"I'm not going to be able to use stripper clips because even though it is a scout rifle, I'd like to put a conventional scope"
If you put a conventional scope on it, it's NOT a Scout Rifle. :banghead:
The Scout Rifle is an integrated concept, with many things in balance.
A standard scope takes any rifle out of the Scout Rifle category.
Take this from someone who was involved with Col. Cooper and the early development of the Scout Rifle concept: I have one of the very first Gunsite "manufactured down the road from 'The Sconce' " prototypes (A Remington Model 7 Kevlar with three Pachmeyer flush swivels for a Ching Sling, silver-soldered on forward scope mount with machined in place front emergency sight on the front of the mount, Mini-30 flip up rear sight drilled out to "ghost ring" diameter, and Buehler scout-scope installed on lever-release mounts, in the then popular and *absolutely righteous* .350 Rem Mag "Fireplug") and spent many hours debating the features with the good Colonel himself over adult beverages of choice.
The Ruger is so far removed alread from a "pure" Scout that Cooper would not have recognized it as being fully realized as such. Put a normal scope on it, and it's just another lightweight bolt action rifle. All of the caveats for that category of rifle apply: Intended to be carried a lot and shot rarely.
Enjoy your rifle. Just don't call it a "Scout Rifle", 'cause it's not.
Willie
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