Ruger .308 Scout Rifle Released!

[tombogan03884]

Fullauto said:
I am not a AR fan boy.  In fact, I "hated" them up to a few years ago until I tried them out.  When the short magnum craze came out, I drank the Kool-Aid until I realized they don't do anything better...good cartridges, just not better.  

Objectively, though, I'm just looking at the specs and wondering what this rifle does that a good semi doesn't do better.

The Scout concept is made for fighting first, hunting second.

Weight - just under 7 pounds.  There are AR10 versions out there that get pretty close to that number.

Magazines - wonderful the Ruger has a 10 rounder in this.  A semi still wins.

Accuracy - if all of them are sub-MOA like Mssr. Bane's, this is a selling point. Sub MOA ARs don't grow on trees.

Reliability - yes, a bolt is hiighly reliable.  When a fighting semi fails it becomes...a bolt gun.

Sheep scaring - the bolt wins this one.

Don't get me wrong.  It's a dandy little gun and would be right at home on a ranch. I will probably be overcome with lust and get one eventually.  It just isn't "all that" for me.

When a bolt gun does fail it becomes,   a club.  

Where the Bolt action Carbine length rifle comes into it's own in hunting is in thicker forests like we have on the East coast, Tracking through a northern Spruce ,or second growth forest, or through some of the Southern lowlands a longer rifle is going to be a PITA due to getting hung up in branches and brush. Secondly, your shots will not be at long enough ranges to benefit from a longer barrel. Honestly, unless you have a stand on a farmers field or hunt along Power lines, up here most shots are measured in feet rather than yards.

[BAC]

2 questions:  Will it be available in a left-handed version?  Can you use 7.62 NATO rounds in a .308 rifle (is it similar to 5.56 vs. .223)?

[Overload]

As a lefty, I generally prefer a semi auto, as lefty bolt guns are rare.

[bafsu92]

If they do it in a lefty version I'll own one.

[bafsu92]

I Like it. But  for my taste I would like 20" barrel . If it had that I would buy one in a instant for my truck gun. It would be a great gun to cover all the bases here in Montana, SD, Varmint, Deer, Elk or Antelope. Topped with a 3-10 scope you would be good out to 500 yards with no problem.

A 20" barrel pretty much takes away the scout rifle designation.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

Can you use 7.62 NATO rounds in a .308 rifle (is it similar to 5.56 vs. .223)?

Yes. Both are the same.   Bill T.

[PegLeg45]

When a bolt gun does fail it becomes,   a club.  

Where the Bolt action Carbine length rifle comes into it's own in hunting is in thicker forests like we have on the East coast, Tracking through a northern Spruce ,or second growth forest, or through some of the Southern lowlands a longer rifle is going to be a PITA due to getting hung up in branches and brush. Secondly, your shots will not be at long enough ranges to benefit from a longer barrel. Honestly, unless you have a stand on a farmers field or hunt along Power lines, up here most shots are measured in feet rather than yards.

Dead on there, Tom.

For hunting, I like a compact rifle.

I posted on another thread a while back about my good friend (and long-range competitor) who, just for giggles, took a spare Remington factory bull barrel in .308 and cut it down to 16.5" and put put it on a stock Remington 700 action. It still averaged MOA accuracy out to 400 yards.

But to add to what you said in your post, he just got a 12 point mount back from the taxidermist last week.....he killed it on his property earlier this season, with the above short rifle, from his deer stand......the shot distance was less than 100'.

[Marshal Halloway]

The Scout rifle will be available in a lefty version. No time frame as of now.

MH

[Timothy]

As a lefty, I generally prefer a semi auto, as lefty bolt guns are rare.

Savage makes several lefty versions of their line of rifles.

[BAC]

Yes. Both are the same.   Bill T.

Thanks.