These seem like an interesting rifle and the calibre seems good who has one and what do they have to say about it. They are very expensive though, are they worth the money ??

I've got one and it worked very well for me on its first outing in the African bush. I happen to like the forward scope and heavy reticle, and the ergonomics of the gun work well for me. Its short length certainly makes it handy, and its grey synthetic stock is quiet and neutral colored in the field. I would think that to animals with monochromatic vision it would not attract attention.

When I first showed it to my PH and his staff, they joked that I shouldn't bring "toy guns" to Africa. By the end of the hunt with one-hit quick kills on bushbuck, nyala, eland and waterbuck (the bushbuck and nyala dropped in their tracks, and the eland made 20 yards and the waterbuck 80 yards after being hit), they were impressed by its performance in the field.

Fed with my handloads of 300-grain Woodleigh SPPPs at 2300 fps, which is the equivalent of the .375 H&H in the same-length barrel (19"), recoil can be brisk in the eight-pound gun, but it's not painful, and as expected, is unnoticeable when shooting on game. Further, experienced .375 H&H shooters I've let try my gun with my handload all agreed that it recoiled significantly less than their .375s, despite their guns weighing in at the more typical 9 to 9.5 pounds. I've heard the same comment from others, including Hunter Jim on this forum.

All the .376 Steyr Scouts I've heard about seem consistently to shoot 1.25" groups or better out of the box with factory ammo at 100 yards. My handloads do the same.

A small irritation is that the spare magazine in the buttstock occasionally releases under recoil, but that can be fixed by the factory with a stronger spring (I just used a wide rubber band as a field expedient).

If the .308 Steyr Scout is the general purpose rifle for hunting and personal defense, the .376 Steyr Scout could be considered the general purpose rifle for Africa (or Alaska), the practical equivalent of the venerable .375 H&H in a lighter, handier package with less recoil.

[ 07-29-2003, 17:28: Message edited by: Slingster ]

Slingster,

what about lighter styled bullets say a 270 grainer or a 250 grain bullet which can be had in Australia. What velocity do you expect from from those weights ??

Do you feel there a rugged gun like can they handle dust and mud etc.

Did you use the bipod at all or would it recoil to much from this ??

also can the scope be mounted conventionally as well ??

[ 07-30-2003, 01:49: Message edited by: PC ]

Thanks slingster,

when you first handled it what was you initial impression ?? Did the rifle grow on you or did you know it was for you from the word go ??

My first impression on seeing the .308 Steyr Scout was, "This is the AUG of bolt action rifles."

When I first picked one up at the Steyr Scout Press Event at the NRA Whittington Center, at which the rifle was introduced to the gun press, it felt great to me, pointed well, balanced well. I liked the rotary tang safety, the double detent mag release, the spare mag in the stock, and the easily removable stock length spacers.

My first three shots through one straight from the factory with Federal Gold Medal Match (off a bench with the bipod) hit 2.5" high and formed a group a shade over 1" at 100 yards.

I was hooked. (It being the first production rifle to have as standard equipment my Ching Sling had nothing to do with it, of course.)

The .376 Steyr Scout is about a pound heavier but still well balanced with the same great ergonomics. Based on my enthusiasm for the .308 Scout, I ordered early and got one of the first batch shipped into the U.S. Steyr's weak marketing effort didn't generate much interest in the rifle and cartridge, which accounts for its status today.

[ 07-31-2003, 16:59: Message edited by: Slingster ]