Short-barrelled .308?

[Vingiu]

I'm kinda getting eager to buy my next gun... I can't afford what I REALLY want, and I've always been a fan of guide-style guns, really short, high powered bolt actions. A compact, iron-sights only .308 is the ideal package for me. Being a younger guy, I simply don't know what's out there in terms of older rifles to look for. An acquaintance of mine had one, an old Remington I believe. So what's out there?

[sullijr]

RUGER GUNSITE SCOUT RIFLE, 308, W/DETACHABLE MAGAZINE

MANUFACTURER NO: 6803

ITEM #: 736676068036
More Items From: Ruger
LOOK THIS ONE UP

[Homesteader]

All the old model 7's had 18.5" barrels, and open sights. My Husqvarna is a carbine(20") with open sights, and also a peep sight, these were/are very nice rifles. Remington also made some pumps with 18.5", and 16.5" pipes both with open sights in 308. I'm sure there is many others that I left out.

[tchardy1972]

Rem model 788. Short, cheap, accurate.

[antlercarver]

Most times short and cheap does not go with accurate.

[Homesteader]

Originally Posted by antlercarver

Most times short and cheap does not go with accurate.

In the 788's case it does. Of course it depends what you call cheap.

Me I'll stick with my Husky. Not much better in the way of a handy do all rifle then a 308 with open sights, and the ability to use optics as well.

[Vingiu]

Originally Posted by Homesteader

In the 788's case it does. Of course it depends what you call cheap.

Me I'll stick with my Husky. Not much better in the way of a handy do all rifle then a 308 with open sights, and the ability to use optics as well.

If you don't mind my asking, where did you pick that up? I've been seeing old Husqvarna rifles on trade ex Canada and such, but I'm not sure they're in the best shape. Any good places to look?

[Silverado04]

Originally Posted by Homesteader

In the 788's case it does. Of course it depends what you call cheap.

Me I'll stick with my Husky. Not much better in the way of a handy do all rifle then a 308 with open sights, and the ability to use optics as well.

Where does a guy find a .308 husky besides buy/sell and EE?

[Homesteader]

Originally Posted by Silverado04

Where does a guy find a .308 husky besides buy/sell and EE?

Exactly. The EE, only mine was on CGN. She's a beauty, wood that looks like it should be on a Cooper and very deep bluing.

Tradex is very good to deal with though as well. I think Anthony is the guys name, he'll give you the straight poop on condition of what he has. Mine has been in Canada since new, but the Tradex imports are good. Not sure what he would have for carbines.

[RatFink]

This is what I went with, but good luck finding one! I'm semi confident that I got one of the only ones to show up in Canada so far in 2013, and no one knows when any more will show up.

Other options: Savage Hog Hunter, Savage Scout (There's a few at Ellwood Epps in Ontario), or the Remington 700 SPS w/ 16.5" or 20" barrels (not too hard to find).

That said, only the Gunsite scout, hog hunter and Savage Scout have irons.
The Gunsite is more money than the other two, but does come with the detachable 10 round box, a peep sight, stainless barrel and a laminate stock. The savages have composite ones and I have read (never handled) that the hog hunter's stock feels like a fisher price toy. The savages only have 3 or 4 round magazines (but really, how many shots will you actually be taking consecutively, unless your'e on the range?) versus the 3, 5 or 10 for the gunsite.

The Remingtons do not have irons, but I believe they do come with threaded barrels (gunsite scouts do not come with threaded barrels in Canada, but the hog hunter does). The remington also has a heavier contoured barrel than the other rifles so maybe that's a plus for you?

For over 2x the price of the gunsite scout, you can get the Steyr Scout which is very cool and looks like it's out of Star Wars. It has an integral bipod and twin 5 round magazines along with pop-up back up peep sights. When I handled one of these at teh Shooting Edge it felt cheap as can be, despite it being an extremely accurate and well built rifle. The plastic just didn't do it for me, for the price.

Originally Posted by sullijr

RUGER GUNSITE SCOUT RIFLE, 308, W/DETACHABLE MAGAZINE

MANUFACTURER NO: 6803

ITEM #: 736676068036
More Items From: Ruger
LOOK THIS ONE UP

[roger]

Ive got a ruger frontier in 300wsm with a 16" bbl. cant get much more compact than that. Leupold too.couple boxes of premium ammo too. Too violent of report and recoil for me. Ill stick to the wbys
pm me if you want to work something out

[RatFink]

I forgot to mention, the Tikka T3 Battue is another option. It has the coolest sights out of any short barrelled rifle out there and can be had for around $600-$700, IF you can find one.

[honda450]

Not too many people got one of these, but I do.

FR-8 Spanish Mauser. Rotating peeps. 19 inch barrel. Straight bolt. Love er. Yup .308. Or is it a 7.62 NATO? You decided. hehehe

Just a cool little rifle with some punch.

[Vingiu]

Originally Posted by roger

Ive got a ruger frontier in 300wsm with a 16" bbl. cant get much more compact than that. Leupold too.couple boxes of premium ammo too. Too violent of report and recoil for me. Ill stick to the wbys
pm me if you want to work something out

Those things just look violent, I love it PM sent

Originally Posted by honda450

Not too many people got one of these, but I do.

FR-8 Spanish Mauser. Rotating peeps. 19 inch barrel. Straight bolt. Love er. Yup .308. Or is it a 7.62 NATO? You decided. hehehe

Just a cool little rifle with some punch.

That's a beauty. It's in such great shape! Exactly what I'm looking for too... I'm guessing these are a bit of a rarity then, eh?

[honda450]

Originally Posted by MiDaLeonardo

... I'm guessing these are a bit of a rarity then, eh?

Can't answer ya, cause I really don't know. And I ain't selling. hehehe

[Maxwell78]

Originally Posted by tchardy1972

Rem model 788. Short, cheap, accurate.

I sure do miss my 788. Fed me for a lot of years

[Alberta Bigbore]

If you want a short, iron Sighted .308, that is accurate as all hell... look at a new Savage Hog Hunter. Its between $400-$500 new...and it looks slick. Also comes in 223 and 338wm.

[Vingiu]

Hmm, definitely a few more choices than I first expected. Although my search has been pretty successful thus far. Thanks guys I think I might have a deal in the works for this weekend

[fretman57]

Originally Posted by Silverado04

Where does a guy find a .308 husky besides buy/sell and EE?

Some Chilean Huskies in .308 for sale on Tradex Canada. Both a carbine and the rifle.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by fretman57

Some Chilean Huskies in .308 for sale on Tradex Canada. Both a carbine and the rifle.

Anthony and Tony ALWAYS have some interesting stuff there, for sure!
Talk about a window shopper's dream!!

Cat

[Vingiu]

Due to cash constraints I had to limit my search to used guns from the classifieds - but I ended up finding a pretty good little rifle. Just picked it up -- cut and crowned Enfield P14, not in .308 but oh well, I'm sure .303 Brit will serve the purpose just fine. Looks like it's gonna be a great gun, in great shape and built like a tank. Thanks to Carbon Caster, great guy to deal with. Thanks everyone else for your input and offers

[fretman57]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Anthony and Tony ALWAYS have some interesting stuff there, for sure!
Talk about a window shopper's dream!!

Cat

Yes I drool there at least once a week!

Scott

[fretman57]

Originally Posted by MiDaLeonardo

Due to cash constraints I had to limit my search to used guns from the classifieds - but I ended up finding a pretty good little rifle. Just picked it up -- cut and crowned Enfield P14, not in .308 but oh well, I'm sure .303 Brit will serve the purpose just fine. Looks like it's gonna be a great gun, in great shape and built like a tank. Thanks to Carbon Caster, great guy to deal with. Thanks everyone else for your input and offers

Congratulations! Could you post a picture of your baby? I like to drool as well!

Scott

[Homesteader]

Good choice. Not any worthwhile difference between the classic Brit, and the little 308. They'll both get the job done, without a lot of ruckus.

[toomanyhobbies]

I'm thinking about selling my old Browning Safari. 22" barrel I think, the FN Mauser action. Skinny barrel, shoots very well. Iron sights and a Trijicon 3-9 on Leupold QR detachable rings.