Savage Model 11 Scout Rifle
Click for full-screen photo.
Savage has started to ship its new .308 Win Model 11 Scout rifle. Based on the concept popularized by Col. Jeff Cooper, the Savage Scout is designed to be short and handy, with an 18″ barrel and forward-mounted optic. This new Savage was unveiled at SHOT Show in January, 2015, but production models are just now starting to appear at dealers.
The Model 11 Scout comes complete with iron sights (blade front, Williams peep rear). A cantilevered Picatinny rail accepts forward-mounted, long eye-relief scopes. Available in dark Tan or OD Green*, the Model 11 Scout comes with a 10-round detachable magazine (see below). The only chambering currently offered is .308 Winchester. The gun ships with a screw-on muzzle brake. Rifle weight (without optic) is a modest 7.8 pounds.
Photo from review in CTD’s Shooter’s Log.
The Savage Model 11 Scout is affordable — online vendors are selling the rifle for around $650.00. We’re not sure if this rifle will be a big seller. The Steyr Scout rifle, built to Col. Cooper’s specs, generated a lot of press, but not many sales in the USA. But the Steyr Scout was fairly expensive. The Savage Scout is modestly priced, so it may achieve greater success in the marketplace.
In this video, Bill Dermody of Savage explains Model 11 Scout features:
* OD Green versions are listed for sale by some online vendors, but this color is not cataloged on the Savage website.
Similar Posts:
- New Steyr Scout RFR Rimfire Rifle with Straight-Pull Action
- Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle Now Available In .223 Rem / 5.56 NATO
- New .338 Lapua Magnum Target Rifle from Savage
- Ty Cooper Takes Long Range Championships Title at Camp Perry
- Ruger Introduces Gunsite Scout Rifle in .308 Win
Tags: Bill Dermody, Forward Scope, Jeff Cooper, Model 11, Savage, Scout, Steyr
A couple observations:
1. The scope base looks insecure. I would have preferred a base that followed barrel contour. That would allow space for recoil pins like Ruger puts under the bases of their single-shots. It would be a lot stronger.
2. The example rifle in the video has unnecessarily high scope rings. The scope should be closer to the bore – or the height for use with iron sights.
3. 7.8 lbs without scope is Heavy. Why does it weigh so much? Add a scope and a full magazine ad it would be over nine lbs.
4. Why does a rifle this heavy need a muzzle brake?
It seems odd that the Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle wasn’t mentioned here, other than the link below the article. I fell for the idea, and pre-ordered one as soon as I heard about it.
It’s a nice rifle, and I have a Leupold FX-II 2.5x28mm Scout scope forward mounted on mine. I couldn’t really judge the accuracy at 100 yards with this setup, and have never tried a higher power scope.
I now don’t really believe in the concept, and prefer a conventional set up with a higher power scope with quick detach mounts and iron sights.
I don’t care for the detachable magazine and like being able to top off the internal style as needed, such as on my Remington Model 7 and 700s.
But I’m sure there others who would disagree and that this type of rifle fills their needs quite well. The Savage does look pretty cool, and the price is very reasonable too.
Have a forward mount set up on my marlin guide gun and have realized that yes it looks cool but the forward weight bias of the scope ruins the balance of the gun.
I too prefer a conventional setup on a smaller rifle like the rem 700 with a standard top feed magazine.
If your not road hunting i don’t see the need in the box mags?
I don’t care about the rifle, but sure would like to know if those magazines will be available for less than $90.
This looks like a rifle that would be a ton of fun in the woods hog hunting in a blind or a stand.
I agree with the above criticisms, and wonder who this marketing effort has been targeted.
Surely nothing I would like.