Ruger Scout: yes or no?

[Steponmytoes]

Been contemplating getting a ruger scout. Don't care about the whole scout concept, just want a handy bolt action 308. Like the size, weight and capacity. Seen and read a bunch of reviews and there seems to be several issues that may include:
1. Sloppy fitting magazines, occasional feeding problems
2. Bolt action is rough, might smooth out over time but its hit or miss
3. Ejection "problems" where the brass marks up the part of the rifle. Seen pics of the marks but not sure how it happens. Seems cosmetic more than anything, but also doesn't seem normal.

I am seeing these rifles listed for $700, which is pretty good considering msrp. They dont sell fast either at this price for whatever reason. Could all these issues be an overall "gen 1" problem where the design needs more refinement? So what say you? Is the ruger scout a solid rifle and worth getting?

[NapalmCheese]

If you just want a handy bolt action .308, why not pick up pretty much any of the the lighter hunting rifles that can be had for sub $700 dollars?

[Steponmytoes]

Howa 1500 / weatherby vanguard is what I would get otherwise. I like the length of scout.

[Tacit Blue]

Depends what your usage is going to be. If you're going to be hauling the scout around, hunting than it makes sense to want something light weight and portable.

If your just punching paper at the range. Then a Howa or a Rem 700 would make more sense.

[russ69]

The Scout is great.

[whlgun]

Love my scout.

[NapalmCheese]

Howa 1500 / weatherby vanguard is what I would get otherwise. I like the length of scout.

There are other rifles with 20 inch or less barrels available. Not to mention, you could always cut and recrown the barrel of another rifle to whatever length you want.

If you want a short, handy, .308 there are a number of ways to get there without buying a scout rifle; which keeps you from having to pay for the things that make a rifle a scout rifle. Especially since you have no interest in owning a scout rifle.

However, if you're among the vast number of people that want a Ruger scout rifle because it looks cool and has big(ish) detachable magazines and a flash hider then go for it. It's a fine rifle.

[russ69]

....However, if you're among the vast number of people that want a Ruger scout rifle because it looks cool and has big(ish) detachable magazines and a flash hider then go for it. It's a fine rifle.

And iron sights (maybe not the best but usable).

[EmptyMags]

I would lean towards the Mossberg MVP in 308 because it takes dpms pattern mags iirc.
There's the savage hog hunter too.

[-hanko]

FR8??

[Fatgunman]

IMHO I would not buy the Ruger scout rifle because,
1.) I don't like the flash hider
2.) I don't like the scope rail forward of the action of the rifle
3.) I don't like the stock on the rifle (I like traditional wood or all black synthetic)

[1859sharps]

Been contemplating getting a ruger scout. Don't care about the whole scout concept, just want a handy bolt action 308. Like the size, weight and capacity. Seen and read a bunch of reviews and there seems to be several issues that may include:
1. Sloppy fitting magazines, occasional feeding problems
2. Bolt action is rough, might smooth out over time but its hit or miss
3. Ejection "problems" where the brass marks up the part of the rifle. Seen pics of the marks but not sure how it happens. Seems cosmetic more than anything, but also doesn't seem normal.

I am seeing these rifles listed for $700, which is pretty good considering msrp. They dont sell fast either at this price for whatever reason. Could all these issues be an overall "gen 1" problem where the design needs more refinement? So what say you? Is the ruger scout a solid rifle and worth getting?

do check the date on the reviews. I have seen old reviews mention issues that newer reviews indicate are resolved.

While I can personally think of reasons that I might be interested in buying the ruger scout that have nothing to do with the scout concept...if your not interested in the scout concept then why are you considering buying the rifle? you don't have to actually answer that question to me, but do ask and answer it your self.

Ask what features of the rifle attract you to it. ask how you would use those features. what are your intended uses of the rifle etc.

you may find even though you aren't interested in the scout concept, that the rifle still has features you like/want.

Provided the issues are resolved, hard find a rifle for 700 or less that has all the features packed into the Ruger scout. detachable magazine for one.

if you don't really care about detachable magazine, iron sights etc, then the ruger scout may not be the rifle you want to spend money on.

give the weatherby vanguard a good look. not a lot of talk about this rifle but from all I can find it is actually a very good option at a very good price.

All major manufactures offer some take on the shorter barrel (20 inch or so) light weight rifle. So don't think you are limited to just the Ruger scout particularly if the scout features aren't something you are interested in.

[1859sharps]

If you just want a handy bolt action .308, why not pick up pretty much any of the the lighter hunting rifles that can be had for sub $700 dollars?

there is one problem with this piece of advice. what if he wants a detachable magazine? that choice/desire alone could make choosing something else besides the ruger scout ultimately mean money is spent in the long run.

Scout rifles be it ruger or the styer offering actually pack a lot of value into them.

Once you take the $500/600 rifle (ruger/savage/rem etc), add in the scope mounts, add in the detachable mage, add in the better stock, replace the factory trigger if need be, sometimes you exceed the cost of the scout rifle.

nothing says you have to mount your scope in the "scout rifle" way. both the ruger and the styer will allow you to mount the scope in the "traditional" way.

The point I am trying to make is not a promotion of the scout rifle or scout concept rather IF the rifle in question has the key features the OP wants...short barrel, detachable magazine, lighter over all weight...it is VERY hard to beat the price of having all that already done at the factory vs doing it "your self" after the fact.

[NapalmCheese]

Tikka, Savage, Remington, Browning, Mossberg, etc. all offer detachable magazines in various bolt guns, including some of their least expensive guns.

If it's a money thing (which OP never said it was or wasn't, nor ever said why they were looking for a Ruger scout beyond wanting a handy .308) you could buy a Tikka T3 Lite for $600 (which comes with rings), have it cut down for $50 bucks, and buy the big magazine for $75 bucks. It'll cost about the same and it already has rings (which the GSR does not). It'll also be lighter.

All I'm getting it is that there are a lot of different ways to get what the OP wants, potentially for less money and potentially with something the OP likes more (aesthetically, prefers the brand, whatever) without having to look for a scout rifle; especially since the OP has no interesting in owning a scout rifle, simply wanting a short, light, .308 bolt action rifle. As such, I feel the OP should do some amount of due diligence in picking something they like and have confidence in, realizing that they can shorten and lighten it as they see fit.

One way is to go with a Tikka which has a wonderful bolt, no feeding problems, and no ejection problems (unlike the OPs concerns with the GSR listed in post #1).

there is one problem with this piece of advice. what if he wants a detachable magazine? that choice/desire alone could make choosing something else besides the ruger scout ultimately mean money is spent in the long run.

Scout rifles be it ruger or the styer offering actually pack a lot of value into them.

Once you take the $500/600 rifle (ruger/savage/rem etc), add in the scope mounts, add in the detachable mage, add in the better stock, replace the factory trigger if need be, sometimes you exceed the cost of the scout rifle.

nothing says you have to mount your scope in the "scout rifle" way. both the ruger and the styer will allow you to mount the scope in the "traditional" way.

The point I am trying to make is not a promotion of the scout rifle or scout concept rather IF the rifle in question has the key features the OP wants...short barrel, detachable magazine, lighter over all weight...it is VERY hard to beat the price of having all that already done at the factory vs doing it "your self" after the fact.

[offrdmania]

Hells to the yes, I love this thing!!