I have been here at my mountain property in Marion, Va, a little over a year, I've done some shooting and hunting and have come to the realization I am one rifle short of the perfect battery.

We have some long hunting shots, up to 220 yards, but most shooting opportunities are less than 50 yards. We have coyotes and black bears, many deer and rabbits. The bears have kept to themselves up to now, but I figured I'd want a .30 caliber rifle if one decides to act up.

I have a scoped Ruger American rifle in 30/06 for serious deer hunting but I wanted an iron sighted .30 caliber rifle to keep with me on my hikes and ATV travels on the property, something I wouldn't care if it got banged around in brush and on the ATV. I considered a field grade rifle such as the Winchester 670, Remington 788, etc. but could not find one at a decent price.

I did find this like new Ruger "Gunsite" Scout Rifle in .308 caliber priced just a little above a field grade rifle at a local pawn shop. Detachable magazine, Mauser type action based on the Ruger Model 77, peep rear sight, protected front sight. Looked like a sturdy rifle, so I bought it.

[img][/img]

Wrung it out today on my mountain rifle range, still shooting prone as I have yet to make a shooting bench, that will come soon. Only took me eight rounds to get it zeroed at 100 yards, following the instructions in the owners manual. The rear sight is adjusted with set screws for windage, loosen up one side, tighten the other side to move the rear sight left and right. Loosen one windage screw to allow the peep sight to move up and down for elevation. The manual tells you exactly how much to adjust to make corrections, so it wasn't long till I was ready to shoot for score, so to speak.

Five rounds shot prone at 100 yards four shots in less than an inch (one double, one flyer):

[img][/img]

Shot some standing (offhand), a 1/2 gallon ice tea jug and a 20 ounce water bottle at 100 yards. Bottles painted orange to see them at 100 yards. Shot a total of four rounds to hit twice, so I missed twice:

[img][/img]

The rifle's new home, my Kawasaki Mule side by side ATV:

[img][/img]

This rifle is great! I have shot a lot of .30 caliber rifles in my time, Garands, M1A's and M-14's in the Navy, hunting rifles, but I think this is the perfect hiking and utility rifle. Lightweight (6.5 pounds, heck an AR-15 weighs 7.75 pounds), accurate and reliable. I think the only thing I will change is to get a five round magazine so it will carry better. The stock ten round mag sticks down a little low for easy carrying.

If you like the Ruger "Gunsite" try the Steyr Scout.

Nice!!!

The Remington 788 is a great rifle in .308 but it's not lightweight like your rifle.

How much are they now that made a Ruger Scout catch your eye?

ISCS Yoda,

This rifle was $650 with a cheap Chinese made scout scope with quick disconnect rings. Haven't even looked through the Chinese scope, figured I'd shoot it with iron sights till my eyes demand optics, then I'll probably get a Leupold scope of some sort, scout or regular. The rifle came with Ruger rings to mount a regular scope.

I believe the rifle was unfired, I shot 40 rounds through it today and only now does it show sign of usage, the magazine has marks where I loaded rounds, the receiver has brass marks where rounds where ejected, before today it was pristine.

I had looked at several field grade rifles with iron sights at different shops, all of them priced at $400, seems like nothing today is priced below $400. It seemed easy to pony up an additional $250 for a quality rifle...

I like the idea of a short mag! It looks single stack, along the lines of an Accuracy International. If it is; their 5 rounders are fantastic!

I am surprised at the 3-4" group. I know that is a good powder and quantity, so try a better bullet (Maybe Sierra 155 Palma #3156), at that range the brand of primer should not be that big of deal.

I like your knock about gun, it should last a lifetime. Enjoy life!

Ivan

The 10 round polymer mags are significantly shorter than the metal mag it comes with, and much less expensive. If you want an even more compact mag they make 3 and 5 round polymer mags. I've had my Gunsite for about 2 years and have no complaints.

__________________
Ban lunatics and criminals

This .308 "Scout" rifle pre dates the Ruger just a tad but pretty much has the same features, detachable magazine, flash hider, short barrel.
Doesnt have a scope mount (yet) but does have a bayonet :

I have a Scout on consignment at the LGS. Doc has forbidden me to ever shoot a .308 or any shotgun from my shoulder again, as it is tearing out my AC joint, and with my current meds, they don't risk fixing it.

But I paid too much up front, and bought too many mags (the ten metal cut up my forearm, so I went to fives), so it is not cheap.

I may be wrong, but I don't think either the Ruger, Savage or Mossberg Scout rifles can be stripper-clip loaded and your SMLE Scout can. Quite quickly too. But the SMLE's can be a little rough on the brass.

Those rifles weren't ment to be used with removable mags. They were ment to use stripper clips. The mag removal is mainly for cleaning and ease of fixing problems if they arise.

I have to admit those Rugers are intriguing but I have been able to restrain myself, so far. Maybe some day a nice used one will come along at an attractive price.

I really don't care for the large magazine. That has been the hang up. The stripper clip approach seems a lot more logical - much more compact and lightweight to carry, no spring tension issues when storing the clips loaded, and maybe even faster than the detachable magazines in recharging the rifle.

Have fun with the Ruger and keep us up to date as you get more experience with it. Lucky you to still be able to shoot with metallic sights!

That's nice....

I took a slightly different route to a "utility rifle" for the cabin....located in the Pa. "Laurel Highlands".

A Ruger 77/357 with a Weaver 1-3x20 scope and sling........5rd flush fit magazine....my standard load is a 158gr soft point .357......generally carry one spare loaded mag w/ a box of 50 in the RZR...... ammo will work in either the rifle or the 3" 66 I generally carry.

We have small bears..........

You might be able to put a limb-saver slip-on recoil pad on it and/or replace the flash-hider with a muzzle brake to reduce recoil. My shoulder isn't as bad as yours, but I tried the limb-saver and it significantly reduced the felt recoil.

__________________
Ban lunatics and criminals

That's just an amazing price for a decades old, out of production rifle. I know the 788s are amazing rifles but, still, more than 4 times original retail for what is definitely an accurate but non-collectable rifle.

OMG! I just checked on an on line auction site - $650 is kind of a more or less typical asking price for a Remington 788. Amazing. I have one, in .308, it's a tack driver and has taken most of the deer I have hunted, but I think for a Scout rifle you're way better off with the lighter weight Ruger made for that job.

First off, no disrespect to the OP or any other Gunsite owner here. I'd like one too. But new ones are still around $1000 here. A little too much for a carbine sized bolt gun. MHO, you understand.

None taken.

They were / are expensive, but for what I needed at the time, it was a perfect fit. Things change, the cancer is making it tough to shoot anything, much less a .308, so it will go if I can get a buyer. If not, a friend will be dealing with what's still here after I'm gone. Who knows? He may sell it cheap to get things closed up fast!

I bought one of the Ruger Scouts about 2 years ago. I have enjoyed it every time I take it out. Nice, reliable and accurate. I bought another one for the son in law last year and I hope he hands it down to my grandson when his time comes. Enjoy yours.

I bought one new recently and it is quite accurate. It does not eject reliably though. I have to move the bolt back and forth 2-3 times before it ejects. May have to go back to Ruger for tweaking.

Wow... I haven't looked at them lately, I got mine for just under $800...

Shark bait, I'd contact Ruger. Mine sends the ejected brass flying unless you pull the bolt back very slowly.

__________________
Ban lunatics and criminals

Nice score there, I like mine! I have the Burris 2.75X Scout scope with quick release mounts on mine, out front of course and have the irons sighted in. Turns out mine likes the 165gr Sierra Game King bullet and turns in some really good 100 yard groups off the bags. I agree the "poly" mags are better than the metal 10 rounder and can be topped off from the top, one at a time of course, I prefer the five rounders for general use. Enjoy yours!

__________________
Stay safe people!