I think I want to convert a milsurp into a Scout Rifle

[jpwilly]

I've been here and done that "scout" conversion. I'm still having lots of fun with the rifle! Sure it's a waste of money but in the end I could care less what's money for if you cannot blow some of it on a fun project! Here's mine:

 

[Mike 56]

dogrunner, crankyfarmer pistol scopes that start at 33.00. http://www.crankyfarmer.com/scopeindex.html

Mike

 

[spiroxlii]

If you go with a nice Enfield or K31, try to find a way to modify it that isn't permanent. See if you can save the original furniture and mount your scope without permanently modifying the weapon.

If you want an Enfield-type rifle in .308, I'd say a really really good bet would be an Ishapore 2A with a cracked stock. The ones with cracked stocks are VERY affordable, and you can add on $50 for an ATI synthetic stock that fits the Enfield No1/Ishapore 2A.

A Mosin Nagant wouldn't be bad either. You can get an M44 or a 91/30 for well under $100.

 

[Essex County]

It's a Free Country, Chop and Channel anything that You've paid hard earned money for. It won't make any financial sense and You'd be much better off buying a used commercial sporter. I'd be able to sleep at night if I made a project gun out of a 91-30 or a Turk, but never a K 31 or a Swede. Essex

 

[biscuitninja]

JP, I need more specs on your scout conversion. I'm pretty much doing something close to that. What is your optic mount? AND more importantly how does it work? Take it easy and have a good one.
-bix

 

[pccraig]

jpwilly

What brand of scope is that ? Does it provive for adequate eye releif ?

 

[MyRoad]

Looks like the B-Square, which is what I used on mine. The basic B-Square mount is a solid piece, but I don't like the way it attaches -- the leveling screws just don't make for solid contact points IMO. So I had mine drilled and tapped, it now solid mounts (I recommend using a good gunsmith to do this, since it has to be lined up properly with the bore).

I've used handgun scopes on both of my scout rifles (the MN and a Mini-14). One cheaper one (a Bushnell that cost about $125 IIRC) and a Burris on the Mini-14 (about $280). This is one instance where the money spent makes all the difference. Obviously putting a $280 scope on a $85 gun is just not practical -- which is why its on my "accurized" Mini-14 -- but the Burris is ten times the scope the Bushnell is. The depth of the eye relief and the absolute clarity of optic are far superior, and it is very forgiving in terms of lining up a shot.

I don't mean to be a 'scope snob', but I have to say that part of the reason I don't shoot the MN more is that the scope is more difficult to line up -- how I position my shooting eye in relation to the scope is a very narrow sweet spot. I'm only saying all of this because the bottom line in using a handgun scope as a scout scope is that it may not work in practical environments unless you use a scope that is suitably forgiving in terms of quickly lining up shots.

That said, I really like 2x-7x handgun scopes as scout optics. I suppose the only drawback is the site picture is fairly small (more so on the Bushnell...) relative to standard scopes. At 2x it is in "classic" scout mode, and for the occasional longer shot, 7x is ample.