I just bought a Ruger Gunsite scout and I am wondering if anyone hunts with a scout scope? And if you did how did you do? I haven't bought a scope yet and can mount a scout scope or a normal scope in the more conventional location. I've never used a scout scope and want to give it a try, but not if it doesn't work very well.
If you go the scout scope route, get a scope with decent glass with good coatings.
Cheap scout scopes with inexpensive glass and coatings reflect too much light back into the eye. Either from a light source behind you or with light reflecting off your cheek. So, get good glass and wear a hat.
For me, the downside to a variable power scout scope is mostly the weight that is now out on the barrel. A small fixed power scout scope in lightweight rings doesn't affect rifle balance too badly. But a heavier variable power is much more noticeable and is usually longer, too. Personally I like variable power scopes on the receiver, as the balance is better and the field of view is better.
The good thing is that you have a Ruger GSR and can mount a scope however you want. If you have good eyes, you might just like it using only the factory sights. It sure is quicker handling with no scope on it.
I'm no hunter, but I have gone back and forth on the scout rifle concept in the last few years.
To be honest, here's how the scout scope fits with me. In my mind, it is a middle aged man's iron sights. I grew up preferring peep sights, but as my eyes aged a scout scope replaces those sights nicely. Especially with a low power scope of 2x or so as anything higher gives much too small of a field of view. If you have a scout scope with small turrets, the reticle appears to be suspended in a disc of light on top of the barrel. It blocks very little forward view, and with the adjustable reticle focus, I feel like my eyes are young again. (Note: the fixed power Leopold does not have a reticle focus.)
Yes, I read lots of Jeff Cooper writings as a young adult and even romanticized about my use of a scout scope, but the reality is what I wrote above. I'm just a middle aged man that can't use iron sights well anymore and the scout scope let's me use a rifle as close to using iron sights as possible.
The options are red dots, which don't have adjustable reticle on low mount dots because they aren't prismatic. And there are low power receiver mounted scopes which are fantastic for adding more magnification without compromising field of view through the tube. A 1-4x20 on a Ruger GSR is a great compromise between a low power scout scope and a heavier variable mounted on the receiver.
Oh well, enough rambling for this morning.