Ruger Gunsight Scout

9outof10mms

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I've currently got a thing for the Ruger Gunsight Scout--in particular, the 6830 synthetic stock in 308. I've liked these rifles since they were announced several years ago. It was my introduction to a "scout" rifle; or more specifically the scout setup.

https://ruger.com/products/scoutRifle/specSheets/6830.html

I like the idea, but I'll admit: I've never shot a rifle in the scout setup. I'm a fan of versatility, Jack of All Trades kind of person. Being on a nearly constant tight budget, I don't get to play in the new gun waters very often. So when I do come across some coin, it's got to be a slam dunk for me.

I know some others on the forum have one or have shot one. Are there any pearls of wisdom you can offer that I can't gleen from YouTube videos or review articles?

I don't currently own anything larger than 223/556, so the 308 is attractive for a "heavy" shot added to my armory. I've also not owned a bolt action rifle, so that's appealing too.

Total n00b question about 308/765: How do you know when it's NOT safe to interchange the two rounds in a rifle? I know most AR's call out what they're chambered for and the rule of thumb is to get one for 556 which will shoot 223. I'm not finding such a rule of thumb for 308/765.
 
Proprietary mags are a pain in the butt
to get and expensive. Most places don't keep them on the shelf, so they have to be ordered
I had one of the rgs rifles, and traded it for one of the Mossberg rifles, they run on the ar 10 mags which are cheaper and easier to find,
 
1st thing..... .308 / 7.62 NOT 7.65mm

I've had the 16" Ruger GSR with laminate stock for about 6 years now. It is exactly as advertised. Rugged, practical, accurate, versatile. It's been a great rifle.

For ME, I could not get used to the 'scout' style optic setup. To get magnification I wanted (4x), it felt very front heavy. Running a 1x or red dot in the scout position was hard for ME to get used to. So, I replaced the rail with an XS Sight Systems full length and mounted a 1-4x in the traditional over receiver position. This made it the perfect set up for ME. I have been very pleased with the accuracy, it loves cheap Remington Core-Lokt 180gr.

FWIW, the iron sights are excellent as well.

My only complaint is the laminate stock is heavy. I'd love to swap out for a synthetic, but it doesn't come in a left hand version.

I've kinda sorta half heartedly been trying to sell it, just on the principle that I don't really 'need' it given other options in my safe. But, whenever I'm heading out for deer/hogs, that's the one I grab.
 
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1st thing..... .308 / 7.62 NOT 7.65mm
Dang it--I'll take the goober points for that gaffe.

Thanks for the input.

Regarding proprietary mags: yeah, that's definitely a mark against the gun. I looked at AR10s for this reason, sort of--also to stay on a familiar platform. But I keep finding my way back to the Ruger Scout.

Maybe there's something hard-wired deeper within me that likes variety. I like the deck of a 1980s aircraft carrier: so many different types of aircraft that did their job well, with a healthy amount of overlap in job duties. A carrier of today bores the crap out of me...all super bugs and eventually even more boring standardization in the F35B. So viewing my safe as an aircraft carrier (yeah, I know--huge leap!)...I won't deny that I'm looking for some coolness found in variety.
 
and traded it for one of the Mossberg rifles, they run on the ar 10 mags which are cheaper and easier to find,
School me on why this rifle is $250 cheaper than the Ruger.

Is it just name brand? I hold Mossberg in the "acceptable" quality category in my head. Never owned one, but I never seen them bad mouthed.
 
School me on why this rifle is $250 cheaper than the Ruger.

Is it just name brand? I hold Mossberg in the "acceptable" quality category in my head. Never owned one, but I never seen them bad mouthed.
I thinking the price difference is just in the name but other than that can't say for sure. I own three of the MVP,one in 5.56,with the black hills ammo it's a real tack driver plus it runs off ar 15 mags, then two MVP in 7.62 one in the 18 inch barrel and one in the longer barrel,22 or 24 inch can't remember right off hand but accuracy out of the box with both these rifles is out standing, if you Use good ammo.
One of the biggest knocks I've heard on these rifles is bolt to rifle fit which is a little sloppy in the rearward position, and no flash hider, the later models have the threaded barrel so this can be added, for me the plus side of being extremely accurate, running off ar mags, adjustable trigger pull, fluted barrel,and being able to walk in to most gun stores and get a mag off the shelf for 20.00 or less outweigh the negatives. If you check around you can find the rifle and scope package at a decent price, and these are'easily obtained on the used market at an even
better price, but at the end of the day it's your choice, so don't let what I like sway you in your decision,
 
IMG_20180710_103718686.jpg

Here's the 18 inch version, kinda of a crappy photo but don't have time to take a better one. One thing I forgot to mention is this rifle doesn't have iron sights which was one of colonel Cooper's requirements for a true scout rifle, but when I had rgs. I had to remove the rear sight to use the more conventional mounting, didn't like the long eye relief,@Tim , where you able to keep the rear sight, when you used the more conventional mounting?
 
To add to the above: I’ve got an 18” .308 MVP and I had a 24” 5.56 MVP (insanely accurate). The .308 version is still a great shooter, but I haven’t put in the time behind it that I did the 5.56 version.

I want to toss a 2-7 or 3-9 scope on it (or maybe a 1-6x). Pictured is a 2.5-10x32 but it’s got a 6-18 on it now which I don’t like

XU59LoD.jpg



Also, if you want something in .30 cal to drag in the woods, get a lever action Marlin 336 in .30-30. Many a deer (and other game) have been dropped by the .30-30 Win
 
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,@Tim , where you able to keep the rear sight, when you used the more conventional mounting?

The XS Sight rail incorporates a rear peep sight. I had to remove the excellent Ruger rear sight, but the XS is perfectly fine.
 
Darn it--I had my mind set on a Ruger! Now I'm liking this Mossberg setup. The mag thing is starting to weigh on me more and more. Last thing I want is a rifle with one mag because I can't afford and'or find additional mags!
 
Darn it--I had my mind set on a Ruger! Now I'm liking this Mossberg setup. The mag thing is starting to weigh on me more and more. Last thing I want is a rifle with one mag because I can't afford and'or find additional mags!
I have a MVP in 5.56 with a 1x6 scope and the only change I would make is to a lighter weight stock.
 
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I also became somewhat enamored with the scout rifle concept; except, like @Tim, for the forward scope mounting position. Not only does it make the rifle feel muzzle-heavy, but I'm cross-dominant, and can't use a scope with both eyes open anyway.

I found out during all my research that there is a sub-category called the "practical rifle", and that I had been heading in that direction without realizing it was a thing.

I had made up my mind to get a Mossberg MVP Patrol, which has the rail on the receiver instead of forward, and mount a low-power scope. I was hashing this out with a friend who unexpectedly changed my mind when he offered up one of his safe queens, a Steyr SBS Tactical in .308 with a Leupold 4-12 scope for less money than I could get a Mossberg with cheap glass. I'm swapping the Leupold out for a Steiner P4xi, and it will fill the "practical rifle" role nicely, even if it isn't as "practical" as the Mossberg or Ruger. The barrel length is at the upper limit of my preference (20"), but it is a well balanced, slick-handling rifle. There's also the fact that I've been a fan of Steyr products since I first saw a full-stocked Steyr-Mannlicher rifle when I was a teenager in the '70's.

All that said, I still have a thing for the Gunsite Scout and the MVP. Will probably end up with a MVP in 5.56.

@9outof10mms , I encourage you to get your hands on as many rifles of this style as you can, not just the Mossy and Ruger. They all have their attractions, and they all feel really different from each other. One of them might just click.
 
Darn it--I had my mind set on a Ruger! Now I'm liking this Mossberg setup. The mag thing is starting to weigh on me more and more. Last thing I want is a rifle with one mag because I can't afford and'or find additional mags!


I may be wrong, it's been a while since I bought a magazine, but I'm pretty sure the Ruger mags are standard AICS pattern. Not 'cheap' but not exactly uncommon either.

Yup....my google-fu confirms that Magpul AICS magazines work just fine in the Ruger GSR.
 
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I may be wrong, it's been a while since I bought a magazine, but I'm pretty sure the Ruger mags are standard AICS pattern. Not 'cheap' but not exactly uncommon either.

Yup....my google-fu confirms that Magpul AICS magazines work just fine in the Ruger GSR.
Good to know. Thanks.
 
I know this discussion started with the .308 version but...I really like my .223 RGS and really don't feel the need for a .308 too especially since I have a Ruger 77 RSI .308. I couldn't get the issue rear sight to zero so I bought a NEG clamp on rear sight and went with that for awhile until my eye sight deteriorated to the point I needed to add a scope. https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/Gun_Services/Sights.asp

This combo is like a laser beam for me, shoots straight and true out to 400 yards. Haven't taken it further than that. The scope came set up for 55gr M193 but other adjustment knobs are available for different bullet weights.

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NEG rear clamp on sight.
 
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I confirmed tonight the AICS pattern magazines (MDT chassis branded in this case) do indeed lock in and feed properly in a GSR.
 
If you decide to go with the ruger @9outof10mms you might want to check around and find a local source that carries the acis mags or at one least within reasonable driving distance before you buy the rifle,
 
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I had a Ruger Gunsite Scout and it was a fine rifle. I only shot it at a 100 yard range, but it was really good when I was yanking shots. Only parted with it because I don't hunt and using a 308 for 100 yard target practice seemed idiotic. I had the XS rail with a 1-6 scope on mine. Just more options with a traditional mount. I could see using a red dot in the scout set up for hunting deer or pigs in the woods and brush. But past 100 I'd want a scope. Scout scope concept is neat, but it limits your options, magnification and field of view. It really just depends on your planned use. For a brush gun for hunting it is a solid choice. From what I've read it is a solid shooter a bigger distances as well. If I hunted I'd definitely consider it for my daily critter killer.

The Ruger mags in plastic worked fine and were very sturdy. They also went in easier and came out easier than the metal mags.
 
Has anybody shot the scout rifle from Howa? I have no experience with them but they look to be a heck of a nice gun.
 
I know this discussion started with the .308 version but...I really like my .223 RGS and really don't feel the need for a .308 too especially since I have a Ruger 77 RSI .308. I couldn't get the issue rear sight to zero so I bought a NEG clamp on rear sight and went with that for awhile until my eye sight deteriorated to the point I needed to add a scope. https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/Gun_Services/Sights.asp

This combo is like a laser beam for me, shoots straight and true out to 400 yards. Haven't taken it further than that. The scope came set up for 55gr M193 but other adjustment knobs are available for different bullet weights.

zR1ascSl.jpg



1gtuFoyl.jpg


Fhfcandl.jpg

NEG rear clamp on sight.

download.jpg
 
I have the Ruger American Ranch version. Like Tim said, the optics mount position on the scout did not work for me. I bought the Ranch version because
it has the normal scope mounting position. I wish that it used normal mags.
 
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