canoeguy
US Veteran
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.
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):
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:
The rifle's new home, my Kawasaki Mule side by side ATV:
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.
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.
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):
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:
The rifle's new home, my Kawasaki Mule side by side ATV:
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.
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