Swede Mod 38 as a scout rifle?

[Atticus Thraxx]

Okay so at 8.9 lbs it doesn't technically qualify as a scout if Col. Cooper's standards are to be applied. But since I'm the one carrying it, the colonel can get stuffed. Waiting on my sling kinda impatiently too. The stock is from RamLine and about twenty years old. Picked up the BadAce Gen2 Low Profile mount and it went on as nice as advertised. I bought one for my Mod 96 too and bought two Hi-Lux Scout scopes. The 2-7x32 for $140 each. The first one that arrived had a chip or occlusion on the inside of the front objective. Sent that back and the other was fine. Put that on my M96 because it has great eye relief. Instead of buying another Hi-Lux I went with the Vortex Crossfire II for $129. Wish I has gotten the Hi-Lux because the eye relief on the Vortex is terrible. At least in comparison. I had some offset rings and even though they're heavy it did help a bit. But still can't go above 6X or it's just too tight of a hole to look through comfortably. So I'll get a Hi-Lux and some lighter rings at some point. Now to zero it tomorrow and let's see if it holds zero through the fall.

[Surpmil]

Fine rifle. Not sure about the Dr. Seuss scope mount though!



I'd settle for a low mounted LER scope like the Leupold 2x M8 myself. Sometimes less is more...

[Surpmil]

David Lloyd may have taken rigid, low profile scope mounts a liiitttle farther than really necessary, but the principle is very sound.

I think if I was building a scout rifle on the basis of an M38, I'd get hold of the more robust of the Swedish target sights and use one of those on the receiver. The Soderin or AGA would be very good. The AGA being on the receiver ring is fully up to "scout" concept.

A hooded foresight, preferably swept in both directions to slide past brush and other obstacles. The foresight could be anything as long as tough and easily adjustable/easily secured.

With the threaded muzzle(?) you might as well put a decent flash-hider on, if you can get something that will reduce flash and blast effect around the muzzle and on the ground below the muzzle.

Make the scope mount low profile and quick detach so that when removed the iron sights are not obscured. Get something standard so you can mount different sights with the same rings using the same base (red dot etc.?)

Bipod or monopods would be something else to consider. Storage in the butt for C kit and or some ammo would be desirable.

[CINDERS]

First thing I would do is even up the gaps on your rings as it appears the rear cap is tighter on the left side of the mount and the front tight as heck unless it has a wide gap on the off side not visible in the picture. Not sure on the stability of the ND mount only shooting it will see if it can hold zero, zero it then walk it around the target back to zero to see how it goes.

[Atticus Thraxx]

Thanks guys. Yes it's a temporary setup and only because I had the Dr. Seuss mount. I get the gap on one side or the other on the rings, they don't close on both sides. They're crap rings. I have a set of low profile Leupolds on the way, but that scope has to go too. I read your post on irons Surp but I'll be using a glass solution though I hadn't considered a red dot. Now my mind is turning. I put 24 rounds through it Sunday, even found a load it seems to like. Was shooting 129 gr Spitzer factory seconds from Midway so there's room for improvement. Did throw one 3-rd group just over 1" so I was pretty pleased with that. Should have stopped there.

[Surpmil]

Just thinking a little further, the receiver sights might obscure a really low scope mount, but as long as you can use different optics on the same base, with each zeroed in its own set of rings, that's the important factor IMO.

[jonnyc]

Unless you live in Scandinavia, I'm not sure if 6.5x55 is the best round for you. One aspect of the "Scout Rifle" concept was use of a commonly found cartridge. In CA, I would thing you'd be better served by a .223 or .308 chambering.

[Atticus Thraxx]

My mistake was using the term "scout rifle". I should have said "Hey, I turned my Swede 38 into a back country hiking rifle." Assuming there's any back country left when the fires go out, I'll expand upon that point.