An Old West Reboot

My affection for the .22 cartridge runs deep. It began with my first rifle, a Cooey single-shot. What followed was an array of .22-calibre rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition spent in pursuit of medals and game. Regrettably, I never included a lever-action. That needed to change!

A lever-action rimfire, yes, but why not make it an Old West lever gun? It was an epiphany worth pursuing. While their history dates back to 1860, a lever-action rimfire replica was where I was headed. To be precise, a replica that offered the undying spirit of an Old West gun. The Uberti Scout in .22 Long Rifle was that replica. While not an original, it had the appeal of one.

Uberti Scout .22 rifle

Uberti has been manufacturing historical replica firearms since 1959. It was, in fact, the first to do so. Today, using high-tech machinery and materials, this Italian company is still a world leader in manufacturing impeccable replicas, from revolvers to Rolling Block rifles. While the Scout is an all-original lever-action, it is based on the styling of an Old West lever gun. To quote Uberti, “The Uberti Scout embodies the best features of the proven lever-gun design that goes back as far as the mid-1800s.”

It features a chrome-plated alloy receiver, aluminum alloy nickel-plated frame, straight walnut stock, blued forged-steel round barrel and tube magazine. Meanwhile, it boasts a cartridge mechanism designed to allow controlled round feeding, so the gun can be cycled and fired while held at any angle, including upside down.

 

Rifle Specifications

Calibre: .22 LR (also available in .22 Mag)

Barrel length: 19 inches

Overall length: 37 inches

Weight: 5.80 pounds

Magazine capacity: 14+1

Vortex Diamondback 2-7×35 Rimfire Scope

Vortex considers the Diamondback a “true workhorse” with a legacy of proven grit. The Diamondback 2-7×35 rimfire was precisely what I was looking for: a scope that wouldn’t distract from the visual appeal of the Scout but would still provide the precision required to get the best out of this rifle. It features the following attributes:

• XD optical system: Delivers impressive resolution, edge-to-edge sharpness, reduced chromatic aberration and bright, high-contrast images.
• Fully multi-coated lenses: Anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces for enhanced clarity and low-light performance.
• Aircraft-grade aluminum: The scope is constructed from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum for optimum strength and rigidity.
• Argon-gas purged: Gas-purged and O-ring-sealed for optimum performance in extreme conditions.
• Fast-focus eyepiece: Quick and easy reticle focusing.
• Low-glare matte black anodize: The low-glare matte anodization is corrosion- and wear-resistant.
• Waterproof/fogproof/shockproof: Designed for the harshest weather, temperature ranges and heavy recoil.

The scope also comes with the Vortex VIP Warranty — an unlimited, unconditional lifetime warranty. If it is damaged or defective, Vortex will repair or replace it at no charge. It also comes with removable lens covers and a lens cloth.

 

Scope Specifications

Magnification: 2-7x

Objective lens diameter: 35 millimetres

Tube size: One inch

Length: 11.6 inches

Weight: 13.7 ounces

Field of view: 64.3 to 19.3 feet at 100 yards

Eye relief: 3.1 inches

Elevation and windage adjustment: 100 MOA

Focal plane: Second

Parallax setting: 50 yards

Test Results

Over the years, I have handled a lot of guns, and first impressions set the tone. In my hands, the Scout spoke to me of Old West design and modern quality. The fit, finish and general aesthetic appeal were on par with guns costing considerably more. But the clincher was its trigger. Wow! It broke so cleanly and crisply at two pounds, seven ounces that it could compete with the best lever-action rifle triggers on the market.

Mounting the scope became a bit more complicated than I expected. There appears to be only one scope-mount base on this planet that will fit the drilled-and-tapped receiver on this rifle: a Weaver-style rail made specifically for the Scout. Thankfully, Stoeger Canada, the Canadian distributor for Uberti, had one in stock. Once installed, mounting the Diamondback with Burris medium-high Zee rings took but minutes. But I caution readers that the objective bell must clear the rear iron sight, while the eyepiece must also provide clearance for the hammer to function. Fortunately, the Burris rings provided sufficient clearance for both, although the 35-mm scope objective had but a millimetre of clearance above the rear sight. A squeaker, but it fit!

Both the rifle and scope outperformed my expectations. With a postal-scale weight of six pounds, four ounces, the rifle was quick and nimble and cycled perfectly with all sorts of ammunition. Meanwhile, the scope offered optical quality and function while being a perfect match for the Scout.

 

	Brand	Bullet	Velocity (fps)	Group size (inches)
	Norma TAC-22	40 grains	1,030	.510
	RWS R 50	40 grains	1,030	.527
	Federal Premium Hunter Match	40-grain match HP	1,156	.810
	Federal Premium Match Gold Metal	40 grains	934	.415
	Federal Premium Target Gold Metal	40 grains	1,158	1.225
	Browning Pro 22	40-grain round nose	1,035	.765
	Eley Sport	40 grains	1,040	.585
Eley Action		40 grains	1,053	.425
	Eley Edge	40 grains	1,037	.560
	Eley High Velocity Hollow Point	38 grains	1,160	.425
	CCI Mini Mag LR SHP	40-grain segmented hollow point	1,168	.710
	Winchester Super X LR	40-grain plated round nose	1,183	.445
	Winchester Super X LR	37-grain plated hollow point	1,252	.628
	Remington Golden Bullet	40-grain plated round nose	1,208	.618

Note: All groups were five shots at 25 yards, with velocities measured by a Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph. Winds were light; temperature was 12 degrees Celsius.

Last Shot

On the range, I included ammunition from low-cost plinking to high-end target ammunition. All 14 groups collectively averaged 0.620 inches, while four of these bettered half an inch. For sheer plinking fun, consider Eley Action, or for small-game hunting, either Eley High Velocity hollow point or Winchester Super X Plated RN would be excellent choices. All three shot groups of less than half an inch. The Scout not only delivered on its Old West styling but was a blast to shoot.