Short Bolt

Caleb started this meme, jonesing for a Scout Rifle type rifle that shot .223.

Firearm Blog dreamed what it could look like.

And Tam expounded and commented, while Says Uncle just don't get it.

It is intriguing, a scout type bolt action rifle shooting NATO 5.56mm and taking standard AR magazines. Caleb's contribution is to that Cooper Scout concept is to add commonality of magazines with AR's.

I admit the whole concept has intrigued me, and I have agonized on a proper personal bolt action selection process here on this blog for 2 years, and here I go again.

I fell for the spell of the Scout Rifle that Cooper was such a proponent. A light, handy, general purpose bolt action rifle good for nigh everything. The problem with the actual Scout by Steyr? Cooper lamented the lack of a left handed alternative. And everyone else lamented the price.

Both are reasons I don't have one right now. I would have bought one as one of my first purchases near when I started writing this web log.

Instead I still wait for an alternative that is appropriate for me.

Why a bolt action? Because their mechanism is simple, leading to fewer chances of mechanical failure. Like a revolver. And that is a handy feature to have if you are alone, relying on your rifle, for hunting or survival or defense.

Unlike Caleb, I'd prefer the original .308 concept. But his .223 idea almost fits in with my carbine desires. I'd prefer that carbine in a pistol caliber I already have.

As for MY version of the Scout. My requirements are simple.

• .308
• iron sights as backup to a scout scope mount
• left handed bolt
• decent quality (pretty much ok with any middle of the road)
• rugged as a milsurp, but not super heavy. (Copper specified 6 kilos [correction: 3kg], but I'm not that picky)
• costs around $1000

Now, thanks to Caleb, I want to be able to feed it from an M1A magazine. Perhaps not a 20 rounder, but a 10 round magazine in a bolt action would make that Scout Rifle as good or better than any other bolt action ever fielded by any army.

My fantasy bolt action is just that, a fantasy. A bolt action pipe dream. I could have a rifle made to these specs, but it will cost more than $1000. I can get some flavor or left handed Remington and have iron sights added.

There is probably a SAKO or CZ or Remington out there that comes close, but nothing really gives me that spark to acquire it. And Savage 10 might best hit my price point. Maybe that's the attraction of the Scout by Steyr. Cooper's marketing of same made it sound most desirable. And he talked down the other verisions and clones to make me hesitate.

And now, as I mentioned, I want it to take a common magazine. And I sorta want that .223 version Caleb dreams about, too, now. Dammit.

[And I'd jump on this Aussie '5th Generation' Enfield in .308 with BOTH feet if it came in lefty! Oh my goodness. They even use M1A magazines, with aperture sights and provision for a scope... MUST investigate further.... {if there is even RUMOR of a lefty: WANT!}]