ruger 308 scout or rem 700 308 sps

[JO JO]

having a hard time to decide I don't hunt much but who knows in future,
I will load for this rifle, will be used mostly for target out to 300 yards or
less my local range is 100 yards, any input helps I have shot rem 700 sps
no hands on with the scout

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

The scout rifle has always been on my wish list. The trigger on it is rediculously good out of the box (better than the 700 in my opinion), but you're paying $1000 for the scout and probably closer to $700 for the the...well, for the 700.

The scout also has a 10 round magazine - which depending on which state you live in - could be a problem. I've heard that the scout isn't as accurate as it's price tag would suggest, but I've never shot it myself so I can't confirm or deny this. Either way, I like the Scout better. It's more versitile than the 700, and if you're not trying to reach out 600+ yards, I think the scout would work just fine.

I'll be interested to hear from those who have shot the Scout.

 

[adelbridge]

Longer barrel is going to be much better at 300 yards

 

[xfyrfiter]

Longer barrel will have more velocity (barely) and may or may not be more accurate? ymmv

 

[greyling22]

I've been doing some research into the ruger scout recently and here are my findings (note, I have not shot one, only handled it, read reviews, listened to and talked with 2 owners of them at the range. even watched the long winded nutnfancy video):

Despite plenty of people claiming to shoot sub-moa, the people who actually post their targets seem to be getting 1.5" groups with good factory ammo. Bolt is supposed to be fairly rough compared to other actions. Basically a typical ruger 77 action.
Barrel is everything you would expect a 16" 308 to be: LOUD. I would seriously consider one of the 30 cal linear compensators.
Magazines seem to be working fine, through the 10rd hangs out a mile. the new polymer mags are much cheaper and lighter. The 10 rd metal mags are supposedly kind of tricky to load. Think stuffing rifle bullets into a doublestack pistol mag. (down and then back instead of straight down like an AR mag. no word on the poly ones)
308 apparently loses about 60fps per inch of chopped barrel under 22"
Rifle either looks tough as nails or kind of awkward depending on your point of view. IT will never be described as beautiful.
They can be had for less than $800 out the door with a little shopping. There is a new 18" bead blasted stainless barrel out this year. I like the extra barrel, not the stainless (which is unusual for me)

personally I like that it comes in left hand, the laminated stock, the threaded, sub 20" non-bull barrel, and the price. Not so much a fan of the short stock with spacer system, detachable mags, choice of flash hider, and scout rail.

 

[chicharrones]

They can be had for less than $800 out the door with a little shopping.

Since December 2012, I've only seen them in person at gun shops for $900 to $1000 and they move quick at those prices. Too bad prices aren't like last fall.

 

[chicharrones]

having a hard time to decide I don't hunt much but who knows in future,
I will load for this rifle, will be used mostly for target out to 300 yards or
less my local range is 100 yards, any input helps I have shot rem 700 sps
no hands on with the scout

If mostly target shooting with a rest using a scope all the time, logic would indicate to get the less expensive Remington, IMO.

However if logic gives way to wanting, and you want a short rifle with iron sights and a detachable mag, then get the Ruger GSR.

 

[chicharrones]

Bolt is supposed to be fairly rough compared to other actions. Basically a typical ruger 77 action.

True. It is very rough out of the box. Part of that roughness is from the bolt running through the receiver. Part is from perceived roughness when stripping a round from a full 10 round magazine. That metal mag's feed lips are tight and leave score marks on the first few rounds that are fed.

I've spent a couple hours over several days running the bolt on my GSR closed and open to smooth it out. Lube it, run the bolt a while, wipe off the blackened lube, and repeat. There are a few sharp edges in the receiver that can be polished up here and there. Including, the "saw toothed" hinged ejector. Polishing out the saw toothed marks helps a bit.

It seems that almost any new out of the box gun I have purchased in the last 5 years needs a basic "tune up" of sorts. The Ruger GSR is no different.

 

[greyling22]

oh, well I can still find the left hand version kicking around for less than 8, both locally and online. But upon further shopping, you are right. The right hand version is running more like a grand. I find that I have very mixed feelings about the current high demand. While it's irritating to see prices skyrocket and stock dry up, I'm also seeing a lot of new shooters and interesting firearms, and I have to figure that more people who know guns and have guns can't be a bad thing in the log run. Especially if they vote.


also, I've run across very few guns that didn't need a fluff and buff, some lightening of springs, and a good lube right from the factory. I'd probably load the raceways up with flitz or something and run the bolt to help polish it up. I don't know if anybody blueprints ruger actions, but I know the 700 benefits from it. Out of the box the 700 is not much better than the ruger in terms of smoothness.

 

[LemmyCaution]

One of my LGS is listing the GSR at $829 and has about ten of them listed in stock. PM me for the URL.

 

[RmB]

I had the same conundrum some weeks ago. I was looking at bolt-actions and wanted one of the two. The owner of my LGS handed me the Gunsite Scout and told me that from what he had seen, it was capable of 1.5" groups at 100 yards.
Long story short, I bought a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308
Once sighted in, I got a 3-shot group just slightly over .50" at 100 yards, with Hornady 168 gr A-Max.
I don't regret it a bit.

I should also mention that I replaced the factory Hogue stock with a Bell and Carlson.

 

[chicharrones]

While it's irritating to see prices skyrocket and stock dry up, I'm also seeing a lot of new shooters and interesting firearms, and I have to figure that more people who know guns and have guns can't be a bad thing in the log run. Especially if they vote.

Yep, it is hopeful to think of the positives in this latest purchasing frenzy.