Ruger/Gunsite Scout Rifle - gunwriters' review

lefteyedom, I'd have to say it's less "marketing" than it is that their ideas were valid and were proven over time.

The only notable difference of the Scout, compared maybe to my Sako Forester carbine is the scope mounting position. Weight and length are about the same. The other features Cooper suggested are nice, but not truly necessities.

What has been proven is that target acquisition is faster with the forward mounting of the scope. That's not just a "somebody's opinion" thing, it's the results of actual use in the field in competition between shooters. Multiple targets at differing distances, going against the clock.
 
The Jungle Carbine was a great rifle put that was 70 years ago.
Click to expand...

I've got an original Jungle Carbine. It was given to me by a US Vet back in 1978. Somebody back before that mounted a scope on it but otherwise its stock. It was my first centerfire rifle. I haven't shot it in at least ten years.

Somehow it has two problems that aren't supposed to go together. On the one hand, it's darn heavy. Part of that is the scope of course but it isn't a lightweight rifle to carry around the property all day. But the second issue is that somehow despite the weight, recoil out of that gun beats you up. It's the only rifle I own that has ever given me a scope cut. Granted the uncomfortable recoil was with milsurp .303 British not with my reloads.

So between the weight and the recoil, I quit shooting it quite a long time ago. I would rather shoot one of my Mosins any day. I got dies and brass for it many years ago and started to reload for it. Thought I might shoot a deer with it someday. But then various modern rifles moved into my house and now it leads a lonely life in a closet. I'm willing to bet the new Ruger would get shot a lot more around here.

Gregg
 
can't beat 'em, join 'em

Well, so much as I think that the whole Scout Rifle idea is a bit exaggerated due to who was marketing it, I read everyone's responses here and I thought I'd give a try at the "style" of it. I have an old Mauser that shoots straight and is a great utility gun. It could use a scope and I don't want to carve on it so I purchased a weaver mount that replaces the rear sight and a Simmons 4x pistol scope. When I get home I'll put it together and post some pics on this thread and then I'll take it to the range.

Dunno if I'd spend $750 on a "Scout" rifle but I won't mind putting a scope on the Mauser...
 
I like the looks of this rifle, it is a great idea. My only complaint is the highway robbery on the Ruger mags. Why not just use the cheaper readily available AR10 mags? Typical of Ruger ie. the mini 14 and mini 30.
 
To Mr. Tulsamal, I also had an original No. 5 Jungle carbine, bought through the mail over 40 years ago. It weighed less than a Steyr Scout, too, so I don't know where you're getting this thing about it being so heavy. Must be a heavy scope you have. But it does have a kick.

The thing about the wandering zero was not an excuse to go to a semi-automatic (or self-loading, as they used to say) rifle. They had been intending to replace the No. 4 rifle with the No. 5 but stayed with the No. 4 instead for another ten years, and kept manufacturing them during that time, too. But there was an intention to replace bolt actions eventually, to be sure.
 
lefteyedom:

Good point about semi-autos having an advantage, but as the Ruger being discussed is a bolt-action, it seemed more valid to compare an already- proven bolt-action, which might achieve similar objectives.

Sort of like classic DC-9 versus old 737-200s, instead of MD-88s versus 757s with the later VNAV and LNAV navigation, with FMCs etc.
No comparison.
 
Different strokes for different folks.I always enjoyed reading Jeff Cooper.and enjoyed his articles on scout rifles.I do think it is a very practical rifle concept.
I have built a couple light,handy,IER scoped rifles.I would not call them true scout rifles,just borrowed some ideas.I did like the results.
Key features,they are fast!2.75 or so magnification is plenty to place an effective 300 yd shot.I recall Mr Cooper placing that criteria.I think some resistance to the IER scope is about looking funny,maybe ugly,even.Thats OK,but the scout is out of the box thinking,and it works.
I recall Redfield introducing them,targeting the 94 Win.
They(scout rifle) were not intended to be something our military would carry.The semi-auto battle rifle arguement is misplaced.It misses the point.Mr Cooper,IIRC,narrowed it to controlled round feed bolt action.
He also wanted stripper clip loading.IMO,its about a handi to carry rifle,particularly for crawling though bushes ,under fences,etc.
One advantage of IER scope mounting and not having a projecting box magazine,your one hand wraps around the rifle at the balance point.That means the other hand is useful.
IMO,the box mag is a marketing game,it suggests the profile of an M-14.Its a "look" thing.
In the role Mr Cooper talked about,the "scout" travels light,and likely does not have an ammo resupply.The target might be food,or foe,but slipping away rather than overwhelming firepower was the plan.
Flash suppressor,not a bad plan.
This rifle is OK,its not one I'm likely to prioritize.
 
They should have made this accept m-14 magazines. It would sell like hot cakes.

They should make their mini 30 accept AK-47 magazines while they are at it. Same thing.
 
my $0.02..... i like it. Im not a hunter, and i know there are better hunting rifles, but this seemes to be to be a good backpacking rifle. small, light weight, hopefully accurate out to 300-400 yrds (likely beyond), lots of scope mount options. I can see myself using this to hunt while camping. and .308win is strong enough to take just about anything in north america.

and i agree with the las poster m14 mags or even fal mags would have been a better choice.
 
So, its a rifle for a 'scout' but not made for combat because a scout isn't made for combat...then why carry a gun? Or better yet, why not carry a gun that can actually be used in combat?
It looks like a fun gun, but like usual, Ruger failed on a lot of points, mainly the ridiculous magazine.
 
I have an early prototype of the scout rifle it is chambered in 7.62 Nato. It comes with a flash hider an aperture sight and a 16" barrel. I can also put a bayonet on mine for when my ammo runs out. It's an FR8 mauser LOL
 
the major point of a scout rifle scope mounted forward of the loading port is to facilitate the use of stripper clips. nothing more, nothing less. If I am not mistaken there isnt a stripper guide on a ruger scout.

fail
 
Not true. Scope forward facilitates eyes off loading because with the scope forward the access to the action is clear. Also,makes toting the rifle easier because it can be grasped at the balance of the rifle.
 
makes toting the rifle easier because it can be grasped at the balance of the rifle.
Click to expand...

Very true, one of the reasons that I have often foregone scopes for peep sights when the shooting was short enough....
 
For the last 3 months I've been following the threads on this rifle. Last week, I handled one in the local gunshop and was instantly infatuated! Great balance, perfect weight, one of the best outathebox triggers I've ever encountered in a bolt action. All the comments on magazine choice are appropriate: it was bone-headed to NOT build this rifle around a commonly available double stack mag. and I bought it anyway- just too sweet to pass up. I've ordered another 10 rd and a 5 rd AI mag for it- way too expensive. I'll submit a range report in a few works on a new thread.
No doubt that you could fight OR hunt with this rifle effectively; the same could be said of an AR-10 or an M1A, but there is a certain elegance to a bolt action rifle....it should be great fun to shoot
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top