View Full Version : Scout Rifle
(Moved this topic from the precision rifle thread)
I've been considering a Ruger Scout rifle, primary use is for boar. where I hunt there is some manzanita brush that is brutal to the finish of nicer rifles. Also, the longest range shot on the ranch is around 250-300 yrds due to hills and ravines and trees.
The Ruger is pretty light at 7lbs, has iron sights on a 16" barrel and a ten rnd magazine. I've also considered the savage scout. I've looked at the steyr scout but for the money of the steyr I could get other nicer rifles.
What are your experienced opinions regarding scout rifles in general? My own experience with rifles/hunting is new. I don't want to get something that doesn't serve a purpose. My hunting rifle now is a sako 270 finnbear with a 3x9. I like the sako a lot and hate to see it take the abuse that it does when i fight my way through the manzanita.
Thanks in advance for your opinions
JW
Dohhunter
05-03-2011, 17:24
Your reference to 'nice rifles' is relative, though I do know you are referring mainly to wood finish. There are plenty of fine firearms with fully composite stocks and robust finishes on barrel/action.
My primary hunting piece is a bare bones Win Model 70 (originally plain jane synthetic with a stainless barrel) bedded in an HS Precision stock. Accuracy is a moot point as it's a magnum with no break, but even without the little bit of extra work it has always functioned exactly as it is supposed too...dropping anything I come across.
If you are worried about wood finishes, spend the six hundred bucks and get something that you can abuse (whether that be a scout model or a similarly weighted/priced dedicated hunting bolt action).....you won't be sorry.
I read a recent article in the American Rifleman about the Ruger "Gunsite" Scout Rifle. For a brush gun, it sounded like an interesting rifle. I was considering one just for the heck of it.
mark46th
05-04-2011, 08:06
What about the guide model lever action in .45-70? Stainless with a brushbuster bullet....
"Accuracy is a moot point as it's a magnum with no break"
Why is that?
MVP
Dohhunter
05-04-2011, 12:52
"Accuracy is a moot point as it's a magnum with no break"
Why is that?
MVP
First I can't believe I misspelled brake. Second, I'm a pussy for recoil on my 7mil. Third, up until last year (when I switched to Accubonds) I was sending Fail Safes downrange and they opened up another three quarters of an inch.
What about the guide model lever action in .45-70? Stainless with a brushbuster bullet....
The marlin sbl guide gun with an oversized lever ring has been catching my eye too. Same kind of purpose (as the scout) in a great round. same price range too. I was looking at the ruger in .308 more because of the potential versatility of the round and hopefully better range and accuracy than the guide. I don't know anyone with a scout rifle and I'm trying to see if there is a reason for that... I love the idea of a 45-70 guide gun though..
Blitzzz (RIP)
05-04-2011, 20:47
I read a recent article in the American Rifleman about the Ruger "Gunsite" Scout Rifle. For a brush gun, it sounded like an interesting rifle. I was considering one just for the heck of it.
I have been interested in the scout configuration for some time. Change the scope on my Mauser and I'd have one.
I am impressed with the new Ruger set up..I'm thinking...thinking.......thinking.. For the afore mentioned hunting, one can purchase a nice Mauser, put it in the ATI ( Steyr type stock, and put and scout type (long relief) scope on it, and you'd be on. Can easily up grade trigger also. I've a Timney on mine. easy enough.
Combat Diver
05-05-2011, 02:09
Had this built years ago during the early 90s. Took a 1891 Mosin Nagant, had the barrel shorted to 17.5" and ported. It had a Bushnell Phantom 3x LER scope mounted on the barrel but it finally gave up the ghost when shooting 1000rds one afternoon. Only had $40 into the gun at the time. Later a can of Krylon and a NCStar red dot. Still only have $80 in the gun.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1280011.JPG
CD
Dohhunter
05-05-2011, 06:42
Had this built years ago during the early 90s. Took a 1891 Mosin Nagant, had the barrel shorted to 17.5" and ported. It had a Bushnell Phantom 3x LER scope mounted on the barrel but it finally gave up the ghost when shooting 1000rds one afternoon. Only had $40 into the gun at the time. Later a can of Krylon and a NCStar red dot. Still only have $80 in the gun.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P1280011.JPG
CD
And here I am complaining about accuracy at 100yds with a 7mm Rem Mag, 3x9 and 160gr lead. I suck.
Blitzzz (RIP)
05-05-2011, 20:22
That is one ugly rifle. how did it shoot I have thought of getting a mosin-nagant and doing the something similar.
...Beauty of the Breast....
Combat Diver
05-06-2011, 00:15
Right now its shooting 3-4 MOA at 100yds but the red dot has a 8 MOA dot so that may have something to do with it. Might take off my 2x20 pistol scope off my Contender and place it on the MN.
CD
mark46th
05-06-2011, 15:19
Diver- A mosin with a 17 !/2 inch barrel!?!? You could probably roast a hot dog on the muzzle blast. Talk about a flame thrower!
tom kelly
05-06-2011, 18:19
According to Gun Tests Magazine, Jeff Cooper's Scout rifle concept was a light .308 Win. bolt-action design. Gun Tests put Ruger's new Gunsite Scout Rifle against the Steyr Jeff Cooper Scout .308 Winchester. The Gun Test Grade for the Steyr was A While the grade for the Ruger was B- Also the price of the Ruger was listed at $995 while the Steyr was a lot higher at $2975. You can read the article in the May 2011 issue of Gun Tests vol.xxiii, No.5...You can order a subscription by calling toll free 800-829-9084 or order online at www.gun-test.com & click" contact us" Gun Tests does not accept any advertisements so all of there evaluations are impartial and usually spot-on correct. regard's, tom kelly
Combat Diver
05-07-2011, 00:30
Diver- A mosin with a 17 !/2 inch barrel!?!? You could probably roast a hot dog on the muzzle blast. Talk about a flame thrower!
Yep, during daylight has a muzzle flash the size of a beach ball.:D But no slap against the shoulder as the ports/break does work.
CD
mark46th
05-07-2011, 10:36
Muzzle brakes do work. I have a Lapua .338 which is easier to shoot than my son's .300 Winmag. It is really more of a shove than a slam.
;)Rifles were designed to keep you out of trouble until you can fight your way to a HK45.
tom kelly
05-07-2011, 12:17
I agree, I have a HK .45 usp compact and it gets the job done, I have not shot anyone recently, but Iam 110% sure that this weapon is a life saver.All other thing's considered eg. Ammunition selection, Remington Golden Saber 230 grain JHP or Winchester 230 grain Bonded PDX1 JHP. 2.Trigger Control & Shot Placement. Also practice dry firing 5 minutes every day than go to the range once per week and fire @ 50 rounds....Train as you will fight and you will fight as you train. Set a standard and train to beat the standard.
I agree, I have a HK .45 usp compact and it gets the job done, I have not shot anyone recently, but Iam 110% sure that this weapon is a life saver.All other thing's considered eg. Ammunition selection, Remington Golden Saber 230 grain JHP or Winchester 230 grain Bonded PDX1 JHP. 2.Trigger Control & Shot Placement. Also practice dry firing 5 minutes every day than go to the range once per week and fire @ 50 rounds....Train as you will fight and you will fight as you train. Set a standard and train to beat the standard.
...and hunt with your pistol.:cool:
Blitzzz (RIP)
05-07-2011, 13:25
Muzzle brakes do work. I have a Lapua .338 which is easier to shoot than my son's .300 Winmag. It is really more of a shove than a slam.
If you don't mind the appearance, The JP Enterprises Recoil "eliminator" does just that.. My 8mm Mauser has as much recoil as a .22.
Note: The smith was a little over cautious and over bored the eliminator for a .338 instead of .323 and the result is I have about 10% recoil. I'm able to watch my rounds strike down range without losing sightpicture.
Angry Mike
05-15-2011, 17:20
I spent some time experimenting with the concept for about 5 years. Small ring Mausers, large ring Mausers, Steyr's and then got tired of looking for perfection.
I have to say the large ring mauser was the best after soldering a new bolt handle on it to clear the stock and the rear bridge. Sold it to a reserve Unit member and he is still shooting it. Hard to pass up a good Mauser.
My Steyr would start to wonder on the range after 20 or so rounds. I took it down to FL to shoot one winter during training course where I would have plenty of room. That stock does kick butt though and makes it enjoyable to shoot. But the barrel is thin and starts to heat up pretty quickly.
Optically one drawback was in diminishing light I would lose the sight reticle with the Leupold Scout scopes. That long eye-relief takes a little to get used too. Just for an experiment I put an EOTech on it and it worked pretty well. No magnification of course but was light and handy. Maybe one of those magnifiers would of worked wonders? Haven't invested in one to date.
Have you looked at the Savage Scout rifle? Doesn't have the Ruger magazine capacity but neither does Steyrs.
I like the .308 over the .223 and decided to stick with an AR.
26 years of muscle memory kind of over rode any tinkering with a bolt gun.
Now it's on to doubles. Ask my man Saxon88!
v/r
Mike
Have you looked at the Savage Scout rifle? Doesn't have the Ruger magazine capacity but neither does Steyrs.
I like the .308 over the .223 and decided to stick with an AR.
26 years of muscle memory kind of over rode any tinkering with a bolt gun.
I've decided to go a different route for now and I ordered a Marlin 1895SBL Guide Gun in 45-70.
I've applied to some jobs out of California and if I get one then I'll get an AR in .308. I have an AR in .223 and the bullet button is annoying.
Thanks, everyone for the input. It helped quite a bit.
JW
Shark Bait
08-04-2011, 10:51
I've decided to go a different route for now and I ordered a Marlin 1895SBL Guide Gun in 45-70.
JW
The Marlin Guide Gun is a great choice. I have one of the earlier blued & ported models. It's my truck-gun when I'm in the mountains of New Mexico. The .45-70 will drop anything in North America. All my favorite calibers start with a 4.:lifter
The Reaper
08-04-2011, 17:20
The Marlin Guide Gun is a great choice. I have one of the earlier blued & ported models. It's my truck-gun when I'm in the mountains of New Mexico. The .45-70 will drop anything in North America. All my favorite calibers start with a 4.:lifter
I agree.
TR
The Marlin Guide Gun is a great choice. I have one of the earlier blued & ported models. It's my truck-gun when I'm in the mountains of New Mexico. The .45-70 will drop anything in North America. All my favorite calibers start with a 4.:lifter
Dido...
Though no porting, .30-30 using LEVERevolution (4inch holdover at 350yrds)
Always works
Snaquebite
08-04-2011, 21:53
I've decided to go a different route for now and I ordered a Marlin 1895SBL Guide Gun in 45-70.
I've applied to some jobs out of California and if I get one then I'll get an AR in .308. I have an AR in .223 and the bullet button is annoying.
Thanks, everyone for the input. It helped quite a bit.
JW
Got two. 45-70 and 30-30....Leupold scopes....Love both.
A Remington model 7 in 308 in a synthetic stock makes a fine short rifle.
MVP
twistedsquid
12-09-2018, 11:55
I have a Ruger Gunsite Scout, M77. Jeff Cooper suggested the perfect Scout Rifle should be bolt action, magazine fed, chambered in .308, no more than 1 meter in length, with a forward mounted rail for maximum eye relief when using optics. I have installed a Burris Scout optic, 3 x 9, with Leupold scope rings.
I like it and paid $779 for mine. I am using PMC Bronze, 147 grain, FMJ
Streck-Fu
12-12-2018, 09:04
Why the emphasis on bolt action instead of semi-auto?
twistedsquid
12-12-2018, 09:29
Why the emphasis on bolt action instead of semi-auto?
Compactness, accuracy and reliability. I did some research online. Lots of info out there. He did suggest that if a semiautomatic action was "sufficiently compact and otherwise acceptable, it should be considered".
I don't think you will be disappointed with a Ruger Scout. They now come in left hand. I would get the stainless and spray it down with Sandstrom 28A and make it black. They can also be rebarreled where a lot of the new "budget" rifles are disposable once the barrel goes out.
If you care for your barrel properly there is no reason it won't hold up for over 10,000 rounds in 7.62.
Same cannot be said for 5.56. I was a Small Arms Test Director at Aberdeen Proving Ground and I was the Test Director on the M16A1E1 (adopted as M16A2) by USMC/Army etc. With US ammo groups started to open up at 3600 rounds and were right at rejection at 4800. Rejection is anything over 7.2" at 100 yards and at 4800 we had 7". At 6000 rounds I stopped the test.
We retested same scenario with same ammo and different ammo and finally we got some SS109 headstamped FNB and the barrels were still in spec at 12,000 rounds. Same bullet in both but different propellant in FN ammo.
Last I heard the original M24 Sniper Rifles were still shooting acceptance at Benning with 15,000 to 17,000 rounds on them
The best time to clean it is immediately after shooting while the barrel is still warm and the propellant residue is soft. Within hours the residue (carbon) becomes hard and if you make a habit of shooting a cold dirty barrel you just embed the carbon in follow on bullets that does wear number on the front end of barrel.
When the front end opens up your dispersion will as well. It will look just fine but won't shoot well.