DIY Skinner Scout System

Never being “by the book,” for 27 years I considered departmental regulations as guidelines for cops lacking problem-solving skills, discretion or the ability to think on their own. I never blatantly broke the “regs” but I may have bent a few. In this latest rifle build, I guess it was time to break a few more!

Scout Rifle

Jeff Cooper was an innovator with many great ideas. His emphasis on training, mindset, large-bore handguns, and the scout rifle system are legendary. It’s

Cooper’s Scout Rifle we’ll be discussing as I show you an easy, cost-effective way of building your own.

Scout Rifles are typically bolt-action carbines, chambered in .308 Winchester, are less than 40″ in overall length and 3 kilograms in weight. They sport both iron and optical sights, capable of hitting a man-sized target out to 450 meters.

They utilize forward-mounted scopes for faster reloading of the rifle and providing wider field of view on targets. The rifles also employ a basic sling for carrying and shooting.

Skinner Sights Scout

Andy Larsson of Skinner Sights is always thinking of new ways to help us shooters. Besides “peep sights,” Skinner Sights offers ingenious scope bases with integral “Peep” sights. This double-duty system is handy, should your scope fail, or conditions make “peeps” more advantageous such as stalking in densely covered woods or hunting in the rain.

This year, Andy released a Scout Rifle scope-rail for the popular, insanely accurate Ruger American. Already having an American in .308 Winchester — and loving the Scout Rifle concept — requesting a rail from Andy was a no-brainer for a DIY kind of build.

Not A Fan

As much as I love Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept, I never warmed to the forward mounted scope. I understand the concept, it just never felt natural. I deviate, using a conventionally mounted scope.

Skinner Sights recently dipped their toe into the optics world, offering an affordable scope for people like you and me. It’s a 1-6×24 variable, with 30mm tube. It retails for $289 and is the brightest scope in this price range I’ve seen. It has a ranging reticle with illuminated red dot for low light conditions, too! Perfect for a hunter!

I’ve always liked the lines a straight-tube scope provides, keeping weight and bulkiness down. Should you prefer a forward mounted scope, Skinner Sights Scout Rail base allows it. A used $5 gun-show leather sling completes my rifle.

Shooting The Scout

I originally had this rifle set up for a long-range shooter. It was capable of 3/4″ groups for 5-shots at 100 yards with Black Hills 168-gr. ELD-M ammo. Shooting the rifle with this ammo produced three 3-shot groups at 100 yards averaging 0.6″. Yeah, I was surprised too! Did cutting the barrel down to 18″ stiffen it, making it more accurate? Maybe I’m just shooting better? Nah! Ken’s crown job probably helped more than anything.

Practice and utility loads consisting of RCBS 150-gr. FNGC (flat-nose gas check) cast bullets loaded over 22 grains of 2,400, sparked with a WLRP go just over 2,000 fps, with almost the same accuracy. Three 3-shot groups at 100 yards averaged 0.9″. To say I was pleased would be an understatement! I shoot coffee cans of these cheap/fun loads. Its low recoil makes it a great starter load for youngsters as well.

This $300 rifle is a shooter, especially when the Skinner Sights Scout rail/ Skinner Scope combination is added. It adds versatility with its double-duty sight system without making it clunky. The chopped-down 18″ barrel makes the rifle wieldier, whether hunting from a tree-stand, woods walking, or simply taking it in and out of the truck.

Many see beauty in finely figured walnut and blued steel. A true rifleman sees beauty in performance, versatility and a compact package, much like this DIY pseudo scout rifle. I like it, I like it a lot … and that’s really all that matters, right?

www.skinnersights.com

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