I think I am sold on a 308 rifle.
- Thread starter Magog
- Start date
For the record, I don't want one, but like SOME of the Ruger ideas. #1, the 308 does pretty darn well in barrels as short as 16". Read this.
http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/
I don't have any use for the forward mounted scopes, but the Ruger design will allow you to quickly remove the rear peep and mount a scope conventionally. With only a small multi-tool you could quickly change between a conventional scope and quality irons with a good peep sight.
Set up this way it could make a pretty versatile hunting rig with a smaller 5 round mag. With a low powered scope or the peepsight mounted, the short length would make a good brush gun. By keeping the scope mounted conventionally it would still be at least a 300 yard deer rifle. If you wanted to use a scout scope, the option is there.
My personal preference is something with around a 20" barrel, not for velocity, but because of muzzle blast and balance. I actually have a Ruger All Weather Hawkeye in 308. I plan to have the barrel shortened to 20" and have irons installed to fill this role. In my opinion, it is a better option, for less money, even after paying for the alterations.
http://www.tacticaloperations.com/SWATbarrel/
I don't have any use for the forward mounted scopes, but the Ruger design will allow you to quickly remove the rear peep and mount a scope conventionally. With only a small multi-tool you could quickly change between a conventional scope and quality irons with a good peep sight.
Set up this way it could make a pretty versatile hunting rig with a smaller 5 round mag. With a low powered scope or the peepsight mounted, the short length would make a good brush gun. By keeping the scope mounted conventionally it would still be at least a 300 yard deer rifle. If you wanted to use a scout scope, the option is there.
My personal preference is something with around a 20" barrel, not for velocity, but because of muzzle blast and balance. I actually have a Ruger All Weather Hawkeye in 308. I plan to have the barrel shortened to 20" and have irons installed to fill this role. In my opinion, it is a better option, for less money, even after paying for the alterations.
Interesting article. I didn't see any mention of a 16.5 inch barrel, only 18. I have to wonder how the 16.5 inch .308 velocities would compare to something like a 6.8SPC with similar length barrel.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to bash the Scout rifle idea so much, it is just like I said earlier, I don't see where this concept fits any particular need that isn't already filled better by another rifle.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to bash the Scout rifle idea so much, it is just like I said earlier, I don't see where this concept fits any particular need that isn't already filled better by another rifle.
Father Time
New member
It looks like a nice rifle. But they would have to ditch that cheezy, oversized, expensive mag for me to buy one.
I read the "SWAT" article and loved the quote:
I just watched MagPuls "The Art of the Precesion Rifle". They had a short barreled 308 as one of the 4 rifles they were shooting. On the video you watch them take 1,000 and 1,200 meter head shots... with ease! The finally was a 1 MILE shot with the 308!! Actually all four of the shooters/rifles made the 1 mile shot. Very interesting DVD... learned a lot that I can't wait to take to the range with my 260 Remington.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhOnOFEH6ps&feature=related
this old fart has good things to say about it...
this old fart has good things to say about it...
Check the altitude that they were shooting at.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=243283&Number=2988927#Post2988927
Magog;
The GSR rifle is a Blast to shoot ans very easy to carry around the range.
It has different LOP and a butt pad that's almost a Limbsaver!
There are now three magazines that are polymer and the two original metal ones.
You can mount a scope in the forward rail, use the Ruger rings in the normal spot or use the iron sights.
Being so short it is a breeze to carry. OK, you may suffer from less velocity but I do not shoot past 300 yards.......
I would buy it again!
What other rifle can do that right out of the box, with out spending a lot more money????
Lateck,
The GSR rifle is a Blast to shoot ans very easy to carry around the range.
It has different LOP and a butt pad that's almost a Limbsaver!
There are now three magazines that are polymer and the two original metal ones.
You can mount a scope in the forward rail, use the Ruger rings in the normal spot or use the iron sights.
Being so short it is a breeze to carry. OK, you may suffer from less velocity but I do not shoot past 300 yards.......
I would buy it again!
What other rifle can do that right out of the box, with out spending a lot more money????
Lateck,
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I would hit it........
I wish they made a .223 version that uses mini 14 mags.
I have a new 580 mini 14 and love it! but I also understand its intent.
A bolt action .223 with a 10rd mag would replace the lil .17 I use now for walking the ranch T.O.O. (target of opportunity) hunting.
I think it looks bad a$$!
I wish they made a .223 version that uses mini 14 mags.
I have a new 580 mini 14 and love it! but I also understand its intent.
A bolt action .223 with a 10rd mag would replace the lil .17 I use now for walking the ranch T.O.O. (target of opportunity) hunting.
I think it looks bad a$$!
checkmyswag
New member
Im pretty sold on a 308 rifle too. Just don't know which one. This Ruger I like a lot. How bad does it kick being so light?
I own one and I love it. It is quite light and handy to pack around the woods and was a joy to maneuver in and out of tree stands. As far as it not being suitable for hunting, I have some deer in the freezer that would disagree with that assessment.
There is a lot of hand wringing about loss of velocity and "losing the long range ability of the .308". This is not a 1000 yard rifle, doesn't claim to be, but it is more than capable at typical hunting ranges. Long range rifles are specialized tools, the GSR is more of a utility rifle and can fill a lot of roles.
When it first came out, the mag choices were limited and expensive. Now Ruger makes polymer 3, 5 and 10 round mags that are much more reasonably priced. For those who don't like the look of the mag extending out of the rifle, or like to carry the rifle at the balance point, the 3 round mag is flush fit.
The laminated stock is very nice and comes with 3 different pads to adjust for pull length. The trigger is great, breaks very cleanly. The forward rail allows for a variety of optics and both eyes open shooting, or you can mount a traditional scope. A lot of people mount the IER scopes on the rail, I think I am going to mount a Lucid Red Dot with 2x magnifier and see how that works.
The flash hider bothers some people for some reason. It is threaded, take it off and put a nut on there to protect the threads. Problem solved. I plan on taking it off and threading a suppressor on there myself, but until then I have no problem with it as is.
If it is not your cup of tea, fine, but seriously, so much angst over this rifle, I don't get it. There are a lot of guns that I don't like or don't feel the need to own, but if someone else does, great.
As far as the kick, I did not notice anything different from my other .308's, the recoil pad is thick and really soaks up the recoil. This gun is a bit louder, as you might imagine, but my buddies in hunting camp expected it to be much louder than it was, so it couldn't have been that bad.
There is a lot of hand wringing about loss of velocity and "losing the long range ability of the .308". This is not a 1000 yard rifle, doesn't claim to be, but it is more than capable at typical hunting ranges. Long range rifles are specialized tools, the GSR is more of a utility rifle and can fill a lot of roles.
When it first came out, the mag choices were limited and expensive. Now Ruger makes polymer 3, 5 and 10 round mags that are much more reasonably priced. For those who don't like the look of the mag extending out of the rifle, or like to carry the rifle at the balance point, the 3 round mag is flush fit.
The laminated stock is very nice and comes with 3 different pads to adjust for pull length. The trigger is great, breaks very cleanly. The forward rail allows for a variety of optics and both eyes open shooting, or you can mount a traditional scope. A lot of people mount the IER scopes on the rail, I think I am going to mount a Lucid Red Dot with 2x magnifier and see how that works.
The flash hider bothers some people for some reason. It is threaded, take it off and put a nut on there to protect the threads. Problem solved. I plan on taking it off and threading a suppressor on there myself, but until then I have no problem with it as is.
If it is not your cup of tea, fine, but seriously, so much angst over this rifle, I don't get it. There are a lot of guns that I don't like or don't feel the need to own, but if someone else does, great.
As far as the kick, I did not notice anything different from my other .308's, the recoil pad is thick and really soaks up the recoil. This gun is a bit louder, as you might imagine, but my buddies in hunting camp expected it to be much louder than it was, so it couldn't have been that bad.
Your Criticisms of the GSR...... Where to start......?
At the beginning, the very best place to start..........
I have Ruger Frontier in 7-08 .... I lose about 140 feet a second from the advertised velocity of Reminton's 140 gr Corelokt factory load ...... it averaged 2660 out of my frontier.... not really significant at under 300 yards, which is what he gun was designed to do..... The factory load was chronoed in a 24" test barrel ...... I'll trade the 140 f/sec (2" of drop and around 150 ft/lbs of energy @ 300) for an 8" shorter and much handier gun.......
Not so..... What's this?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Y-ZfBkVnc&feature=related
Looks like a conventionally mounted scope there.....
That's just a thread protector for the can I'll put there eventually .
I would bet that it would work for 95% of the deer hunting done with rifles in this country....which is more than I can say for specialized "beanfield" rifles ...... spot and stalk, tree-stand, ....... just about everything but long range (1/4 mile+ shots) ....from prairie dogs to moose, it would work.
The Generals of the first decade of the 20th century would have laughed at your assessment: No leaf sight, No provision for Bayonet (and too small for hand to hand work, anyhow.....), Expensive magazines that the conscripts will just lose...... It does not even look menacing on parade....
And the Market is the final Arbiter of anything in our system: If the design is still here in 100 years, then it will be the iconic design concept I think it is. If it is just the marketing feat you think it is, then it will go the way of the Dardic, the Automag and the Remingtom Model 8 ......
At the beginning, the very best place to start..........
I have Ruger Frontier in 7-08 .... I lose about 140 feet a second from the advertised velocity of Reminton's 140 gr Corelokt factory load ...... it averaged 2660 out of my frontier.... not really significant at under 300 yards, which is what he gun was designed to do..... The factory load was chronoed in a 24" test barrel ...... I'll trade the 140 f/sec (2" of drop and around 150 ft/lbs of energy @ 300) for an 8" shorter and much handier gun.......
Not so..... What's this?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Y-ZfBkVnc&feature=related
Looks like a conventionally mounted scope there.....
That's just a thread protector for the can I'll put there eventually
.I would bet that it would work for 95% of the deer hunting done with rifles in this country....which is more than I can say for specialized "beanfield" rifles ...... spot and stalk, tree-stand, ....... just about everything but long range (1/4 mile+ shots) ....from prairie dogs to moose, it would work.
The Generals of the first decade of the 20th century would have laughed at your assessment: No leaf sight, No provision for Bayonet (and too small for hand to hand work, anyhow.....), Expensive magazines that the conscripts will just lose...... It does not even look menacing on parade....
And the Market is the final Arbiter of anything in our system: If the design is still here in 100 years, then it will be the iconic design concept I think it is. If it is just the marketing feat you think it is, then it will go the way of the Dardic, the Automag and the Remingtom Model 8 ......
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Willie Lowman
New member
Well Styer introduced their scout rifle in, what '98?
Yeah, that's at least 15 years after the first time I ever read anything Cooper wrote on the subject and it was designed by Steyr with input from Cooper. http://www.steyrarms.com/nc/news/items/article/looking-back-at-the-scout-rifle/
Like I said earlier, I'm sure it's a fine rifle if you have a need for something like that, I just haven't figured out what specific need it fills. To each his own I guess. If you like it, spend your money any way you see fit.
Father Time
New member
Thats because you probably have 2-3 rifles that can do anything the RGSR can, only better.
And there isn't anything wrong with that and its not a knock to the rifle or even the concept.
It is intended to "do everything well". So from what I gather it was designed to be the rifle for the guy that only wants or can afford one rifle... The problem is customising a rifle to fit the "scout rifle" concept or buying one that does is kinda expensive. For the price of the styer you easly could have two solid rifle's with good glass on them (and most likely have money left over for some ammo). And thats before you buy an optic for the styer.
Remember, this isn't exclusive to guns. Think about tools how many times have you heard about the newiest wizbang contraption that supposed to replace your entire ratchet/wrench set, yet somehow never seems to do the job as well as a simple wrench.
For Those worried about the short barrel.
I had a similar concern, but I dont anymore, I use a similar rifle, mine is the older Ruger Frontier. It also has a 16.5 inch barrel.
I have taken Five deer with it since I have owned it, and one at pretty long range. It killed all of them quickly.
I have enjoyed this rifle so much, it is my go to deer rifle now.
The .308 Winchester is one of those strange rounds that seems to do very well regardless of what its fired from. The Amunition is abundant, I recomend these rifles, as they are worth every penny.
I had a similar concern, but I dont anymore, I use a similar rifle, mine is the older Ruger Frontier. It also has a 16.5 inch barrel.
I have taken Five deer with it since I have owned it, and one at pretty long range. It killed all of them quickly.
I have enjoyed this rifle so much, it is my go to deer rifle now.
The .308 Winchester is one of those strange rounds that seems to do very well regardless of what its fired from. The Amunition is abundant, I recomend these rifles, as they are worth every penny.