I just put a used one on lay-away , 308 with the older metal 10 round magazine . I was wondering if any forum members have one and what do you like/dislike about it. What type of scope set up do you use? scout or conventional or do you use the irons that came with the rifle.

I have one an have used it for several years. It is a .308 with the laminated stock, not the lightest but has been an accurate and dependable.i have a scout type scope and I am not sure if I will leave it on there as it is fine for short range work it is fast to acquire but at longer ranges I prefer more magnification

My scout rifle is setup with an xs scout rail and a conventional scope position. The scope is a 2-7 Burris with a bdc reticle. I really don’t like the metal mags. They don’t lock in the mag well as the Pmags do. The sling is 1.25in leather military style.

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There are no bad pig parts!

how do you like the xs rail

I like it. It gives you a similar sight picture to the factory peep sight. It did require a set of warren high QD mounts, to clear the peep once it was adjusted. I added a midway stock pouch to work as a cheek riser as well.

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There are no bad pig parts!

I’ve used the Steyr Scout in 308 for years, beginning before Ruger introduced its version of the Scout rifle. I’ve compared them and much prefer the Steyr version. Of course, the Steyr uses the Scout forward mounted scope.

The Ruger isn’t as handy as the Steyr, it’s heavier and bulky in comparison although it’s perfectly functional.

The Scout Rifle is an integrated system. Do a little research on the Scout concept so you understand the importance of various elements of the system. The forward mounted, low powered (2.5x) scope is an essential element. A rearward mounted scope turns a Scout rifle into a standard bolt gun with a relatively short barrel, but it’s not a Scout rifle.

The forward mounted scope takes some practice to master, but it’s incredibly quick to use in real applications. I’ve killed deer and elk with mine at ranges from 25 to 300 yards.

I’ve also set up my Remington 660 in 350 Remington Magnum with a forward mounted 2.5x scope and have killed deer and elk with it at similar distances.

I have the .308 and the 5.56 left hand versions. I use the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7x32 on each, in the forward long eye relief position, with see-thru rings to maintain the use of the iron sights. Each has a Ching sling and a CVLife 6-9” adjustable bipod. Very nice rifles.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

my plans are to purchase the xs rail, some 5 round polymer magazines and a scout scope. I have always liked Col. Coopers concept with forward scope and low power.

I have the the .308 LH version with a Leupold VX*R scout 1.5-5 scope and use it when I expect shots to be 200 yards or less. Removing the flash hider and all of the stock spacers makes for a very compact but not so light rifle.

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Anything that says "scout" is cool. A nice choice for a rifle.

I suppose you were a 19D

I’ve never been into bolt action rifles, I prefer lever actions and semiautos but when Ruger introduced the Scout Gunsite Rifle .308 I purchased one. I installed a Leupold 4X Scout Rifle scope and a Montana sling. Also purchased some Alpha mags (very well engineered) and replaced the trigger guard/magwell with an aluminum one. It’s a good gun that doesn’t get shot much but that’s due to the cost of ammo...

I have one in 450 Bushmaster and have used it with a forward mounted extended eye relief scope and with conventionally mounted scopes. It works fine in "scout" mode but I primarily use it for pigs where the range may be anywhere from less than 100 yards to 300 but most shots are from stationary blinds. Current set up is with a Leupold 3X9 with their 450 Bushmaster CDS. Makes those 250-300 yard shots a lot easier when using a cartridge that drops more than 26 inches at 300 yards. As to likes and dislikes, there is nothing I dislike about the rifle and it is great for Texas pigs generally stopping them in place; but nothing is guaranteed to do that with 200+ pound pigs.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I have the .308 16" version with laminated stock. Mine wears an LER fixed power Leupold scope mounted forward. I have a selection of both metal and polymer mags. It is a handy carbine, and the fact that mine doesn't quite make the Colonel's weight hasn't been a problem. One thing I did was swap out the ridiculously long flash hider for a closed bottom AR one.

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Only a cold warrior

I've had a stainless .308 Scout for several years now, I find it very handy and accurate. I've had such good results with the iron sights I haven't scoped mine, probably won't until my eyes age out of open sight shooting, let's hope that's another ten years or more.

I added a steel five round magazine, a much more handy package than with the bulky ten round magazine.

Results of shooting, prone position, 200 yards:

I've had 2 left hand Ruger Scouts. The first was an early production one and had bad bolt galling issues.
By the time I got the second one, those galling issues had been cured.

Mine is very accurate for a shorter barreled rifle. Factory loads would do 1 1/2 MOA or so, but my handloads got that down to 3/4 MOA.
My general purpose load is the Hornady 168 gr. Amax with IMR 4064 in new Lake City (Federal) brass.

I ditched the metal "boat rudder" mags right away after I bought some of the polymer mags.
The poly mags are:
Lighter
Cheaper
Easier on your fingers (no sharp edges)
Don't stick down as far for a given capacity
Can be top loaded in place
Quieter
More durable as the material flexes and doesn't bend if dropped.

I mounted a Nikon 2.5-8x Force XR in Warne Q.D. rings.
It usually stays at 3x but I have the ability to zoom higher for longer shots.
Sling is a Galco Safari "Ching" split sling, but 2 point attachment instead of 3 point.

I don't get guys that buy a GSR, then mount a scope over the action, might as well buy a .308 Hawkeye and save a few hundred bucks.
The forward scope, "both eyes open" method seems strange at first, when most of us grew up with a conventional scope close to our head and close the other eye (tunnel vision at it's finest) but the forward mounted scope is quick, very good peripheral vision, and is not a detriment to accuracy as some would claim. See targets below.

Rapid fire, sitting position w/sling aid, 300 yards:

My only dislike of the laminated stock GSR is the weight, I'd like to have one of the newer poly stocks, but they haven't yet made them for the left hand action.
One thing I have to remember with the Mauser type action is to really work the bolt fully and fast, if you don't slam the bolt all the way open, an empty case will remain stuck to the bolt face that you'll have to flick out of the way.

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U. S. Army Veteran

I have the laminated stainless 5.56 one and it is super. I run a Sig Romeo5 red dot just ahead of the action and that is perfect for me out to 300m. The metal magazine was put away and Ruger plastic ones are what I use.

The detachable box mag springs to mind first and foremost. The "scout rifle" as initially envisioned is an outdated concept imo. Modern semi autos, and modern optics allow for accomplishing all of its objectives in a more efficient manner. Modern variable power optics can easily be ran both eyes open with a super forgiving eyebox in a traditional mount over the action. You can get a true 1x-8x with and illuminated reticle. This keeps the weight of the optic from beige further forward. Ive ran my 308 scout rifle with both set ups, and traditional mount lets me get on both close and far away targets faster, while still maintaining both eyes open.

I like the ruger, butI don't care for ther weight of the gsr. Given the opportunity I'd probably swap it for a 308 ruger American in a Magpul stock.

When the rifles first came out and had the 16.5" barrels I didn't buy one because I already had a Frontier in .308 with forward mounted scope and had open sights added...only thing I was missing was the box magazine and didn't really care...

They there was the for export only 18.5" stainless and as soon as they were available in the USA I bought one...if I only could have one ceneterfire rifle that one would be the last to go.

Changed out the trigger for a Rifle Basix that breaks at about 1.5# and makes a BIG difference in shootability...

Scope is the Burris 2-7 Scout with the Ballistic Drop Reticle in Leupold QRW LOW rings. Sighting in the center crosshair 3" high at 100 there are enough holdover lines to 600. Unfortunately due to a cataract in the right eye I had to change to a standard eye relief scope and it now wears a Shepherd 3.5-10 and is now easily an 800 yard gun... Also replaced the flash hider with a quick disconnect suppressor adapter.

My standard load is a 165 Hornady SST with 46.0 grains of 748 for right at 2700 fps...gets well under MOA.

Usually the gun is used with the three round Poly mag...the 10 has never been in the gun. Sling is an Uncle Mikes Mountain Sling or the same by GroveTec that is made in the USA.

A few months ago picked up a blue 16.5" 5.56...should have done that a long time ago...and now they are gone. Great shooting gun. Put the Scout Scope from the .308 on and could see well enough to make 3/3 hits at 400 yards on a 8" pepperpopper. Found some hard to get 5 round mags and it is all one needs.

Very hard to get rifles right now...have seen them sell up to $2K when a year ago there were tons on the market for $850...

Have several friends with them who would never trade them off...

Great guns...Bob

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Two of them: one in 308 and the other in 223. I really like them with the exception of the factory metal magazines, which are a pain in the butt to load.

When Ruger finally came out with the polymer magazines I got them, as they can be loaded by snapping the rounds in from the top. Much easier to load. This made a great rifle even better.

Hope this helps.

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Let's be careful out there

..ended up recently with a third Ruger Scout...another .308 but with a 16.5" barrel and composite stock.. Supposedly only shot once...came with 10 10 round Ruger magazines and a Burris scout scope...for less money than just a rifle alone.

Has a totally different feel than the longer laminated stock one...

Bob

This looks like a mighty fine setup to me!

For a sling for those that think the ruger scout rifle 8oz extra ounce over the steyr is heavy should buy a Boonie Packers Safari Sling as it lets you wear your rifle across your chest right side up level or barrel up or down if raining adjust to a high that fits your needs is simple and easy to do . There's no getting hung up on branches if your a walk & stalk hunter as you carry it next to your side using your arm as a guide and protection . I've used this sling for 30 years with my old rem 788 rifle with a 2.5-10x42 scope for heavy wooded swamps and creek bottom hunting and a custom build scoped 10lb rifle for farmers fields and clear cut hunting . Carrying a rifle was never so easy or comfortable specially if your humping a back pack along for elk hunting trips .

I've had two Steyr Scout rifles and one GSR. Both are fine rifles and will serve you well.

My GSR also had the XS Sight's rail installed. With the Trijicon 1-4x Accupoint scope, it's long eye relief allowed mounting just forward of the rear sight, and it was as low as the factory rail would allow. No trouble making hits well past 400 yards even with the post reticle.

The limitations of the forward mounted scout scopes is apparent off the square range. When hunting in Africa with my first Steyr, I could not see well enough into the shadows of the bush at dawn and dusk, mostly due to glare on the ocular lens, to make sure hit's on game. Some of the animals were no more than 25-30 yards away. That's why I went to the conventionally mounted low powered variable scope.

I run Blaser R93's and R8's these days, mostly with LPVS's. But I still love the Steyr Scout rifles and still have a ProHunter Mountain version in 30/06.

Lot's of corporate knowledge on the Scout's at ScoutRifle.org

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Captain Dave Funk

I wanted a bolt action .223 with open sights in the worst way. could not make myself pull the trigger on the Ruger Scout because I could not find a flush magazine to go with the rifle and I thought the 10 shot looked stupid on the gun and with it sticking out of the bottom I could not shoot the rigle prone or from a bench. Why they did not make that rifle to take either AR ot Mini 14 five round mags was beyond me.
Thankfully I came across a nice stainless international Hawkeye in .223 that I now use.

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Forum consigliere

Caved, went cheap and ugly.
Hate those Magazines!

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