Upstater
Member
I am curious as to what the "in" crowd thinks of the Ruger gunsite scout rifle, currently I only depend on a model 70 7mm rem. mag. For a proven bolt action rifle, but I must say that scout design is intriguing to say the least.
Gunsite scout is it worth it?
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Apples & Oranges I would think.
If a short barrel .308 with a hi-cap mag and a flash suppressor floats your boat?
It should nicely fill the need to scratch your itch.
On the otherhand, your Model 70 is probably a nicer rifle, and surely at least as accurate at long range, if not more so.
rc
If a short barrel .308 with a hi-cap mag and a flash suppressor floats your boat?
It should nicely fill the need to scratch your itch.
On the otherhand, your Model 70 is probably a nicer rifle, and surely at least as accurate at long range, if not more so.
rc
BullfrogKen
Moderator Emeritus
It really depends on what you're going to use your rifle for.
GunnerShotz
Member
Well, what would You use the Gunsite Scout for Ken?
Humble regards,
Humble regards,
TexasPatriot.308
Member
intriguing I guess, but there are so many more options, the rifles has its purposes for some people but as an owner of lots of firearms, I really cant see a real use for it unless you just got to have it. Jeff Cooper along with Elmer Keith and lots of other firearms experts of their times had their opinions and they were good opinions, dont necessarily mean they apply to us. Jack O'connor had his beliefs, so many changes in firearms over the years have made their ideas just that, an opinion of their time. my hats off to those pioneers, but times change. I dont consider changing beliefs blasphemy.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Personally, I could see the Ruger GS Scout being a very good farm or ranch truck gun here in Kansas, or elsewhere.
If you needed a rugged .308 with a lot of muzzle blast.
And didn't mind a $1,000 plus rifle and scope collecting dust & dents behind the truck seat.
But here in Kansas, any .223 semi-auto or 30-30 lever-action serves as well.
Either will kill anything that needs killing, as far away as you need to kill it, for way less money, fuss, muss, and bother.
rc
If you needed a rugged .308 with a lot of muzzle blast.
And didn't mind a $1,000 plus rifle and scope collecting dust & dents behind the truck seat.
But here in Kansas, any .223 semi-auto or 30-30 lever-action serves as well.
Either will kill anything that needs killing, as far away as you need to kill it, for way less money, fuss, muss, and bother.
rc
BullfrogKen
Moderator Emeritus
I'm not sure I have a use for it, GunnerShotz.
Maybe getting rid of the stray zombie that wanders into the potatoe garden? I dunno. Doesn't matter if I have a use for it.
Depends on what upstater wants one for to determine whether it'll fill that niche.
Maybe getting rid of the stray zombie that wanders into the potatoe garden? I dunno. Doesn't matter if I have a use for it.
Depends on what upstater wants one for to determine whether it'll fill that niche.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Lets not confuse needs, and wants either!
You need something because you can't live without it.
You want something just because you want it.
And there is nothing wrong with that when it comes to guns you want.
rc
You need something because you can't live without it.
You want something just because you want it.
And there is nothing wrong with that when it comes to guns you want.
rc
I was not interested much until I tried an earlier Savage version that was a "home-build" from various parts. I waited, and finally Ruger brought out the GSR. As an actual ranch gun it has worked very well, with the .308 doing considerably better than either the .223 or .30-30 for my purposes and experience. I particularly like the ease of handling when rapidly moving away from vehicles, and the very robust action. I have posted a number of times about the GSR on this board, with other comments.
ApacheCoTodd
member
I'm on board with the rifle in general principal... Right up to that magazine. I just can't get past a mere 10 rounds sticking out so far and in fact, it would sorta seem to fly in the face of the idea of a "handy" rifle. Were I to have one, I'd no doubt carry a 5 round mag.
OP
OP
Upstater
Member
For me this rifle would be another tool without any intended purpose per se. What I was curious about was the scope location, and the $1000.00 price tag on a .308 bolt action rifle as this is what my semi custom 7mm cost fifteen years ago.
It is not worth the expense to me although there are aspects of the rifle I like. I've never agreed with the forward mounted scope concept. It may have been the best option when Cooper envisioned this gun, but there are better options that do the same thing today. His main reason for forward mounting the scope was to make room for stripper clips in military actions and that is not an option with most rifles today.
A very low powered variable such as a 1-4X mounted conventionally works better at speed and at distance. If a forward mounted scope were better the guys shooting in 3 gun competition would be using them as would the military. Extensive field testing by both has found a low powered optic mounted in the conventonal position works better.
I like the idea of a lightweight carbine length 308 bolt gun with optics in QD mounts that allow irons to be used. The Ruger is not lightweight however. I'd just as soon use a floorplate with 5+1 capacity, or detachable mag that does not protrude too far below the gun. I have little use for the flash hider and would rather use that length for a couple of inches more barrel for additional velocity. I like short barrels, but 16 is too much of a good thing. without the flash hider you could still have the same overall length, but with about 18" of useable barrel. I'd also lose the heavy laminated stock and replace it with a lighter, stronger synthetic.
For my money I'd just buy a stainless/synthetic Hawkeye in 308. I'd have the barrel cut to 20" and good iron sights installed. The factory Ruger rings work pretty well as QD mounts.
A very low powered variable such as a 1-4X mounted conventionally works better at speed and at distance. If a forward mounted scope were better the guys shooting in 3 gun competition would be using them as would the military. Extensive field testing by both has found a low powered optic mounted in the conventonal position works better.
I like the idea of a lightweight carbine length 308 bolt gun with optics in QD mounts that allow irons to be used. The Ruger is not lightweight however. I'd just as soon use a floorplate with 5+1 capacity, or detachable mag that does not protrude too far below the gun. I have little use for the flash hider and would rather use that length for a couple of inches more barrel for additional velocity. I like short barrels, but 16 is too much of a good thing. without the flash hider you could still have the same overall length, but with about 18" of useable barrel. I'd also lose the heavy laminated stock and replace it with a lighter, stronger synthetic.
For my money I'd just buy a stainless/synthetic Hawkeye in 308. I'd have the barrel cut to 20" and good iron sights installed. The factory Ruger rings work pretty well as QD mounts.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
While I'd use a small-cap mag for daily use, otherwise I see it as a good general purpose critter. Truck gun, or woods hunting for deer because of the rapid acquisition of a target.
I put a box through a friend's Scout. I figure that it will work fine for anything a .308 will kill, with the low-power scope limiting things to maybe 300 yards.
Years back, I meddled a little bit with a Savage Scout. For me, the forward-mounted scope would take more getting used to than for most folks, given my decades of use of conventional mounting. However, those who have practiced with it won all the competitions for "move and shoot" at Gunsite, beating out the conventional folks. IMO, there's really no doubt about the rapidity of target acquisition--if that's important to the user.
I put a box through a friend's Scout. I figure that it will work fine for anything a .308 will kill, with the low-power scope limiting things to maybe 300 yards.
Years back, I meddled a little bit with a Savage Scout. For me, the forward-mounted scope would take more getting used to than for most folks, given my decades of use of conventional mounting. However, those who have practiced with it won all the competitions for "move and shoot" at Gunsite, beating out the conventional folks. IMO, there's really no doubt about the rapidity of target acquisition--if that's important to the user.
My wife and daughter gave me a LEFT-HANDED Scout just this last Christmas, the latest in a long succession of wonderful firearms that stretches back more than forty years.
Sneaky as always, they first gave me a package containing a nice black Ruger-logo T-shirt. I admired it and put it down. My daughter then said, "Check the back, Dad!" Yeah.....custom embroidered, it says" I finally got my Gunsite Scout!" They then dragged the long package out of a nearby closet...
Severe medical troubles since Christmas have prevented much shooting, but I sure like the rifle. I mounted a new Redfield/Leupold 3-9X in the receiver position. (The Picatinny rail was removed about thirty seconds after opening the package!) I'm another ol' f--t who fails to see the utility of the forward-mounted scope sight, but this rifle does give us options.
The Scout is probably not "the best" for any role, but I will say that it can fill almost ANY need a man may have for a centerfire rifle in North America. If my health ever gets back to "normal", this rifle will ride with me a whole lot. It will handily take deer, moose, bears, coyotes.....you name it!
The quality is fine. Trigger is excellent right out of the box, and well-executed checkering gives a good grip. I vastly prefer laminated wood to synthetic stocks. The action on my rifle is quite smooth and will only improve with use.
That ten-round magazine will be my "pocket/pouch back-up" and I now have a couple less-obtrusive polymer mags...they feed very nicely and give a much nicer profile to the rifle.
Is it "worth it"? Darned tootin', it is....to me, at least. Good job, Ruger.
Sneaky as always, they first gave me a package containing a nice black Ruger-logo T-shirt. I admired it and put it down. My daughter then said, "Check the back, Dad!" Yeah.....custom embroidered, it says" I finally got my Gunsite Scout!" They then dragged the long package out of a nearby closet...
Severe medical troubles since Christmas have prevented much shooting, but I sure like the rifle. I mounted a new Redfield/Leupold 3-9X in the receiver position. (The Picatinny rail was removed about thirty seconds after opening the package!) I'm another ol' f--t who fails to see the utility of the forward-mounted scope sight, but this rifle does give us options.
The Scout is probably not "the best" for any role, but I will say that it can fill almost ANY need a man may have for a centerfire rifle in North America. If my health ever gets back to "normal", this rifle will ride with me a whole lot. It will handily take deer, moose, bears, coyotes.....you name it!
The quality is fine. Trigger is excellent right out of the box, and well-executed checkering gives a good grip. I vastly prefer laminated wood to synthetic stocks. The action on my rifle is quite smooth and will only improve with use.
That ten-round magazine will be my "pocket/pouch back-up" and I now have a couple less-obtrusive polymer mags...they feed very nicely and give a much nicer profile to the rifle.
Is it "worth it"? Darned tootin', it is....to me, at least. Good job, Ruger.
ECVMatt
Member
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These rifles sell for about $800 around here. I have one and really like it. I use it when I am camping or exploring in the desert and mountain. It fits well in the truck, is powerful, and is very accurate. I have not noticed a more pronounced muzzle blast with the rifle and it is very easy on the shoulder. I generally use the 5 round magazines with it, but have a couple of tens as well. I could see this being use in a .30-30 type hunting area with great results. It can easily handle the close stuff and still be able to reach out to at least 300 yards if an alley opened up in the brush or came onto a hay meadow or something. Pretty neat little rifle in my book.
I have grown to really like the forward optic, especially now that you can get a decent one in 1-5X. For me it is plenty fast, and good for quick game shots in dense brush, and also in unknown distance shooting when target exposures are brief. I have no problem on steel out to 300-350, and the plates always go down with good hits.
eazyrider
Member
I really enjoy mine. I see one poster on here talking about muzzle blast, man there is a myth that won't die. It is no worse than any other rifle I have ever had. When I bought it, almost a year ago now, I had really never heard of Cooper or Keith and now that I know them I really don't put any stock into what they say. I make this point to say that I bought the rifle because it worked for me. I like the idea of a one and only rifle. I like the 10 round mags, the short handy barrel and the low maintenance bolt action. I love the power and availability of the 308.
I don't see myself as having a singular use for my weapons so I guess the good at all great at none works for me. I just about always go with the smaller gun, G19 instead of G17, Model 7 over 700 and the GSR above them all because it has become my favorite.
I don't see myself as having a singular use for my weapons so I guess the good at all great at none works for me. I just about always go with the smaller gun, G19 instead of G17, Model 7 over 700 and the GSR above them all because it has become my favorite.
R.W.Dale
Member
IMO the ruger scout is what EVERY bolt action rifle should be.
Handy detachable mags
Good sights
A sturdy stock
Comes with quality scope mounts
Three position safety
Muzzle threaded for common devices (not just the place holding flash hider.
Why haven't I bought one yet?
Handy detachable mags
Good sights
A sturdy stock
Comes with quality scope mounts
Three position safety
Muzzle threaded for common devices (not just the place holding flash hider.
Why haven't I bought one yet?
OrangePwrx9
Member
For me the whole scout rifle concept went in the trashcan many years ago. I'd read Jeff Cooper's opinions and thought he might be right. Then I began hunting deer with Rem. 870 shotgun (NY rules) with a forward mounted scope on a Hastings rifled barrel.
The gun was accurate with slugs, but I hated the balance of the thing. With that forward scope, the 870 became the last gun I wanted to carry afield. With that single data point, I decided the scout rifle concept wasn't for everyone.
The gun was accurate with slugs, but I hated the balance of the thing. With that forward scope, the 870 became the last gun I wanted to carry afield. With that single data point, I decided the scout rifle concept wasn't for everyone.
The Gunsite Scout is built on the M77. From what I read, the M77 was a much better rifle back in the day. There have been problems with the new ones. Rough bolts mostly. The concept is certainly intriguing. The execution is another matter. Others can speak more to specifics than I. I've never even seen one at a gun show.
Savage has a similar offering in their famous model 10. Never really seen the need for a 20 round magazine in a bolt gun other than a fun range gun...
Savage has a similar offering in their famous model 10. Never really seen the need for a 20 round magazine in a bolt gun other than a fun range gun...
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wlewisiii
Member
The single stack magazine made it a no-go for me after handling one. I'd rather a mauser style inside the stock double stack & a pocket full of stripper clips.
Probably why I'm building my scout rather than buying someone else's idea of what I'd want. Even then, it'll mostly be a range toy. I have a Winchester 94 for almost anything I'd ever need a rifle for.
Probably why I'm building my scout rather than buying someone else's idea of what I'd want. Even then, it'll mostly be a range toy. I have a Winchester 94 for almost anything I'd ever need a rifle for.
ExAgoradzo
Member
Observation
One of the things I love about THR is that there is such a wide variety of opinion. That makes making our 'own' decisions that much better/easier.
I for one love the idea of the GSS. But after reading this I realize what I really want is the detachable mag on a good bolt gun. One of 'min req' for the 308 I will one day buy is 18", the GSS doesn't do that. I also agree with someone above about the plastic stock. It seems to me this is the perfect gun for the synthetic, light weight stock. But I'd like someone to make the Styer kind with the mag built into it.
As to forward mount/conventional mount, I don't feel qualified to say anything because all my scopes are conventional: never used a forward mounted scope but I can't imagine needing one either.
Somebody make me a 308 with
and 18" barrel
with a 1 in 9" twist
synthetic stock with a place to put a 10 round mag in it
a bipod and a sling
5 and 10 round mags
can put 3 in a pie tin at 500 yards
For that I'd pay $1000.
One of the things I love about THR is that there is such a wide variety of opinion. That makes making our 'own' decisions that much better/easier.
I for one love the idea of the GSS. But after reading this I realize what I really want is the detachable mag on a good bolt gun. One of 'min req' for the 308 I will one day buy is 18", the GSS doesn't do that. I also agree with someone above about the plastic stock. It seems to me this is the perfect gun for the synthetic, light weight stock. But I'd like someone to make the Styer kind with the mag built into it.
As to forward mount/conventional mount, I don't feel qualified to say anything because all my scopes are conventional: never used a forward mounted scope but I can't imagine needing one either.
Somebody make me a 308 with
and 18" barrel
with a 1 in 9" twist
synthetic stock with a place to put a 10 round mag in it
a bipod and a sling
5 and 10 round mags
can put 3 in a pie tin at 500 yards
For that I'd pay $1000.
7.62 Solution
Member
I really like mine
I was sold on the compact size and removable magazine, set mine up with a leupold vx-r patrol 1.25 4 scope mounted over the ejection port (I know sort of defeats the whole scout rifle concept).
It shoots well, plenty accurate for me, and is easy to carry. So far I have only used it or short range targets and plinking. Plan on deer hunting with it next fall. I like what Ruger built.
I was sold on the compact size and removable magazine, set mine up with a leupold vx-r patrol 1.25 4 scope mounted over the ejection port (I know sort of defeats the whole scout rifle concept).
It shoots well, plenty accurate for me, and is easy to carry. So far I have only used it or short range targets and plinking. Plan on deer hunting with it next fall. I like what Ruger built.
I bought mine as my light deer/bear/boar hunting rig. It's funny how so many people have opinions on a rifle that they never shot or owned....and yet some are still experts on all things related to firearms.
This will be the first year that I'll be hunting with my GSR, so I'm looking forward to testing it out. I have a 2.5x EER optic on my rifle and I'm not expecting it to be precise...I'm expecting it to be a solid performer for a hunting rifle.
I like that GSR uses AI/AI clone mags because my Savage also uses AI/AI clone mags, so I can share mags on multiple firearms.
The irons are a nice touch in case my optic takes a dump on me.
This will be the first year that I'll be hunting with my GSR, so I'm looking forward to testing it out. I have a 2.5x EER optic on my rifle and I'm not expecting it to be precise...I'm expecting it to be a solid performer for a hunting rifle.
I like that GSR uses AI/AI clone mags because my Savage also uses AI/AI clone mags, so I can share mags on multiple firearms.
The irons are a nice touch in case my optic takes a dump on me.
tulsamal
Member
I've had mine for about a month now.
Don't like the OEM factory ten round metal mag. No problem. Removed it, haven't put it back in since. The polymer ten round mag is quite a bit shorter if you need that much capacity. I also bought the polymer five round and three round. The three round is basically flush to the stock. I decided the polymer five round was perfect for me.
I don't know why people insist on calling it a $1000 rifle. I paid $735 _shipped_ from Bud's. $20 transfer fee to my dealer and I brought it home.
Added a three point Ching sling. Still playing around with it and getting it adjusted.
Like the iron sights a lot. Haven't decided what I want to do for an optic. I'm leaning toward the forward mounting Scout type but haven't put out any money yet.
Don't like the look of the Ruger flash hider. Will replace it with something else one day. But that's easy enough to do.
It's a short handy rifle. Cycles smoothly. Length of the stock is adjustable. Decent trigger right out of the box. I think it should be viewed as a flexible tool. Not as a specialist tool like a sniper rifle or long range hunting tool. But as a handy rifle you can always have nearby and which is "good enough" to handle a wide variety of jobs. It isn't going to replace your long range elk rifle or your varmint rifle or your African plains rifle. But it is a great "swiss army knife" rifle that will surprise you if you take it to the range and put in some effort with it!
Gregg
Don't like the OEM factory ten round metal mag. No problem. Removed it, haven't put it back in since. The polymer ten round mag is quite a bit shorter if you need that much capacity. I also bought the polymer five round and three round. The three round is basically flush to the stock. I decided the polymer five round was perfect for me.
I don't know why people insist on calling it a $1000 rifle. I paid $735 _shipped_ from Bud's. $20 transfer fee to my dealer and I brought it home.
Added a three point Ching sling. Still playing around with it and getting it adjusted.
Like the iron sights a lot. Haven't decided what I want to do for an optic. I'm leaning toward the forward mounting Scout type but haven't put out any money yet.
Don't like the look of the Ruger flash hider. Will replace it with something else one day. But that's easy enough to do.
It's a short handy rifle. Cycles smoothly. Length of the stock is adjustable. Decent trigger right out of the box. I think it should be viewed as a flexible tool. Not as a specialist tool like a sniper rifle or long range hunting tool. But as a handy rifle you can always have nearby and which is "good enough" to handle a wide variety of jobs. It isn't going to replace your long range elk rifle or your varmint rifle or your African plains rifle. But it is a great "swiss army knife" rifle that will surprise you if you take it to the range and put in some effort with it!
Gregg
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