First impressions with my Ruger GSR, I finally got to shoot it! ***Pics Added***

[ECVMatt]

I really like this rifle. I can not afford a scope right now, so I was only shooting the iron sights. The iron sights proved a clean usable site picture and line up perfectly with the stock. I fired a group at 50 yards and brought my allen wrench to adjust my sights. Much to my surprise my group was slightly above my aiming point and dead center. The group is about 1 inch in diameter and was fired off hand. Since everything looked good, I shot at 100, 200, and about 350 yards. I was shooting out in the open desert, so I could realistically shoot as far as I could see. I was picking targets that were about 12 inches in diameter and got hits every time I pulled the trigger out to 200 yards. At 350 it took about three round to find my hold over and then I could make hits about 75% of the time. I did not shoot father than this because we were there to hunt coyotes and the rest of the guys were fired to attack the yotes.

Some random thoughts from the day:

I used C-Products mags which functioned perfectly, but did have a flaw. They have no retaining plate on the mag floor and I was about to pull the magazine base off when I was attempting a rapid reload. This needs to be addressed and I will look into ways to secure it. It should come from the factory correct however.

The rifle has very little recoil. I was using a handload of 44 grains of Varget, on the bottom end, but it was very soft to shoot.

Here are some pictures:







And the target...

 

[MCMXI]

Thanks for making the effort. This rifle is definitely on my wish list. XS is producing a standard scope mount for it so I hope to find one this year.

 

[ElPasoCounty]

Thanks for the report. I can't wait to try one out.

 

[DougW]

Never seen on before. What is the caliber?

 

[Dobe]

.308

 

[LemmyCaution]

Dobe and/or Matt-

In what direction does this rifle eject? (ie- the muzzle is 12 0'clock, rifle ejects to 2 o'clock and 45 degrees up)

I'm having the idea to keep the irons, remove the scout rail and install a red dot sight on a Ruger ring in the forward dovetail. The RDS would cover part of the ejection port. Not sure if spent casings would jam in the RDS.

The logic here being that the RDS would be the primary sight with the irons as backup.

Any thoughts on whether this would work?

 

[ECVMatt]

Lemmy,

I will check for you. You can always use the Burris Weaver adapter over the front ring mount. I have a set of these that I was going to use for a MRD as well. I doubt that would interfere with the ejection. I will run some dummy rounds through it tonight and give you a heads up on the ejection angle and I think you MRD idea would work great.

I also figure out what was going on with the C-Products mags. I will post some picture tonight as well.

 

[Dobe]

In what direction does this rifle eject? (ie- the muzzle is 12 0'clock, rifle ejects to 2 o'clock and 45 degrees up)

About 4 O'Clock. I know this because I put 100 rounds through mine during a range session. After the session, I saw brass marks on the back ring of the receiver. I assume, it bounces forward somewhat after the brass hits the receiver.

 

[natman]

How much does it weigh? Where's the balance point?

 

[Dobe]

Haven't weighed mine, but Ruger says 7lbs. The balance point where the mag is. It is easy to carry by simply placing the hand ahead of the mag.

 

[HOWARD J]

Is this gun blue or is my color messed up?????

 

[ECVMatt]

It is a matte blue

 

[Dobe]

The stock is more like blackish gray.

 

[ECVMatt]

I half way solved the Mag problem..

I inspected the C-Products magazines and found the problem. One of the magazines is missing the tab on the bottom that retains the base plate. I have contacted C-Products about the problem and will update once I here back from them. Here are some pictures:

Here is a picture of the bottom with the tab missing and one with the tab in place



Here is a picture of the base plate slipped past the tab compared to a correct magazine



My overall impression of the magazine it that it is extremely well made. Hopefully this one just slipped by and is not a continual problem.

 

[LemmyCaution]

Is this gun blue or is my color messed up?????

It's parkerized.

 

[snakeman]

hmm didn't think ruger could shoot that good! Might need to reconsider getting one in 257 roberts.

 

[FMJMIKE]

Nice report ! Thanks............

 

[cqbdriver]

I think that it blued- not parkerized. When I wiped mine down with breakfree, the cloth turned rust colored.

 

[ECVMatt]

I believe that is just the preservative coming off the rifle. Mine did the same thing when I first cleaned it up, but did not after the second time...

 

[Hanzo581]

I am falling more and more in love with this rifle. After I found out you could mount a scope in the more tradition manner, my admiration grew as I didn't want the optic mounted forward.

 

[blackops]

Like the rifle! I like that gun vise too!!

 

[JDGray]

This ones definately on my list! Thanks for the report

 

[cqbdriver]

Here my rifle with a Alpha magazine.
http://alphaindmfg.com/products.html

At first, the mag would not fit into the rifle. It wouldn't latch in the back. Too much material in the back.
Alpha mag:

Ruger factory mag:

I slowly filed it down & now it fits & cycles rounds properly:

I have been in contact with Alpha Industries about my problem. They said that several other GSR owners were able to use their magazine with no modifications. In another post, a person noticed that the serial number prefix changed on the GSR. The first rifles have the same serial # as the standard M77's (711-XXXXX). Newer GSR's have 680-XXXXX. They said that this indicates the GSR receiver is now different in some way from the standard M77 that it needed a unique serial number. My GSR has the older 711-xxxxx serial number. If there is anyone else with a Alpha mag, did it fit & what serial prefix did your rifle have?

Here a group that I fired using a Weaver 1-3x scope

 

[USBP379]

I have been in contact with Alpha Industries about my problem. They said that several other GSR owners were able to use their magazine with no modifications. In another post, a person noticed that the serial number prefix changed on the GSR. The first rifles have the same serial # as the standard M77's (711-XXXXX). Newer GSR's have 680-XXXXX. They said that this indicates the GSR receiver is now different in some way from the standard M77 that it needed a unique serial number. My GSR has the older 711-xxxxx serial number. If there is anyone else with a Alpha mag, did it fit & what serial prefix did your rifle have?

I spoke to someone at Ruger and there is absolutely no difference between the receivers of different prefixes. The second, later prefix, was started simply to make unique serial numbers available for collectors. This allowed Ruger to start over with low serial numbers.

 

[cqbdriver]

Thanks for info on the serial # prefix.

It makes me curious about those said that the Alpha mags fit their GSR. Mine didn't come close to fitting.