First rifle: Ruger GSR

[Agmundr]

Hey all, I'm kinda new here; I've posted a few little odds and ends but haven't properly introduced myself yet. I'm not new to shooting, but I haven't tried very many different platforms as I grew up poor and have spent the last 7 years in the Army Infantry shooting what they provide. As such, I'm not very familiar with the majority of civilian guns. I got my first handgun a couple of years ago, a Springfield XD .45, and I got my first rifle last night, a Ruger GSR I'm pretty excited about it, as I've read mostly good things. I intend to do as others have and replace the flash suppressor with the solid bottomed variety in the near future. I've never used these kinds of sling mounts before, so I'll have to look into that more carefully. Also, I haven't gotten an optic for it yet as I feel it necessary to read more and hopefully try some different ones that friends have. Anyway, hopefully I get to bring it to the range this weekend and site it in, I'll let you all know how it goes!

 

[unwise11]

Cool gun, would be alot of fun with an Aimpoint.

 

[Agmundr]

That's kinda what I was thinking since I'm so familiar with it, but I've also read where people tend to put low power "scout" scopes front mounted to increase their ability to hit at a distance, but not so powerful that it 1) "overkills" the length of the barrell and 2) messes you up at close ranges.

 

[GooseGestapo]

re:Ruger GSR;

Amazing! With the exception of the foward "scout-scope" mount, they've re-invented the 64yr old British Enfield "Jungle Carbine"........

Even right down the the ballistics......

 

[Baba Louie]

Agmundr,
Do a search using "Jeff Cooper Scout Rifle" to see his original Gunsite groups concept development on the original scout rifle platform for some history on that particular platform. If ya wanna (see link below). Coopers old Commentaries are well worth a read every now and then.

http://www.molonlabe.net/Commentaries/

Nice 1st choice by the way. I like the lines of that rifle far better than Steyr's Scout. Others may disagree.

Range report and a few photos perhaps?

 

[Justin]

I handled one of the Ruger Scout rifles at SHOT, and have to say it made a very favorable impression.

I would think that one of the new 1-4x scopes that are available would be a great choice for an optic.

 

[unwise11]

If I were to scope one I would use a 2-7 powered scout scope.

 

[JustsayMo]

I'm favorably impressed with my GSR

Mighty handy for a bolt gun. Accuracy wise my GSR out-shoots my Rem 700 BDL in 30-06. I like that I don't have to wait a long time between shots for good groups too as the barrel shoots quite consistently both cold and warm.

 

[BikerRN]

Congrats on our new Scout.

Lots of good GSR info here:

http://www.scoutrifle.org/index.php

BikerRN

 

[aubie515]

Looks like you made solid choices in the firearms that you purchased. I like the Ruger GSR a lot...I haven't purchased one yet, but I do like them a lot.

 

[shotgunjoel]

The one thing that I don't understand about this rifle, and other scout rifles, is why the receivers aren't cut out for stripper clips. That was the whole idea with putting the scope forward, so the rifle could be reloaded with stripper clips.

 

[Big_E]

I would like to try out the GSR. The Savage Scout is a pretty decent rifle as well. My buddy had one and it was accurate and seemed like it would be a nice field rifle.

The Steyr Scout is one nice piece of equipment, but very expensive.

I have just heard mixed things about the Ruger 77, I didn't really like how they felt when I was trying out different hunting rifles.

 

[Agmundr]

Thanks for the positive posts guys

In regards to scoutrifle.org, I've been waiting three days for that return email saying that I can post there, but I've been doing a good bit of reading on it.

I have read various articles and such on sites, as well as a magazine I picked up the other day, about the comparisons between Coopers concept and the GSR, and I think it stacks up nicely. I understand that it doesn't take stripper clips, but I think the removable box magazines do well enough to forgive it of that. On that note, I would very much like to read some of Coopers books.

Working the action with rounds has proved it to be quite smooth, although I'm sure there'll be some more friction with expended ammo. Also, the trigger squeeze is crisper than I expected, but I've handled very few rifles. Hopefully, I'll get to go to the range this Saturday and get some pictures and feedback to you guys! I don't have any optics yet, but I'll go with what I've got as well as post more when I pick up some more accessories for it (the first of which will most definitely be an optic of some sort, followed quickly by a quality sling).

 

[jotto]

That's kinda what I was thinking since I'm so familiar with it, but I've also read where people tend to put low power "scout" scopes front mounted to increase their ability to hit at a distance, but not so powerful that it 1) "overkills" the length of the barrell and 2) messes you up at close ranges.

Howdy! I do not own a GSR but I do own the previous "sort-of" version the M77 Frontier rifle. I mounted the Leupold FX-II 2.5x28mm Scout Scope on it. My brother has the same rifle and opted for the Burris verison Scout Scope. Both are excellent for hunting back home in Pennsylvania.

You with the 3ID at Benning?

 

[Agmundr]

I've seen those M77's on this site as well as scoutrifle.org, they look very similar in appearance (although admittedly I don't know anything else about them haha). I've seen where a lot of people have used the Burris, but I'm definitely going to keep looking through threads and articles to see what else people out there are using it.

 

[jotto]

I've seen those M77's on this site as well as scoutrifle.org, they look very similar in appearance (although admittedly I don't know anything else about them haha). I've seen where a lot of people have used the Burris, but I'm definitely going to keep looking through threads and articles to see what else people out there are using it.

There are a lot of similarities between them. Although in my opinion the Frontier is mainly for hunting while the GSR has a lot more applications. If I had a GSR I'd look to putting an Aimpoint or a EOTech on it. To me a scout scope kind of limits a lot of its function as opposed to the Frontier. In any event enjoy it!

 

[Boomie]

The one thing that I don't understand about this rifle, and other scout rifles, is why the receivers aren't cut out for stripper clips. That was the whole idea with putting the scope forward, so the rifle could be reloaded with stripper clips.

Doesn't the detachable magazine kind of remove the need for stripper clips?

 

[shotgunjoel]

Doesn't the detachable magazine kind of remove the need for stripper clips?

That is true, but I'd personally rather carry 20 rounds on stripper clips than 2 of those chunky 10 round magazines, or 4 of the 5 round magazines. Remember, one of Cooper's original requirements was a short, light rifle. Therefore, a small, light way of carrying ammo would also make sense. I personally think that stripper clips can be faster than a detachable magazine of the same size.

 

[WardenWolf]

That is true, but I'd personally rather carry 20 rounds on stripper clips than 2 of those chunky 10 round magazines, or 4 of the 5 round magazines. Remember, one of Cooper's original requirements was a short, light rifle. Therefore, a small, light way of carrying ammo would also make sense. I personally think that stripper clips can be faster than a detachable magazine of the same size.

When you're talking a 5-round magazine, yes. But when you get into some of the larger magazines, stripper clips just don't work very well. Mosin Nagants and Mausers load great from stripper clips. The SKS stripper clips, on the other hand, don't work very well. They're big, they're awkward, and they're very hard to load into the gun. At that size, you're better off with a detachable magazine.

 

[Agmundr]

In addition to the above comments, I'd like to add that the guys at the gunstore were saying that Ruger is working on some less expensive polymer mags. If that proves to be true we could be looking at lighter mags that won't cost half of my kids college fund to purchase.

 

[shotgunjoel]

When you're talking a 5-round magazine, yes. But when you get into some of the larger magazines, stripper clips just don't work very well. Mosin Nagants and Mausers load great from stripper clips. The SKS stripper clips, on the other hand, don't work very well. They're big, they're awkward, and they're very hard to load into the gun. At that size, you're better off with a detachable magazine.

You could go with 2 stripper clips like the SMLE. That system works fine.

 

[courtgreene]

back to the scope. i have two IER scopes. a leupold and a NCstar. both work fine, but you can easily see the cost difference when looking through them.

 

[Agmundr]

Alright, first time at the range with it! Sorry about the lack of pics, forgot to charge the camera battery

Right off the bat I started at 50 yards with 147 gr. FMJ ammo to break in the barrell, shooting 2 rounds, cleaning/cooling, repeat for 5 iterations. Shot 10 more rounds in a row, cleaned/cooled, called it good. It was dancing right around the center straight out of the box.

Put in some 168 gr. boat tail hollow points that were "remanufactured" rounds bought in bulk. These didn't shoot very far from where the FMJ's were hitting. Broke out the expensive Black Hills match grade ammo of the same weight and type, and it shot a little higher, so I adjusted.

Put the target out at 100 yards and brought it in pretty quickly.

I found during this process that I was over-adjusting quite a bit, but that's a lack of experience on my part.

Some things that have been said before that have some truth to them are that the aperature (sp?) is a bit on the small side and that the front blade tends to cover a bit much. I'm considering putting a larger ghost ring and putting some sort of bead on the front site. The kick wasn't as bad as I honestly thought it would be. Overall a joy to shoot, no real issues, and I can't wait to get some sort of optic for it

 

[ECVMatt]

get to hear the rifle is working out for you. I have one as well and really enjoyed shooting it. I just put a scope on mine and it really improved the accuracy. I had really good luck with the irons though.

 

[451 Detonics]

That was the whole idea with putting the scope forward, so the rifle could be reloaded with stripper clips.

That was only part of the reason, the other was a forward mounted scope allows you to maintain a better view of things happening in front of you. With a low power scope you can keep both eyes open to scan with the gun mounted and then quickly focus on the scope when the target appears. With practice it is a very fast way to acquire and then engage a target.