Ruger Gunsite Scout

[Wheeler]

I don't have any first hand experience with the Ruger. There is a guy that shows up at our local tactical rifle match with one occasionally and he doesn't seem to have any problems at all running the bolt on his. As a matter of fact he's probably as fast cycling his Gunsite as I am with a lever action.

[rob_s]

The problem with the "general purpose" practical bolt-action rifle is that very few people actually do general purpose practical things with their firearms.

I've been hunting for an inexpensive, compact, even marginal quality, lightweight .308 Bolt action rifle with iron soghts for quite some time, and they just don't seem to exist. I can't even begin to justify the cost of a true custom practical rifle.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but can you top up the Ruger through the ehection port?

[GJM]

Can you expand on that part a bit?

I have a couple older tang safety Rugers that I like. One I'm planning to use for a moderately compact general purpose rifle.

I think the older Ruger tang safety actions may run slicker than the new ones, but if you use the same components (stock, barrel, accessories), the model 70 based rifle will be worth $3,000 on the resale market and the Ruger worth a $1,000 in resale.

I don't have any first hand experience with the Ruger. There is a guy that shows up at our local tactical rifle match with one occasionally and he doesn't seem to have any problems at all running the bolt on his. As a matter of fact he's probably as fast cycling his Gunsite as I am with a lever action.

Work the bolt hard on a Ruger Gunsite rifle, do the same on a good model 70 rifle, and you will understand what I am referring to. The Ruger is sticky by comparison, and much more sensitive to any deviation from straight back manipulation.

The problem with the "general purpose" practical bolt-action rifle is that very few people actually do general purpose practical things with their firearms.

I've been hunting for an inexpensive, compact, even marginal quality, lightweight .308 Bolt action rifle with iron soghts for quite some time, and they just don't seem to exist. I can't even begin to justify the cost of a true custom practical rifle.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but can you top up the Ruger through the ehection port?

Rob, inexpensive and quality practical rifle don't go together. I used to have a pre-64 .308 with a Leupold 1.5-5 and a Ching sling, that probably fit your description, but they are more like $1,000 than the $500 I paid for the rifle at the time. Something that was fun, handy and not too expensive was a CZ bolt in 7.62x39, that I called "Scoutski." I don't usually like detachable mags, but it has small five rounders you can carry in a front pocket, and was a great 0-300 yard gun, shooting inexpensive ammo. Will look for a picture, as a buddy has it in a NE state.

Here you go:

[Spr1]

Additionally, the cocking force on a Model 70 is about as low or lower than any center fire bolt gun I have ever tried.

[TGS]

You guys will have to school me.....

What exactly is the attraction to a big, chunky, sharp-edged detachable box magazine on an otherwise lightweight, handy bolt rifle?

[GardoneVT]

You guys will have to school me.....

What exactly is the attraction to a big, chunky, sharp-edged detachable box magazine on an otherwise lightweight, handy bolt rifle?

IMO, it would be an ideal choice for a rifle in a "restricted capacity" jurisdiction where ARs in their natural form are banned. 10 rounds of .308 makes a handy multi-purpose rifle ,which won't scare the Socialist Politburo of CA/ NJ/NY/ etc should one end up in court.

[TGS]

IMO, it would be an ideal choice for a rifle in a "restricted capacity" jurisdiction where ARs in their natural form are banned. 10 rounds of .308 makes a handy multi-purpose rifle ,which won't scare the Socialist Politburo of CA/ NJ/NY/ etc should one end up in court.

While I'll disagree as AR15s are not banned in their natural form here, I'll also mention that none of the people in this thread expressing interest in the concept rifle is from a Socialist Politburo influenced state.

So.....next, please.

[Malamute]

I think the older Ruger tang safety actions may run slicker than the new ones, but if you use the same components (stock, barrel, accessories), the model 70 based rifle will be worth $3,000 on the resale market and the Ruger worth a $1,000 in resale.

Work the bolt hard on a Ruger Gunsite rifle, do the same on a good model 70 rifle, and you will understand what I am referring to. The Ruger is sticky by comparison, and much more sensitive to any deviation from straight back manipulation.

Will take these thoughts into consideration. I have little experience with model 70's of any sort.

One of my tangers is noticeably slicker than the others, though all are pretty good. Its the focus of my project intent. It's currently a 260, I'm planning on having it set up for switch barrel capability. It's primary chambering would probably be 260 or 308, but I'd like to have a 358, 35-284 or 375-284 barrel for tooling around up where the bears live. 20" barrel, good irons (Lyman receiver, shorty ramp w/sourdough blade).

I have a flat bolt 308 that shoots import ball ammo into 1 1/2" groups, which is plenty good enough for fairly long distance plinking, and is great fun. It has a 2-7 Leupold vx-2, which seems like a good general purpose scope. I'd like to get another couple for other rifles I have.

[Drang]

I've been hunting for an inexpensive, compact, even marginal quality, lightweight .308 Bolt action rifle with iron soghts for quite some time, and they just don't seem to exist. I can't even begin to justify the cost of a true custom practical rifle.

Acquaintance of mine made his Scout Rifle out of an Ishapore SMLE.

You guys will have to school me.....

What exactly is the attraction to a big, chunky, sharp-edged detachable box magazine on an otherwise lightweight, handy bolt rifle?

Jeff Cooper's (pbuh) specs for the Scout Rifle called for a detachable box magazine. For most people who are interested in owning a Scout Rifle, that's the attraction: If it doesn't have the box mag, it's not a Scout.

He also referred to the "pseudo-Scout", which could be described as being a "light, handy carbine that does not include all the features of a real Scout", i.e., it does not make weight, or does not include the box mag, etc.

[GJM]

I just love that caliber. Jim Brockman just finished up a model 70 based .260 for me, which is a combination practical and sheep hunting rifle.

On the "commie" state front, I am not sure a bolt with a flash hider and a 10 round box magazine is going to look or be perceived as PC. Now a nice little wood stock CZ bolt, with little five round mags, being a whole different look.