Experimental Handguard for the GSR

chicharrones · May 10, 2013

I just wanted to see if this was possible for my Ruger GSR. I'm sure this might rile up a few people, but what the heck.

This thing is stamped steel, so it has some imperfections. After cutting the ends off, I removed the bluing with naval jelly and gave it several coats of flat black paint, for rust resistant reasons.

If one was made in laminate wood to match the stock, I'm sure it would look better.

Anyway . . .
Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle with Ventilated Handguard

GSR optics rail with two handguards

experimental wood handguard mounts

Ruger GSR handguard rear view

Ruger GSR handguard muzzle view

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle with handguard

Ruger GSR with handguard

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle without flash suppressor with ventilated handguard

AK Gun Man 88 · May 11, 2013

Not gonna lie...i'm kinda diggin' it. I don't own a GSR but that does look cool. And you're right, a laminated one to match would be the cat's pajamas.

baz · May 11, 2013

Doesn't it interfere with the ability to mount a scope in scout mount fashion? And why is it required? This is not a rifle with a rate of fire that is going to heat the barrel up that much. Even at the range, where I shoot it a lot more than I would typically in the field, I've never noticed it to be a problem from this aspect. However, I do have a scope mounted on the rail that is covered by your shroud, so I'm not ever grabbing the barrel at that location. In fact, I don't come into contact with the barrel at all, except maybe accidentally. I'm not riled about it, but I don't see the utility.

adelbridge · May 11, 2013

Looks like a battle rifle now. Is your accuracy the same?

Tommygunn · May 11, 2013

Looks a lot like one of those metal ventilated handgaurds for the M-1 carbine.
That's a nice looking rifle. What caliber is it?

itsa pain · May 11, 2013

excellent work. I like when guys improvise like that. you did a good job. I wonder did it change your zero perhaps shoot better/worse

chicharrones · May 11, 2013

baz said:
Doesn't it interfere with the ability to mount a scope in scout mount fashion? And why is it required? This is not a rifle with a rate of fire that is going to heat the barrel up that much. Even at the range, where I shoot it a lot more than I would typically in the field, I've never noticed it to be a problem from this aspect. However, I do have a scope mounted on the rail that is covered by your shroud, so I'm not ever grabbing the barrel at that location. In fact, I don't come into contact with the barrel at all, except maybe accidentally. I'm not riled about it, but I don't see the utility.

Yep, the handguard has to be removed to reinstall the forward rail. I don't need the handguard to protect my hands as much as I wanted a handguard to protect the barrel from my hands. I like grabbing rifles in front of the receiver wrapping my whole hand around the fore end. My bare sweaty hands tend to rust blued steel pretty badly if I don't wipe down the steel regularly.

Truthfully, I'd like a non-perforated wood handguard better, but this one seems okay for now and was cheap to make. Plus, if I tire of iron sight shooting it comes off with only four allen screws.

chicharrones · May 11, 2013

adelbridge said:
Looks like a battle rifle now. Is your accuracy the same?

An accuracy test is on my "to do" list. I just mounted it up yesterday.

chicharrones · May 11, 2013

Tommygunn said:
Looks a lot like one of those metal ventilated handgaurds for the M-1 carbine.

That's exactly what those handguards are for, an M1 Carbine. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/618552/choate-ventilated-handguard-m1-carbine-steel-black

I also got this other handguard, but it is notably thinner than the one above and is too flexible for my tastes. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/529802/john-masen-ventilated-handguard-m1-carbine-steel-black

Tommygunn said:
That's a nice looking rifle. What caliber is it?

That's the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (aka Ruger GSR) chambered in .308 Winchester.

In this configuration, with the flash hider removed and the stock spacers removed it is 36" long. Set up like this, I call it my Yard Gun.

yzguy87 · May 11, 2013

I like it!

Roadking Rider · May 11, 2013

Looks like a fun little project to personalize your rifle. Why you chose to do it, is your business. Personally I think it looks great.

Sam Cade · May 11, 2013

Not a thing wrong with that.

I rather like it.

Sav .250 · May 11, 2013

For me,the only thing it adds to the weapon.....is a different look. J s/n.

splithoof · May 12, 2013

In the spirit of what Jeff Cooper liked to say:"....so what is it for?"
To each his own; if it serves your purposes, all is well. I would personally never do that to my GSR, as I use the forward rail for optics.

aubie515 · May 12, 2013

Sav .250 said:
For me,the only thing it adds to the weapon.....is a different look. J s/n.

Not true, it adds weight and limits your optics mounting options.

IMO, it's not needed and looks dumb.

itsa pain · May 12, 2013

how much weight could the handguard add and putting a scope on it will make it lighter?? more people should learn how to shoot those excellent sights rather then putting the hubble space telescope on it

Carl N. Brown · May 12, 2013

My bare sweaty hands tend to rust blued steel pretty badly ...

My younger son has the same problem. I put wrap-around Pachmayr rubber grips on my Ruger MK II because his hands removed the blue from the exposed metal on the grip frame. When he came of age, he prefered to buy stainless steel revolvers and polymer frame autos for that reason.

I think you have a solution to a personal problem that actual makes a very cool personally customized rifle.

chicharrones · May 12, 2013

splithoof said:
In the spirit of what Jeff Cooper liked to say:"....so what is it for?"
To each his own; if it serves your purposes, all is well. I would personally never do that to my GSR, as I use the forward rail for optics.

I respect Jeff Cooper and I read his writings in the gun mags for years, but I didn't purchase the GSR to fulfill any need to follow the Colonel's or Gunsite's teachings.

I bought it because I wanted a short carbine, with iron sights, and a detachable magazine. If this Ruger would have been issued without the Gunsite moniker and looked exactly the same, I would have still bought it. These features in a .308 package that is 36" long? I love it.

Anyway, that was written to anyone in general about meeting the requirements of a Scout Rifle.

I do appreciate your feedback!

chicharrones · May 12, 2013

aubie515 said:
Not true, it adds weight and limits your optics mounting options.

IMO, it's not needed and looks dumb.

Fear not, it's not welded on. It comes off as fast an easy as the original scope rail.

chicharrones · May 12, 2013

Carl N. Brown said:
My younger son has the same problem. I put wrap-around Pachmayr rubber grips on my Ruger MK II because his hands removed the blue from the exposed metal on the grip frame. When he came of age, he prefered to buy stainless steel revolvers and polymer frame autos for that reason.

I think you have a solution to a personal problem that actual makes a very cool personally customized rifle.

Yep, some people out there are rust starters. Me included. When I sweat hard on a hot day, I leave salt rings in my shirt and hat. That's not good for blued steel coming from my hands.

You know, I would have gotten the stainless version of the GSR if I had known about it in time. Oh well.

itsa pain · May 12, 2013

chich you have a beautiful useful rifle that you have enhanced for the better and I love those sites being they are like the M1A. I just wished the rifle was a little cheaper lol

splithoof · May 12, 2013

^^^^I wish the stainless version was produced with the shorter barrel that the blue model has.

aspade · May 12, 2013

chicharrones said:
I don't need the handguard to protect my hands as much as I wanted a handguard to protect the barrel from my hands. I like grabbing rifles in front of the receiver wrapping my whole hand around the fore end. My bare sweaty hands tend to rust blued steel pretty badly if I don't wipe down the steel regularly.

Keeping your sweaty mitts off of the barrel is half of it but some gunk will still make it through the vent holes and how regularly are you going to wipe down the steel with a handguard in the way?

I have run into a lot more rust in the crevices, under grip panels, below the stock line, etc. than I have fingerprints in plain sight.

That said, it does look cool.

TCB in TN · May 12, 2013

Whats it good fer?????? I like it is as good an answer as any. I personally like the look. I also think that anything that makes you like your own guns more (unless illegal or unsafe) is a good thing.

chicharrones · May 12, 2013

aspade said:
Keeping your sweaty mitts off of the barrel is half of it but some gunk will still make it through the vent holes and how regularly are you going to wipe down the steel with a handguard in the way?

A very valid point! Using an air compressor will help blow out some crud, but the handguard will have to be removed from time to time.

Experimental Handguard for the GSR

needs more ammo

Member

Member

Member

Member

member

needs more ammo

needs more ammo

needs more ammo

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

member

Member

needs more ammo

needs more ammo

needs more ammo

member

Member

Member

Member

needs more ammo

Similar threads