Amazing Ruger Gunsite Scout accuracy!

[Yuk]

This thread may not appeal to many, but I feel the need to share...

For those who are unfamiliar, the Ruger Gunsite Scout is a short (16.5-18.7"), handy, box fed, rifle that follows the pattern of Jeff Cooper's scout rifle concept. Generally they are chambered in .308 Winchester/7.62x51. It's meant to be an all around rifle, that is not necessarily perfect for any specific role. As a result, the Ruger Scouts are not known as tack drivers. They generally fall into the 1.5 to 2 moa class of rifles.

I took out my 18.7", left handed Scout Rifle on Sunday. I really only intended to plink, with no expectation of trying for ultra tight groups. After about 40, or 50 rounds of Aquila, 7.62x51, I decided to shoot a few groups at 200 meters with Hornady ELD-X. Although this rifle has shot ELD-X well in the past, I was not prepared for what happened. My first three shot group (measured centre to centre) came in at 1.25 inches!!! That's a .58 MOA group! In disbelief, I shot two more, three shot groups. The second measured 1.33" and the third printed a 1.755", or .795 MOA! I was blown away!

Like I said, I just had to share!

 

[HangFire]

That's good shooting, kudos.

 

[Yuk]

Originally Posted by HangFire
That's good shooting, kudos.

Thanks. I don't generally consider myself a great shot, so it was quite a gratifying experience.

 

[AZjeff]

That's an exceptional Scout Rifle you've got there, but you have to know your stuff to shoot those, well done. What scope is on it?

 

[Yuk]

Originally Posted by AZjeff
That's an exceptional Scout Rifle you've got there, but you have to know your stuff to shoot those, well done. What scope is on it?


Nikon Black X1000, 6-24x50 SF IL X-MRAD. I plink at 6x and the groups were done at 24x.

 

[OVERKILL]

Great results for that rifle

 

[JHZR2]

Great results. Love mine, haven't taken it out this year... think I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

 

[CT8]

Was the Aguila ammo the " mil surp" type of ammo?

 

[Speedbird001]

Nice

Question for you (I'd like to secure my own bolt action scout rifle soon). Why did you choose the Ruger over say the Mossberg?

 

[Yuk]

Originally Posted by CT8
Was the Aguila ammo the " mil surp" type of ammo?


I don't think it's mil surp, I think it's just an inexpensive, but clean ammo for plinking. Perhaps optimized for the M1a/M14, but I don't really know.

 

[Yuk]

Originally Posted by Speedbird001
Nice

Question for you (I'd like to secure my own bolt action scout rifle soon). Why did you choose the Ruger over say the Mossberg?


1. It's left handed. To the best of my knowledge the Mossberg Scout can not be had in a left handed configuration.
2. It uses AICS mags. Because of Canadian restrictions against more than 5 rounds in an AR type rifle, the MVP is only available with a 5 round magazine. The Ruger is legal here with 10 round magazines.
3. It was a great price. This Ruger Scout sells for around $1000 - $1050.00 US, in Canada. I paid about $750.00 U.S.. I couldn't say no.

 

[CT8]

The accuracy is really good I was wondering what the accuracy would be with a match type of ammo.

 

[Yuk]

Originally Posted by CT8
The accuracy is really good I was wondering what the accuracy would be with a match type of ammo.


Keep in mind that the three sub-MOA groups were all taken with Hornady ELD-X ammunition, not the Aquila. Although ELD-X is a hunting round, it has been engineered and manufactured to match standards. I didn't shoot any groups with the 7.62x51 on Sunday, but my past experience has been that it is about a 2-2.5 MOA round in this rifle.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by Yuk
Originally Posted by CT8
The accuracy is really good I was wondering what the accuracy would be with a match type of ammo.


Keep in mind that the three sub-MOA groups were all taken with Hornady ELD-X ammunition, not the Aquila. Although ELD-X is a hunting round, it has been engineered and manufactured to match standards. I didn't shoot any groups with the 7.62x51 on Sunday, but my past experience has been that it is about a 2-2.5 MOA round in this rifle.


You ever tried Federal Blue box 150's? I find they shoot extremely well for the price, and that's been the case in two of my .308's, a Savage 10 FCP-K and my current 700 5R Milspec.

 

[Yuk]

Originally Posted by OVERKILL
You ever tried Federal Blue box 150's? I find they shoot extremely well for the price, and that's been the case in two of my .308's, a Savage 10 FCP-K and my current 700 5R Milspec.



No I haven't, but I do have some in my stash. Although I've had the rifle for around two years, I haven't settled on a "go to" ammo yet. After a heavy winter of snow, we're only now starting to thaw. The ground everywhere is gooey mud. Maybe next month I'll be able to do a big ammo test.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by Yuk
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
You ever tried Federal Blue box 150's? I find they shoot extremely well for the price, and that's been the case in two of my .308's, a Savage 10 FCP-K and my current 700 5R Milspec.



No I haven't, but I do have some in my stash. Although I've had the rifle for around two years, I haven't settled on a "go to" ammo yet. After a heavy winter of snow, we're only now starting to thaw. The ground everywhere is gooey mud. Maybe next month I'll be able to do a big ammo test.


Yeah, here too. I was out the weekend before last (pics posted recently) when it was still frozen, but now it would be starting to get mushy.

I've tried:
Federal, S&B, Hornady "White Tail", Hornady steel match, Federal Match, Winchester white box and the Remington CL stuff. Worst shooter of the bunch was the old Winchester, best was the steel match, but close 2nd were both the White Tail and the Federal Blue, and since the latter is some of the cheapest boxed ammo I can buy, I continue to use it.

 

[Yuk]

In addition to the Aguila and ELD-X, I'll be testing Federal M80 Lake City ball, as well as these...

 

[OVERKILL]

Looking forward to the results

 

[Yuk]

A pivotal moment in thread history!

 

[OVERKILL]

That's gold