Dear, s&w forum i am seeking opinions from my fellow forum members about the ruger gunsite scout rifle. The reason i am asking about it is because i am thinking about buying one. sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the s&w forum.
Sir, FWIW, it's not something I would buy. I like the idea of a handy little .308 bolt gun, but I'd set it up somewhat differently than the Ruger.
Things I like about the Ruger are its protected iron sights, laminate stock, adjustable length of pull, and controlled round feed. And just the concept of a light, handy bolt gun.
Things I'd change would start with a longer barrel, at least 18 inches if not 20. I'd also rather have a stripper clip guide than a detachable box magazine. The flash suppressor can go away, as can the Picatinny rail. I would not want a scope on such a gun, but rather a good 1-MOA adjustable rear sight. It would also be nice to have a trap under the buttplate for cleaning gear.
The resulting rifle would be a little longer than the Ruger, but still quite handy, especially since it wouldn't be encumbered with a scope. It would kick less and be a bit quieter because of the longer barrel. It could still be reloaded quickly, but without a big box mag getting in the way. It would be just as handy as a .30-30 carbine, perhaps not as fast to cycle, but more powerful and flatter shooting.
I'd think such a rifle would make a great working gun for a rancher, ranger, guide, or most any sort of woods bum.
JMHO, FWIW.
Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.
Ron H.