Ruger Frontier or Savage Scout?

[snorko]

I would like to pick up a compact general purpose "scout" type rifle. Looking for compactness, easy handling and .308 Win. Both the Ruger Frontier and the Savage 10FCM Scout are appealing.

I like the 16.5" bbl on the Ruger and its shorter stock - I have a short length of pull and it fits well.

I really like the iron sights on the Savage; I would like to have that option. But it does have a longer barrel at 20.5".

I am looking for any insights from those who have shot these. I do not want to pay for a Steyr so I think these are the best choices.

 

[skinewmexico]

A good gunsmith can cut off and re-crown a barrel for next to nothing. Depending on the caliber, you may not want to go to 16.5. I think a Winchester 94 makes a great scout rifle.

 

[ThomasT]

I don't have either one but have considered getting the Ruger.

The plus side of the Ruger is the shorter barrel, the ability to mount the scope over the reciever and the scout rifle appears to have a heavier barrel than the Ruger compact rifle. I think you can remove that scout scope base from the rifle as well.

You can get a banded front sight from New England Custom Gun and install it yourself, plus NECG has a reciever sight that fits the Ruger scope bases. I believe you can remove and replace it without losing the zero.

After i bought a Savage 11FG 223 and saw what a crappy plastic stock they put on it, it soured me on Savage rifles. I did replace the stock with a Boyds laminate and a metal trigger guard from savage and now have way more money in the gun than I will ever get out of it. So no more Savages for me.

 

[El Tejon]

Been to too many classes where Savage Scouts go Tango Uniform.

If these are my only choices I'd go with the Ruger as it may be easier to set up properly and more durable.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I have only used my older Savage Scout for deer hunting. I have only 30 rounds or so through it. It has a Leupold M8 on Leupold quick-detach mounts with a ghost-ring site as backup.

I love it for deer hunting and I've never experienced a problem. Not a lot of rounds through it though.

On my old version, the box magazines are not interchange-able, so the "removable magazine" is rather pointless if you plan to use it as a tactical weapon. My Swiss K31 does the same thing - non-matching mags pop out. (Apparently, you can make adjustments on the Savage to to make other mags work).

Here is a good article on the Savage Scout:

http://www.steyrscout.org/savscout.htm

I agree that a 30-30 Marlin or Winchester is also a great "scout"-type rifle. I just personally like a bolt action and the flatter-shooting .308.

I also think a "scout rifle" should have both a EER scope and iron sights. I tire of all the new rifles without iron sights.

I have never checked out the Ruger Frontier. I really like the Ruger M77RSI w/Mannlicher stock and 18 inch barrel in .308. It's a nice looking, short rifle with iron sights.

 

[streakr]

Look for a Marlin in 35Winchester or 38-55. That should resolve your need for 308!!

s

 

[snorko]

That is a good suggestion for the NECG front band and sight with peep rear. I like the overall feel of the Ruger so that would clear up its main disadvantage.

Ideally I would get an AIA M-10 but no one imports them now.

 

[mgregg85]

How do you modify the ruger or savage to take M14/M1A mags?

 

[4thPointOfContact]

I think it was on this board, not sure, but....

For the Ruger it's basically a matter of removing the floorplate/trigger guard and sticking in a 10-round M14/M1A magazine. The magazine needs to be trimmed a bit though.
From what I remember 20-round mags have too much spring pressure.

Edit....found it.
Ruger Revision
Then you can always talk to Shawn's Tactical about having a clip guide installed. If it works it could be a Fast way to load a 10-round magazine.

 

[.38 Special]

I have a Savage Scout. It's adequate. The only real let-down is the stock, which really is a POS, and I've never been able to find a replacement. (The Scout is different from any other rifle made by Savage.)

If I had it to do over again I would probably buy the Ruger, although I don't care for its stock either, as it is much too heavy for a scout rifle.

It does sound as though the Savage will be easier to get to where you want it to be, as it really is easy and cheap to have the barrel shortened. There are people on this site who don't have a problem with the Savage stock, so you might be one of them.

HTH!