Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle
I was saddened in July 2009 when Ruger announced that they had discontinued the Ruger Frontier rifle, a rifle that was close in concept to Col. Coopers scout rifle. It 'warmed the cockles of my heart' to read that Ruger is now offering a true scount rifle in collaboration with the Gunsite Academy (the school founded by Col. Cooper).
The .308 Win. chambered Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle features Mini-14-style ghost sights, forward scope rail (for a scope-style scope), 10 round box magazine and a 16.5" long threaded barrel with a Mini-14 flash hider. In short: almost everything you want from a scout rifle.
Without a scope it weighs 7 lbs. If you add a Leupold FX-II 2.5x28mm IER Scout scope and rings, the total weight would be just over 7.5 lbs. Not bad at all.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .308 Win. |
| Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Finish | black |
| Barrel | 16.5" |
| Twist | 1:10 |
| Stock | Black Laminate |
| Total Length | 38.00" / 39.50" (with/without flash suppressor) |
| Weight | 7 lbs |
| Front Sight | Mini-14 Post |
| Rear Sight | Ghost ring |
| MSRP (Price) | $995 |
I think Ruger and Gunsite have done a great job. I am really looking forward to shooting one of these Scounts at the range.
In the late ninties, I bought a used Rem. Model Seven, .308, with the intention of using it as a m-cycle-able little rifle, fer out to about 600 meters..after discovering the cost of a heavier, straight-tapered tube, and installation, I quickly nixed that part of the project, and had the OEM tube cut back to 16, and 1/8 of an inch, and had a Williams Guide peep installed…I painted the stock in a half-decent green pattern, just to dull-off the epoxy, and called it ‘good’, fer having started out with a 300.45 dollar leetle rifle. The Scout fills the bill, almost exactly…and before I had re-worked that Mod. Seven, I had laid eyes on a FR-8, and thought it just nifty, but didn’t have the cash…I now await income tax returns to finalize the payment on MY Ruger GSR. HOT DAMN.
at ruger.com (shopruger.com), I noted ruger has introduced 3 shot, 5 shot, and 10 shot plastic. The 3 or 5 shot should most hunting regulations, while the 10 shot should continue to be standard for serius social work.
The polymer magazines are all listed at $39.95.
That’s much more acceptable and you should be able to pick them up for under $35.
The Ruger gunsite Scout using the .308 loses only 25fps for 1′ of barrel length, so it is actually almost the same speed as a longer barrel….
Ruger said it only lost a couple hundred feet per second.
Try the Weaver K-4 LER on the Gunsite. Works great! Can leave on rear sight. Sub moa groups with 168 Federal Premium 168gr BTHP! Color me happy!
finally I was able to shoot some reloaded 168 gr. ammo in my Scout and found myself looking at a 5 shot 1 ” group at 100 yds with a 5 power scope and a circle dot that covered most of the bulleye. 5 power isn’t much and the dot was huge compared to target scopes but it still managed to drop 5 into a quarter sized hole.
this was reloaded using federal match cases–medium load of VARGET and 168gr nosler black coated silvertips. I did not check for speed, but I assume out of a 16.5″ barrel it wasn’t very fast. I didn’t care as long as the group was tight which it was. I am now very pleased with this rifle.
It sounds like the rifle likes heavier bullets.
I had mounted a regular illuminated 1.5×5 Leupold and removed the rear peep. But wanting to keep the peep incase I busted the scope I started to look at how to carry it, the mounting screw, 3 small allen wrenches(for peep sight adjustment, etc), and finally a spare lithium battery for the scope. I found by removing the butt spacer and slightly modifying the inside of the spacer I was able to hide the peep sight, screw and carry a spare scope battery inside the spacer. I stuck a TRIAD sling thing pocket on the sling and it carries the allen wrenches. The scope comes off with either a quarter or some flat screwdriver, it is not a removal problem. I am beginning to really like this Ruger GS. It has many abilities I have been looking for.
Mine was $740 out the door.
How Much are They?…..
I was able to find a used pistol scope, and mounted it in the scout position. it’s a 2x power Simmons. After setting it up and getting on paper, I was able to get about 1 inch @ 100, using a 168 grain match nosler, over 42.5 grains of IMR 4064.
To be honest, I’m really not at all happy with the pistol scope, and should spend the cash to purchased a true scout scope, be it from Leupold or Burris.
I am finding that the action is even smoother than new, which was really smooth……
I have removed the pistol scope for a spell to use a Leupold 2-7x Rifleman mounted in the traditional scope position.
While I have been concentration of 100 yard accuracy, with a 200 zero, the gun shows much promise with a traditional scope. @ 7x @ 100 yards, using a Harris bipod and a sock bean bag in the rear, I am able to keep a 3/4″-1″ grouping with my hand loads listed above, as well as a handload that uses a Beartooth bullet of 160 grain flat nose lead.
The iron sights will prove excellent for minute of Bambi, or for those of the tacti-cool nature, minute of bad-guy, just as a stock Garand or M1a would. The sight picture is exactly the same.
I feel that with the removal of the bipod, and the purchase of a 5 round magazine, this utilitarian rifle could make a great thick woods gun, employing the irons or the tradionally mounted Leupold.
NECG makes a great adjustable peep sight for Rugers, model N-100, which when I find some extra coin, I’d really like to try!
http://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/
While I am still not sold on the whole concept of the ‘scout’, I do think that this short bolt action does fill a space as a great deep-close woods gun.
As of this time a Simmons pistol scope is still being used as a scout scope…it works, but from what I have been told, a true ‘scout’ scope offers a better sight picture.
The Leupold rifleman, 2-7x by 33 has been on this gun more times than not. Mounted in a traditional scope position, it offers a great field of view. Employing it I was able to get down to around 1/2 inch groups @ 100 with my reloads. Not too shabby for an 18″ barrel. I believe that the gun will do better once truly broken in, as of now, still under 370 rounds…..barely broken in.
Love mine. Put a Leupold Rifleman 2-7×33 on it. Shoots 1.25 inch groups all day long with Winchester 150gr. softpoint ammo. Great all around type of a rifle that i’ve been looking for. Complaint: $64 for a Ruger 5 round factory mag is waaayyyy overpriced. I had heard that Ruger was working on a less expensive polymer mag, but haven’t seen it yet.
shot the Ruger GS..results were good for a 16.5 inch barrel. stock 7.62×51 nato grouped around 2 inches constantly.
factory .308 win grouped about 2.5 with 150 gr. sp.
.308 handloads grouped 1.25 with 150 gr. noslers and VARGET
I mounted a standard rear mount 1.5×5 leupold 30 mm ill. circle dot
removed the 4 screws and removed the PIC rail
put ultra find diamond dust in grease and smoothed the action up a bunch–slick as glass now.
more later as I progress to 168 sierra hpbt and Varget in target loads.
happy as a clam in muck so far.
Lots of comments about the expensive magazines, but how many dozen do you need?
I’m thinking that, with subsonic rounds and a suppressor, that this could be the best hog gun ever. Lighter rounds and a suppressor would also cut the complaints about blast from the short barrel.
Add a night scope, and it could be the best after dark hog gun.
I have just bought the ruger scout but am unsure as to what scope would be best for this type of rifle, i hunt pigs in north queensland with fairly tight scrub but also want something to use the full range of the rifle. Secondly they are not imported into Australia with the flash arrester fitted does anyone know where i can order this from and the correct way to fit it.
As someone who has built a fair share of FALs as well as other firearms, the people bitching about the mag issue need to know how the weapon feeds. A FAL, G3 or M14 mag is double stack, double feed…..that doesn’t work to well for a bolt action. There are AI knock offs that are double stack, SINGLE feed….much better for bolt action. Ruger tried to use these “cheap” mags. (Has anyone seen a cheap FAL mag lately?) It didn’t work too well. If your willing to spend $1200-$3000 on an optic don’t bitch about $58 mags. Midway just had them on sale and I’d rather buy a few mags that work well then a case of mags that have issues or need to be refinished.
It looks like a good practical general purpose hunting/field gun to me. Very Ruger. But hearing someone seriously discussing a bolt action .308 as a home defense gun makes me glad I don’t have to depend on that person to protect my family, and that I don’t live next door to them either.
here is my opinion for a improve Ruger scout rifle , it must have a 17 inch hammer forged barrel ( 41V45 steel ) with leupold variable setting scout riflescope. it must use the magpul 20 rounds magazines. I like laminate stock in line redwood color.
I think they missed the mark by not making the Scout rifle a pump gun, very fast and ambidextrous but not seen much in USA since the days of trench warfare. Something like a Rem 7600 but with the Ruger touch. Sometimes even Colonels make mistakes; as an Army warrant officer it was my job to fix those errors on occasion. I have read several mag articles on this gun; this group (forum) is the first to note the cost of mags; very enlightening.
Robert, the problem with pump guns is accuracy and that they are better suited to firing offhand, rather than prone / bipod.
If history is an indicator, the “scout” is likely a quality firearm – Ruger is well known for such things. As to it being a “scout”, if we give credit where it is due, to Colonel Jeff Cooper, the gun is just another wannabe effort to the pretense of knowing and doing something of vlaue that was imagined and developed be a legitimate and competent intellect. From the literature and visuals, there is scant attention to the “Cooper Scout” – the name that shcould be on the gun. Jeff had a vision and, agree or not, it was a specific rifle for a set of more or less specific purposes: The so-called “gunsite” scout ain’t it!
1) For those who know the difference, there really hasn’t been a “gunsite” since the Colonel sold the real one.
2) The Ruger needs to loose the wood stock. A “plastic” one would be in keeping with Jeff’s vision.
3) A “plastic” stock would also address the weight problem.
4) The sling swivels need to be recessed.
5) The swivels also need to number “3″ and be configured to support the application of a CW sling system.
6) It’s hard to tell the diameter of the rear aperture, but if it’s not around one-quarter of an inch, it’s probably not something that Jeff would have approved of.
7) Though totally conjecture, it doubtful that the Colonel would have been too enamored of a plastic mag well and trigger group or the goofy flash hider or the extreme cost of the magazines. [M-14 or FAL mags would have been a nice consummer-oriented touch. Oh, and those mags function just fine, if a person knows how to "tune" them. I've used both - though brand new, at the time - to save my life and they worked
flawlessly.]
The gun looks nice (flash hider excepted) and is in the proper caliber for hunting and social purposes. I’d market the thing with a proper one or two power “scout scope”, instead of the telescopes that I’ve seen in the ads.
If I didn’t have a perfectly good Remington .308 and a Browning BLR, I’d probably by a “scout” and have it configured to Jeff’s specs. (A person can have a “Cooper Scout” built for about $2100.)
I’m not certain who wants to buy a $2000 suppressor and government agent for a $800 gun, but it would at least get rid of the goofy mini flash hider.
I don’t know anyone who can build this gun in their basement for what they can pay at the counter. If you appreciate the .308 and are in the market for a good gun to convert to a “Cooper Scout”, I’d suggest you buy this Ruger. Those who don’t understand the “CS” concept and don’t like the gun really ought to give serious thought to simply not buying the thing.
You might want to rething removing the flash hider, as the 16″ barrel makes quite a flash without it!
Mine is on the way! It is my understanding that the “ugly” birdcage on the end is removable, as is the “ugly” rail for mounting a scope. I bought mine to deer hunt with. It is short and reasonably light. I hunt in woods that are thick and seldom produce a shot over 100 yards. I will strip mine of the rail and buy a 5 round mag for deer hunting. I cannot wait to carry this over my old trusty savage.
This was my first deer rifle only in 7mm-08 with a foward mounted pistol scope believe it or not. One of my favorite rifles ever!
Ok, the 30-30 has a lower case volume than the .308. The highest number of grains for any load in my book is 33. The .308 lists as high as 52.5 with not one load below 41.
Also, the 30-30 was not designed for higher pressure/velocity loads so I’d say it’s probably not an applicable example and I think the size of the powder charges back that up.
Now, Ruger claimed in the videos they were only loosing a couple hundred fps with the short barrel (if my memory is correct). I don’t know if that is accurate but it’s what they claim.
In my Nosler reloading guide 6, under 165/168 grain bullets there are a couple loads that might do the trick when you subtract a couple hundred fps.
RL15, Varget and Big Game powders all have loads listed at over 2800 fps, with the Big Game listing one at 2910… which if Ruger is correct, would mean you might even get a load over 2700 fps.
Now, out of those three powders, the slowest load for Big Game was most accurate for it, the mid load for Varget was most accurate for it, and the fastest load for RL15 was most accurate for it.
Granted, those results will vary from one rifle to the next, but if I had to guess just based on that table, the powder used in the Nosler Custom rounds would be RL15 since it would be the only one that could still match that fps when you subtract a couple hundred fps.
me:
Really? Your going to criticize me for what I quoted from a magazine?
Complain to them.
JamesD:
You can push a 168 grain pill out of a 16″ barrel at 2600+ f.p.s? Really? Without exceeding SAAMI pressure specs for the .308, yet?
Not doubting you, but I’m flabbergasted and wonder what powder they were using. I’d have expected it to be a very difficult task to break 2450 at any remotely sane pressure level out of a barrel that short.
You can get 150s to 2400 in a 20″ .30-30, or so the ammo companies tell us, and I had been under the distinct impression that when you went this short on a .308, you turned it into a .30-30 with a memorable and attention-getting muzzle signature.
Prices have come down significantly (i.e. in the low $700′s), now almost comparable to Remmie M700 SPS Tactical. Check Davidson’s for your best deal. I have a Ruger on order, should see it mid-week. Likewise, OEM mags are now around $65. Feel compelled to mention that IMHO Ruger is THE BEST in terms of customer service, and this durable little rifle will fill an impressive niche in my collection of hunters and shooters.
The May issue of American Rifleman has the Gunsight Scout featured on the cover. The article listed some group sizes. The best ammo (NoslerCustom: Custom Competition No. 60054 168 grain HPBT) averaged 1.16″. Not bad but the others tested were over 1.5″ on average.
The most accurate cartridge was also the highest velocity (2610 fps) of the ones listed.
As velocity went down, so did the accuracy.
I looked at one at Cabelas today… $850. If you have the new club member discount mailer for up to $100 off (and if it applies to guns) you’ll get it close to what mail order places are asking when you count the local FFL transfer fee.
Impressions…
It reminds me of an M1 Carbine… maybe that’s the appeal for me… I grew up with a Crossman M1 Carbine BB Gun. The Gunsight Scout should be more zombie lethal than the M1 Carbine though.
It feels good, it’s compact, light, etc… pretty much what other people have stated.
Fit n finish are typical Ruger so no complaints but it’s nothing fancy. I like the laminate stock better than craptastic plastic but that’s personal preference. I don’t think plastic would drop as much weight as people think but it would probably be cheaper. Frankly, it would be better to drop a few pounds from around your waste if you are that worried about carrying around an extra pound or two.
The iron sites look sturdy enough for the average user but I don’t think I’d find that lightweight of a rear sight on a battle rife (which it’s not). It might get screwed up in the trunk of a car or behind a seat in your truck if you are careless. Functionally speaking I think the irons will work fine.
I didn’t like how the mag is inserted. It’s not that it’s bad mind you… just not slap it home like an AR which is quicker and easier.
But then you aren’t chambering rounds as fast as an AR anyway so if that’s the deciding factor against the zombie hoard… you’ve probably already lost. If you want an AR, get an AR.
A magazine review (the gun is on the cover… don’t remember the name) listed 1.5″ groups at 100 yards but I didn’t read the details. Meh…
My dad’s .243 Marlin isn’t a scout but it shoots MOA with a **cheap** scope and cost about $425 total. And it doesn’t need match ammo to do that. If that’s the best the Ruger can do… I’ll pass. Maybe others will have better results.
OK;
so I picked up the Scout this weekend, and went off to the range.
The rifle is very light, but solid and sturdy. it is compact, and I feel it could make a great deer rifle for thick woods, provided you spend the $65.00 to purchase the 5 round mag. To go into the woods with a 10 rounder is just silly, and illegal in some states.
The pistol grip has very deep cut checkering on it, and makes for a fine grip.
The rifle has an adjustable length of pull;
Providing you take the time to ‘fit’ it to you. it came with 1/2″ spacers for the buttstock, and is factory set @ 12 1/4″. Too short for my taste, I added one spacer, to make 13 1/4″, including the ruber butt pad.
The trigger is crisp, and breaks cleanly at an ‘estimated’ 5 pounds???
I mounted my Harris Bench-rest bipod just for sighting in, and headed out.
In order to mount the Rifleman 2-7x, the rear sight has to be removed.
That nixes any chance of sighting in the rifle with the irons, so the Rifleman was left home until a later date.
I mounted the Trijicon sight as a reflex sight, but felt it sat too high for my liking, so instead mounted my Aimpoint Comp m2 in it’s place…which sites lower to the bore.
Off to the range:
I removed all optic from the weapon except for the iron sights, and settled in @ 50 yards, with my allen key in hand. It was fairly close @ 50, and only took about 4 shots to get ‘grouped’. The sight picture is almost the same as sighting any military rifle since the Garand, and appeared as a very clear post and wings inside the circle.
Out to 100:
Being as I had mounted a Bipod on this to hit the range, it was easy to settle in with my home-made bean bag under the buttstock to adjust for a good hold. At 100, I was able to hold a 2.5″ grouping, and imagine I could get tighter by [1] learning the gun a bit better, and [2] building a load specific to this gun. I loosened the rear sight again, and came up one half turn on the peep, allowing my groups to raise about 2″;
Essentailly creating a 200 yard zero. [I believe 30 cal @ 100 is 1.5" high for 200]
Back to 50:
The aimpoint was mounted, and sighted in for POI @ 50, then adjusted for 100. It was hitting consistently, but I am not sure I like having a higher ‘cheek weld’, so it might take some getting used to. I have an IER scope, 2.75x on the way.
All in all, a very fun gun, not loud in the least, and not too heavy on the recoil side either. 50 rounds was all I had, but after the sight in, the last fory rounds were pure fun!
I really can’t fault Ruger much for the choices made on this rifle.
The short length is perfect for home defense, hunting in trees/brush, or for stowing in the trunk or behind the seat.
The weight makes it easier for smaller people to handle or for anyone to carry around all day.
Open sites are a great backup if you break your scope and for quick target acquisition. The forward mounted rail/scope allows you to quickly mount/dismount a scope/reddot and have it return to zero each time. You still have the option of mounting a scope in a conventional manner… though I’ve never cared for Ruger’s go their own way approach.
The .308 is a great all around cartridge. It isn’t limited like the .223 for hunting, you can hunt just about everything in the lower 48 states with it. But it has less recoil and weight than longer action cartridges like the 30-06. It’s also readily available, and ammo is cheaper than for longer actions or new cartridges intended to replace the .223.
If you are defending your home in the dark with a short barreled .308, you might want a flash hider. The fact that it’s threaded so you can change it is a bonus.
If I have any complaints it would be price, expensive single column magazine, and accuracy.
The price is hundreds higher than I’d expect. I think Ruger is trying to make it an alternative to an AR… and it should probably be priced closer to a hunting rifle. For the suggested retail price I can buy a more accurate hunting rifle and a home defense shotgun if I shop around.
The 19 round mags on my R-25 look shorter than that single column 10 round mag… and mine are cheaper.
The groups I’ve seen for the scout at 50yrs didn’t exactly impress me, but they were certainly better than the SKS and Ruger Ranch Rifes I have fired. The groups are certainly larger than that of my R-25, but the lower magnification forward mounted scope might be the limiting factor on the scout. However, after seeing the accuracy of my brother’s bolt Rugers, I wouldn’t count on that being the case. Tack drivers they aren’t.
I doubt I’ll buy one since I already have too many rifles already, but If I had to get rid of my current rifles… this or something similar would take their place. My dad would have loved it. The Scout is exactly what he wanted. Too bad it didn’t come a few years earlier.
Being lefty, i don’t care.
I bought one anyway.
Optics:
A Leupold rifleman,
2-7×33 for a traditional scope,
a EER 2.5x for the scout scope,
and a trijicon reflex to try as a reflex sight.
the trij ‘should’ co-witness…I’ll let U know on sunday.
Do I need it…hells no… this was purely a want.
I like the way it feels, and I enjoy the concept.
It weminds me of the old Spanish FR8 series of rifles in 7.62×51, only with a scout system.
The mags are pricey, gonna work with the one it came with until ruger puts out the poly mags, or someone else copies them.
Range report on Sunday eve, or monday.
Had the opportunity to finally see and hold this rifle at Cabelas…I am a fan of Ruger firearms, but I hate to say I was a bit disappointed in this rifle. While I’m sure it will shoot fine, it felt I was holding something made by Mattle Toys. For $830.00 Cabelas was asking for, I did not purchase this rifle…I understand the concept of light weight and short for the scout concept but boy the rifle did not feel good in my hands…It just plain felt like a toy… the only way I can describe it……..
Wow, some of you kinda’ missed the point of this rifle! It in .308 win (7.62×51 NATO) for a reason, it’s a common military round availble all over the world. The 1-10 twist is perfect, it will shoot M80 (150gr fmj) ball ammo, most hunting ammo M118-M118LR (168-175gr otm), AND heavier 200gr sub-sonic ammo. The 16.5″ barral is easily packed (or in a car trunk). with iron sights alone a rifleman sould be able to own everything out to 300 meters with this rifle. A Surefire, AAC, Gemtech muzzle break/flash hidder would replace the one it comes with (depending on what suppessor you own…if you don’t own one should should fix this or move to a state where you can). What would I change? I own a couple of SAKO TRG rifles and their mags are every bit as good as the A.I.s but are double collume so they don’t hang down as far (and, well I own a bunch of these mags already so I’m a little bias on this one). A folding stock (such as the McRee) would be great, but they don’t make them for the M77 action. I saw this rifle at a gun show for $750, I would like to ring out it’s accuracy to see how well it would stand up in a L.E. role for tactial marksman (a little beyond Col. Coopers frame work, I know). Oh, about me. I’ve been to Gunsite several time. Ate Dinner with the Col. before his passing. Have also been the Iraq as an infantryman with the 28th I.D. (A co 1/112 56th SBCT), and to Afganistan running a PRT sniper team (28th I.D. D co 1/110 2nd BCT). And I teach civilian/L.E. firearms training including Tac Carbine and Prec Rifle (L.E. sniper). Until I get one and see just what it can do, I’d have to give Ruger two thumbs up on this one!
This is not a modern infantry rifle guys. It was not intended for large force on force action, but average Joe looking for a bad guy at 1am the 16.5 inch barrel isn’t bad and could work wonders if its all you have.
As far as hunting goes this light little rifle will be great hunting anything in the lower 48, and id gladly trade it for my 7mm Sendero
I will give it you some of you the flash hider and the laminate stock are poor choices. no way around that, but lets face it they cant make everyone happy.
I wont knock the mag or the guns price, but it bars for this disabled vet’s fixed income closet!
A jack of all trades, but master of none.
Personnally I like everything about this rifle. Whether for sport or home defense. After reading thru the comments, if there were changes to the rifle you wanted to make, you can. I would like a M1A type break or flash hider on the end of this scout. ( I do have a mini-14 and sr-556, two birdcages ( as described are enough ). As far as the magazines go if cheaper polymer ones come out great! I’ll use them at the range with target rounds, I’ll buy two quality mags to hold some good Hornady ammo for the house. Just before this rifle came out, I was very interested in buying the Springfield-Armory M1A scout squad rifle. While there is a huge difference in function there is also a huge difference in price!!. But I do believe they are both quality firearms…Ruger,Springfield, Springfield,Ruger isn’t AMERICA great….
I love all of the comments about what you would change on this gun.
If you want a cheap black synthetic stock go buy a Maverick.
Room clearing? Seriously? I’m pretty sure Ruger is not marketing the scout rifle to ground pounders in the sandbox. (We love you, Semper Fi)
There are synthetic mags available for the Ruger Scout at half the price.
The price of this rifle is considerably less than a Remington SPS tactical would cost if you added an aftermarket detachable magazine conversion.
A second front stud? If you put a bipod on a Scout rifle it defeats the whole purpose.
If you want a bolt gun that you can stick your cheap AR mags in, look to Mossberg. They are going to make a varmint version of the 4×4 chambered in .223 that accepts AR mags.
Just saw one advertised in the latest SSAA magazine. These are out for pre-order in Australia!!!! $POA though
Things that can be changed on this rifle are–the butt stock can be lengthened or shortened with spacers–the Pic rail can be removed by removing the 4 mounting screws–the scope can go on the Pic rail or the Ruger rings std mounting system by removing the rear sight–and the flash suppressor can be removed and a thread cover or accessory of your choice added to the 5/8 X 24 tpi threads. This is a universal rifle–seems to do a bit of everything. I would like to see a breakage test using the “plywood” stock VS synthetic, my thinking is that the synthetic will fracture and snap off long before the “plywood” will.
I just ordered one of these off gunbroker. I have a 7mm-08 Ruger frontier scout that I love and I have a fixed m1a mag set up on it and its never been right. This AI mag setup is gonna be the heat, and fixed sights :].
The barrel is threaded 5/8-24 so you can put whatever you want on the end. If this rifle is built as good as my frontier Im gonna be real happy.
Short 308s rock all my 308 guns are 18in or less, if you have to pop stuff further than 800m then you need a bigger gun. I think Ruger and Gunsite may have NAILED the perfect goto bolt gun.
Mike
Not useful for room clearing, but how much room clearing does the average soldier do?
Seriously, dude? I’m a light-infantryman (1st BDE 10th Mtn and 4th BDE 3rd ID) and room-clearing is literally ALL we do. This silly bit of redneck tactical would’ve been relevant in the First World War, maybe…at least until you encountered guys at trench-fighting distance with submachine guns.
Bang!! hit the nail on the head–Ruger has you all talking pro-cons and I think that is a good thing. some like–some dislike. Ruger can filter out all the BS and modify to what appears to be a standard thinking on this rifle. If you don’t like it state your reasons and move on—if you do like it state your reasons and go get one. This rifle falls into a very well defined notch–something that has been asked for for years. It does a little bit of everything, like a handy man, it is a weapon of many values but master of few.
IMHO I like it—-nuff said
I really do hope they make a left hand version. This appears the most complete scout offered by any manufacturer. Love the looks, flash hider and all, plus Ruger quality. How about a .338 Federal chambering for a “heavy” scout?
They now have a lefty version listed on their web site.
I would love one of these rifles. They are the perfect combination of different firearms and has a simple design. Too bad the 10 round magazines are $70 a piece. I would want about 10 for the rifle but that would cost $700. Thats almost the price of the rifle. Ruger needs to lower the magazine price or they aren’t going to be selling a lot of these.
Needs a black polymer stock. It’d be a good rifle to take on long,hilly walks during deer season.
I hope they come out with .243 and 7mm-08 versions soon
Nice Rifle with the AI Mag
* Laminate stock of Compact M77
* Compact M77 with 16,5″ barrel
* AICS mag sytem ( in after market for R700 and howa 1500 that’s around 200/300 usd)
* XS scout mount
* Iron sight
* Flash hider
For DIY same confuguration you need a Spanish Mauser FR8 with ACIS mag convertion & XS Scout mount
looks like a wonderful rifle for someone like me who lives a place where semi auto rifles are seriously restricted.
and it looks like a good hunting rifle for long hikes!
Well, I like it, and will most likely purchase one later in the year. Pretty she is not, but has a purpose (or three). Doubt Mr.Ruger would have allowed this one out the door….RIP.
Interesting, glad to see Savage has a bit of competition. Just wish the barrel was a touch longer.
Tacticool fauxcessories turn me off a rifle as quickly as Rice Racer fauxcessories turn me off a car.
What ever happened to something being more than it looks, instead of the other way around?
The Scout rifle is arguably as tactical as half the AR-style rifles out there: more rugged, more durable, more able to take dirt and beating and still drop any target from 0 – 800 yards. Not useful for room clearing, but how much room clearing does the average soldier do? If I could only take one rifle to war or to a collapse-of-society situation, I’d trust simple/light/durable/accurate over the complexity of a full-auto videogame-style carbine.
So why add that stupid rail? It’s just a needlessly heavy, needlessly complex, needlessly showy way to mount a scope. Scope mounting was figured out 50 years ago and it didn’t involve that stupid serrated protrusion.
Please drop the needless additional weight and metal (unless you believe in supporting miners and smelters) and give us what Cooper intended: a bare-bones rifle that is effective because it has good design rather than “badass” looks.
(Other than the rail, this thing gets me hard.)
A second front stud would be a nice touch. I’d also like to see a synthetic pistol grip stock with side folding butt stock, but that might just be me.
I must own this.
I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the flash hider and the picatinny rail, but the gun seems a bit ugly to me. All of it just seems to come together fairly poorly.
Ah well, I’m not exactly standing in line for a survivalist/combat rifle, so it’s not like my aesthetic objections will cost them a sale.
@LadyFox – This is probably the absolute WORST platform for 300BLK/300FB/300Whisper. It’s mag, and action size are completely wrong, would be overbuilt for that round. The rainbow trajectory of subsonic 300blk would make the iron sights completely useless past any one specific distance.
You’re looking at a 308 sized gun and confusing it’s application. Look at the CZ-527 or Model-7 sized guns in relation to 300BLK.
@TheGunGuy – CORRECT.
I LOVE how you guys are complaining about this gun using AI mags! The absolute best magazine design out there for bolt guns. They are expensive, but that’s their only con.
Have any of you want-to-be gun designers out there ever wondered WHY ar mags, M14, or FAL mags aren’t used in bolt actions? Because they don’t feed for shit. That’s a fact. Those mags are designed for a semi auto to rip the next round from the mag and slam it into the action. Not for a hand motion either slow nor fast. It’s the wrong application.
A long time ago I got to try a bolt gun in 7.62×39 that fed from AK mags… It’s like using an old rusty push lawn mower. And AR/M14/FAL/etc mags are no better.
Ruger picked the best possible magazine for this gun, and you guys shit all over it. Fantastic!
Just really not seeing the use for this rifle at all….tactical? Hahaha moving on.
Hunting? why bother with an expensive 10-round box magazine when you could have stripper clips (and a straight-handled bolt if speed is what you’re looking for). The deer do not attack in squad columns.
Well, in an alternative caliber (the .308 is military ammo here, so why bother get a Scout if it’s the same pain as an M4 ?) with a bunch of 5-rounders, a fiberglass stock and an Eotech on the scout-style mount, that should be quite lite and fun.
One advantage of the proprietary magazines: these things are Canada-ready. I do believe they’ve just made a sale.
A few things I’d like to touch base on with regards to this rifle:
– On the magazines: Ruger stated in several interviews that they considered M1A/M14 magazines, but decided against them due to the quality gap seen on the many different varieties available. They’ve also stated that they are going to produce less expensive polymer magazines to augment the A.I. magazines; 5 and 10 round variants for both will be available.
– On the flash suppressor: The threading is 5/8×24 tpi, so most .308 muzzle accessories will work here.
– On the trigger, action, etc.: Action is a standard M77, and trigger is the LC6.
– On optics: As usual, there’s Ruger mounts and rings for a traditional setup if you don’t wanna go scout with it.
– On price: MSRP is around a grand, but you should be seeing this one on retail shelves for around 800.
Any idea when these will be released to the public?
While I applaud Ruger putting out a rifle cheaper than the Steyr there are some areas for improvement:
- Magazine cost: While I know quality can be lacking with M14 or FAL magazines I find it hard to believe that they could not have put out a magazine cheaper than $80.
- Flash hider: I’m sorry but I’d rather be given a choice of something other than that fugly one they made or even a thread protector if I did not wish to sport one.
- Barrel mounted sight: While I do like that they put a front blade on it I also would have liked the option to swap out for a barrel without it.
Lastly, while .308 is nice I do hope that they will consider other calibers like the .300 AAC, 5.56×54, and/or 7.62×39.
No M14 Mag is a deal breaker for me.
It looks like a nice rifle. I’d just like to know if it has a bedded action, how the trigger is, if the barrel is floated or partially-floated; some more technical things like that. Unfortunately, I cannot find that kind of info anywhere. If some can answer that, thanks!
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!
It’s ALMOST a great idea. The stock, sights, and rail appear well conceived. For .308, however, an 18” barrel would decrease muzzle blast over a 16.5″. But the real deal-breaker is the magazine. If it used M14 or FAL mags, I’d line up to buy one regardless of barrel length. However, a rifle ostensibly intended to be used in survival or combat conditions is likely to suffer damage — esp. to a projecting box mag. I’m willing to bet that most buyers won’t invest in spare mags @ $60-90 apiece. Once that mag is damaged or lost (oh wait, that never happens to detachable mags), the shooter is well and truly screwed.
I think Ruger’s “niche” will soon evaporate, as soon as someone comes out with the same thing using M14 or FAL mags at half the price. I really like Rugers, it’s a nice looking gun, but I’d get a DPMS 7.62 Oracle before I’d buy this rifle. But I’m not sure this Ruger is the same class as an AR 7.62. A Scout rifle is a rugged, always shoot, survival tool, as far as I understand it. I’ve read that in three gun competition, the AR 7.62s breakdown the most.
It should have been built to accept some cheap and plentiful magazine. My choice would have been for G3 mags. And a Vortex flash hider. That Ruger bird cage is just butt ugly. Aside from those two things, I love it!
With modern optics the need to hang a scope way out on the barrel is gone, that was a field expedient way to use a EER pistol scope as a quick sight. With holographics and red dots, etc the scout styling is passé.
80 dollars for one mag? Forget it. Ten roun mag in the space a m14 mag holds twenty? Forget it. One k price tag? Forget it
A stripper clip guide would have been smarter. No matter what Col Cooper wanted, that was twenty plus years ago, and equipment has changed. The hundred year old Swedish Mauser carbine will do all that a scout should do for several hundred dollars less money.
jim, how many 7lbs AR-10′s have you run into? The ones available in this country at least are all ridiculously heavy beasts. Accurate off a bench , I’m sure, but nowhere near an acceptable weight for a weapon to be carried in the field all day long.
On the face of it, this looks to be a very handy bit of kit. However, compared to a Remington 700 SPS Tactical, the price seems a little steep.
I really hope someone does a side by side comparison between the Ruger and the Remington.
It would be perfect if it took M14 mags. They’re a lot cheaper! I’ll probably end up buying one anyway!