I'm curious if any of you with african experience have tried the scout scope idea on your big bores. I have been using a 2X on my deer rifle for many years and am very happy with it, so am considering the same for my 458 Lott project. Any disadvantages? I know Art Alphin had this as an option on his A-Square rifle but don't know how popular it was.
What do you think?

I have used the scout scope system but not on a DGR. Mine is on a Garand "Tanker". The scout scope system does not work for ME as I am right handed/shouldered and left eye dominate. Thus I must close my left eye to see through the scope with my right eye, which negates the advantages of the scout scope. So for me it is not an advantage, but does allow for a scope on a Garand. However for a person without MY eye situation the scout scope is a great idea for a DGR. When I left shoulder the rifle with a scout scope I can see the advantages it offers.[I tried to get an eye sugeron to switch my eyes but he refused. ] For those who haven't tried it do not knock it. PS this is where the idea came from for red dot sights, not only on rifles but on IPSC pistols. All the winners in IPSC use some type of "optical" sight.
On a DGR the scout scope can not hit you in the face.
Plus it does not interfear with ejection or reloading of the rifle. If you have hunted with it and like it I see no reason not to use in on your DGR, as long as recoil does not break the scope. I would use QD mounts for the scope, on my Garand I used the Leupold mounts with the posts on the rings and the levers in the base, they are very strong. I would have quality iron sights installed and zeroed of course. For DGR I MUCH prefer a wide V over anything else. Im no stranger to peep sights [Service Rifle and Palma competion] but for DG I will take the wide V every time.

This one may be suitable.

WWII K98 + 21" Delcour bbl. in 9,3x62 + Butler Creek stock and Ching sling + Leupold 2X EER in sunk in Burris mount. I use it for drive hunting in foul weather when I'm reluctant to expose my 9,3x74R O/U.

Eric and I have indeed agreed to disagree on this one.

I have been doing a lot of whitetail deer hunting in Canada, and bush veld hunting in Africa with my scout. My experiences have convinced me that for my hunting the conventional mount works better. Your mileage will vary with your hunting style.

Africa usually has plenty of light for shooting except for things like leopard after dark.

By the way my .450 Ackley was an A-Square model.

jim

LocalHand,

I have had two such rifles: a .416 Rem Mag and a .450 Ackley Mag. I also have used the Steyr Scout extensively hunting, and another .308 Win scout. The two big bore "scouts" are sold, and the Steyr Scout I now use with a low-power variable mounted in conventional position (a more general purpose rig I have found).

I also did two rifle courses at Gunsite, the first under the legendary Jeff Cooper himself. I was a devotee of the scout scope for general hunting use, but I am not anymore.

The big bore rifles had ghost ring rear sights and post front sights, and I had QR mounts for the scout scopes. This configuration will work until you hit the physical limits of the scope mounting or the scope itself. The forward mount scope is vulnerable to light from behind you, I suggest a big hat at least to shade the lens. The typical long eye relief scopes don't have the optical performance for dark targets in shadows, say like a Cape buff. I don't know a cure for this, except more scope closer to the eye.

If you limit your use to middle of the day in strong light you will not observe these effects.

jim dodd

LocalHand,

I beleive it was A-Square that made some rifles specifically for this pattern. They were DGR built on an improved Enfield action, some were fairly large bore. (like .500" and better) They did not seem to catch on very well and had some bad press due to light gathering, and field of view type deficencies.

BigBullet

Thanks to all of you for your insights. Just what I was hoping for. I've not had the low light problems hunting in MI, but the backlight is something I will have to investigate (not alot of bright sunshine in november deer woods).
Eric, your sling has interested me for some time. I 've used the center mounted swivel on several rifles for years and you seem to have eliminated the the only downside to its use. Whose nylon model do you recomend? Or are you producing your own?