M1A vs. Ruger Gunsite Scout

M

Murrdock

New member
In approx. 2 years I was planning on buying a standard M1A and using it as an all around rifle. Long range target shooting and possibly some deer hunting, but I already have a .270 and a .35 remington for that and I don't mind beating them up.

I was wondering how the Ruger Gunsite Scout help up against the M1A for long range shooting?

I know you can pick up a RGS for about half the price of an M1A that I could drop on some descent optics, but the M1A makes me tingle on the inside just looking at it.

Any input is welcomed.
 
I have both and feel that for long range shooting the Ruger GSR has the edge on accuracy reference the trigger pull.

The military two stage trigger on M1A doesn't lend itself to precision shot placement at great distance.

It can be managed with practice but the Ruger's gonna be easier to hit with right off the bat (out of the box).

My Ruger GSR is an honest 1 MOA rifle out of the box with my handloads

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With suppresor and Weaver 2X28 handgun scope (conviently snatched off my S&W M500)

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My Springfield M1A Scout will cut 1.5 MOA on a good day with my handloads but usually it's closer to a 2" rifle at 100 yards.

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Suppressed it's pretty quiet but a little muzzle heavy from the offhand position.

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For close range Hog hunting this combo is hard to beat.

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Again IMHO if your going long range (400 yds+) the Ruger would be the better choice.
 
^^ Agreed the M1A is very bada**, and so is the Ruger. Both fulfill different purposes. And to be honest you won't notice a HUGE difference unless you want to be a tad bit farther from your target with the Ruger. The M1A can do what the Ruger does, easily...Not to sound like an M1A fanatic. ;)
 
Making my desicon even harder...

How do these rifles handle see through scope mounts (ability to use irons or the scope)?

That's mainly why I was looking at these two rifles, because I'm a heck of a shot with the peeps on my m1 carbine, but I'd like a scope if I wanted to try 200-600 yards. Maybe 1000 some day if I have a 8'X8' sheet of plywood and a nice scope. If the see throughs don't work very well, I'd probably consider getting a savage for long rang shooting (they don't come with irons)
 
I'm sure the Ruger is nice, but the M14 can be all that and more.

Sub MOA long range or MOA CQB to 600 yards

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Depends on what you want with it. It's going to be a bolt action vs a semi. One has a bit more accuracy, one has quicker follow up shots and better magazines.
 
apples to oranges

Comparing an M1A and a Ruger Scout ( or one made by anybody else) is not a
same-same comparison. But,.....you mention "long range", so we can start there.

A scout will typically have a low powered IER scope. Dedicated "scoutscopes" are typically 2.5-2.75X, ala Leupold and Burris. Such an optic is not ideal for long range, as it makes target ID and precision difficult. Note what dedicated varminters and match shooters bolt on their rifles. Big bell, big tube, high x count, typically high dollar scopes. An M1A will take such a device easily, not so a scout (without defeating its role as a GP, portable firearm w/ backup iron sights)

A Scout will have a short barrel, 16-20 inches. A full size M1A will have a 22" tube. The M1A will have a longer sight radius with irons as sights, and a SLIGHT edge in velocity with any given bullet weight, yielding a tad better trajectory. Not much , but perhaps enough to forgive an error in range estimation and sight alignment way out there. Again edge to the M1A.

M1A's are commonly used as match and competition rifles. I doubt anybody will take their Scout w/ its 2.75x scope to an XTC 3-5-600 match or to an F/TR 1000 yd match. Well I guess they could, but it would be a novelty.
And I doubt anybody will run to get a Scout as a designated marksman rifle, though it could serve as such. ( the Germans in WWII used a LER scope on the Mauser 98, but it was not popular if I read right)

Finally, I suppose sheer mechanical accuracy, groups at 100 yds from the bench, given equal sighting systems, ammo, and triggers, etc, the bolt rifle MAY shoot smaller groups. But taken as a system, using larger optics,match barrel, good trigger, etc, past 100 yds, I think certainly past 300, the M1A would come out on top.

But......an M1A w/ a big scope, maybe a match barrel, bipod, ....is not a particularly portable device at least when not compared to a scout. The utility of a scout, enough rifle for medium range (say 300 yds) on medium game and as a GP rifle is what makes continues to keep the scout rifle alive.
 
I dunno, the undefined goal of "long range" makes me question both. A short tube bolt action with a low power scope. Not it. A standard M-1A not lugged, barreled and bedded, not it either. If the "long range" goal is to hit something at 300 yards, probably anything centerfire will do with a little work. I say this after just having taken a worked on M-1A for a 1000yd walk. I can do it and do it well (179/200 service rifle), but give me a choice for a 1000yd gun and it's going to be a smoking 6.5 class with a huge piece of glass on it. So, in short, define long range expectations in both range and target size.
 
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