I've been interested in these and the concept for quite some time and am close to picking one up in 6.5 Creedmoor. I have a few questions
about the rifles.

Do any AR members have one of these? What is your experience with it? Does the Steyr SBS action use a threaded tenon to attach the barrel?

I don't have any experience with the Steyr as such.

However, I do have experience with the scout rifle as a concept (in other words specifically the forward-mounted scope) and I feel it is outdated.
In my opinion, the only real advantage is that it allows you better access to open-topped actions and specifically for stripper-clip loading without the disadvantages incurred by any other method.

However, none of these advantages apply to the Steyr as the top of the receiver is closed and it has a detachable magazine and is not set up for stripper clips.

Thus while I have no specific beef with the rifle itself, I would strongly suggest ditching the "scout scope" for either a more normal scope or a modern LPVO (which I feel could really take the original concept's intentions to a whole new level).

I do like the idea of the built-in bipod and spare magazine stowage but have no idea how well these work in execution.

I have an original Styer Scout in .308. Very nice rifle, light an handy. Excellent trigger, never had to use the spare magazine but nice to have it, and easy way to carry ammo. My scope a Kahles Helia S 1.1X 4.5 X20MM, is mounted in standard position, not forward. It maintains zero from year to year with boring regularity. It looks a little odd in comparison to a classic bolt action rifle, of which I have several but it just works. Not sure how the barrel attaches I seem to recall that barrel is not fitted in the standard manner.

The Scout Rifle concept was developed by Jeff Cooper just so he could sell more magazine articles and is the dumbest and most useless invention to hit the shooting sports.(The Germans actually developed and produced the concept in WW2, as the ZF41, another really bad idea.) For you young guys, back then magazines were printed on paper and guys would actually sell articles for money. Many of them were based on dreams and nonsense, but I digress. (You mean like the Internet now!) The notion that you should mount the scope two feet forward to get faster target acquisition time is ludicrous. You end up with a small FOV and a scope mounted normally is actually faster. (He taught; keep both eyes open to compensate for this obvious defect in the logic of the technique.) He ignored the fact that you can still keep both eyes open if you want to.
The Steyr rifles are well made of good quality; the barrels are pressed in on early models like the SSG69 which I had, but modern ones are threaded with metric threads, like the the Pro Hunter, new THB's, SSG04, and the SSG08.

The rifle itself is handy, with the compact size, built-in spare magazine and bipod, and the accuracy of a Steyr. On the ones I've had, I mounted the scope in the traditional position on the receiver. I don't get the forward-mounted concept.

I have had several over the years. gave away or sold some but wouldn't be with out one. I have a variable low power scope mounted in the traditional position.

The ones I have had have been remarkably accurate and boringly dependable. The concept except for the forward mounted scope ( which has been superseded by the low power variable optic) is well thought out. They are immensely practical handy, light and short. There is only one thing I would change about the system and that is the addition of a folding stock.

Except that I am an incurable tinker and experimenter I could use a 308 scout as my one and only general purpose rifle this side of huge or dangerous animals and formal target shooting.

The Steyr Scout bipod is just two non adjustable legs that fold down from the forend. Anyone who has used bipods much knows that on uneven ground you need the ability to adjust the legs separately for length and preferable have a model that allows canting of the rifle so you can level it more precisely than just leg adjustment alone.

The problem with the Steyr is you are stuck with just the factory bipod and apparently it is too high when used on a bench i.e. made for field use.

I use an EER 2x20 Leupold scope in the 'scout' position on my 404 Mauser only because I previously had a red dot sight mounted in that position and also didn't wish to alter the Original Oberndorf Mauser bolt handle for a normal position scope. I find the scout scope fine to use, better than the red dot sight for more precision shot placement. They do lend themselves better for shooting with both eyes open and although it is possible, very few shooters I know shoot both eyes open with normal mounted scopes.

I wouldn't use a scout scope for ordinary game hunting.

Toy - Swed mauser, Moded the original rear sight base. hunted it once, worked fine, scope is 2-6x32 bushnell EER

Thanks guys.

I should have been more specific that I well familiar with the he concept as Jeff Cooper prescribed it and have had a Ruger Gunsite rifle that I didn't care for. I'm glad to hear no one commented about any red flag experiences and that the barrel is threaded into the receiver. The Steyr Scout became much more interesting to me when they began offering it in 6.5 Creedmoor and with a something like a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 mounted in the standard fashion seems like it could be a useful rifle to experiment with.

I built a scout on a Krag + it really is faster than a conventionally scoped rifle. But then I did a lot more to it than just mounting the scope forward.

I have two do it your self scout rifles.

One was is a 93 Mauser in 7x57 the or other is a 03 in 30-06.

Both because it was the cheapest way to put optics on low priced.

Semi "sporterized" former military rifles.

The 93 has a 17 inch barrel the 03 18 inch.

The most expensive parts is the Leuopld scout scope.

Two very effective rifle for little money.

I don't like the aluminium receiver

I am in agreement with DPCD on both the gun and the caliber, just a POS from the start..saw the barrel off a 700, a 98 Mauser, or Mod-70, add a 3X Leupold and you have a time proven combo..as opposed to a contrived gimmick!!

David Reed I see you are just across town. If you want to borrow my Steyr Scout to play with before you buy let me know.