SHTF Rifle Ruger Gunsite or M1A

[chsk9]

I know this has probably been explored in great detail. Been eyeballing the Ruger Gunsite bolt action rifle. Besides price what is its advantage over a M1A? Both shoot 308. Both are probably more accurate than I am. Both take the same magazine. I think either one would work great as a 'head for the hills' rifle. Opinion on.

They DO NOT both take the same magazine. Ruger chose the AI magazine after reliability issues with the various M14 magazines.

[chsk9]

A buddy of mine has that Ruger Gunsite scout rifle, he is having a tough time finding just the right scope for it or rather he is torn as to what to put on it. By definition (or as the current evolution has it) a scout rifle has the scope mounted forward, just before the action, therefore you need a long eye relief scope.

Now think about this for a second: you have a .308, but need a long eye relief scope, the obvious choice would be an EOtech or Aimpoint red dot. HOWEVER, that just seems like such a waste since you have the power of a .308, wouldnt you want to shoot it to its outermost limits??? So that leaves you with a variety of long relief magnified handgun scopes, most of which are not going to do a .308 any justice (yes, I know they now make "scout" scopes, but really a rebadged pistol scope at a higher price. What a rip).

I think Jeff Cooper failed on his theory on the scout rifle, or rather, should have suggested a smaller caliber to match the type of scope & sights that he specifies. I understand his concept, but I am not sold on the insistence of having a "scout" mount. WTF is so bad about a "normal" mount on a scout rifle???

Ruger's scout is not Colonel Cooper's scout. That is the Steyr Scout which does allow for a "normal" scope mount. Study up on the history and concept- 300-400 meter accuracy from the factory with a scout scope on a man sized target. "The general-purpose rifle will do equally well for all but specialized hunting, as well as for fighting; thus it must be powerful enough to kill any living target of reasonable size. If you insist upon a definition of 'reasonable size,' let us introduce an arbitrary mass figure of about 1,000 lb (454 kg)."
So if you know what Cooper was trying to accomplish you would see he succeeded brilliantly.

I wish Ruger had done a better job- as it stands now it looks like they just threw extra parts together without much thought or reverence to the concept.

[elSquid]

Anyways, it seems appropriate to mention that the current issue of "Guns" has the Ruger on the cover...



Anyone interested can read the issue for free:

http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/GUNS/GUNS1111/

-- Michael

[HDoctane]

keep in mind guns that heave there own propritary magazine make it hard to pick up your dead enemies mag and use it after hes dead!!!

[EmptySkuLL]

Ruger's scout is not Colonel Cooper's scout. That is the Steyr Scout which does allow for a "normal" scope mount. Study up on the history and concept- 300-400 meter accuracy from the factory with a scout scope on a man sized target. "The general-purpose rifle will do equally well for all but specialized hunting, as well as for fighting; thus it must be powerful enough to kill any living target of reasonable size. If you insist upon a definition of 'reasonable size,' let us introduce an arbitrary mass figure of about 1,000 lb (454 kg)."
So if you know what Cooper was trying to accomplish you would see he succeeded brilliantly.

I wish Ruger had done a better job- as it stands now it looks like they just threw extra parts together without much thought or reverence to the concept.

Thats what struck me as off when I first handled and shot the Ruger Scout, it seemed like a "frankengun". The Steyr is a MUCH better executed scout rifle than the Ruger. The Steyr Elite is even better albeit both are way overpriced (and yes I have shot all 3). I'll just leave it at that, lest the Ruger Scout fanboys start going off...

[problemchild]

you know for a fact a FAL is not as reliable as a m1a? did you dream this up or is it because you spent thousands on your rifle and you want it that way?

You know a FAL has served more countries/ and in war then the M1a...
ever hear of Ol' Dirty? the FAL that has shot over 10,000 rounds with no cleaning and no failures
m1a has LIMITED time in warfare to prove its "reliability"..FAL has been in battles and is PROVEN beyond a doubt compared to a m1a - both are great rifles..but there si a clear winner of BATTLE PROVEN Reliability
www.falfiles.com

I think the fat boy gun show did a special on the Fal. He had two versions. One version was the special upgraded version and the other was a street gun anyone in the world could buy. The regular FAL jammed in water, jammed in mud and jammed in sand. The upgraded "special" FAL ran smooth in all 3 tests.

Here is "Fat boys" quote.......

"Make no mistake the FAL is not an AK; you cannot abuse it like an AK and expect it to work."