The firearm thread

[Wolf]

Thanks for that, Jono.

Just been doing a bit of reading on Lt Col. Jeff Cooper and come up with the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_Rifle

Any thoughts on the pluses and minuses of such a firearm?

[The Pastor]

why do you want it?

[jono035]

Bear in mind that this was an idea put forward 30 years ago. It's basically the same thing as a lot of hunting rifles for bush-bashing. Big caliber, short, light, low-magnification scope, sometimes open scope mounts to use existing iron sights.

The only things that are different are the long eye relief scope which isn't needed with a magazine-fed rifle.

Doesn't seem like anything special to me, but then again this is 30 years afterwards...

[Wolf]

I like the specs - short enough not to get tangled in scrub, not too heavy to carry (I'm an old fart), still capable of bringing down decent-sized game, reliable (bolt action, not these newfangled semi-autos). On the minus side I can see harsher perceived recoil (again, I'm an old fart).

And might be useful in the Zombie Apocalypse...

[The Pastor]

I like the specs - short enough not to get tangled in scrub, not too heavy to carry (I'm an old fart), still capable of bringing down decent-sized game, reliable (bolt action, not these newfangled semi-autos). On the minus side I can see harsher perceived recoil (again, I'm an old fart).

And might be useful in the Zombie Apocalypse...

sounds like you need a 30-30

[Wolf]

It's basically the same thing as a lot of hunting rifles for bush-bashing.

True. It pretty much has described what I've thought of as the ideal "bush-basher" - something that won't hang up in every tree and liana that I can comfortably carry for hours over heavy terrain (the latter of which describes my little Brno) but can bring down deer/goat (which I would not rely on the Brno to do.)

Doesn't seem like anything special to me, but then again this is 30 years afterwards...

Yep, 30 years of derivatives of said "Scout Rifle" used by hunters that grew sick of lugging 4kg of hunting rifle through dense scrub. No doubt it was innovative at the time, but "old hat" now.

[jono035]

Yeah, a standard Tikka T3 lite hits the edge of those criteria. 1m OAL, 2.7kg. Lopping off a few inches off the end of the barrel and using a slightly faster burning powder would get you similar amounts of muzzle blast and recoil at slightly reduced energy, but not enough to make any difference at bush-basher type ranges.

[jono035]

sounds like you need a 30-30

Yeah, because you're getting so much use out of yours? :P

[Wolf]

sounds like you need a 30-30

Been put off the .30-30 by association with one bloke* who favoured it. Pity, 'coz it's a damned nice rifle.

*former long term friend, friendship terminated due to him doing something I find... hmmm, somehow "repugnant" is far too mild a term - does not quite convey the way my skin crawls and blood boils simultaneously. Suffice to say, an I live a thousand years and not see him in all that time, 'twould be too soon.

[Wolf]

but not enough to make any difference at bush-basher type ranges.

Yep, where I've hunted, it's rare to have to shoot at anything beyond 450m - if you can see even that far in NZ bush, you're probably looking across a valley. Personally, I don't need something with the range and accuracy to knock the USS Enterprise out of orbit.

[The Pastor]

Yeah, because you're getting so much use out of yours? :P

organising a hunt today actually....

[The Pastor]

Been put off the .30-30 by association with one bloke* who favoured it. Pity, 'coz it's a damned nice rifle.

*former long term friend, friendship terminated due to him doing something I find... hmmm, somehow "repugnant" is far too mild a term - does not quite convey the way my skin crawls and blood boils simultaneously. Suffice to say, an I live a thousand years and not see him in all that time, 'twould be too soon.

a 30-30 should be able to hit a deer size target at 450m. my 308me was getting mellon size groups at 400m and im a terriable shot!

[jono035]

a 30-30 should be able to hit a deer size target at 450m. my 308me was getting mellon size groups at 400m and im a terriable shot!

Hmmm, I thought the 30-30 was much shorter range than that... I guess there is a big difference between the rubber point or round-nose bullets though.

[Wolf]

im a terriable shot!

I know, I've watched you.

[The Pastor]

Hmmm, I thought the 30-30 was much shorter range than that... I guess there is a big difference between the rubber point or round-nose bullets though.

it wont be sub moa at that range, but a deer is a big target.