Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Ruger Scout Rifle!!!

A couple of years ago Dave Spaulding (2010 Law Enforcement Trainer of the Year), Ken Jorgensen from Ruger, Ed Head from Gunsite and I sat down in a conference room at Gunsite to put together our "wish lists" for  what we called a "sport/utility rifle," the heir to Col. Jeff Cooper's scout rifle project.


Today, we have the results of that meeting...from Ruger this afternoon:
Ruger Introduces New Platform in Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. is proud to announce the Ruger® Gunsite Scout Rifle, the ideal "fighting carbine" in .308 Winchester that is a credible rendition of Col. Jeff Cooper's Scout Rifle concept. Cooper called for a relatively lightweight, hard hitting, do-all rifle that in the hands of an accomplished shooter was able to place accurate, sustained fire out to long ranges, yet was quick-handling and light enough for all-day carry.
Developed in conjunction with Gunsite instructor Ed Head, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is a new platform in the Ruger M77® family. While the Scout Rifle has M77 features such as controlled round feed and integral scope mounts (scope rings included), the 10-round detachable box magazine is the first clue this isn't your grandfather's Ruger rifle.
"Ruger has taken an in depth look at the intended purpose of a Scout Rifle and developed a full-featured rifle designed to meet the Scout Rifle criteria of hunt, fight, defend," says Head. "This firearm offers outstanding features in an affordable, versatile and reliable rifle designed to deliver .308 Winchester performance in a variety of situations. It is compact, lightweight, offers 10-round box magazines, can be fit to the individual shooter, and accommodates a host of optics. It is a serious rifle for those serious about rifles."
The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle has a 16.5" medium contour, cold hammer-forged, alloy steel barrel with a Mini-14® protected non-glare post front sight and receiver mounted, adjustable ghost ring rear sight for out-of-the-box usability. A forward mounted Picatinny rail offers options in mounting an assortment of optics - including Scout Scopes available from Burris® and Leupold®, for "both eyes open" sighting and super-fast target acquisition.
A Mini-14/SR-556® flash suppressor is effective on reducing the muzzle flash that may be present on some .308 Winchester loads when fired out of the short (16.5") barrel. The 5/8-24 muzzle threads allow most standard .30 caliber muzzle accessories - flash suppressors, muzzle brakes, and sound suppressors - to be installed.
The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle features a matte black oxide alloy steel barrel and receiver on a black laminate stock with sling swivel studs and checkered grip and forearm. A soft rubber recoil pad, with three 1/2" spacers allows the length of pull to be adjusted and allow the rifle to be properly sized for different shooters, or to give the shooter the proper fit with outerwear or defensive gear of varying thickness. With its compact size and weighing in at just under seven pounds, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle combines ease of carry and shooting for the serious Scout Rifle enthusiast.
The rifle's trigger guard and magazine well are formed with glass-reinforced nylon. The magazine release is a push-forward Mini-14 paddle just ahead of the trigger guard. "Gunsite Scout Rifle" is engraved on the grip cap of the laminated, weather resistant stock, and the receiver is roll-marked "Ruger Gunsite Scout", commemorating the collaboration of Ruger with Gunsite Academy, America's oldest private firearms training facility.
As they say, beware the man with one gun, for he probably knows how to use it. Never has this been more true than with the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, the one rifle to have if you could only have one. It is the perfect lightweight, hard-hitting, do-it-all bolt-action rifle - where rugged, reliable Ruger meets the practical, tactical.
I've had the chance to put a lot of rounds through this rifle, both on AR-platform based courses and out to 300 yards, and IT IS SUPERB! My wish list was a gun aimed squarely at the TBD/SURVIVAL market, a gun that would deliver major caliber results for self-defense and then do double duty as an easy-to-carry hunting rifle. I envisioned the gun as a companion to an MBR like my FAL or an M1A...and a lot easier to schlepp around!

I shot the gun with the excellent Burris 2.75 Scout Scope and quickly fell in love with it. We will have video up on DRTV tomorrow, including a conversation between me and Dave Spaulding on our thoughts about the little rifle.

My personal gun will be delivered this week, the same gun I shot in the tests. I'm going to stick with the Burris Scout for awhile. In truth, I like the Ruger more than the Steyr for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the adjustable laminate stock. The 5 and 10 round magazines are Accuracy International standard, so available from multiple suppliers. We originally wanted M1A or AR-10 mags, but there were issues in mag consistency (and varying "standards") that just couldn't be overcome. The AI standard is an excellent choice, though.

The rifle comes with rings for the standard Ruger integral mounts, but our pals at XS Sights have an interesting solution in prototype — extending the forward rail to the rear, giving one the option of mountings scopes traditionally, at an intermediate length or in the full scout forward mode. It also gives one the option of mounting a red dot optic and a 3X clip-on magnifier, a la the Aimpoint.

I (along with the Usual Suspects) am in the process of developing a training course for the rifle aimed at TBD/SURVIVAL viewers...I'll keep you all in the loop!

This just in from Ed Head: "By the way, since I saw all of you last I have completed accuracy testing with 6 different loads (5 consecutive 5 shot groups...etc.). With most of the hunting loads the average is in the 1.5 to 2 inch range but with both Remington and Federal match my rifle is a 1 incher at 100 yards. Getting off the bench and using a bipod I got 1.5 inch groups at 200 and 2.5 inch groups at 300...under 1 MOA, with the match ammo. So, yes, this rifle is absolutely effective inside the 300 yard envelope, and, I would think, beyond."

103 comments:

Robert McDonald said...

What's the weight?

Michael Bane said...

A flat 7 pounds...we couldn't quite make the 6.6 pound Cooper standard with a wood stock...however, the laminate stock is critical to keeping the price sane...

mb

Robert McDonald said...

Interesting. I'll admit I've always been a bit skeptical towards the Scout Rifle concept. I think I'll always prefer a semi-auto, but it's nice to have options.

Gunmart said...

Any chances of getting an auto loader?

Anonymous said...

Hmm...a bolt action rifle? I thought all those were supposed to be obsolete? That the AR is the sine qua non. Throw all your other guns out. Oh that was the marketing pitch for last year...I see...Now I bet Obama is gonna ban bolt guns right? Can't wait to see Zumbo do the commercial for this one.

Anonymous said...

This looks like a rifle that fits the "Scout" purpose very well. The 10-round "box" is a good feature. Does anyone make a 20 that will fit? Will it chamber NATO 7.62 X 51 ammo? I'm sure that it's strength is up to that loading.

I'd like to see Ruger take another run at their "XGI" semi-auto that was cataloged about twenty-five years ago, but never brought to market. It was a real mini-M-14 in .308. I had heard that it had reliability, or accuracy issues that couldn't be overcome. Instead of the "XGI", they came out with the "Mini-Thirty" in 7.62 X 39. It was a good gun that also filled a niche. The "XGI" would be a better "Scout Rifle", in my book. Maybe some new engineers and new technology might make it a go today.

How about talking to Ruger about that Michael?

Life Member

Anonymous said...

Lefty? Lefty? Lefty?

Anonymous said...

I've been a fan of Scout rifles since reading Col. Cooper's treatise on them years ago. This looks like a great rendition; I especially like the ten round magazine.

Here's a suggestion for Ruger: Make a companion rifle in 7.62x39. This would allow practice with much less expensive ammo, and still be enough power for deer hunting and defense. It would be even better if it accepted AK mags, but Mini-30 mags wouldn't be bad.

Michael Bane said...

Geeeez...I can only talk them into about one rifle every 5 years, IF I'm lucky! To Anon #1, you shoudl take the class I'm putting together...we totally explain the difference between a hammer and a wrench!

mb

John Richardson said...

This is the rifle they should have introduced back when they came out with the M77 Frontier. It was a "crippled" Scout by comparison to this one or even the old Savage 10FCM Scout rifle.

Of course, I do have the Frontier in .308 and have been slowly making it into a "real" Scout rifle. I may sell it and just go with the completed version here.

Dave S. said...

"Will it chamber NATO 7.62 X 51 ammo? I'm sure that it's strength is up to that loading."

You've got it wrong-way-'round. It's the .308 that's higher pressure. It should eat 7.62 without a hiccup.

Dave S. said...

Is that a single-column mag? Looks awfully long for a ten-rounder.

This has put a serious crimp on my future Savage project.

Anonymous said...

16.5" barrel? This must be really loud! Why not 19" or 20" as Cooper suggested?

Anonymous said...

And is the magazine proprietary, or will it work with M1A mags? Kinda suprised they didnt try to go with a rotary mag like the 77/17, 77/22, & 77/44 series.

DT said...

Hell. So I researched for months and decided that an FNAR would be the one "do it all" rifle... and now this! I still think the DIA gun should be semiauto, but this one is very compelling... and far more sexy. (Aside: I believe the only hope to sex up an FNAR would be to do a snow white and 'petals on a wet black bough' realtree paint job on the stock.)

Bradley said...

One would think that a flash hinder designed for the 5.56/.223" round would be too small to work on a rifle using a 7.62/.308" round.

Did they really use a .223" hinder, or did they bore one out to .308" or is it a .223 scaled up to a .308" design?

Bill Lester said...

Has Ruger lost its mind? $900 for a gussied-up deer rifle that uses $70+ magazines?! The Ruger collectors will buy it but I doubt many others will.

nj_larry said...

From Ed Head..."So, yes, this rifle is absolutely effective inside the 300 yard envelope, and, I would think, beyond."

I love you guys but really, can you tell me the last CIVILIAN incident where a good guy shot a bad guy at 300 yards? I think that would be called murder in all 50 states, but then maybe this gun is intended for sale in Afghanistan.

Unknown said...

Is there an official MSRP from Ruger? If it doesn't come in below $500, then frankly it's not worth buying - there are too many other viable options. The Scout Rifle concept is worthy and Ruger's effort is commendable, but it must be competitively priced.

Unknown said...

Never mind. I found the answer to my question. The MSRP is $995. I love Ruger, but I won't be shelling out that kind of money for an extra 5 rounds and a detachable mag.
Why couldn't someone just improve on the old Enfield #5 concept. Use the same platform, but redesign it to fire 7.62x39mm with AK mags?

Anonymous said...

What a very pleasant surprise! This rifle was totally unexpected. I am a great fan of the Scout concept and have a Savage Scout. To be frank, the Savage is a bit fragile. However the only reason I didn't get a Frontier was the 16.5" barrel. The 10 round magazine is one big plus.

Lou from MN said...

Excuse my ignorance, but other than the Steyr and the FNAR, what other rifles could be alternatives?

I love Ruger and their firearms, it sounds great, since the other two that fit this bill cost over $1000 retail.

Thanks to everyone that put in effort into this offering!!!

Anonymous said...

A nice try, but no...

Too heavy. The magazine is going to get in the way. No special provision for bipod. Seems not to be charger (clip) fed, or equipped with ching-sling mounts.

Why is it so hard to make a 5.5 pound .308? Aren't plastic stocks both light and cheap?

Anonymous said...

Has nothing to do with Cooper, practical use, or even niche use. It has everything to do with getting suckers to buy it.

Mezzoduomo said...

@nj larry:

Who said this was just a 'bad guy killer'? Ever hunt with a rifle?

nj_larry said...

Yup, but I've never hunted with a rifle that required a 10 round mag, a flash hider etc etc . My Ruger m77 in .243 will do fine. Still haven't heard about those 300 yard Civilian kills though.

R.D. said...

Actually, 6.5 to 7 lbs is about as light as I'd want a .308, thanks. Especially in a non-reciprocating action. They wisely gave the Ruger Scout Rifle a thick recoil pad.

This is a sharp looking rifle with a kinda neat concept. The "fighting carbine" verbiage will cause pushback from those (incl. John Farnam, for one) who think only military pattern self-loaders are optimal for "fighting" in this day and age. But then there's the California market...

And other preparedness niches for which this rifle could make sense. Fairly innocuous looking trunk rifle with some real capability. It's like an updated, upgraded Lee-Enfield carbine with a rail. I like it.

Let me +1 the idea of a 7.62x39 version -- a domestic competitor to CZ's cute 527 Carbine. If Ruger provided better quality mags than CZ (the 527's weakness), Ruger would make sales.

For me the big excitement of this launch lies in seeing the wealth of pro-self-defense, pro-private citizen, pro-preparedness language that Ruger is using to sell this rifle! They've come a long way in a decade, most of it for the positive.

Thanks for all you do MB.

Unknown said...

Fantastic effort by all involved! The specs are intriguing, although we would have liked to see at least a Ching Sling stud forward of the mag well. Better yet, sling mount studs or recessed slots on the sides (a la HK buttstocks but 1-1/4", and not the horribly breakable flush mount Milletts) for a modern tactical sling. In use this is actually a hugely sensible sling setup for deer hunting, btw. Of course, I may be biased, Michael. ; )

Nice to see it here first and with a trustworthy crew of testers and developers.

-- Mike, The Wilderness

Kansas Scout said...

Just hype to sell guns that only make sense to Mall Ninjas. The so called "Scout Rifle" concept is never found in any military application anywhere. If it made sense we would see it but it's just nonsense.
Now if Ruger made an affordable .308 auto with detachable clips THAT would make sense.
Cooper's idea was obsolete in the forties.

nj_larry said...

Ya know I've been sitting here reading all the comments this morning (including my own). The comment by Kansas Scout triggered a thought. It's interesting to see how little the gun community (manufacturers and gun owners) tend to the past. Everything is new, brighter and better. IMHO it ain't. Some is, some ain't.

I have a suggestion. Since next year is the century anniversary of the 1911 it serves as a good time to do the following: Why not go back to the early gun folks and pick up a book or two or three on these shooters/hunters/target shooters. A quick list I can think of is Col. Whelan, O'Connor, Ed McGivern, Keith, Ackley, a bio on Annie Oakley, JMB or any of the mountain men or market /buffalo hunters, show shooters or gun culture in the rest of the world. I read a book by Jack Kelly last year called GUNPOWDER. It was on the 1000 year history of what else...gunpowder. It was an education. Go out to Google Books and read some old Field and Stream articles.

Reconnect with the rich history and story of one of the oldest technologies around. The rich heritage of hunting, exploration and survival, and the military where firearms played such an important role.

SHOT show announcements aren't the be all end all. Half of SHOT show won't make it past prototype and half of the rest will be gone in 5 years (ala the M77 Frontier which was supposed to be the Ruger Scout rifle and was half the price).

Whit Spurzon said...

It looks like a winner to me. I want one.

As a general purpose do all rifle I think it brings a lot of virtues to the table. A caliber capable of great versatility in a very portable and reliable package. I like the variety of sighting systems that can be mounted on it though I'd stick with the peep. The capacity is ample for a bolt rifle in 99% of the scenarios I can imagine using this rifle in. I'd even like a flush mounted 3 rounder just for walking around with.

I'm surprised by the negative response. This isn't meant to be an MBR and the comparison is not apt.

From what I've read Coopers tactics are different for fighting with Scout rifles, rather than using a "wall of lead" and depending the resupply needs that requires, the focus precision fire using the cartridge's superior penetration and range to its advantage.

As a handloader I'll be working up a subsonic 'Grouse Getter' using a Lee or a Lyman 115 grain cast bullet over a splash of Bullseye (~850 fps) all the way up to Jacketed Elk busters.

Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Anonymous said...

RUGER SPORT UTILITY RIFLE

I want one. i've wanted a factory scout rifle for years. I have little need for any rifle, since I don't hunt and rarely shoot HP any more, but having one rifle that is powerful enough and accurate enough to hunt anything on the continent appeals to me.

"Sport" can also mean match shooting and with better than 1 MOA accuracy, how much better could I do for about $1,000?

"Utility" can mean more than self defense. Extra food, water are batteries are probably more useful in a natural disaster anway. Still, there is a fair bit of utility in just having a good all purpose rifle around the homestead.

So, Ruger, my other rifles are gone. I'll be replacing them with just one, THIS one.

Bill Lester said...

For those who desire a bolt action in 7.62x39mm, Google "Australian International Arms." They make two Lee-Enfields very similar to the old No. 5 "Jungle Carbine" that use dirt cheap and trouble free AK-47 magazines. No. 4-type aperture rear sights and a flash hider are standard. I've handled a couple of these nifty carbines from the small batch imported a few years ago. They were well made and nicely finished. The only downside to this otherwise very desirable gun? There isn't a current U.S. importer. If enough of us harp on the subject to someone like Century Arms, SARCO, etc., we may just get another crack at these carbines. AIA also makes new, full-length rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO for more punch at a distance.

Anonymous said...

I am intrigued by this, though a few of its specs seem oddly chosen to me, if this is to be a true scout rifle.

Is the top of the receiver cut for stripper clips? This is the whole reason for the pistol scope mounted far forward, so that the magazine can be replenished from the top with stripper clips without an optical sight in the way. This is a design feature the Savage iteration of the scout rifle idea also lacks.

Why a 16 1/2" barrel? I'd like to see some chrono data. Going below about 18", we've always been told, turns the .308 into the ballistic equivalent of the 7.62x39, but with more muzzle flash. If you can't get 165/168 grain bullets up to at least 2500 f.p.s. and 147/150s up to at least 2700 you need a longer tube, in the 18" to 19" range at least. And don't some markets, like the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Kalifornistan) legally require a minimum 18" barrel length anyway?

I should also think a synthetic buttstock, hollowed out if need be, would be lighter than wood--not, mind you, that weight reduction is always a good thing when we're talking about platforms for WWI style full-power battle rifle cartridges.

Anonymous said...

nj_larry said...
"Yup, but I've never hunted with a rifle that required a 10 round mag, a flash hider etc etc . My Ruger m77 in .243 will do fine."

Then trade in your m77 for a single shot you ignorant jacka$$. Way to sound like a Brady Campaign member.
I see we still have a plethora of Fudds to deal with in the firearms community...unfortunately.

Dave S. said...

Lighten up, Francis. Larry was just saying that he doesn't need tacticool gadgets for hunting. He never said nobody else should be allowed to have them.

Like most of the guns we talk about here, the Scout is a Walter Mitty gun. I believe that's what NJ Larry is getting at, and I agree. And I'm sure he agrees with "whatever floats your boat."

Mark Horning said...

Ok, i will be the 3rd person to ask: Is the receiver cut for stripper clips?

Dave S. said...

No.

Anonymous said...

Made by Ruger, right?

When will the recall start?

;-P

Smuze said...

Can you post a pic of what one see's through the aims ?

seeker_two said...

I like it...it fixes the problem in the Frontier Rifle of no iron sights, and it adds capablilty of extended mags. The modified Pic rail and screw-on flash hider (can you say "supressor-ready"?) are just icing on the cake. This is, IMHO, one Ruger rifle worth $1K....and I'll bet dealers will sell it for much less....

BTW, any chance on getting a 77/22 in .22lr made up the same way to be a "Training Scout"?

Anonymous said...

Dave S. said...
"Lighten up, Francis. Larry was just saying that he doesn't need tacticool gadgets for hunting. He never said nobody else should be allowed to have them."

I can read between the lines. Larry(Fudd) doesn't think people should be hunting with tactical style firearms because he doesn't like the way they look. If fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he believes nobody in America should own "tacticool" firearms after he made this statement "but then maybe this gun is intended for sale in Afghanistan."
I run into people like Larry here in Bismarck, ND on occasion and they all sing the same ridiculous tune.

nj_larry said...

ROFLMAO...how did I get into this one?

Anon you have no freaking idea what I think. In fact Dave S understood me precisely. Let me make it real plain. I could give a crap what you use to go hunting with as long as you can hit the animal cleanly and your not a jerk in the woods.

I was mocking the use of the hunting cover when it was the man killer aspect they were selling. See I actually read MBs post and watched Ed Heads video (both of whom I greatly repect but do disagree with sometimes). The Astan comment is called SARCASM genius. Next time I will write in crayon to make it easier for you.

The point I was making was the marketing of the ridiculous. Just as Dave S said, the Walter Mitty factor. This one just struck me as being on the edge of irresponsible when the company or its minions start talking about 300 yard human kills. If I were the corp lawyer for Ruger I would advise against cavalier talk like that. Unstable minds could easily take this as permission to do just that and wind up in jail. See dude I be looking out after the morons of the world. Bless your heart :)

Michael Bane said...

Guys, you've made many many good points, and Larry, I value very much the fact that you don't agree with me. All assumptions involving life and death topics MUST be challenged!

I think that in the world we live in, EVERYTHING is "Walter Mitty" until the Devil comes knocking at your door. I could tell you stories out of Katrina, or Argentina during the currency collapse, or from other first responders in America and around the world who are my friends.

I have another friend — indeed a first responder — who has a CCW permit, but doesn't carry his gun every day (or at all) because, "it seems a little Walter Mitty-ish, doesn't it?" When the doped-up shooter opened up in his workplace, killing one of his good friends, all he had was a broom. A broom!

Everything is "a little Walter Mittyish" until it happens. Then, with 20/20 hindsight we look back and ask ourselves why we weren't prepared better, since it seems so OBVIOUS.

I have letters from people whose lives were saved because they did some silly Walter Mitty thing we suggested on one of the shows or on the podcast. They are still breathing because when the Devil came knocking, they had more in their toolbox than those poor deer-in-the-headlights bastards in Florida a few weeks ago.

I hope the Devil never comes knocking on either your or my door, but I also hope it won't rain on weekends. Nonetheless, I own an umbrella.

And what we are talking about here is shooting PEOPLE. I'm the one who took the big risk when I launched SHOOTING GALLERY, when no one else would even say the words "humanoid target." I was prepared to be attacked, to be sued, to be threatened...but here I am. I don't believe in euphemism, and I don't think most of you guys do, either.

So here's to a new year, in hope and in faith...thank you all so very much!

mb

Dave S. said...

Any answer on whether that's a single-stack mag?

Dave S. said...

Hey, I never said self-defense was Walter Mitty. Obviously there's a myriad of real-life situations where a shotgun in the home or a handgun on the person will save your ass.

I'm talking about the twenty-magazine tacticool post-apocalypse zombie attack stuff. I love the Scout rifle concept, and I want one, but I have no illusions that I will ever encounter a situation where I have to take a 300-yard-shot to defend my outer perimeter. I just think it's cool, like a Ferrari is cool despite having capabilities that are useless in the real world.

I find Best Defense entertaining enough, but if things ever get bad enough that you need a 300-yard rifle for humans... well, I'll stop there, because that's where we get into Mitty territory.

In a realistic disaster scenario, the most important tool you will have is not a gun, but a cooperative social attitude that will allow you to work with your neighbors for the common good in sharing resources and dividing work responsibilities. And I'm not talking about being one of the white-hockey-pads group defending your primitive refinery from the Humongous.

Anonymous said...

This is an answer to a problem no one is having. short barrel, flash hider and detachable mags in a bolt rifle... Why? Has anyone heard of a 45-70 or 460 Marlin scout rifles... for like 200-300 less. A lot faster than a bolt and you can also mount the scope forward for fast target acquisition. This is clearly not a hunting gun, clearly makes little sense as tactical implement give the other semi options chambered in 308. I mean FNA Fal, M1A, AR-10s ...

Now I would entertain getting one just for plinking and because of general, but it has to be priced right... how about $550 or less.... I mean come on! 900+ ... for an idea, which never took hold ... This is world war I ideas where the bolt action rifle was beeing issued to our military. The only reason a bolt action is still with us is for those long range precision shots made by our snipers ... This is not a sniper rifle, the bolt action is way to slow as a backup gun, granted with proper training it may. But why bother and you can get a dpms ar-10 with the same configuration and semi.... what can be faster than just pressing the trigger every time...

To each its own, but where is the demand for this? Or is Ruger so arrogant they think they can create the demand... Is this a "if you build it, they'll come" idea...

lmao

Dave S. said...

One last point about Mittyism-

There's another reason why it's very hard for me to take the survivalist types seriously when they're telling me how I must be prepared to optimize my training and equipment - there is nothing advantageous about strapping two bowling balls to yourself prior to entering a "tactical" situation. In fact, that useless extra weight would be quite a disadvantage. Yet go to a gun show or gun shop or watch a gun TV show, and count how many of these guys are carrying a 30, 40, 50-pound boiler above their beltline.

As much as my wife and I chuckle over the antics of the goatteed bald guys on Michael's shows (Rob and what's-his-name), I have to admit, they do actually look like they could survive more than ten minutes in an emergency that required some movement. They're the exception. Most of these guys need to heed Zombieland Rule #1 - "Cardio."

Anonymous said...

Anon said:
"short barrel, flash hider and detachable mags in a bolt rifle... Why? Has anyone heard of a 45-70 or 460 Marlin scout rifles... for like 200-300 less. A lot faster than a bolt and you can also mount the scope forward for fast target acquisition. This is clearly not a hunting gun,"

"Clearly" not everyone shares your idea of what a hunting gun is. A deer,antelope or coyote wouldn't know if the bullet passed a flash hider on it's way out the barrel or not. Who the hell made you and Larry the official "hunting rifle" Czars?
45-70 or 460 Marlin? Did it ever cross your mind that some people would rather have a bolt rifle over a lever gun? What is it with some people that make them think they know better what kind of firearm someone else should use for hunting, self defense, etc...
I think the Ruger scout would make a great hunting rifle, and yes, I like the "tacticool" look.

Mo said...

Anonymous posted "the bolt action is way to slow as a backup gun, granted with proper training it may. But why bother and you can get a dpms ar-10 with the same configuration and semi.... what can be faster than just pressing the trigger every time..."

I'm betting on the guy with the bolt who practices rather than the guy who thinks he can buy it (proficiency)at a store. Scary dude.

I'm excited to see this rifle in person. It seems even the non-bolt guys that handled it liked it. I'm even more excited to see the courses that are developed around this platform. I want one.

Dave S. said...

Yeah, guys with bolt action guns really aren't much of a threat.

Sincerely,
The Boers.

*****

We concur.

Regards,
The BEF at the Marne.

Anonymous said...

Didnt Ed get fired from gunsite about a month ago?

Anonymous said...

I hope Ruger will offer a left handed version.

Anonymous said...

Dave S. said...
Yeah, guys with bolt action guns really aren't much of a threat.

Sincerely,
The Boers.


Love this! I like the reliability of a action like on this Ruger, for me it is a very functional rifle with true utility. Oh yeah, and I truly want one.

Anonymous said...

Since when is being prepared a "Mitty-ism"? Designing, marketing, selling and owning this multi-purpose gun is no different that doing the same with the venerable Model 1911 pistol. Many could argue that it isn't a "hunting" gun either. Most would argue that it is a defensive gun. Am I a "Mitty-head" for owning mine and using it for self-protection? I would suggest not. It is a superb defensive gun and I am simply being prepeared for potential problems, when I bought it and outfitted it with appropriate accessories. I don't daydream about using it as the fictional character did in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". I do practice and mentally rehearse what actions I would take, given being confronted by various situations. That's far different than what Walter did.

We do not have to appologize for being prepared.

Life Member

Dave S. said...

"Since when is being prepared a "Mitty-ism"? Designing, marketing, selling and owning this multi-purpose gun is no different that doing the same with the venerable Model 1911 pistol. Many could argue that it isn't a "hunting" gun either. Most would argue that it is a defensive gun. Am I a "Mitty-head" for owning mine and using it for self-protection?"


Um, I think I pretty much covered that in my first sentence, when I wrote, "Hey, I never said self-defense was Walter Mitty. Obviously there's a myriad of real-life situations where a shotgun in the home or a handgun on the person will save your ass."

Dave S. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dave S. said...

Double-tap removed Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Dave-S,
Hey, calm down man. My comments were'nt directed at you at all, or what you said. They were in response to Michael's.

Life Member

Dave S. said...

I'm chill.

EN said...

Gosh, some interesting comments. I love the Mittyism comment. People who say things like that always come off as trying to appear like hard-bitten realists who know the real score... or not. Don't get the "cardio" comment. I've seen too many fat men (no offense to anyone in particular, Michael) who shoot a lot and hit what they're shooting at. They are very efficient when they shoot. Cardio guys won't die tired, but they are likely to die in an encounter with these guys. I'll always bet on the guy who can shoot. If you're in great shape and can shoot, and the other guy's fat and can shoot, it's in God's hands... unless you run a marathon first and kill the fat guy with a heart attack.

I own a Ruger Frontier rifle in .308 with a forward mounted Leupold "pistol" scope. It was not a "I need this", purchase. I saw it in a magazine and thought it looked pretty (this happens a lot with woman), so I bought it when no one was looking (which has also happened with woman). Through absolutely no brilliance on my part it's now my go-to rifle. I've yet to see anyone fire it who doesn't love it. My sons irritatingly "borrow" it every time they go hunting. It will hit what I'm shooting at out to 300 meters, not that I've ever shot anything beyond 150 meters (that's measured, not the more common "estimated"). But hey, some of you are just that good. Friends constantly assure me they can hit out to Mars (estimated) off-hand with a 22 inch barrel, so I see why you're concerned with barrel length and such.

As for my personal "Mittyism", I would rather have this rifle if things got out of hand, and my eyes tell me that's entirely possible, then any auto loading rifle. I'm not sitting on 10,000 rds 5.56 and if it came to that I'd rather have an AK in 7.62X39. either way, if you and your Huffy Death Dealer AR in 5.56 meet me and my Frontier in the hallway I'm going to shoot you if I see you. You might win on the score card, but not in time. Suppressive fire, the only real advantage of high cap auto loaders, isn't as dependent on magazine size as some seem to think. Notice that Michael even went through an urban rifle course and shot better?

Scopes are fine, but delicate and battery operated devices are delicate and in constant need of logistics, like batteries. So having back up iron sights is a great idea and something I've thought a lot about with my Frontier.

As for the flash suppressor, it's a wonderful idea. There's a lot of flash to suppress in my Frontier. It's not a big deal until you're shooting in low light.

I can't see using ten round mags very often but it's nice to have that option. Five rounders would be favorite... at least until I needed tens, then I want to have them. Versatility is important to me, and the magazine options offer that.

All in all this rifle covers all the things I wanted to correct on my Frontier and then some (10 round mags). I love it as it is, easy to carry, good shooter, and very f'ing handy. The Ruger Scout is even more versatile and I'm slightly pissed off that I bought one two years ago and now they've made it better.

Dave S. said...

EN, have you considered the M1A/M-14 magazine mod for your Frontier? There's a youtube video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmzgNVlWT6I

EN said...

I have considered it but hate modifying anything. This isn't to say I don't do it. My main want would be the iron sights and flash suppressor. I'll probably just buy the new rifle. I'll wait a year though and see if it comes out in SS.

Walter45Auto said...

Like It! Does it take M14/M1A mags by any chance? Looks like I'll have to buy my first bolt gun when these hit shelves.....

Rick P said...

Is it known how concentric the threads for the flash hider are to the bore? Yankee Hill indicates that there shouldn't be more than .005 difference to avoid baffle strikes on their suppressor. If I picked this rifle up, it would need to work with my existing YHM 7.62 Phantom suppressor.

Anonymous said...

This rifle is everything I have wanted in a rifle...EXCEPT..the single stack magazine. Ruger missed making it perfect, using M-14 5/10/20 round mags. This alone will stop me from buying!!!!

Anonymous said...

m14 mags w/stripper clip capability would greatly increase its worth in my opinion

xindaris said...

Have one of the new Ruger Scout rifle's and here's my take. Advertised on their video as having a free floating barrel, not true. Same upward pressue bedding as most Ruger's. Nylon floor plate is flawed, no metal reenforcement where tang screw goes through trigger guard.Ruger calls for only 20"lbs that's less than 2 foot pounds torque on that screw. My rifle developed a crack in the stock behind the tang after only 3 shots.Ruger has no replacement parts at this time. Rifle is accurate after repairs and when bedded properly. Less than 1" 3 shots.

xindaris said...

Just a little more to add om my Scout. Nylon trigger guard does not allow you to tighten rear tang of action into stock sufficiently.My trigger guard also cracked when the stock cracked. Action on rifle is rough,hopefully will smooth out with use. Trigger on rifle was 6 lbs.and crisp and easily cleaned up to 3.5 lbs. Rifle handles great.Magazines are good quality.Ruger still has no repair parts available except for production of new guns.

Col. Korn said...

OK Boys, I think I got somethin here that will shed some light on this here subject an maybe save some o you fellers (Especially the smart ones) some Money. Back in the great W-W-2 we already had these so called Scout Rifles but back then we called um "Jungle Carbines".

Now before you get all flustered, I know Col. Cooper meant well when he come up with this here concept but maybe where he served in the Marines in the pacific, they didnt have no Englishmen with these here fine rifles for him to look at and see for him self...

so I say in the beginning here that Col. Cooper is hereby absolved of any mistakes he made by Copying an already bein used design. It go's without sayin that he meant no harm an only wanted to help us by havin a rifle that the democrats couldent take away...(Theres a who lot o Liberals readin this that are screamin about now but thats just too bad).

So, I went over tha checklist Col. Cooper came up with an the only criteria that dont match is that it aint made in America....But Ill get to that later.

Now HERE is a fine ol Jungle Carbine in 308 (Thats 762X54 to you Liberals) that sold on-Line for $300.00 : http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=215730585 (Now Im not sayin that Im the one who bought it, Mind you) And you can also get these in 762X39 (Thats the Evil SKS/AK round, to you Liberals)

an Here is what it Might look like if I got my hands on it: http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Enfield_scout1.jpg

but I would have added one of there extended mags to it so's to keep with the 20 rd guidelines of Col. Cooper: http://www.specialinterestarms.com/index.php?page=enfield_conversions

and then my finished rifle would look somethin like this: http://www.303british.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/jc1.JPG

Now, about the "wandering Zero" Myth. None of Mine ever have...but if yours does, try "Free Floating" the Barrel (Now I dont expect biginners or Liberals to know what that means but I figgure you old timers will teach um for me).

Now, I figgure that after all is said an done Id have me about $500.00 in that "Jungle Scout" (Includin a Dandy Scope) an thats just about half of what the Ruger go's for.....

So, you fellers heed what Im sayin: I aint sayin that this here Ruger scout aint no good, Jus the opposite, Its a mighty fine rifle. All Im sayin is that the idea been around fer a long time an if some O you fellers that having a hard time makin ends meet wants a nice handy Scout rifle but cant afford this here Ruger, then heres one you can own for a lot less, (An at the Range, I bet ya ittl turn more heads than the Ruger will, Hands Down!)

Your Obt. Svt,
Col Korn,
Chief o Mayhem, In the Great WW-2 (An tha Cold War)
Currently Chief O Security an Sanitation,
OXOjamm Studios.

David Dakin said...

If you want a lightweight .308 that will probably suit most any reasonable use, it appears that the "Scout" will likely do the trick. I'm not sure what the problem seems to be.

Actually, it should have been called the "Cooper Scout": Gunsite hasn't been "Gunsite" since the Colonel sold the place. Using the gunsite icon is just another example of wannabes trying to pretend they are somehow as good or better than Jeff Cooper - It didn't work before we lost him, and it won't work now. In point of fact, the gun is not the gun he envisioned: The stock is wood; the sling swivels are in the wrong place or missing; and, just conjecture, but it's doubtful the flash suppressor would have been real popular. As to cost, it seems reasonable, since one can't build it in the garage for under $1,000.
It is a little more than curious that it isn't being marketed with a "scout" scope. Get over it, all. There was and never will be, again, another Jeff Cooper. He was smarter and wiser than most on his worst day. At least, he had an occaisonal "original thought".

Shifter said...

I am loading 42 grains of Varget, Barnes TTSX 168 grain, COL 2.85, Lapua Brass, Federal 210M primer. My best group at 100 yards is .10 and the worst is .73 off the bench with a Nikon 3x12 Monarch. I have achieved good load with 45 grains of Varget also. If you relieve the barrel channel more the bipod will not affect your groups as much.

Anonymous said...

Ruger makes a good product. Is it the one that you'd sell these rest of the rack for? Probably not, you can never have enough guns, you just run severly short of storage.

Anonymous said...

I have looked at and handled this rendition of Cooper's scout rifle in great detail and I have found nothing to get blown over about. I admit that having a scout rifle that is significantly more affordable than the Styer is very appealing.

Many confuse Cooper’s thoughts on the scout concept as it was designed for a defensive roll. It was not and was never intended to be. The design was to field a rifle that was capable of ease of use in the field for hunting. The thought of using it in a defensive capacity was a secondary roll.

To see this rifle with a flash suppressor really makes me scratch my head. Not needed, is the first thing that comes to mind. The trigger falls completely out of spec for what Cooper asked for and the action is less than to be desired and very sloppy. For me the trigger pull being heavier than it should be is a big draw back because if there was one thing that Cooper wanted and appreciated it was a clean crisp trigger. The sample I have handled did not have that.

This rifle is a rendition of Cooper’s concept and should be thought of as a scout type rifle but it does not hold a candle to the original concept Cooper and his committee discussed over a time years ago.

This rifle seems to be developed with two things in mind. Number one how can Ruger cash in on the concept and number two let's make a gun with a defensive or should I say offensive (as we know rifles are used in a more offensive manner)roll in mind.

My 2 cents

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Anonymous said...

hello americans im australian and i have actually researched the objective and purpose of a scout rifle and why jeff cooper wanted them in the first place.

jeff cooper wanted a small hard hitting all purpose lightwieght chuck around rifle
and in his day that didnt exist.
jeff wanted to to improve rifle design just like car manufacturers make lighter better cars with new gadgets.

on the other topic of semi or bolt action. flat out bolt action end of story.whay because bolt actions are simpler , easier to fix , more accurate, safer in relation to how pressure is handled and easier to clean and strip.

a scout rifle is also better to be bolt action because if a semiauto fucks up when you are out in the bush [woods] it is harder to find the problem and fix it . i have a mate and once the ejector on his bolt action broke .he took it out into the back shed [garage,barn etc] and fixed it with simple tools.

another thing i can cycle the bolt on a bolt action in less than one second so semi auto is pretty pointless, just something to boast.

if you are shooting a moving target that one second or so between hitting the target and cycling the acion is irrelevant becuase if you hit the first time [which you should!!!] , the target wont move very far and at all.

i suggest a rifle

rem 700 action

18 inch barrel
[threaded the last 6 inches]

forward picatinny rail

iron sights

hogue overmould stock
[shortened lightened ]

extra recoil pads/spacers
[mainly to adjust length of pull]

floor plate
[optional stanag mag port ]

trijcon acog scope

harris bipod to suit

cut out section in the butt to hold spare ammunition

sling swivel points
[one at the back and two up front]

matte finish the same as the ruger scout

picatinny rail underneath the fore end [OPTIONAL]

Anonymous said...

I think everything about the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is perfect.

Perhaps in the future a 15 round magazine could be offered as an option in the accessories department?

www.granada-3d.com said...

This can't really have effect, I think like this.

how to improve credit score said...

The Scout rifle concept was a pet project of Jeff Cooper for many years, and the new rifle from Ruger is the culmination of years of evolution of that original Scout rifle conception.

Anonymous said...

My buddy bought one of these. Sweet looking gun, real light weight. Took it to the range. It shoots good, but heavy recoil. I can shoot 308 all day out of my savage 110. After 3 rounds I was good on the ruger. Not a fun range gun. Kind of loud too...

Anonymous said...

When was the last time you paid msrp? Mine came in at 700$. A skilled shooter with a bolt action can be just as effective as someone with a semi auto. One shot one kill. Thanks for another great article and review.

Anonymous said...

I just was show to find and purchase the gun site scout and I am extremely pleased with this gun !

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