Gunsite Scout - What For?

[Auto426]

I'm confused. The international version was 18" with
No suppressor. Now the Ruger website shows a KM77GS that
is 18" and the show it with a suppressor. So, would that
be 18" + a couple more inches for the suppressor?

When the Gunsite Scout was first introduced, the version intended for the American market had a 16" threaded barrel and a matte black finish. Ruger also built a version ment for export, that had a 18" non-threaded barrel and was made of stainless.

I'm guessing Ruger noticed the demand for the export version here in the states, so this year they introduced what is basically the export model just with the barrel threaded and a flash suppressor included. The flash suppressor adds a little length to the end up the gun, but only an inch or so.

 

[CraigC]

The LER scope allows for rapid target acquisition, as has been stated and ignored. It also allows for a boltgun to have both an optic and a receiver sight mounted and that is no small advantage. It's relatively short and light weight, which makes it handy. The short barrel is not a detriment for the purposes for which the rifle is intended. It ain't an F-class rifle and probably won't be found on beanfields and prairies but it was also never intended as such.

I didn't know that leverguns were so crappy or that the .30-30 bounces off 90lb deer until I read it on the internet. All the .308 gains you over the .30WCF is range. It's not better for bigger critters and it doesn't kill applicable critters any deader.

PS, the new stainless GSR has an 18" barrel.

http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html

 

[RPRNY]

I didn't know that leverguns were so crappy or that the .30-30 bounces off 90lb deer until I read it on the internet. All the .308 gains you over the .30WCF is range. It's not better for bigger critters and it doesn't kill applicable critters any deader.

Hear him!

I must say that I often find myself at odds with your views and assertions but this really could not have been better said.

 

[Triumph]

I didn't know that leverguns were so crappy or that the .30-30 bounces off 90lb deer until I read it on the internet. All the .308 gains you over the .30WCF is range. It's not better for bigger critters and it doesn't kill applicable critters any deader.

I spend most of my hunting time in the Texas hill country. 95% of the available shots are sub 200 yards. I use Hornady Leverevolution ammunition with the Leverevolition matched scope that has B&C mark for 200 yards. If I visit the other property, where the terrain opens up, I grab my son's Weatherby Vanguard Youth 7mm-08. Sometimes I grab the 7mm-08 for the wooded areas because we mostly stalk deer and it has a bipod. I love both the Marlin Texan 30-30 and the Weatherby Youth 7mm-08. Both are short, light and easy to maneuver.

I had a Ruger M77 300 WSM and have it to my brother because he is much more likely to go big game hunting.

If I were to get the Ruger Scout I would get 18" use the 5 round clip with a Harris Bipod. One advantage is I put the boys on there belly a bunch and they don't always remember to shoulder the gun and get scope eye. The LER scope would alleviate that problem. Don't think I need the Scout - but since when has that stopped me

 

[sdj]

I have been considering a Ruger Scout. I have seen a review (Nutnfancy, Youtube) where the accuracy is described as well, not that accurate. From among Ruger Scout owners here on THR, what have your experiences been? How would you describe the accuracy out say, to 400m and 500m, with Match ammo or high quality ammunition? I have handled the Ruger Scout, but have never fired one. Thanks in advance.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Nothing a Scout can do an AR can't do better.

Whoa there, easy with the Kool Aid.

If you are primarily looking for a home defense rifle, the AR may be the better bet. If you are looking for a squirrel rifle, the AR might be a better bet. For pretty much everything else, the GSR is going to be the better option. The GSR is just as accurate, more powerful, and more reliable, so it easily offers twice the useful range of most ARs, and unlike the AR, you don't have to buy three different uppers for it to make it useful. For the price of an AR and a couple different uppers, you could get the GSR, scope it, and go to Gunsite to have legendary riflemen instruct you in its use. Think it about...

I know you guys like your poodle shooters, but come on guys. You don't have to drink the Kool Aid in every thread, do you?

 

[TCBPATRIOT]

I have been yearning for one since they first released it. My wallet however cannot support my family and my passion for firearms. But I will have one. I am the kind of person who doesn't want a gun for every purpose I don't hunt often enough or a wide variety of game and being a military guy I love .308 so this rifle seems it was built for me. Good at a few different things but not purpose built for any one certain task.

 

[swag]

I'm from Oz, where the flash hider is a banned item. Quite a few have been sold over here , nice enough looking guns, but if I'm walking down the line at the range, I won't choose to sit down next to one. I try to use hearing protection out hunting, given half a chance, though I'll let off a couple of .308 out of a 24 inch barrel no worries. Something would have to be heading towards me at a rapid pace with a serious frown to make me fire a scout without muffs.

 

[breakingcontact]

I like it.

Seems to have either hates or fans and not many with moderate opinions on it.

If you don't want to run the scope foreward, you don't have to.

 

[Art Eatman]

sdj, my only experience is at 100 and 200 yards with a forward mount low-power scope. My buddy's rifle. As near as I can figure, I'd call it basically a one-MOA rifle. Stock tweaking and handloads? Maybe a bit better, I don't know.

I hadn't given any thought to using it beyond 300 yards.

 

[chicharrones]

Guys - Not trying to be provocative just curious.

I've wanted one of these since it came out and I stumbled across one for sale a couple days ago. The price is a tad outrageous, but sometimes want supersedes all else. It does come with Ruger rings which is worth money right there.

Here's my take on it. With respect, forget the legendary Jeff Cooper and the highly esteemed Gunsite. Just look at the rifle itself.

If you want a currently made rifle in .308 that has factory installed aperture sights with the option of two styles of scope mounts and has a short overall length this rifle does have that going for it. With the flash hider removed and all the stock spacers removed, the Ruger GSR is only 36.5" long.

I'll admit, I dislike the standard issue steel 10 round magazine. Luckily, Ruger offers a polymer 10 round magazine that is 1" shorter, a polymer 5 round magazine that is 2" shorter, and a 3 round polymer magazine that is nearly flush with the bottom of the stock. If Ruger would keep the steel 10 round mag and issue a polymer 10 rounder and polymer 5 rounder instead, I think more Ruger GSR buyers would be happier. Me included.

Here's a new photo. I will try it out in this configuration as I await polymer magazines. Then I will probably remove the flash hider just to shorten it up. Or leave it on just to p.o. the anti-gunners out there. "OMG look at that evil black rifle", never mind the fact it's not an autoloader.

 

[chicharrones]

BTW, It would be a neat if some manufacturer would make a handguard to bolt in place of that forward picatinny rail. That rail is right where I like to pick up a rifle.

 

[Auto426]

The rail is removable if you don't want to use it.

 

[chicharrones]

Of course.

What I mean is, if the rail is removed and a handguard was installed in the same location. Something made of wood, or polymer like the Mini-14 has, but made for the Ruger GSR. I tend to rust steel with my hands if I touch it often and a handguard would be eliminate that worry. I'm just used to grabbing mil-surp rifles by the handguard, wrapping my hand entirely around the gun.

 

[sleepyone]

This is all very interesting. I'm a bolt action guy. That's all I hunt with in .243 and .270. Love the mechanics and feel of working a bolt. I love lever actions too but want more range than those offer. On the other hand, I want higher capacity than standard bolt actions offer. I've been wanting to replace a Model 70 .30-06 and a Tikka .308 I sold a few years back with another .30 caliber. I like the concept of the Ruger GSR, mainly the 18" stainless barrel, 10 round mags, lefty version and also because I can mount a scope on the receiver in case I don't like the forward mounting option. It's good to know there are options available should the AR style rifles ad high cap mags get banned. I've had several AR-15s the past several years and just sold my last one, for a nice profit I might add! I never warmed up to them. I love the look and feel of good quality wood and a nice mauser-style bolt!

 

[DATL]

My .02 is that the Ruger GSR is just a good all around utility rifle. Of course there are many rifles better at taking long range shots, and rifles better at close quarter engagements. But if you aren't rolling around with a gun safe on your back I feel it's a nice compromise.

I didn't get one of these rifles because it fit squarely in between my heavy, long barreled 300 WSM and my short barreled AR. I got it because I picked it up in the gun shop and just simply thought it felt awesome and looked cool as hell. Frankly I was bored with the usual bolt action rifles- long barrels, big scopes, low capacity, etc... I was also bored with AR builds- been there, bought the attachments. I figured it would be handy to have an uber reliable (mauser type extractor), short barreled, 5-10 round magazine fed, bolt action rifle with good iron sights. That's utility in it's purest form for me. FWIW the thing shoots great. I have only shot out to a couple hundred yards tops with it- after that it's hard to see the target for me without magnification (maybe it's because I just turned 30? lol) Another plus is I don't look like a suburban commando with it on my shoulder. That may not matter to some people just sayin...

Pictured I have one of my bipods on it and a red-dot sight. But honestly It handles so much better without the bipod or the red-dot. I may try a nice LER scope sometime soon.


This is the Ruger GSR compared to my Ruger M77 (30-06) for comparison.