Gunsite Scout as a hunting/target rifle?

[mainecoon]

I am looking at this rifle in .308 as a deer/target rifle. How much trade off in accuracy would there be between a Scout and a rifle like a Savage 12, for distances out to 600 yards? Most of my shooting is in the 50-200 yard range, but I would like a rifle that can handle longer distances if needed.

Another thing I like about the Scout is the possibility of putting a suppressor on it without ending up with an extremely long rifle. Has anyone shot these suppressed?

 

[back40]

i've only shot mine with irons at 100 yards thus far. from range reports i've read some guys are getting sub moa accuracy wtih the right load. the velocity loss with the shorter barrel seems to be minimal. imho, it's perfect for 50-200 and the occasional longer shot (provided you practice and know what it's capable of).

 

[yuppiejr]

I found the Ruger Gunsite Scout exceedingly accurate (sub MOA at 100 yards), short stiff barrels are often more accurate than long factory contour models. However, for longer range hunting your issue will likely be reduced velocity from the short barrel and the effect this will have on the projectile performing (or not) when it hits a game animal downrange.

You have two somewhat different technical goals in mind. If the rifle is for punching paper, velocity is less critical though it will still impact how soon the bullet goes subsonic and how well it bucks wind downrange. For hunting, you need velocity to get reliable penetration and expansion in a game animal which is where I'd have concerns about the 16" barrel at 600 yards on a deer size animal.

If you have designs toward also using this as a target rifle and occasionally hunting with it I'd steer you toward the Savage Hog Hunter in .308, it's a model 11 centerfeed action with a 20" threaded 1 in 10 twist medium contour barrel, a nice extended bolt knob (handy with gloves in the winter), adjustable Accutrigger and a set of iron sights already installed. It's $430 shipped at Bud's gun shop right now. The included stock is fine for hunting, you can easily throw it in a Bell and Carlson Medalist tactical stock for pure range-Target work ($250 ish) and still be at the same investment as the GSR alone.

 

[langloisandy]

The Scout Scope might limit your long range hunts, but you can pop a conventional scope on quickly and easily for longer range shooting. Great rifle, I love mine.

Andy

 

[Sam1911]

Something to consider is that you can have a good hunting rifle, and an acceptable rifle for trying your hand at long range in the same gun, but those aren't the same task.

You could load up your scout rifle with decent hunting ammo and feel quite confident you could shoot a deer at any normal hunting distance -- if you've practiced to do so and you know you WILL NOT miss an 8" circle target at that distance under field conditions. For most decent hunters that could be as far away as maybe 300 yards (maybe a bit more) with a solid rested position and very good technique.

That same rifle may be able to reach out and touch steel plates, or get on paper, at 600 yds, with good glass, and a shooter who knows what he's doing and has practiced the skills. But very few hunters would shoot at a live animal that far away, and even fewer SHOULD do so, and none with that rifle.

So, sure the Scout might not be a terrible choice for a rifle that would be perfectly fine for hunting, and also for trying your hand at a little long-range shooting. Just understand that those are two different tasks.

 

[elrowe]

Go for it! You said it all with the "most shots are 50-200 yards" line. You're really only losing about 30-50 FPS per inch under 22" anyway (depending on who's study you read). Most of the on-line data was in the 2400 FPS range for 16" .308s, and subsonic ammo often used in supressed guns is much slower than that even from full barrels. I haven't shot a supressed Scout, but the supressed model 700 .308 that I did shoot was very quiet, even with standard ammunition. It does cause even more velocity loss, but at 200 yards for deer-sized game it won't make a difference, particularly if you zero at 200. For the long range aspect, I'd drop the money for a Horus Vision scope (http://www.horusvision.com/) to help with elevation and windage adjustments.

Here's what can be done with an 18" barrel - 3" group at 700 yards...

http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/

 

[Sam1911]

It does cause even more velocity loss, but at 200 yards for deer-sized game it won't make a difference, particularly if you zero at 200.

Suppressors actually BOOST velocity, they don't reduce it.