Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle...anybody have one?

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Pat Riot

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I will start by saying I have only owned 3 bolt action rifles. I have fired quite a few others. My main long guns have always been lever action and semi-auto rifles and carbines.
The bolt guns I have owned were an SMLE, a sporterized 1917 and a Remington 673. I gave the SMLE to my brother because he really liked it. I gave the 1917 to a friend that just had to have it and I sold the Remington 673 because I wanted the gun in the worst way and once I got it I disliked it, mostly because the working the bolt just plain sucked and I hate dropping floorplate magazines.

I have been toying with the idea of buying a bolt action in .308. Please, I want a .308. I really don’t care to here about other cartridges.

My parameters:
.308 Winchester
Iron sights
Scout scope configuration
Box magazine
For plinking, targets to 300 yards, truck gun and possible deer hunting.

I was in Riflegear the other day and saw and handled the Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle.
I really like the way it feels and handles. I would like the laminate stock and not sure if I would prefer the 16.5” or the 18.7” barrel.

Do any of you own a Ruger Scout Rifle and what is your opinion of it?

Thank you
 
I own the synthetic stock variant. I purchased it because it is the only factory rifle that meets the Scout Rifle specs (when correctly equipped) without requiring modification to the rifle. The Scout specs are for a rifle that's intended to be carried a lot and fired little. For a rifle that was primarily intended for targets, plinking and truck use (i.e. fired a lot and carried little), I would pick something else, of a different design, likely from another manufacturer.

However your requirement for a detachable box magazine and forward mount for a telescopic sight is fairly limiting. If those are hard requirements, then the Ruger is one of a very small number of options and likely as good as any. If it fits you well I would buy it.
 
I have an 18” stainless barreled laminate stock one. I bought it for a suppressed hunting rifle. I took the Ruger muzzle device off and put a Silencerco ASR mount in its place. The reasons I bought it were:

1. Solid action, like the 3 position safety
2. Threaded
3. Detachable box
4. Weight and length of barrel were suitable to me, I went with the 18” for some more velocity although .308 does well in short barrels
5. Back up iron sights

I didn’t buy it to use it in the scout configuration so I bought a XS Systems sight rail that includes a peep on the rail to maintain the irons.

I had a gunsmith lighten the trigger pull to about 3.5 lbs., bed it, and lap the barrel. Haven’t got around to loading for it yet but it does well enough with Remington core-lokt.
 
Two buds bought em new in .308.
One shot OK. The other did not (with various loads).

I was pretty tempted to set up a Rem 600 in scout, like the old Cooper Proto.
Prices have gone stupid on them though.
 
The laminate stock is overweight for the intended use. If I were dead set on having a "scout" rifle that checks off all the boxes the synthetic Ruger is the only option I'd consider. The 77MK-II action is solid and I really like the idea of a compact, lightweight bolt gun in 308 with DBM capable of 3-10 rounds. But the forward mounted scope just doesn't make sense in 2019. I understand WHY Cooper wanted one when he developed the concept using what he had to work with at the time. But his concept was always evolving and I honestly believe he'd dump that requirement if alive today.

Without the forward scope mount there are other options that I like better though, that cost a lot less.
 
I purchased one a few years back with the synthetic stock. I liked it so much I ordered another for my son. He was just getting back from Afganland. I scoped it with a 3x9 Vortex scope and a rail system from XS Sights. Trigger was modified with one from: http://www.spec-tech-industries.com/m77-hawkeye-triggers.html.

I can hit the 1 foot by 1 foot steel plate at will. Accuracy is more than enough. It meets by needs by being light, easy to handle, and more than accurate enough for my needs. I found the five round mags much nicer that the tens. I can also share them with my other rifles.

fullsizeoutput_377.jpeg
 
Don't have a Scout but do have the predecessor, a Ruger Frontier compact .308 with both standard rings plus a quarter rib and rings for a LER scope. 16" barrel, short LOP and while I enjoy it I rarely use it. It has been handy for some of my younger "students" to learn high power shooting using cast bullets and Trail Boss powder.
 
I had one in .450 Bushmaster when they came out. It was a solid rifle in my opinion. Accurate to 200. shortly after that I decided I was not going to have bolt actions anymore since I had switched to lefty recently. It got purged along with some other fodder. Got an AR in .450 to replace it.
 
I have one of the original Ruger Scouts with the Black Raven stock. It is a solid rifle that has served me well. I take it out the desert and like the power and range of the .308. Mine is very accurate with pretty much everything I have shot through it. Some time ago I put a review up on THR, I'll see if I can find it. It is still shooting just the same.

Here is one of them:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...n-with-the-gsr-pic-heavy.719814/#post-8977658
 
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Thank you all very much for your input. I do appreciate it.

jmr40, the laminate stock adds weight, I know but I have read the synthetic stock, though lighter, can flex and impact accuracy with the free floated barrel. Not sure what one would be doing that would flex it that much though...
 
I have had one for a few years and really like it for what it is. A little heavy, but definitely has that "solid" feel in every way. Sweet shooter, very accurate but I always kept a fixed 4x scope on it for deer season which was a great little package. Never tried the forward scope setup.

Although it has been sitting in the safe a good while now, I have been thinking about selling it. Shoot me a PM if you are interested. It is the stainless, 16" model.
 
I have had one for a few years and really like it for what it is. A little heavy, but definitely has that "solid" feel in every way. Sweet shooter, very accurate but I always kept a fixed 4x scope on it for deer season which was a great little package. Never tried the forward scope setup.

Although it has been sitting in the safe a good while now, I have been thinking about selling it. Shoot me a PM if you are interested. It is the stainless, 16" model.

I didn’t think they made a stainless 16”. You sure yours isn’t an 18”?
 
I too have an original 16.1" bbl Scout, and like it quite a bit. The M77 a solid feeling platform and it shoots well. It likes the Hdy SST 180s, but shoots cheep Tula well enough. It will shoot inside of 1.5MOA at 300 yds, but much more load development is in order. Scout scope sits in high rings, so peep sights at 100 yards work great. It's fun, but I too, think the laminate stock makes it a little heavy. For me, it's a keeper.
 
I bought my Ruger Gunsite Scout right when they first came out.

I’ve hunted with it some, killed a few hogs with it, it’s very accurate with my handloads (never shot any factory ammo thru it).

I run mine suppressed a hundred percent of the time and have never had any issues with it.

0257-F9-A5-C290-44-E2-9057-1-D8589-FDEC84.jpg
 
Luke-

I believe it was a lipseys exclusive at the time.
Had it 3 or 4 years now.

Amd6547-
I agree and have recently picked up a predator 6.5grendel(AR style mag) which is a fun little rifle. Not really a direct comparison here, wish they would sell them with iron sights!
 
I bought my Ruger Gunsite Scout right when they first came out.

I’ve hunted with it some, killed a few hogs with it, it’s very accurate with my handloads (never shot any factory ammo thru it).

I run mine suppressed a hundred percent of the time and have never had any issues with it.

View attachment 843807
What can do you use with yours? I have been thinking about getting into the suppressor game, and my GSR is as good a platform to start with as any.
 
Interesting, but of no use as a Scout. It starts at 4.1kg (9 lbs) out of the gate and would require modification to mount a forward telescope.

The absolute max weight with all accessories for a Scout is 3.5kg (7.7 lbs).

That’s heavier than my Ruger 18” SS with laminate stock.
 
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