Damn it! I’m trying so hard not to get sucked into buying one but damn it I’m in love.
$1700 for a rifle with irons vs $1700 for a rifle with a decent optic. Either of the two calibers would be fine. The Steyr looks like a pleasure to carry in the field and covers multiple game and roles. Hard to ignore. Add a shooting sling and whenever I can afford an optic. Guess I could practice with irons at first and save up.
I’ll look back at what optics you guys are using.
"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day."
Thomas Jefferson
You need to understand that the “iron” sights on the Steyr (they’re polymer) are extremely rudimentary, they are not meant to be a primary sight. The front blade is quite wide, and is adjustable for windage. The rear is a ghost ring that is adjustable for elevation. You need a small flat head screwdriver to adjust either one. Also fair warning but the stock is designed for use with optics, it takes a concerted effort to get down onto the irons. They’re very much a BUIS.
As for value for money the Steyr comes with a spare magazine, and a built in bipod (also very rudimentary although it does tilt). The Steyr also has built in length of pull adjustments via the stock spacers.
If you want a spare magazine for the SAKO and a bipod, those will cost extra. Adjustable length of pull will involve a new stock or a gunsmith.
Also if you peruse Gunbroker you can find Scouts in the $1500 range. Pre-panic I think they were more like $1400.
Richard Mann has organized several scout rifle safaris into South Africa recently, they were dropping African game at 400 and 500 yards, one shot with scout type rifles.
you will be fine with a 19/20" barreled 308 of any kind for anything walking around NA, particularly if your game animal of choice is deer.
as for long shots... some food for thought.
https://empty-cases.com/blog/hunting...oing-it-wrong/
https://empty-cases.com/blog/you-mig...wrong-part-ii/
Last edited by 1859sharps; 02-25-21 at 22:53.
Love my Steyr, but I am 100% with Coal Dragger on the whole "iron sight thing". the "irons" on the steyr are a joke. I didn't buy the rifle for the irons though.
If you do buy one, Leopold still has one scout scope offering left. It is an intermediate eye relief scope, variable power. no where near as nice as the VX R, but likely better than the original extended eye relief scope. But I haven't used it yet or have any info on it other than leopuld's web sight.
If you go the LPVO route, be prepared to need to mount it a touch higher than you might have to on a traditional bolt rifle. the same LPVO I can mount with low rings on my R700, needs medium rings on the Steyr, other wise you can't work the bolt.
shooting the steyr will expose your areas to improve with the first shot. light rifles do take a bit more skill to use, and they let you know when you screw up mounting the rifle soon as you pull the trigger. on the other hand, when you do everything right, they can be a joy to shoot and the recoil is not punishing at all.
Even though my dealer has a 308, I’d be tempted as hell to grab a 6.5 version instead to mitigate some recoil while still retaining good deer killing ability.
Do you find the Steyr to also be enjoyable at the range? Whether it be at the bench or taking snapshots at paper or steel, or is it better left as a hunter for you?
"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day."
Thomas Jefferson
Accidental double post.
Last edited by newyork; 02-26-21 at 06:40.
"Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day."
Thomas Jefferson
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