I have been considering buying a 376 calibered Steyr scout rifle. Is it worth the money as a hunting gun? I know it isn't a target gun but thats ok if the accuracy is good enough for hunting conditions. Has anyone owned one and not liked it? Why? I have many other rifles, so I don't need one, I think I want one.

They are fun rifles, and a great caliber. I believe you would much more enjoy having a .376 built on an intermediate mauser action.

I bought my Scout on a close-out from CDNN a few years back for $1,200.00. That is what they are worth.

My Scout is in .308.

Slingster posts on AR. He has hunted extensively with a .376 Steyr Scout, and can answer better than I. He invented the Ching sling.

LD

I have heard good things about the Steyr scout rifle, but I would shoot one before I bought it. I "made" two scout rifles in the past and just could not get used to the forward position of the scope. And, in dim light that forward positioning is a disadvantage - my experience anyway.

Brain1:

The Steyr Scout is only worth it if you like the extra features of the Scout setup (ability to use a forward-mounted scope, built-in light duty bipod, spare magazine in buttstock, middle sling stud). Otherwise, get the regular ProHunter carbine in .376 Steyr for under $800 (if you can find one) and put a regular scope (low powered fixed or variable) and a Safari Ching Sling on it. I consider either of them to be excellent all-around rigs for the African bushveld.

From my experience and what I've heard from others, the .376 Steyr rifles from Steyr-Mannlicher are reliably at least 1.25" guns with factory Hornady ammo. In other words, they're plenty accurate for hunting.

Recoil is stout with the 270-grain factory load at around 2550 fps, but I got used to it quickly and in the field it wasn't a factor at all. I would be cautious about using the factory Hornady load on larger big game; the bullet seems to be slightly too fragile. I was able to get 300-grain Woodleigh Protected Point bullets up to 2330 fps, and they were great killers in the field.

I wish Steyr-Mannlicher would come out with a 60cm-barrel .376 Steyr so that it could equal .375 H&H performance. While the cartridge is very efficient in the shorter barrels of the Scout and ProHunter carbine, getting a 300 up to 2450 fps seems to me to be a laudable goal, and all one would need is a normal-length barrel. I think Steyr-Mannlicher crippled the appeal of the .376 Steyr by not doing so, and Hornady should also produce a 300-grain factory load for it if it ever comes out. Call it their "African" combo!

I have the .376 Steyr Scout. The SBS action is butter smooth. I bought the Scout in the Cooper package, it comes with the 2.5 Leupold Scout scope and ching sling. The rifle is very fast with the scout scope, however it will not replace a long range rifle with standard mounted scope. I think it is best described as a "all purpose rifle" it can do a little of everything and I think that is the purpose of the scout rifle. I am going to use mine this year on a spring black bear hunt. I have worked some loads up using the Barnes triple shock bullet. The .376 handloaded should be able to do anything the .375 H&H can do in a much more compact rifle. A plus is you can remove the scout scope and use a standard scope to further increase its usablitiy. Lastly it is on par with any factory rifle in the accuracy department.
I believe thay are offered in a couple of different packages and this will determine what they are running.

One of my concerns is getting my moneys worth. I shoot big stuff so recoil isn't a problem. I just don't want to pay for a Ferrari and get a Yugo.

Slingster is spot on.
You would pay for a Ferrari, and get a Volvo.
Again, as Slingster said, get it if you want the features. Don't expect to get much money out of it if you decide to re-sell it down the road.
The 376 Steyr itself is a very superior cartridge.
LD

As Slingster said, I personally would look for an SBS Pro-Hunter instead of the scout rifle, but of course that is just personal preference. I handled the "Scout" version a considerble bit at the SHOT show when it was first introduced, but couldn't bring myself to appreciate all the bells and whistles tacked on it. Also, like Billinthewild, I have never been able to find the "scout" scope position as useful, let alone more useful, than a standard scope mounting.

By keeping my eyes open, I came across an ANIB Pro-Hunter at a local gun show and picked it up by trading a stock for a Husqvarna and $300 cash. Got the rifle, dies, and two boxes of Hornady ammo. Mine will easily shoot MOA or slightly better with handloads (either jacketed or cast bullets), the recoil is piddling in the factory stock, and I love the 19" barrel for woods carry.

It did take about 400-500 cycling repetitions to smooth the action to where the bolt would close on its own if you pointed the rifle downward and pulled the trigger (empty magazine & chamber OF COURSE). But then, I do that with most all new rifles, just to make sure they are easy to operate without taking the gun from my shoulder.

Of all the factory rifles in the last 10 years, I think the Steyr SBS Pro-Hunter in .376 is one of the very best for practical daily use.

So how much trouble is it to convert an intermediate mauser action to the 376styre?

I have the SBS .376. It's my second favorite rifle behind a .416 but it's the one I carried the whole time I was guiding in S. Florida. It accounted for a lot of hogs for me and settled matters on some wounded ones.
As for the recoil, it hurts more than my Taylor but it's not bad. I filled the stock with foam and added a couple spacers. Put a foam cheek pad over the "sharp" top of the stock. Scoped it with a 1X3 in QD mounts. Milled a dovetail in the scope base and put a ghost ring in. Only used the factory 270 grain bullets and had plenty of accuracy.
It's normally a one shot killer but, as happens on occasion, if you need a rapid follow up I found it to be a quick bolt. I ran into a hog without a nervous system and my first shot hit low. Second (running boar) was rapid and took out the far shoulder. Third (approaching boar) shot was in the throat at about 15 yards. Exited the right rear ham. Fast and smooth action.
May sound stupid, but it fit well in my Jeep and buggy so I could get to it in a hurry. Great "ranch rifle" and more.
Jeff
Pics available but too ignorant to post-any help?

Guys,

I have two Steyr SBS rifles: one Scout in .308 Win; and one ProHunter in .376 Steyr. I am also building a .376 rifle on an intermediate commercial Mauser action that will have a 600 mm barrel (or 23.6").

The .376 is definitely an excellent cartridge, and I like the ProHunter version.

This is an eland I shot witht he .376 in Zim in '01, it went 2,200 pounds. I used the factory 270 gr load. It worked, but the bullet needs to be harder for dangerous game.

Try it, you will like it.

jim

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
One of my concerns is getting my moneys worth. I shoot big stuff so recoil isn't a problem. I just don't want to pay for a Ferrari and get a Yugo.

_______
Yep, why not a short barreled, light weight .375 H&H?

Steyr has done such a piss poor public relations/advertising job of promoting what may be and could be a super round and hunting rifle.

I look at it, I search it and look for crux but it ain't there. I'll stick with "Ole Sturdy".

Good thread, though. Good discussion, too.

DB

I tend to get a bit off the beaten track myself from time to time, but wouldn't a 375RUM be a simpler choice?

Rich

My own personal preference would be the Pro Hunter instead of the Scout. I very much like the calibre.

The Pro-Hunter is a delight with a low powered scope in Talley rings. The iron sights are too low for use on the plastic stock.

I believe Jeffe is on the right track with using an intermediate actioned mauser as a base.

A 21" barrel is plenty. What a natural for a full stock, a la Sako.

LD

I've got .376 steyr prohunter. it's one of my favorite rifles. I dropped a very nice black bear with it about three years ago. The wound channel was significant and the shot knocked him off his feet.

I have an 8 round magazine in addition to the standard three round. I couldn't take the extended magazine to Canada. Their limit is five (I think). I'm off to Tanzania this fall and planning to take my .375 H&H as my light rifle. The .376 would be pretty handy with the extra rounds but I doubt the 8 round mag is legal. Of course, another issue might be ammo availability should mine not arrive with my rifle.

I have a Styer Professional but in 30/06. Always shot great and handled like a dream. I don't think you would go wrong with any Styer if it fit your need. I don't use mine anymore and have it up in the classifieds. Good luck on your decision.

Like LD said, the Pro-Hunter is great for a scoped 376 but the SBS action is ultra-modern without much grace. I only know two folks who bought 376 Scouts but both like them.

I had a Pro-Hunter and sold it because of the low sight issue. I have an MRC 1999 short action I'm building into another 376 because I like the round so much. The MRC is even easier to set up than a Mexican. But it's a bit "modern" looking, too.

I find the comments on scope height, etc.to be very interesting...never noticed it at all on mine. I have a VERY low set of rings with a Leupold compact 4-x on my rifle and it is no problem at all. Sometimes I also use a 2-7X when Im swapping scopes around for whatever reason. Again, no problem.

My guess is (and that's all it is, a guess) that a lot depends on the facial and body build of the shooter. I stand about 6"3" tall and weigh about 195 pounds and have the very high cheekbones commensurate with my tribal heritage.

All really interesting comments, though. I never realized it was such a wide-spread difficulty.

I had no problem with my scope. It was the irons I couldn't get down to.

quote:

Originally posted by tiggertate:
I had no problem with my scope. It was the irons I couldn't get down to.

Ah, Okay. Obviously I misread. I can't remember if I have ever used the irons on mine, so don't know if I can or not. Now I guess I'll have to try them for my records, once well enough to get back to the range.

I like the 20 inch ProHunter Steyr. The too low iron sights was my first disappointment. My second disappointment was a cracked magazine in the eight round configuration. I slammed some soft nose bullets into it trying to do some cheap load development before a brown bear hunt. The new US Steyr distributor should make it right, when I get around to sending them the old magazine. I got decent velocities with the 300 grain Barnes TSX, 62.5 grains Varget gave 2404 fps. 62.0 grains of BL-C(2) gave 2401 fps, 63.0 grains Reloader 15 gave 2399 fps. The fastest book load I found was Swift 300 grain A-Frames with 62.4 grains Varget for 2465 fps and only 19 fps standard deviation. By way of reference, my CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .375 H&H gets only 2362 fps with PMC factory 300 grain Barnes XLC bullets. Factory 300 grain Nosler Partitions get some 2415 fps.

I have built one on a 36 mexican mauser, that is a bit heavy, but extremely accurate and graceful, recoil is light. I built another on a 1908 Brazilian for Mike D, and it is AWESOME, 23" barrel and all.

just shot Gringo Cazador's on a vz24 today, with a light shilen barrel.. again, an excellent gun

My next one will probably be a 22" as-light-as-i-can-talk-shilen/pacnor/douglas-into-making-barrel, on a m48 yugo "short"er 98, with an EXTEREMELY petitte stock, and a light fixed scope.. think stalking rifle.

an excellent round, that can be laoded to 375HH FACTORY speeds, but, frankly, 2400 with 300gr and 2850 with 225s works just fine for me

jeffe

I am a big fan of my little prohunter. I have taken a lot of gamae with it. It is handy and fast handling in the thick stuff. I find the 20 inch barrell a benefit. I dont think the little bit of muzzle velocity that is lost is really an issue. It is a great work rifle. Works good enough with the factory ammo to take a good cape buff. That said I would not use the factory ammo again to do that as it didnt hold up but I wanted to see how it would perform. Hand load the 300grn noslers or tsx and you can take whatever comes. Great gun. Too bad they dont know how to market it.

and them .376 Steryr is nothing moree than a trimmed down and necked up 9,3x64. The world hasn`t moved much in the later years.