Compact and Lightweight, Scout-like, .308 Bolt Gun

[Trigger]

After having lots and lots of different bolt action rifles over the years, I’d really hate to see anyone end up with a factory action that wasn’t a Tikka. CTR has a really great barrel. Tikka factory trigger is money. But factory mags are not as reliable as AICS pattern. Plus, stock doesn’t have adjustability.

A Tikka barreled action dropped into a KRG Bravo chassis gets you a fine rifle. Upgrade to AICS compatible bottom metal. And you get the adjustability. I don’t think people put enough emphasis on setting the rifle up for proper fit.

Regarding barrel length and caliber: I don’t know what drives you towards 308 but if you haven’t you might take a look at 6.5 Creedmoor. Factory Hornady ammo is cheap, plentiful, and sinfully consistent. I had this caliber in a 16.5” barrel, it’ll make hits on smaller targets at longer distances than your requirements easily.


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Lots of good info here!

Having compared the action and triggers on the Tikka and the Steyr, I will take the Tikka every time. The best rifle to start with, and expand with. A 20” Tikka T3x CTR fits your requirements/desirements very well. Very accurate factory barrel, threaded muzzle, 10-round box magazine, reasonable 7.5lb weight.

If you decide to grow with the rifle, Tikkashooters.com sells trigger springs for the factory trigger, KRG sells the excellent Bravo chassis, KRG sells an outstanding replacement trigger, and Patriot Valley Arms sells prefit replacement barrels. You can go nuts refining the rifle and add switch barrels for varmints, big game, or long range precision.

I think the Tikka has the best capability for growth and aftermarket flexibility.

[Wheeler]

I've read discussion that there's a plastic gear in the BLR action that can strip out if the lever is run too hard, too much. Makes it less attractive for serious use.

Someone mentioned the Henry. I recall mentions of less than perfect reliability/durability.

I'd love to see someone figure out a lever-action receiver and bolt system that would work with AR uppers and mags in a way that made actual sense.




I emailed them through their web site. Aussie export laws are apparently fairly rigorous, and they can't currently export to U.S. I emailed a stateside contact who may be a good fit for taking on a project like that. Maybe in six months or a year something will come of it.

Could you source that comment about the plastic in the BLR? This is the first I've heard of it and I'd like to substantiate that before moving forward with a planned build on one.

[littlejerry]

Many thanks for the responses everyone.

I am leaning Tikka, but there are some other really good options too. I'm planning on buying at Christmas so I have some time to deliberate.

For a scope I'm thinking a NF 1-8x, the "budget" one, not the ATACR..or maybe the ATACR, depending on what I'll end up wanting to consign or trade, or look for a FFP 2.5-10X of some sort. Any good suggestions for a FFP 2.5-10x?

As an owner of a SFP 2.5-10, I don't understand what the purpose of a FFP 2.5-10 would be. SFP gives you a usable reticle at 2.5x that is also precise at 10x. If you need ranging or hold overs you'll be at 10x anyways.

The Bushnell LRHS and LRTS gets a lot of praise over on Snipers Hide. The HS has a thick ring that allows the reticle to be usable at low power. I believe it's offered in a 3-12 model.

[DacoRoman]

Nothing ruins the handling of a lightweight rifle concept more than a big fucking heavy scope that is designed for big heavy marksman rifles. If you're to the point of cutting off 3.5" of barrel to save weight, then it makes zero sense to buy an optic with significant weight.

Unless you're going to obsess over Tacti-timmy details that aren't critical (or outright pointless, even) for the stated application and ruin the entire concept of the rifle, I'd seriously look at this: New Ultralight 2.5-10x32 Scope from SWFA. Some other options here, but I think that's a hard option to beat.

It's 9oz. That's about 1/3rd to 1/2 the weight of common tactical/precision oriented scopes, such as the Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 "compact" rifle scope. IMO, respectfully, if you're going for a lightweight rifle concept for inside 300 yards on game, buy a lightweight scope that is suitable for game inside of 300 yards; If you want a precision rifle with a scope built for such, then buy a precision rifle and be honest/consistent what you're trying to build. As for the LPVO option, unless you're room clearing or doing some sort of super fast target acquisition within 15 yards, you don't need a LPVO. It doesn't make sense to put those on a bolt action hunting rifle regardless of them being all the heat these days to put on carbines for shooting terries.

I'm considering cutting the barrel down in order to decrease overall length and increase ease of handling and increase compactness, not to save weight, with the weight savings being a mere fringe benefit.

It would be nice to stay 18 oz and below on the scope for sure. 9 oz is crazy light...does that thing even handle .308?

I guess what I want is a modified scout concept, with low enough magnification to allow use for personal defense from a charging animal of some sort within 25 yards, allow for game collection out to 300 yards, but also allow going out to 500 yards in a .308 for shooting steel (just as a personal perk).

As I keep thinking about it, and based on my limited but high yield experience in a rifle class where we shot out to 600 yards, a 1-8X scope would be a solid choice to meet this criteria. The NF 1-8 NX8 is 17 oz, which I think is very acceptable. The NF ATACR 1-8X is 21 oz which is starting to get up there but I also don't think is hideously heavy.

The Tikka T3x Lite Compact is listed at 5.9 pounds with a 20" barrel. So even keeping a 20" barrel and adding either of the NF 1-8x scopes above would still make for a pretty light system. The more I think about it the more I'd likely go with the NX8 instead of the ATACR.

The Steyr Scout is 6.6 lbs I see, so assuming that most scout-like rifles are around that weight, I think a scope that is around 17 oz. or so would be GTG with most scout rifles.

But great points for sure, worthy of contemplating, which I will. And I will most definitely take a look at that featherweight scope.

[TGS]

Well, just to echo someone else.....

...why 308? There's better cartridges for the purpose of this rifle.

I still don't get the draw for a LVPO on this rifle, but hey, it's yours to build.

[DacoRoman]

After having lots and lots of different bolt action rifles over the years, I’d really hate to see anyone end up with a factory action that wasn’t a Tikka. CTR has a really great barrel. Tikka factory trigger is money. But factory mags are not as reliable as AICS pattern. Plus, stock doesn’t have adjustability.

A Tikka barreled action dropped into a KRG Bravo chassis gets you a fine rifle. Upgrade to AICS compatible bottom metal. And you get the adjustability. I don’t think people put enough emphasis on setting the rifle up for proper fit.

Regarding barrel length and caliber: I don’t know what drives you towards 308 but if you haven’t you might take a look at 6.5 Creedmoor. Factory Hornady ammo is cheap, plentiful, and sinfully consistent. I had this caliber in a 16.5” barrel, it’ll make hits on smaller targets at longer distances than your requirements easily.


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Great points for me to consider thanks!

I've seen that there are some companies out there that sell AICS conversion bottoms for the CTR's. Any thoughts on going that route?

I like the idea of an optimized chassis, I guess I would be concerned about weight. I'll take a look at that they've got.

My interest in .308 is that I already have an LMT MWS in .308, it has a good track record, and that it is a commonly available round. I know close to nothing about the 6.5 Creedmoor except that everyone seems to love it. From a performance perspective it sounds like it is easily superior to the .308. I guess I'm not inclined to have to stock another caliber, and one that may not be as available as .308. I'll stew on the concept of possibly going with the 6.5, but familiarity and ease of available ammo pushes me toward the conservative choice

[DacoRoman]

Here are a couple of photos of the Steyr Scout with the Leupold scope attached over the action, as requested.

Attachment 42666Attachment 42667

Thank you much!

Very nice set up indeed! And I just looked it up and these are a lot more economical to buy then what I remember! It looks like I could get one for around 1599-1699.

Hmm...at this point I'm starting to think that it may either be the Tikka or the Steyr.

I don't see any 10 round mag options for the Steyr Scout, are there any?

[DacoRoman]

Sorry for the late response.

On the 18 barrel, personal preference. 16 inch is about the limit you can take a .308 and still be a .308. The 16 is also LOUD and I’ve been shooting ARs with brakes my whole adult life.

I’ve read that the GSR might not be the best rendition of a scout rifle but it’s a nice update on the Enfield Jungle Carbine. Being in a ban state, that appeals.

No worries!

Fair enough, makes total sense.

Actually, I had written that at this point I'm thinking Tikka T3X lite compact or Steyr Scout, but the GSR is also in there for consideration.

Yeah I've been geeking out over the Enfield Jungle Carbine for decades.

[DacoRoman]

I've read discussion that there's a plastic gear in the BLR action that can strip out if the lever is run too hard, too much. Makes it less attractive for serious use.

Someone mentioned the Henry. I recall mentions of less than perfect reliability/durability.

I'd love to see someone figure out a lever-action receiver and bolt system that would work with AR uppers and mags in a way that made actual sense.




I emailed them through their web site. Aussie export laws are apparently fairly rigorous, and they can't currently export to U.S. I emailed a stateside contact who may be a good fit for taking on a project like that. Maybe in six months or a year something will come of it.

Very interesting info! This is the kind of stuff that one needs to find out and know about. Bears further looking into for sure. Thanks for the warning.

I certainly seems that there is interest for a "tactical" cowboy Lever gun that is rock solid and modernized, and that takes mags...and it might as well be AR style mags. Having one in 6.8 SPC would be awesome, but I'll take 5.56 and 300 black out, .308, whatever!

EDIT: oh I forgot, thank you for emailing them and getting that info

[DacoRoman]

At least if you move to a place where a threaded barrel is prohibited, you can just cut the threads off and roll on.

yeah good point..and come think of it, going with a slightly longer barrel in case you have to cut more off may not be a bad idea either..