scrapped and Cooper invited Steyr engineer Herr Ulrich Zedrosser to visit Gunsite and try his best prototype Scout Rifle to better understand the concept.
Zedrosser went to Gunsite and was very impressed with how well “Scout II” or “Sweetheart” – Cooper’s second prototype Scout Rifle – worked. Zedrosser immediately began sketching ideas and seven years later the Steyr Scout Rifle was unveiled at the Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, in October of 1997. A Steyr press release contained the following description, and it read as though Cooper had written it himself:
“The essential element of the Scout Rifle is handiness. It is a general-purpose arm intended to all things that a rifle might be called upon to do, with the exception of certain specialties, such as formal target shooting and hunting pachyderms. Conceptually, it renders all extant general-purpose rifles obsolete. The man who owns a Steyr Scout has no need for any other rifle.”

This mule deer is the first game animal Cooper took with the Steyr Scout Rifle. Circa – 1997, Gunsite Academy photo.

SPECS

• Chambering: .223 Rem., .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., .308 Win
• Barrel: 19 inches
• OA Length: 38.5 to 39.4 inches
• Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces
• Stock: Synthetic
• Sights: Pop up ghost ring rear, blade front
• Action: Bolt
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 5, or 10 with the extended magazine kit
• MSRP: $ 1,499.00

From Dream to Reality

Even by today’s standards, the Steyr Scout Rifle’s appearance is radical, but the radicalness of the Steyr Scout is not in just its looks. The rifle is built on Steyr’s SBS action which has a four lug bolt with a 70° lift. The lugs lock into a bushing with a steel safety ring that leaves the bolt head, case head and extractor, surrounded.

Though the integral bipod on the Steyr Scout Rile is not as rigid or as versatile as say a Harris bipod, it can aid with shooting and is great for resting the rifle.

The integral bipod of the Steyr Scout folds down and forward.

This system also incorporates a three-position, tang-mounted rolling safety. In the forward “FIRE” position a red dot is visible. In the center position, the trigger is locked and both a white dot and a button are visible on the rolling wheel. With the safety in this position, the bolt can be cycled without worry of negligent discharge. If the button is depressed and the wheel is rolled to the rear “LOCKED SAFE” position, you can press down on the bolt handle and lock it in place. This circumvents the bolt from being accidentally opened if it snags on something. To place the rifle in either the center safe or fire position, press the button and roll the wheel forward. When this is done the bolt shifts out of the locked position.
It’s all a rather ingenious affair and at first blush might seem a bit over engineered. However, with a little practice and use it becomes second nature, blazingly fast to operate, and truly appreciated for its three-position, three-function utility.
Another departure from conventional rifle design is the aluminum alloy receiver, which extends about six inches forward of the front receiver ring. This extension serves as the foundation for the distinctive extended eye relief optical sight (or “scout scope”) that has become so emblematic of Cooper’s concept. The rifle’s thin and fluted 19-inch barrel is joined to the receiver by an interesting arrangement that uses an expanding bushing, tightened to a specific level of torque.

At the rear of the receiver on the Steyr Scout Rifle you will find a pop up ghost ring aperture sight.

Incorporated in the rear receiver ring is a flip-up ghost ring sight adjustable for windage. Recessed in the front barrel shroud is a pop-up front blade sight that can be adjusted for elevation. Together they form the reserve sights Cooper felt a Scout Rifle must possess.
The detachable magazine is made of polymer and holds five .308 Winchester cartridges (other chamberings from .223 Rem. to 7mm-08 are also available). It has the double detent feature that allows it to be locked in place only partially inserted in the magazine well. This allows the operator to load a single cartridge by dropping it through the ejection port. They cartridge will rest on top of the loaded magazine, perfectly aligned so that the bolt can be closed to chamber the cartridge. If access to the full capacity of the magazine is desired the box only needs to be fully seated. Additionally, if the magazine is fully consumed, the operator can continue to load single cartridges through the ejection port or alternately retrieve the spare full magazine that can be stored in the rifle’s buttstock.

One of the more unique features of the Steyr Scout Rile is the ability to store a spare magazine in the rifle’s buttstock.

Steyr made every attempt to honor Cooper’s concept and engineered a retractable bipod integrated into the rakish lines of the stock. The legs of the bipod are released by a push button in the bottom of the forearm and they fold down and forward. This is counter to most bipods that fold down and to the rear and it will not allow a shooter to load – put pressure against – the bipod when shooting.
Steyr also installed five hammerhead recessed sling swivel slots in the stock to permit the attachment of a traditional two-point sling or the Cooper-preferred three-point C.W. or Ching sling. Rifles are shipped with three hammerhead sling attachments allowing the operator to position the sling as desired.
Finally, and what might be the most overlooked and important aspects of the rifle deal with Cooper’s “friendliness” requirement. The butt of the stock is fitted with spacers allowing the length of pull to be adjusted to fit the shooter and the heel of the butt is rounded to facilitate ease of shouldering. The center of the comb of the Steyr Scout Rifle is very high, only a fraction of an inch below the centerline of the bore, and about 1.75 inches below the center line of a scout scope when mounted as low as possible on the rifle. Additionally, the comb of the Steyr Scout Rifle does not drop—from its nose to its heel—it rises.
This might seem to go against conventional wisdom, but Melvin Forbes of New Ultra Light Arms pioneered this concept when he introduced his model 20 lightweight rifle in 1983. (Incidentally, Forbes stocked a prototype Scout Rifle for Cooper in 1987.) By having the comb configured this way it allows the shooter to establish a solid check weld, while being able to see through the optical sight. More critically, as the rifle recoils the shooter’s cheek slides forward and down the comb. With a conventional rifle stock, with drop in the comb, the crest of the comb is driven back into the shooter’s cheek and the drop prevents the cheek or face from experiencing a comfortable interface.

The author ran a selection of Hornady, Remington and Barnes ammo through his test sample rifle with good results.

Though many neglect the open sights on the Steyr Scout Rifle and only shoot it with a scout or traditional scope in place, they are an integral and important part of the general-purpose rifle concept.

Tips on Equipping a Scout

An integral part of being a rifleman is the ability to accurately engage targets from field positions. This is best done with the aid of a shooting sling and the Steyr Scout Rifle will easily accommodate any variety. For the purists, I’d suggest the Rhodesian or Ching Sling slings from Andy’s Leather. Both are simple, light, and made of leather.

The Ching Sling, available from Andy’s Leather, attaches at three points on the rifle and works very well with the Steyr Scout Rifle.

Burris’ 2-7X Scout Scope is a versatile scout scope that will work for the snap shot and at distance.

Another option is a sling I worked on with Galco Gunleather called the RifleMann sling. This two-point sling made of nylon and leather allows for comfortable carry of a rifle. It’s also well suited for slinging-up with the support or shooting arm.

Though not intended as a long-range hunting rifle, the Steyr Scout Rifle took this Idaho black bear at just a shade over 400 yards.

Don’t overlook the fact that you can mount a traditional riflescope on the Steyr Scout Rifle. This allows you to specifically tune the rifle to the application. And, with detachable mounts on your scout scope and traditional scope, you can switch between them, as need dictates. Alternatively, if you want to strictly stick with a “scout” scope, consider the Burris 2-7X Scout Scope with its Ballistic Plex reticle as a good compromise for general-purpose usage.
Finally, I’d suggest ammunition selection be a priority. The shorter barrel of the Steyr Scout Rifle reduces muzzle velocities and this is counter-productive to terminal performance as distance extends. Hornady’s new Precision Hunter ammo loaded with their ELD-X bullet will provide exceptional terminal performance at Steyr Scout Rifle velocities out to 500 yards.

Where It Counts

Is the Steyr Scout rifle the ideal general-purpose rifle? Is it the only rifle you really need? It just might be. Keep in mind, the Scout Rifle—as Cooper envisioned it—was never intended to be the ideal whitetail, elk, coyote or safari rifle. What Cooper was searching for was the one rifle that could do all these things exceptionally well, while still having serviceable utility for personal defense or in a limited military role. In other words, Cooper saw the Scout Rifle as the one rifle answer to everything. I had a chance to put a sample Steyr Scout rifle through its paces on the range and must say I was very impressed. Although not designed as a “precision” rifle, it is more than capable of effective accuracy and performed quite well. I would say that I agree with Cooper’s assessment of the design and its capabilities.

The Steyr Scout is the culmination of Cooper’s musings on the ideal all-around rifle and Steyr’s (successful) efforts to achieve it.

I’m of the opinion Cooper and Steyr got it right. It will excel in just about any situation where volume fire is not a requirement. It can provide reliable service in many roles, while weighing less than any other rifle with all of its features. To me is the epitome of a general-purpose rifle, which is exactly what Cooper wanted, and what the Steyr Scout Rifle is supposed to be.
For more information, visit https://steyrarms.com.