Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Are Scout Scopes easy to use?

My Son bought a Ruger Scout Rifle in 308 Win.It is set up with a forward Weaver type Scout rail.I was wondering if Scout scopes are easily used and easy to pick up the reticle with?Thanks ahead ,Huntz

I don't like them. Putting the ocular that far away from your eye just doesn't feel right.

Some folks are able to adapt to them easily and some folks have to shoot a lot to learn the eye coordination. I used to shoot with a Redfield 2 3/4x scope on a Marlin 39A at moving targets. It was an easy transition. I think I had already learned to use both eyes open. I also did the same with a Springfield single shot 22 and a LER cheap scope. I was amazed the 7/8ths scope would work that way. The scout wasn't much of a transition and I use one on a Steyr Scout and a Marlin 95 in 45-70. Try it and see. If you need encouragement or coaching go to: www.scoutrifle.org. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

I shoot everything both eyes open,
Have yet to try a scout scope.

Have a 2.5X Leupold on a Guide Gun (45-70 for dark timber elk), and find it as handy and speedy as open sights. No issues keeping both eyes open as I shoot with my master eye. One also has the scope well out of the way of the lever action's workings. No hammer spurs etc needed. I vote yes.

Go for it.
Works great, just ignore the naysayers who have spent little/no time using one.

I have adapted and glad I discovered them. Now I prefer them even have them on a .270 BLR.
It frees the reciever up and you can wrap your hand around it, you won't blacken your eye with heavy recoiling rifles. On low power I can keep both eyes open, and the .270 has a 2x7 on it. I don't use high magnification scopes anyway. 🇨🇦

And you can stock creep accidentally on a steep uphill shot without getting a scope eye. Be Well, Rustyzipper.

The reticle is easy to pick up. The only drawback for me is that you lose a bit of shooting light because the scope is so far from the eye. had one on a TC Renegade muzzleloader for 25 years. 2.5 power was fine for the range of the rifle.

I have a Burris Scout Scope on a Swedish Mauser M38. Find it easy to use and it works just fine!

I tend to shoot with both eyes open anyhow so it was an easy transition for me. I like the Burris 2.75x scout scope better than Leupold’s.

Regular scope mounted on the receiver is better if you can do it; although a "scout scope" can shoot very good groups and might offer quicker sight acquisition for some shooters.
The problem with a "scout scope" is the small field of view and sucking in low light versus a conventionally mounted scope.

I have a couple Leupold FX-II 2.5X28 Scout scopes, I love them for what they do but it is a niche........
they have a 9" eye relief, some call it intermediate eye relief but not as long as a pistol scope. the down side is a very small field of view.
The upside is quick target acquisition if you use both eyes at close range. I use one on a heavy cover coyote gun and love it, down side is that past say 125yds their usefulness is done.

I tried it twice on two different rifles.

in good light, I loved it.

at low light conditions, I struggled to see through the scope well. eyes wouldn't dilate to see well inside the scope.

I ended up selling both rigs and going back to a conventional setup.

ymmv. Good luck.

With the advent of true 1x/low power variable optics, I honestly don't see the point. You can get really good eye relief with the various 1-4x & 1-6x scopes, and still be able to shoot with both eyes open at 1-2x. Plus, you still get the benefit of the higher power.

They are easy to use. It starts with a good base and rings. Invest in a quality optic and find the ammo your rifle likes. You’ll be hitting the bullseye over and over quickly. Happy Trails

Of the few people that have shot my rifle. Savage Model 10, Leopold 2.5x scout scope 308 win, the majority of them have expressed how easy it is to shoot. Fast and instinctive. I have never killed anything other than paper with that rifle but would love hunt with it. I like the concept of the that sighting system. My only complaint about my setup is its weight. About a 1.5 lbs too heavy!

They are a solution to a non-existent problem.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^

I respectfully disagree, I have a Burris 2 3/4 on a Mosin Nagant 38 and it’s the easiest way to scope that particular action. Also have a post 64 Winchester 30-30 with the same scope. It also worked on an Ithaca 87 (the rear sight has cutouts for good .22 rings). If you shoot both eyes open they are a piece of cake but like others have posted is not the greatest option for low light hunting. Sometimes though it is the only option if a scope is necessary/needed vs irons.