Well done! After many years using the Leupold 2.5x scout scope I’ve gone to the Burris 2x7. It’s tough and reliable. Thank you Don for all this hard work
I just got the opportunity to shoot the Hi-Lux 2-7 on my brother in law’s Ruger GSR a few days ago (~25 yd), and I ordered one for my Steyr last night. I’m glad to see it still did well in part 3 testing.
Very nice... Because of your reviews, I picked up the Hi-Lux for my Mossberg MVP Scout 308. Its lightweight (10oz) and works perfectly with 147g PMC. If I heard correctly, you mentioned your Hi-Lux was sighted at 100yds. This may explain the issues with the BDC holdover. The manufacturer recommends sighting in at 200yds and the BDC should be pretty accurate. The top of the post would be 600yds. not 500yds. Hope this helps... and thanks for your expansive review of the so neglected scout scopes. 💯
well I pulled the trigger on a Hi-Lux 2-7x Scout Scope due to price, and your review. I was going to mount a traditional scope with BDC on my ruger 16" .308 scout and keep a tool in the butt stock pouch with the rear sight. Now I ordered QD rings and this scout scope to try out. Thanks for your review. I originally bought it for a shower .308 to use with a can on the homestead. Really liked it with open sights but my aging eyes have a need for some magnification. Thanks for these reviews.
Great work, thank you for putting this up! I'm sure you've helped a lot of people, including me, learn more about what is and isn't practical with a scout rifle. I'm a firm believer that the type and design of optic best determine a rifle's use. As a rifle marksmanship and fieldcraft instructor myself I've seen this play out many times to the point that 3/4 of the time I can usually tell how well students will do based upon the setup of their rifle. Of course skill and weather/ lighting play important roles, but you have to be able to ID the target before you can shoot it. At this point in time what do you think are the benefits (if any) of the currently available LER scopes vs. a quality LPVO? In other words, based on your experience would you recommend any of the currently available Scout Scopes to be used if the user were going into harms way? In theory I think the LER scout scope concept has merit still if it's light weight and has quality glass, but when the only options are cheaper range toy scopes it's hard to get anyone to take the concept seriously. It seems there are so many high quality (as in professional grade) LPVO options available that it's hard to justify putting any of the currently available LER scopes onto a scout rifle for any serious use. It also seems to me that the scope manufacturers aren't doing their best work when it comes to their scout scope offerings. I suppose it's because there aren't any scout rifles in professional LE/Military/Competition/Hunting use that I am aware of, which are the markets that drive scope design as far as I can tell. Us bushwhackers just have to use whatever is available, and in the bush is where I think the scout rifle and scout scope truly shine. It would be very interesting to see Primary Arms apply their LPVO methods to the scout scope. I currently own a few of the GLx and PLx optics and if they could produce a light weight LER with an ACSS reticle I think it would be unbeatable, similar to most of their higher end LPVO's. At the end you mentioned this need for a high quality scout scope when you were discussing the Leupold Freedom Scout, and I can't help but wonder if the scope manufacturers aren't producing modern improved scout scopes because the Fudd Scout's insist on everything being exactly as Cooper wrote (as if he had the luxury to try all the optics you did in your test...), so that's the type of scope that gets made. You said it precisely when you said that the Leupold is 2-3 generations behind, it seems to me that they are making just what the loudest voices in the community seem to be asking for. I also thought the comparison you made between the RDS and the 2.75x Burris was very interesting. Both were very quick up close, yet the Burris was easier to ID the target with in the field. I think this is another reality of optics I've observed in training, and that is that RDS aren't good field optics, which shouldn't really surprise anyone because they were never intended to be. Your shooting results also seem to be very consistent with what I've seen as far as magnification is concerned. I tell my students you should have a minimum of 1.5 power magnification for every 100 yards you want to shoot. This is to ensure that you can actually ID a concealed or otherwise non-obvious target. This is why the RDS tends to fall short in the field, not enough magnification to ID the target. This is also why the 2.75 Burris did good up close and out to about 300 yards, but started to struggle at further distances. While a BDC or adjustable target turrets would help get more hits at distance even with 2.75 magnification on an obvious target, if your target were camouflaged it would be nearly impossible to ID at 2.75x. Once again, great series of videos and I greatly appreciate the time you put into them.
I don’t usually get thoughtful long form comments on this platform. I usually have good discussion on the scoutrifle.org forum or the facebook group. As a hunting guide and shooting instructor, I believe within the context of hunting, PID with the weapon optic is bad form. I think positive ID should be done through the binoculars and spotting scope, and then the shooter can single out the target from what was gained in study of the target with the other optics and with communication with the guide or spotter. Bad shoots can happen with a low power or medium power optic, but this also happens with high power optics too. Based on my experience carrying scout rifles in griz country for a decade I would not hesitate to carry my scout rifle equipped with a scout scope. It is tough enough for a work and self defense weapon whether on foot knocking about, on horse back, really getting beat into tree trunks, and the occasional roll over, also getting vibrated in the back of a UTV from time to time. The Leupold 2.5 fixed power scout scope was heavily tested at Gunsite and in the Kosovo war in combat with militias. It isn’t just the optic durability that is adequate but the entire scout rifle weapon system is in its essence redundant. I have great confidence that even if the scout scope does fail I can use the back of a knife and unscrew the optic and I have irons zeroed at 100 yards. In my hands the scout rifle and its scope have stood our ground against bears, and been used to dispatch wounded elk bedded down in the rare case a hunter has a bad shot and the wounded animal must be brought to a stop. Is it professional grade? I am a professional, and my Leupold has stood up to the task of being a hunting guide’s rifle, I would say yes. Is it warfighting professional grade? I doubt it, but grunt proof isn’t the gold standard for every item. A 7oz scope is a compromise for weight. Would anyone consider a cheap Redfield or a Nikon an adequate optic for a week long mountain hunt that cost in total 20,000 dollars? Many men have said yes to that question because that is what they bring and that is what they kill elk and deer with. What I am getting at is sometimes the cost of the optic is not related directly to what opinions are of “goodenuff”. And our opinions of “goodenuff” are highly influenced by ads and the media machine. I will continue to carry the Leupold 2.5x Scout as my work gun optic without hesitation because it is clear enough, reliable enough, and light as they come. These optics are not being used by the coolest 3 gunners, the most sponsored PRS guys, or by elite soldiers. For the few hunters and shooters that use these, if light weight is a concern, scout scopes even the variable ones, still control the field on weight. And as you can see from my humble results 500 yards isn’t a big deal for any of the variable power scout scopes that have a turret or a BDC. I suspect not a lot of these scopes are selling. I think the ambitious optics designers aren’t pushing for a sexy new scout scope at the product development meetings. I’d like to see a primary arms ultralight prism with the required 9in eye relief. The 1x micro has 6inches and is almost the right eye relief, it’s only 5.5 oz. A 2x micro of similar size would check a lot of boxes. Thank for watching brother.
@@OnTheScout Thank you for getting back to me and I apologize for the wall of words, your video was very well done and thought provoking! You bring up a great point about not ID'ing targets with your optic but instead trying to use a second spotting optic, I agree completely. I appreciate you sharing more of your personal experiences with the system. I think a LER prism would be very interesting indeed, and probably grunt proof too! The biggest benefit I can determine is like you said, the very low weight, especially of the fixed power optics. If I went to the 2.75x Burris you tested it would be a savings of 15.5 ounces compared to the conventionally mounted 2.5-10 I have now. This of course sacrifices most of the capability I have currently past 400 yards. From what I read Cooper wasn't a fan of shooting past that distance anyway, so maybe the Scout rifle as he defined it isn't as good of a fit for my region (Eastern MT). The Hi-lux 2-7 is more of a temptation to me, and it would still be a weight savings of 12.5 ounces. I think I'll have to try it, if nothing more than to definitively satisfy my curiosity on the topic. Once again, great work on your channel and your videos, I look forward to more, take care!
hey Don, i need your help picking the right scope. Before watching this series, i purchased a Vortex Scout 2-7x32 for a Mosin Nagant 9130. The scope is mounted on the rear sight, so i need 9" eye relief. I hate that the Vortex is blurry at 6x and 7x.. Do you recommend the Crimson Trace or Hi-Lux?
Thank you Don for doing all the hard work on figuring out what scope does what the best or worst . I’m using the hi lux 2 x 7 and so far it’s worked fantastic. Thanks again
Love your videos man, great content. I have a Sabatti Alaskan in .308, not quite a traditional scout rifle but that’s my intended use. Thanks for all the work you do
I appreciate your Scout video's. I also have a Ruger GSS and from your last tests settled on the Burris 2.75x. For my purposes of hunting and using this rifle it fits the bill of a 300yrd rifle that's fast to pick up. I will say that the 2-7x version seems to be a good choice as well.
Great review. I’m currently in the process of getting a Mossberg MVP Scout and I’ve been looking at those optics you’ve tested. Figure this was WA State since it looks very familiar with some of the spots I shoot at in Capital Forest 🤙🏽
GREAT series of videos. I just bought a Springfield Armory SOCOM 18 in 308 and am trying to decide on a scope or if I even need one. My average shot distance is about 1- 200 yds. Your videos were very helpful, thank you.....
Open sights are very viable in good lighting with that rifle. A low power scope just aids in speed and accuracy. Allowing low light shots as well is a plus
I like the hi lux2x7x32 the best so far ( leatherwood).clear glass bdc works will . I am useing the warn low quick detach rings. I also have used a holosun 515 green dot very fast, love it but like the power of the scout scope
I believe holy grail scout scope is an any Leupold scout scope with a factory CDS turret installed and a custom reticle with wind marks. That’s the VXR scout the VXFreedom and FX2. I personally have a VXR and a FX2 with CDS added but sadly the custom shop closed before I could send them in for reticle work!
This is awesome im building a 94 win in to a scout scope setup and this is great info thanks for your work on the scout rifle no one else is doing this
Great video, the scout concept is a great system. I was never a fan of the new leupold turret clicks. So mushy and sloppy but for the price they do function.
New to scout rifle game but with what I'm seeing it's a large variation in consistency with how torrents track or even just the large groups at 200+which is to be expected with the quality of the products I just with their was either a ffp long eye relief or one with repeatable turrets.
Good eye noticing this! The scopes were zeroed with 2-3 round groups. Most of these scopes are on cheap mounts too. Some mounts were Leupold QD so no actual torque value could be repeated. The rifle was shooting 3-4MOA M80ball ammo from 2 different lots from Lake City. Some of the scopes are new factory, some are used loaners. There’s a lot of variables that can’t be controlled with the budget at hand!
I forgot to mention thank you for the amount of money you spent on ammunition to test all these out as well as the time you put into it much appreciated
Nice shooting! Which magazine were you using? It looks metal but it also looks like you top loaded it after that malfunction around the 13 minute mark.
Excellent three-part series! I'm glad I found these videos because I've been researching various scout scope models for my Lever Action in 500 S&W, but couldn't decide which one to go with because very few of the local sporting goods stores had many or any of them for me to physically look at and through. Before this video series I had narrowed my choices down to the Burris 2-7 and the Vortex 2-7 because I'm more familiar with these brands, but after watching this video I don't think either of those scopes are on my short list anymore. Before I decide on which one to go with, I need to research and make sure the scope can stand up to the heavy recoil of a 500 S&W. I also don't plan on shooting at anything past 150 yards with this rifle because the 400+ grain bullet trajectory is like a rainbow, but I do need some magnification even for 100 yard shots because the current large aperature Skinner Sites on my rifle are worthless much past 50 yards. Thank you for the great scientific approach and qualitative evaluation review of these scout scopes!
The low power leupolds will hold up as far as that rifle, though the Skinner’s is have to say are very viable to 100 as I’ve used that setup for 15 or so years using a 405g and the front sight needs to be for what your eyes prefer. Open sights being a more personal setup as to each persons eyes are different. Great rifle by the way, enjoy
@@45-70Guy Thanks! I decided not to put a scope on my lever gun because it was costly to have a rail installed and because the rail would go almost the full length of the barrel which would make it ugly. I'll just learn to use the Skinner Sights.
@@DucDNAnothing wrong with that. You can also look into the low power leupolds which seem to have a 4.5-5” eye relief. These you can mount flush with the back of the receiver so you don’t need a full rail. I do run fixed power scopes on some of my levers in that exact setup. Keeps the weight centered and lightweight.
If the lpvo was out when cooper 1st thought of the scout concept, he probably would have chosen it.. my modern scout build has all the parameters but with lpvo
Thanks for the time and effort you put into these, it's truly appreciated... question for you... currently run the Burris 2-7 and an Aimpoint T2 that swap places on my Steyr and Scout Squad... looking for a red dot for my Rem 600 build... does the 503 get a nod? Thanks again for your time.
Great video. I plan on using a fixed 3x TA33 on my Steyr Scout. I don't know if anyone else has tried this yet... Its just my idea for a ruggedized version of the scout concept. When it comes to learning how to shoot NV passively, watch brass facts and hoplopfheil. It will make your life way easier.
I think it’s cool. I had the same idea in fact. But even the max eye relief for an ACOG is a lot less than a scout scope though, so you don’t get the benefits of the forward mounted optic.
Excellent video. Note to self. If going with a scout scope get the Hi Lux and the Holosun chevron optic. That covers art of ground and makes for redundancy in sighting
Jeff said that a forward optic does not a Scout make. Which brings me to a recent comment by Bill Wilson, in which he lambasted the Scout concept. I think he is unfair to the historical Scout which was ahead of it's time, as we know from exactly the set-ups that are used in the military these days. However, Wilson's point is that a better optic these days is the true 1X variable. And it solves one problem that Scout scopes have for me which is that in low sun conditions, the reflection sometimes obliterates the view of the objective. One place where the action mounted 1x scope is worse, is that it makes managing the breech a mess as with any such scopes. However, guns like the Ruger allow one to use all kinds of options, like the red dot for dangerous game, at the same time being able to move to the 1X, or the scout scope. Wilson has bought Ultralight Arms, and he will eventually bring out some truly remarkable rifles that will make weight and use the modern optics. ua-cam.com/video/RDBA0EeFcZs/v-deo.html
I disagree that JC said a scout can have any optic. In his writings on the scout he always mentioned the LER type optic. If you have some quotes and citations that say otherwise I’d like to see them.
Dude I stumbled across your page by sheer luck. Trying to find help a friend with his rifle by finding a replacement scout scope to mount to the rear sight leaf on a Mauser K98 that had a mount swapped onto where the sight leaf was.
I was wondering if you have had any issues with the Hi-Lux holding zero? There is a pattern of reviews of people saying this scope isn't holding zero or is only holding zero at one magnification. Some also complain that the turrets get stuck or stop working. A follow-up review on a long-term use of some of the top picks would be nice if that's something you're able to to do.
I have the Burris 2.75, Burris 2-7, and Hi-Lux 2-7. The 2.75 is hard to beat for how light it is. Hi-Lux is great for the money, the Burris 2-7 is not good too. I've killed hogs out to 300 with the 2.75 on a M96 Mauser.
Given that you are obscuring the ejection port in many instances anyway...have you considered some of the more traditional LPVO's. ? I would love to see some practical testing of some of those in this manner
The control of this review is a low end LVPO and it did as well if not better than many of the scout scopes. You bring up a good point about the IER scouts having the weaknesses of both systems. Also; There are plenty of reviews on LVPOs. I figure I not beat a dead horse and review optics few get to think about.
@OnTheScout I appreciate the response and I am aware that LPVO's are heavily reviewed and fairly popular, but few or none that I can find are reviewed by someone with an appreciation and an under standing of the Bolt gun scout concept. I have settled on a hawkeye compact in 7mm-08 as my go to " walking around gun here in interior Alaska and as such I am not strictly adhering to Coopers rule set. I am doing more like the Tika Artic and have the need for an optic for open ground caribou ( old eyes suck ) even though for the most part I will be running irons
According to some of Cooper’s writings, a GPR would best be served with an optic in front of the trigger and a scout would be ideally mounted forward of the ejection port.
I appreciate the reviews but I notice you wear glasses so you should IMHO put in a disclaimer or such letting people know what you wear them for i.e, short vision, long vision as it really does make a difference to your reviews for scopes of Scout rifles.
I am new to your channel. I have subbed and watched nearly all of your videos. I may have missed it, but could you give an overview of your rifle? What type of stock with that cheek Riser? Or is it OEM with aftermarket cheek riser? How did you shave your PIC rail, etc.? Love the info you provide for scopes.
😂😢 Pt3 video has major flaws: You didn't warrant the rude judgements about most of the products' performance since you failed proper procedure. Not Sorry. What are you running? AR15, AR10? Cal? Ammo? Did you dope your load? For each scope: Did you boresight the scope mount? Did you zero your weapon? Did you adjust for dope? You would have hit paper if it was done properly and maybe get sub-MOA today! You need a spotting scope to see >200yds easily. Not 4-6 MOA, right?
Really? He did an outstanding job with his videos and the editing. I doubt you could put tothether a better 3-part series. Nobody wants to sit through all the granular details you are asking for. What you are asking for is what we would call in my industry, a "Study" that would be in excess of 100 pages with the executive summary alone taking up a full page or two.
This is pure gold for scout rifle enthusiasts.
Well done! After many years using the Leupold 2.5x scout scope I’ve gone to the Burris 2x7. It’s tough and reliable.
Thank you Don for all this hard work
I just got the opportunity to shoot the Hi-Lux 2-7 on my brother in law’s Ruger GSR a few days ago (~25 yd), and I ordered one for my Steyr last night. I’m glad to see it still did well in part 3 testing.
I wish major manufacturers would listen and try making a better scout scope
A very thorough and comprehensive review of scout scope options. Thanks for your time compiling this series, Sir.
Very nice... Because of your reviews, I picked up the Hi-Lux for my Mossberg MVP Scout 308. Its lightweight (10oz) and works perfectly with 147g PMC. If I heard correctly, you mentioned your Hi-Lux was sighted at 100yds. This may explain the issues with the BDC holdover. The manufacturer recommends sighting in at 200yds and the BDC should be pretty accurate. The top of the post would be 600yds. not 500yds. Hope this helps... and thanks for your expansive review of the so neglected scout scopes. 💯
The BDC is for 200yards, I should have checked that on the manual.
Pure gold. After watching this review a was able to choose the Burris 2-7 scout.
Thank you for all your hard work on the videos. Helped me decide on my scope for my scout rifle for hunting. Outstanding detailed work.
well I pulled the trigger on a Hi-Lux 2-7x Scout Scope due to price, and your review. I was going to mount a traditional scope with BDC on my ruger 16" .308 scout and keep a tool in the butt stock pouch with the rear sight. Now I ordered QD rings and this scout scope to try out. Thanks for your review. I originally bought it for a shower .308 to use with a can on the homestead. Really liked it with open sights but my aging eyes have a need for some magnification. Thanks for these reviews.
thank you just purchased a hilux based on your review
Great work, thank you for putting this up! I'm sure you've helped a lot of people, including me, learn more about what is and isn't practical with a scout rifle. I'm a firm believer that the type and design of optic best determine a rifle's use. As a rifle marksmanship and fieldcraft instructor myself I've seen this play out many times to the point that 3/4 of the time I can usually tell how well students will do based upon the setup of their rifle. Of course skill and weather/ lighting play important roles, but you have to be able to ID the target before you can shoot it. At this point in time what do you think are the benefits (if any) of the currently available LER scopes vs. a quality LPVO? In other words, based on your experience would you recommend any of the currently available Scout Scopes to be used if the user were going into harms way? In theory I think the LER scout scope concept has merit still if it's light weight and has quality glass, but when the only options are cheaper range toy scopes it's hard to get anyone to take the concept seriously. It seems there are so many high quality (as in professional grade) LPVO options available that it's hard to justify putting any of the currently available LER scopes onto a scout rifle for any serious use. It also seems to me that the scope manufacturers aren't doing their best work when it comes to their scout scope offerings. I suppose it's because there aren't any scout rifles in professional LE/Military/Competition/Hunting use that I am aware of, which are the markets that drive scope design as far as I can tell. Us bushwhackers just have to use whatever is available, and in the bush is where I think the scout rifle and scout scope truly shine. It would be very interesting to see Primary Arms apply their LPVO methods to the scout scope. I currently own a few of the GLx and PLx optics and if they could produce a light weight LER with an ACSS reticle I think it would be unbeatable, similar to most of their higher end LPVO's. At the end you mentioned this need for a high quality scout scope when you were discussing the Leupold Freedom Scout, and I can't help but wonder if the scope manufacturers aren't producing modern improved scout scopes because the Fudd Scout's insist on everything being exactly as Cooper wrote (as if he had the luxury to try all the optics you did in your test...), so that's the type of scope that gets made. You said it precisely when you said that the Leupold is 2-3 generations behind, it seems to me that they are making just what the loudest voices in the community seem to be asking for. I also thought the comparison you made between the RDS and the 2.75x Burris was very interesting. Both were very quick up close, yet the Burris was easier to ID the target with in the field. I think this is another reality of optics I've observed in training, and that is that RDS aren't good field optics, which shouldn't really surprise anyone because they were never intended to be. Your shooting results also seem to be very consistent with what I've seen as far as magnification is concerned. I tell my students you should have a minimum of 1.5 power magnification for every 100 yards you want to shoot. This is to ensure that you can actually ID a concealed or otherwise non-obvious target. This is why the RDS tends to fall short in the field, not enough magnification to ID the target. This is also why the 2.75 Burris did good up close and out to about 300 yards, but started to struggle at further distances. While a BDC or adjustable target turrets would help get more hits at distance even with 2.75 magnification on an obvious target, if your target were camouflaged it would be nearly impossible to ID at 2.75x. Once again, great series of videos and I greatly appreciate the time you put into them.
I don’t usually get thoughtful long form comments on this platform. I usually have good discussion on the scoutrifle.org forum or the facebook group.
As a hunting guide and shooting instructor, I believe within the context of hunting, PID with the weapon optic is bad form.
I think positive ID should be done through the binoculars and spotting scope, and then the shooter can single out the target from what was gained in study of the target with the other optics and with communication with the guide or spotter.
Bad shoots can happen with a low power or medium power optic, but this also happens with high power optics too.
Based on my experience carrying scout rifles in griz country for a decade I would not hesitate to carry my scout rifle equipped with a scout scope. It is tough enough for a work and self defense weapon whether on foot knocking about, on horse back, really getting beat into tree trunks, and the occasional roll over, also getting vibrated in the back of a UTV from time to time. The Leupold 2.5 fixed power scout scope was heavily tested at Gunsite and in the Kosovo war in combat with militias.
It isn’t just the optic durability that is adequate but the entire scout rifle weapon system is in its essence redundant. I have great confidence that even if the scout scope does fail I can use the back of a knife and unscrew the optic and I have irons zeroed at 100 yards.
In my hands the scout rifle and its scope have stood our ground against bears, and been used to dispatch wounded elk bedded down in the rare case a hunter has a bad shot and the wounded animal must be brought to a stop.
Is it professional grade? I am a professional, and my Leupold has stood up to the task of being a hunting guide’s rifle, I would say yes. Is it warfighting professional grade? I doubt it, but grunt proof isn’t the gold standard for every item. A 7oz scope is a compromise for weight.
Would anyone consider a cheap Redfield or a Nikon an adequate optic for a week long mountain hunt that cost in total 20,000 dollars? Many men have said yes to that question because that is what they bring and that is what they kill elk and deer with. What I am getting at is sometimes the cost of the optic is not related directly to what opinions are of “goodenuff”. And our opinions of “goodenuff” are highly influenced by ads and the media machine.
I will continue to carry the Leupold 2.5x Scout as my work gun optic without hesitation because it is clear enough, reliable enough, and light as they come.
These optics are not being used by the coolest 3 gunners, the most sponsored PRS guys, or by elite soldiers. For the few hunters and shooters that use these, if light weight is a concern, scout scopes even the variable ones, still control the field on weight. And as you can see from my humble results 500 yards isn’t a big deal for any of the variable power scout scopes that have a turret or a BDC.
I suspect not a lot of these scopes are selling. I think the ambitious optics designers aren’t pushing for a sexy new scout scope at the product development meetings.
I’d like to see a primary arms ultralight prism with the required 9in eye relief. The 1x micro has 6inches and is almost the right eye relief, it’s only 5.5 oz. A 2x micro of similar size would check a lot of boxes.
Thank for watching brother.
@@OnTheScout Thank you for getting back to me and I apologize for the wall of words, your video was very well done and thought provoking! You bring up a great point about not ID'ing targets with your optic but instead trying to use a second spotting optic, I agree completely. I appreciate you sharing more of your personal experiences with the system. I think a LER prism would be very interesting indeed, and probably grunt proof too! The biggest benefit I can determine is like you said, the very low weight, especially of the fixed power optics. If I went to the 2.75x Burris you tested it would be a savings of 15.5 ounces compared to the conventionally mounted 2.5-10 I have now. This of course sacrifices most of the capability I have currently past 400 yards. From what I read Cooper wasn't a fan of shooting past that distance anyway, so maybe the Scout rifle as he defined it isn't as good of a fit for my region (Eastern MT). The Hi-lux 2-7 is more of a temptation to me, and it would still be a weight savings of 12.5 ounces. I think I'll have to try it, if nothing more than to definitively satisfy my curiosity on the topic. Once again, great work on your channel and your videos, I look forward to more, take care!
hey Don, i need your help picking the right scope. Before watching this series, i purchased a Vortex Scout 2-7x32 for a Mosin Nagant 9130. The scope is mounted on the rear sight, so i need 9" eye relief. I hate that the Vortex is blurry at 6x and 7x..
Do you recommend the Crimson Trace or Hi-Lux?
Thank you Don for doing all the hard work on figuring out what scope does what the best or worst . I’m using the hi lux 2 x 7 and so far it’s worked fantastic. Thanks again
Good shit man! Appreciate the reviews on the scout and diving deeper with this one into the scopes. Keep on Truckin over in the upper left coast.
Love your videos man, great content. I have a Sabatti Alaskan in .308, not quite a traditional scout rifle but that’s my intended use. Thanks for all the work you do
Intelligent and informative report. I'm looking for a scout scope for my Socom.
I appreciate your Scout video's. I also have a Ruger GSS and from your last tests settled on the Burris 2.75x. For my purposes of hunting and using this rifle it fits the bill of a 300yrd rifle that's fast to pick up. I will say that the 2-7x version seems to be a good choice as well.
Great review. I’m currently in the process of getting a Mossberg MVP Scout and I’ve been looking at those optics you’ve tested. Figure this was WA State since it looks very familiar with some of the spots I shoot at in Capital Forest 🤙🏽
Thanks for your reviews man good in depth comparisons were practicality comes to play. Got a Crimson Trace on the way for my 16” 92 Lever.
Thank you very much. I just purchased the sightmark scout scope. This is the only video I can find on it it looks like I picked well.
love your reviews brother keep it up....Just purchased the HI Lux based on your reviews.....cant wait to sight in this weekend..
GREAT series of videos. I just bought a Springfield Armory SOCOM 18 in 308 and am trying to decide on a scope or if I even need one. My average shot distance is about 1- 200 yds. Your videos were very helpful, thank you.....
Open sights are very viable in good lighting with that rifle.
A low power scope just aids in speed and accuracy. Allowing low light shots as well is a plus
I like the hi lux2x7x32 the best so far ( leatherwood).clear glass bdc works will . I am useing the warn low quick detach rings. I also have used a holosun 515 green dot very fast, love it but like the power of the scout scope
Damn! That is very well done! Pushing the scout to a 1000 you say.... i like it!
Thanks from Norway for an interesting video! What scope would you say is the best scout scope if also considering scopes not in production anymore?
I believe holy grail scout scope is an any Leupold scout scope with a factory CDS turret installed and a custom reticle with wind marks. That’s the VXR scout the VXFreedom and FX2.
I personally have a VXR and a FX2 with CDS added but sadly the custom shop closed before I could send them in for reticle work!
This is awesome im building a 94 win in to a scout scope setup and this is great info thanks for your work on the scout rifle no one else is doing this
I built a win 94 scout rifle in 7x30 waters for wife # one in the 80s it was a hog & deer killing machine in the east Texas and Louisiana swamps!
Great video, the scout concept is a great system. I was never a fan of the new leupold turret clicks. So mushy and sloppy but for the price they do function.
Getting ready to do my build just befor deer season leupold is where im sitting rn will see, are scout rifles making a come back?
Not on a resurgence like in the early 2000s but many euro makers are releasing new scouts.
Thanks Don, great content as always!
I use a 2-7 vortex scout scope on my m1a standard 22" barrel and it's awesome. My moa at 160 yards is under 2" and it's very light.
New to scout rifle game but with what I'm seeing it's a large variation in consistency with how torrents track or even just the large groups at 200+which is to be expected with the quality of the products I just with their was either a ffp long eye relief or one with repeatable turrets.
Good eye noticing this! The scopes were zeroed with 2-3 round groups. Most of these scopes are on cheap mounts too. Some mounts were Leupold QD so no actual torque value could be repeated. The rifle was shooting 3-4MOA M80ball ammo from 2 different lots from Lake City. Some of the scopes are new factory, some are used loaners. There’s a lot of variables that can’t be controlled with the budget at hand!
I forgot to mention thank you for the amount of money you spent on ammunition to test all these out as well as the time you put into it much appreciated
Super helpful. I have luepold on my scout rifles. I’m taking a backcountry rifle class and will need to hit at 400-500 m
Nice shooting!
Which magazine were you using? It looks metal but it also looks like you top loaded it after that malfunction around the 13 minute mark.
It’s an Accuracy International Arctic Warfare 308 that has been fitted into the modified AICS mag well.
Excellent video with so much useful information. Thank you!
Hey there! What dimensions are the scope rings you use to mount your Burris 2-7 x 32mm scope? Thank you for posting such amazing scout rifle content!
The pic rail is shaved down on my rifle. I am using ring height that wouldn’t work with a stock GSR
Excellent three-part series! I'm glad I found these videos because I've been researching various scout scope models for my Lever Action in 500 S&W, but couldn't decide which one to go with because very few of the local sporting goods stores had many or any of them for me to physically look at and through. Before this video series I had narrowed my choices down to the Burris 2-7 and the Vortex 2-7 because I'm more familiar with these brands, but after watching this video I don't think either of those scopes are on my short list anymore. Before I decide on which one to go with, I need to research and make sure the scope can stand up to the heavy recoil of a 500 S&W. I also don't plan on shooting at anything past 150 yards with this rifle because the 400+ grain bullet trajectory is like a rainbow, but I do need some magnification even for 100 yard shots because the current large aperature Skinner Sites on my rifle are worthless much past 50 yards.
Thank you for the great scientific approach and qualitative evaluation review of these scout scopes!
The low power leupolds will hold up as far as that rifle, though the Skinner’s is have to say are very viable to 100 as I’ve used that setup for 15 or so years using a 405g and the front sight needs to be for what your eyes prefer.
Open sights being a more personal setup as to each persons eyes are different.
Great rifle by the way, enjoy
@@45-70Guy Thanks! I decided not to put a scope on my lever gun because it was costly to have a rail installed and because the rail would go almost the full length of the barrel which would make it ugly. I'll just learn to use the Skinner Sights.
@@DucDNAnothing wrong with that. You can also look into the low power leupolds which seem to have a 4.5-5” eye relief. These you can mount flush with the back of the receiver so you don’t need a full rail.
I do run fixed power scopes on some of my levers in that exact setup. Keeps the weight centered and lightweight.
If the lpvo was out when cooper 1st thought of the scout concept, he probably would have chosen it.. my modern scout build has all the parameters but with lpvo
Great video Don. Good work!
Thanks for the time and effort you put into these, it's truly appreciated... question for you... currently run the Burris 2-7 and an Aimpoint T2 that swap places on my Steyr and Scout Squad... looking for a red dot for my Rem 600 build... does the 503 get a nod? Thanks again for your time.
The 503 did pretty good out to 400yds with just hold overs. It could probably hit 500 well but it had a few misses at 400.
Great video. I plan on using a fixed 3x TA33 on my Steyr Scout. I don't know if anyone else has tried this yet... Its just my idea for a ruggedized version of the scout concept. When it comes to learning how to shoot NV passively, watch brass facts and hoplopfheil. It will make your life way easier.
I think it’s cool. I had the same idea in fact. But even the max eye relief for an ACOG is a lot less than a scout scope though, so you don’t get the benefits of the forward mounted optic.
Excellent video. Note to self. If going with a scout scope get the Hi Lux and the Holosun chevron optic. That covers art of ground and makes for redundancy in sighting
Jeff said that a forward optic does not a Scout make. Which brings me to a recent comment by Bill Wilson, in which he lambasted the Scout concept. I think he is unfair to the historical Scout which was ahead of it's time, as we know from exactly the set-ups that are used in the military these days. However, Wilson's point is that a better optic these days is the true 1X variable. And it solves one problem that Scout scopes have for me which is that in low sun conditions, the reflection sometimes obliterates the view of the objective.
One place where the action mounted 1x scope is worse, is that it makes managing the breech a mess as with any such scopes. However, guns like the Ruger allow one to use all kinds of options, like the red dot for dangerous game, at the same time being able to move to the 1X, or the scout scope.
Wilson has bought Ultralight Arms, and he will eventually bring out some truly remarkable rifles that will make weight and use the modern optics.
ua-cam.com/video/RDBA0EeFcZs/v-deo.html
I disagree that JC said a scout can have any optic. In his writings on the scout he always mentioned the LER type optic. If you have some quotes and citations that say otherwise I’d like to see them.
Dude I stumbled across your page by sheer luck. Trying to find help a friend with his rifle by finding a replacement scout scope to mount to the rear sight leaf on a Mauser K98 that had a mount swapped onto where the sight leaf was.
I was wondering if you have had any issues with the Hi-Lux holding zero? There is a pattern of reviews of people saying this scope isn't holding zero or is only holding zero at one magnification. Some also complain that the turrets get stuck or stop working. A follow-up review on a long-term use of some of the top picks would be nice if that's something you're able to to do.
I don’t know if I have the time or ammo to make this review anything but short term.
Hey so if you had had to pick one for short to mid range, which would you choose?
Thanks for all the work so far.
Thats a hard choice, i cant pick one it would be a close call between the Hilux 2-7 Burris 2-7 and Crimson Trace 2.5-8
@OnTheScout Cool. Thanks. I think it's gonna be the HiLux($140) for me then 👍
Great job! well done and thank you for doing this.
Hi, do you think that the burris 2-7 is good enough for hunting ?
I have the Burris 2.75, Burris 2-7, and Hi-Lux 2-7. The 2.75 is hard to beat for how light it is. Hi-Lux is great for the money, the Burris 2-7 is not good too. I've killed hogs out to 300 with the 2.75 on a M96 Mauser.
Very well done son !!
Given that you are obscuring the ejection port in many instances anyway...have you considered some of the more traditional LPVO's. ? I would love to see some practical testing of some of those in this manner
The control of this review is a low end LVPO and it did as well if not better than many of the scout scopes. You bring up a good point about the IER scouts having the weaknesses of both systems. Also; There are plenty of reviews on LVPOs. I figure I not beat a dead horse and review optics few get to think about.
@OnTheScout I appreciate the response and I am aware that LPVO's are heavily reviewed and fairly popular, but few or none that I can find are reviewed by someone with an appreciation and an under standing of the Bolt gun scout concept. I have settled on a hawkeye compact in 7mm-08 as my go to " walking around gun here in interior Alaska and as such I am not strictly adhering to Coopers rule set. I am doing more like the Tika Artic and have the need for an optic for open ground caribou ( old eyes suck ) even though for the most part I will be running irons
I’ll consider a LVPO vs Scout Scope video later down the line.
Did you weigh all of them? I saw another video that the Burris fixed 2.75x is 4oz with a mount, which is wayyyy under advertised ~7oz
I’ll throw that in part 4.
@@OnTheScoutI just got my scope in, it weighs as advertised. Scope only, 7.3oz.
Between the burris 2-7 and hi lux 2-7 which one would you pick? In terms of distortion, light transmission, usable scope image, and glass clarity?
Hi-Lux beats the Burris on optical quality by a LONG shot.
Great video! Thanks
I'll confirm this, I never gave it a second thought. I just thought they were better for criters on the move...
Fantastic content 👍🏻 loving it.
What did you use as the QD cup in the front left side of your stock? Is your stock the composite Ruger factory one?
It has QD cups installed at the front of the left side and middle left side. Ruger poly stock.
@@OnTheScout awesome. Thanks! One more question, which brand QD cups did you go with? Didn’t require threading I assume?
@@levimaliwauki8all Grovtech and they all required threading and epoxy.
@@OnTheScout great! Thanks!
Hello, what is your stock on this riffle ?
Good information, thank you 👍☕️☕️✌️
Cool rifle.
what stock is that?
They eye relief isn't that great, but Sig Bravo3 could be interesting.
It’s NOT a Scout rifle if the scope is mounted n the traditional position!
Correct! However there’s something called experimental control! So conventional optics were included.
If it's not forward of the action, it's not a "scout" rifle or scope. Sorry. Just the way it is.
According to some of Cooper’s writings, a GPR would best be served with an optic in front of the trigger and a scout would be ideally mounted forward of the ejection port.
I appreciate the reviews but I notice you wear glasses so you should IMHO put in a disclaimer or such letting people know what you wear them for i.e, short vision, long vision as it really does make a difference to your reviews for scopes of Scout rifles.
Maybe you could put together a better review and post the link here when it's ready for everyone to watch.
I am new to your channel. I have subbed and watched nearly all of your videos. I may have missed it, but could you give an overview of your rifle? What type of stock with that cheek Riser? Or is it OEM with aftermarket cheek riser? How did you shave your PIC rail, etc.? Love the info you provide for scopes.
Thanks for the sub, I’ll make a rifle review next.
@@OnTheScoutAWESOME! 👍🏽
😂😢 Pt3 video has major flaws: You didn't warrant the rude judgements about most of the products' performance since you failed proper procedure. Not Sorry.
What are you running?
AR15, AR10? Cal? Ammo?
Did you dope your load?
For each scope:
Did you boresight the scope mount?
Did you zero your weapon?
Did you adjust for dope?
You would have hit paper if it was done properly and maybe get sub-MOA today! You need a spotting scope to see >200yds easily.
Not 4-6 MOA, right?
What?
"Proper procedure"😂😂😂 I think he did an excellent and very practical review on the scopes and their features.
Really? He did an outstanding job with his videos and the editing. I doubt you could put tothether a better 3-part series. Nobody wants to sit through all the granular details you are asking for. What you are asking for is what we would call in my industry, a "Study" that would be in excess of 100 pages with the executive summary alone taking up a full page or two.
@@OnTheScout There's always someone like MrPeeks in every comments section who think it makes them look smart to poke holes in someone else's work.
A hash mark or Dot at 500 / 700/900 would be excellent presupposing a 150 @ 2700 fps.aka PMC 150/308 Ammo.
Were have you been?