Ruger Scout Rifle

[arthury]

Now that the Ruger Scout Rifle has been out for a while and more have owned it, I'd like to gather from your experiences on whether this rifle is worth its salt for a deer/elk hunting rifle?

Based on reviews, there's a range of 1-3 MOA for accuracy. What are you experiences in the dept?

 

[bullzeye8]

I do not have one but I have not seen reports of 3 Moa accuracy. Maybe with iron sites if the person is not great with them but with a scope from what I heard u r looking at about a moa

 

[back40]

as with any rifle it depends on the shooter and what they feed it.

mine was right about moa with decent ammo. 1.75 with surplus. that was from a bench with a cheap 1-4x scope mounted traditionally.

i only carried mine once for hunting, but would venture a guess that it would do just as well as any other .308 for whitetail and elk.

 

[dprice3844444]

it all depends if your walk hunting or stand hunting.g/s rifle w/out scope weighs 7 lbs,
the ruger american is 6.12 lbs.
http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_ruger_american_rifle_p6.php
http://www.gunsumerreports.com/review_ruger_m77-gs_p5.php
american 530.00 list 6.12 w/out scope ss /synthetic
gunsite 775.oo 7.00 lbs ss/laminate wood

add a redfield 3x9x50 and you will have a decent setup

 

[jmr40]

I don't own one. But have looked hard and decided it is way too heavy for it's intended purpose. Especially if carrying around at 7000-10000 feet hunting elk. Scoped it would be 3/4 lb heavier than my 300 WSM. It is more than 1 lb heavier unscoped than my Kimber 308 is scoped. And these are with 22"-24" barrels giving full performance over the 16" Scout barrel.

I'm sure they are as capable of decent accuracy as any other Ruger. That is not an issue, neither is reliability.

I personally think one of the Ruger American Compacts in 308 is a better scout rifle than the Scout. I ended up buying 2. One in 308, and one in 223. They are lighter, 2-3" shorter even with the longer 18" barrel and shoot great, around .75 MOA. Two of them along with 2 spare magazines each cost less than 1 scout rifle. As to forward mounted optics, the only advantage they have is to allow faster reloads using stripper clips. With a detachable magazine a conventional mounted scope is much better.

 

[back40]

the weight is certainly an issue, at least imho. that, and the protruding detachable mag were the main reasons i sold mine. yeah, you can get the low profile 3 rd mag, but it still isn't flush, and you can get better capacity from a hinged floorplate design.

the iron sights, though completely functional, leave something to be desired.

the accuracy and reliability are there. just comes down to whether you enjoy the other features it offers enough to overlook the weight.

 

[aubie515]

I had an EER 4x scope on my GSR and I purchased it for a light/compact hunting rifle. I find the GSR to be a neat rifle for that purpose. I wasn't looking for precision performance, since I owned other rifles that are much more capable.

There are way too many variables to say what any firearm will do...since some folks buy rifles and they place crap bases,rings,optics and shoot crap ammo...or the owner just isn't capable of squeezing out everything the rifle has to offer.

I would say if you are looking for a light/compact rifle for hunting...the GSR will be hard to beat. Especially, since they use AI/AI clone mags and have irons as back up to optics.

 

[BruceB]

The GSR is an excellent concept (except for my ol' f--t prejudice against the forward-mounted scope).

Soooo.... my GSR carries its sight in the "normal" position..... on the receiver.

Maybe I spent too much time and too many miles toting military rifles, but I don't find either my GSR or any of my other eight-plus-pound rifles to be all that 'heavy'. The GSR with the 3-round magazine is sleek enough for easy portability, and the five- or ten-round mag in a pocket offers useful "back-up".

As to accuracy, several of us on the Cast Boolit board are getting one-inch or better 5-round, 100-yard groups with jacketed bullets. The cast-bullet loads are still being worked up and showing similar promise. No problem with the GSR's accuracy, in other words.

Several years ago, "rifle" Magazine ran an article titled "The .308 In Africa". In that article they reported their results in shooting a wide variety of game with hte .308, up to and including Eland. The Eland will easily equal or exceed the size of bull elk, and the .308 killed them cleanly..... just as it did all the other species they hunted

This is no surprise to me, as I have killed numerous moose with .308/.303 class cartridges without difficulty.

One important caveat: USE GOOD BULLETS! That African trek used only the Barnes TSX in the .308, and for my part my moose loads were usually driving Nosler Partitions.

I would gladly take my GSR elk hunting if I had it loaded with the TSX or Partition.

 

[arthury]

the weight is certainly an issue, at least imho. that, and the protruding detachable mag were the main reasons i sold mine. yeah, you can get the low profile 3 rd mag, but it still isn't flush, and you can get better capacity from a hinged floorplate design.

the iron sights, though completely functional, leave something to be desired.

the accuracy and reliability are there. just comes down to whether you enjoy the other features it offers enough to overlook the weight.

Not sure if I can agree with the technicalities of a hinged plate design being better than the removable box magazine.

If we recall, all the sniping rifles like Barrett rifles and the newer Remington XM2010, RSASS are all box magazine design.

Are you sharing this out of your own experience only or are there formal testing results available you can point us to them?

 

[arthury]

Weight is a good issue to raise for hunting.
I shall consider this carefully.

 

[back40]

i didn't say that a hinged floor plate was a better design. i said that you get more capacity from a hinged floor plate than you do with the (almost) flush 3 rd mag. and that it's actually flush, which makes for better carry if you choose to do so in that manner (hand under the action).

also, comparing a deer/elk hunting rifle to barrett and similar sniper platforms is a bit silly isn't it? there are plenty of design features that military and sniper rifles utilize that i wouldn't want anywhere near one of my hunting rifles. and yes i speak from experience with both.

 

[arthury]

i didn't say that a hinged floor plate was a better design. i said that you get more capacity from a hinged floor plate than you do with the (almost) flush 3 rd mag. and that it's actually flush, which makes for better carry if you choose to do so in that manner (hand under the action).

also, comparing a deer/elk hunting rifle to barrett and similar sniper platforms is a bit silly isn't it? there are plenty of design features that military and sniper rifles utilize that i wouldn't want anywhere near one of my hunting rifles. and yes i speak from experience with both.

Thank you.

 

[natman]

the weight is certainly an issue, at least imho. that, and the protruding detachable mag were the main reasons i sold mine. yeah, you can get the low profile 3 rd mag, but it still isn't flush, and you can get better capacity from a hinged floorplate design.

Sorry you had to learn the hard way what some of us have been preaching since the beginning.

The GSR is heavy. The magazine protrudes making it awkward to handle and carry. These are not desirable features, certainly not in something called a Scout Rifle.

For those who say that weight doesn't matter, try a sub-7 lb hunting rifle over some rough terrain and get back to us afterward.

 

[back40]

try a sub-7 lb hunting rifle over some rough terrain

^ this
the ruger gsr isn't ungodly heavy. but for the caliber and type of hunting it's suited to (brush to mid-range open shots), there are plenty of other rifles that come in quite a bit under what the ruger weighs.

 

[splithoof]

For Deer or Elk I will not hesitate to use either of our GSR's. I generally limit my big game shots to 200 yards and under, and for this the GSR has proven very well suited for the hog and deer hunting I have used it for. It has become my go-to hunting rifle, mostly because of it's shorter OAL, back-up iron sights, rugged construction, and more than adequate accuracy (five-shot groups with match loads all under an inch from a bench). The factory trigger seems very good, and empty cases are shucked well clear when the bolt is run hard and fast.
I have mounted on both rifles the Leupold VXR 1.5-5X EIR with FireDot Duplex reticle attached with the QRW rings; it is not a small scope, but I find it easier to use than the 2.5 fixed for the longer shots on targets and coyotes out to 300.
I use mostly the five round magazines, as they don't hang too far down. Feeding has been 100%. I use the Galco Safari Ching Sling for most field shooting, but have also used a Harris bipod for longer ranges.
I was very fortunate to take the GSR to Gunsite last year for their scout rifle class, and had the added benefit to hone my skills along side some very knowledgable industry folks who used the platform for all kinds of hunting. It was worth every penny to attend, and I highly recommend it for the serious rifleman.

 

[TommyD45]

I have the GSR and took a nice deer with it at about 85 yards during the 2012 season Using the Leupold FX-II fixed scout scope. I find the 10 round mag clumsy for hunting, so I use the metal 5 round mag.

I load my own ammo and the 150 grain Sierra GameKing over Varget powder gives me sub MOA groups at 160 yards. No complaints about accuracy there. This bullet dropped the deer in its tracks with a broadside double lung hit.

I like the solid feel and balance of the rifle. I find it fast handling and naturally pointing. The ammo feeds smoothly from the steel magazines. I think that for the lone rifleman out in the wilderness, it would be entirely satisfactory for taking medium size game out to 300+ yards.

The only feature that doesn't really do it for me is the flash suppressor. I would have rather had an extra inch or two of barrel length in place of this "tacti-cool" accessory. I'm not sure what Ruger was thinking with that. Perhaps it functions a thread cover for those fortunate people who live in states where suppressors are legal.

Unfortunately the FX-II scope is probably the only one Leupold makes without a diopter adjustment. Between the 2012 and 2013 seasons my eyeglass prescription changed enough that the reticle was slightly fuzzy. Because of this, I used a different rifle for 2013.

Since I really like the feel of the Ruger, I just bought a new scope for it, the Leupold 1.5-4x28 VX-II Scout Scope. This has an adjustable diopter and the reticle is once again sharp and clear. I will be using the GSR on my 2014 hunt.

I also plan to develop some cast bullet loads for this rife. With the high cost of loaded ammo and jacketed bullets, these cast loads will provide affordable practice with reduced recoil so I can more easily keep up my skills for deer season.

Tom

 

[back40]

i view the ruger scout as somewhat of an expensive truck gun. rough and tumble, gets tossed behind the seat and can handle most anything that needs handled. for that, i like the idea of the flash suppressor. not so much for flash suppression, but for the protection it provides the crown. i will say however that i had swapped the ruger unit for a standard .308 AR a2 unit from armalite. $23 and it doesn't kick up a ton of dust and debris when shooting from prone. looks better too.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

really cant see a need for this rifle if you are a good shot with any rifle....some people would buy anything if Jeff Cooper said you needed one, he was a great man and great weapons mind....but like anybody else, he had his opinion and we all know about opinions.

 

[back40]

really cant see a need for this rifle if you are a good shot with any rifle

i don't understand what you are trying to say here. your comment could be applied to any rifle of any configuration.

 

[natman]

....some people would buy anything if Jeff Cooper said you needed one, he was a great man and great weapons mind....but like anybody else, he had his opinion and we all know about opinions.

If Jeff Cooper had had anything to do with this rifle it would weigh at least a pound less, wouldn't have the flash hider and certainly wouldn't have a magazine poking out right at the point of balance. The only features on the GSR that are in accordance with Cooper's idea of a Scout Rifle are the sights and the forward scope base.

 

[Panzerschwein]

^^^

WRONG! The gun was specifically designed to Gunsite standards and it the PERFECT scout rifle. It is FLAWLESS and meets Jeff's specification but with some modern 21st century improvement like the flashhide and hi-cap clip. Those are totally necessary to make sales in the mall ninja crowd and to make the gun appear in video games.

Of course, I'M KIDDING!

I agree with Natman. The gun is too heavy, and it simply is NOT a true Scout.

 

[tulsamal]

I have one and like it a lot. If I can keep it away from my 16 year old son. I haven't gotten to shoot a deer with it since he claimed it first. I didn't like the overly long OEM 10 round steel mag. Took it out and put it in the ammo can. I bought a couple of the Alpha 10 round stainless mags. Better looking and shorter than the factory mag. If you have to have a metal 10 round mag, that's the way to go. I also ordered all three sizes of polymer mags. 3, 5, and 10. The 10 round polymer is much more compact than the factory metal mag. Still don't really see a need for standard hunting type stuff. The 3 rounder does give you a sleeker rifle but the 5 round doesn't stick out much at all. My hand can still carry the rifle in that spot. When my GSR is just hanging out in a closet or safe, it has that 5 round polymer mag in it.

Did not like the Ruger muzzle device. I don't like that thing on any of the Rugers that have carried it over the years. I took it off and replaced it with a BattleComp. I love them on my AR's so thought why not? And it does look a lot better. I didn't fire a 50 round comparison test but I think I prefer the firing feel as well.

Scopes... I agonized over this for several months. Read the reviews, considered the size and weight. Fretted over where to position it. Finally decided I wanted smaller rather than larger. And since it was a scout style rifle... decided to go all the way and forward mount the scope. As I said, I haven't actually hunted with it, just range use. Works fine there. Son likes it in the woods. The flexibility of the young. I went with the Burris Scout 2.75x. Light and small and focus can be adjusted. I think I went with Leupold QD rings. Scope and rings are matte and the finish matches the Ruger perfectly.

Oh, and got a 3 point Ching sling from Andy. Had to drill one small hole for the third attachment point. Still getting used to that one.

Mine actually has a perfectly decent trigger. Haven't touched it. With that little scope, it will group anything into less than 2" at 100 yards. I don't think I've actually broken an 1" but then I haven't shot anything I would consider match ammo either.

I'm a fan. My only Ruger bolt action but I like it a lot.

Gregg

 

[splithoof]

No, it is not a true Scout, but I don't consume myself with definitions. It is something that has worked very well for me in actual field conditions, not just square-range shooting. Yes it is overweight, but that is not such a huge difference as to leave it behind. That is why I do serious PT, and can carry extra ammo in my field pack when away from the jeep. I happen to like the factory flash suppressor, which has saved the crown from some potentially bad dings on granite boulders, branches and such. I also have the Alpha magazines, but prefer the factory five round version.
We use the GSR's as tools, not jewels. I subject those GSR's to conditions I would never put other rifles through. Yea, they are too heavy for some, but go with what works for you. I'll stay with what has worked for us.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have no problem with the weight of the GSR and actually prefer it to the lighter version, but....

I have to admit the whole weight argument cracks me up. To me, rifles are very personal items. They must fit me well or I tend to trade them off. I like a rifle that is about 8-9 lbs. I also hunt in wide-open, very high country for the most part. A rifle in the weight class lets me settle in for longer shots. Light rifles a harder for me to control when I am sucking wind. If I am really concerned about a pound, I will pull some doodah out of my pack, which is typically overloaded as well.

I realize for others, the opposite is true. I hunt with a gentleman who likes his rifles in the 5-6 pound range. He scoffs at my, "Pig"; I lampoon his, "Fairy".

I see no real point in telling my friend his wife is ugly or his rifle is too light; they are both his to hold and cherish.

Jedem das Seine!

 

[natman]

I like a rifle that is about 8-9 lbs. I also hunt in wide-open, very high country for the most part. A rifle in the weight class lets me settle in for longer shots. Light rifles a harder for me to control when I am sucking wind. If I am really concerned about a pound, I will pull some doodah out of my pack, which is typically overloaded as well.

You might not be sucking wind so hard if your rifle (AND your pack) were lighter.

A pound on your rifle, which spends (or should spend) most of the time in your hands is NOT the same as a pound in your pack.

That said, there's plenty of room for personal preference. If you like a 8-9 lb rifle, fine. The issue is that any rifle that's called the "Gunsite Scout Rifle" really should adhere to the founder of Gunsite, Jeff Cooper's idea of what a Scout Rifle should be, not the Ruger marketing department's. This is sad for two reasons: First, there should be a good affordable Scout Rifle from a major manufacturer. Ruger could do it, but this rifle means they won't. Secondly, it's inspired a LOT of guys to think that this is what a Scout Rifle should be. It's not.