Improving the Scout

After our first look at the Ruger Gunsite Scout earlier this week, we’ve gone down the list of parts we need to add to the gun to make it optimal for what we have in mind. The big three items we need are glass, muzzle devices, and a sling. I’ve narrowed the field down to several contenders, and I’ll be attempting to test these against each other next year.

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle

Muzzle devices
The flash hider on the gun looks a little silly, so it’s going to be replaced with a proper muzzle brake. Right now, the two candidates leading the field are the Surefire .308 brake, and the AAC Blackout brake. Both of these have a pretty solid reputation for reducing recoil, although they will “deliver hate” to people standing next to you. They also have the ability to serve as mounts for suppressors, which is a neat additional benefit. I’m not saying that I want to put a can on the gun, but I’d like the option.

Slings
I like single point slings, but I can’t mount one one this gun without doing some modifications. Which I may still do, so I can run an MS-3 on. However, I’m also looking at various Ching slings, and a neat little sling called the Rhodesian from Andy’s Leather. The jury’s still out on this one, because I don’t run slings a lot during my usual run-and-gun nonsense.

Glass
This is where things get all sorts of interesting. I have four options that I’m considering. The first two are proper scout scopes from Leupold and Burris, respectively. I’ve requested some for T&E, and I’ll be running them on the gun to see how they work. I’m also looking at non magnified optics, because I generally prefer red dots to magnified scopes for the sort of rifle work I have in mind. My standby optic is an RMR, which would look a little weird on this gun but would still work just fine, my other “non-magnified” choice would be to set an EoTech on it and see what happens.

So what do you think? Everyone has opinions on brakes, glass, and slings, so let me know what you’d put on this gun, or if I’m totally off my rocker for wanting a Scout rifle with a Surefire brake, single point sling and an EoTech.

12 Comments

  1. As to the sling, I’ve got a couple homebrew three point setups that I really enjoy. I have found they really help lock up the support arm, and are great for stability. They do cost a touch, timewise, in transition for me, but thats a matter of training (I need more, no matter how much I’ve had) and situation. When I’m out hunting, for example: if the difference between getting a deer or not is the time lapse between spotting it and getting the gun unslung and up to shooting position, I’m doing something wrong. Either I should have been looking harder for deer, had the gun at low ready instead of slung, or I spooked it already and I’m way behond the curve. OTOH, if you are talking 3 gun competition or similar, I can see the utility of the single point sling (provided thats legal, of course). Good two point setups like the old-school GI slings set up a little different, but are just as effective at getting a tight lock. For my time and money, though, the single point doesn’t offer the additional ‘shooting aid’ aspect of the others.

  2. I’m saving my pennies for a scout rifle now so I’m very interested to see what you do with yours.

    I think the AAC flash hider is a great idea and I think adding a suppressor would be a valuable part of an evaluation of the gun. Maybe try some subsonic ammo.

    I would love to see a comparison of the scout scopes you mentioned with a conventional scope regarding speed, accuracy, balance, etc.

  3. As far as scopes, I would suggest a good 1-6 or a 1-8 if you can swing the cash. Something like the VX-6 or the Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6.5×24. Basically a 3-gun type scope with daylight visible (or close to it) illumination at 1x.

  4. Have run the Burris 2.75 on mine out to 400 yards…figure 300 is the rational limit of working distance for that scope (at least in my hands). Will probably replace the 2.75 with the 2-7 variable, although I think 7X is too much for the Scout. Sling I’ve used in classes and in the field is the Galco Safari Ching Sling — same as I use on my African rifle, a Ruger Guide Gun — although Andy’s Rhodesian is a great choice as well. Have asked Ruger for one of their .30 cal muzzle brakes for the Scout…the one on the .300 Win Mag Guide Gun is one of the best recoil reducers I’ve ever used. My PH in Africa was amazed at how lightly the Win Mag shot…of course, he was also deaf…

    Michael B

  5. I would go with a battlecomp babc, a version of the ching sling, and a Leopold scout scope.

  6. I don’t about breaks or slings but I abolutely love the Eotech that is on my DPMS 308c.

  7. I like my Claymore brake. With it’s short barrel the Scout has quite a bit of blast and the forward blow lessens that a bit . It’s also just cool to have an arrow with ‘Front Toward Enemy’ engraved in it haha. I live a state East of you and can’t legally own a suppressor unfortunately, so that feature on your choices is wasted on me. My ching sling by Andy’s leather is a well made piece that serves it’s intended function excellently. I debated whether to go with Leupold,Burris, or Weaver for glass and opted for the Leupold for greater FOV. You should get some mags from Alpha Industries and let us know if they are worth the hefty price tag.

  8. What is really needs is a better action. As someone who showed up at Gunsite in 1991 with his first “scout rifle,” and has built many over the years since, the Ruger action is not conducive to brisk manipulation of the bolt. Feel a pre-64 model 70, and it will quickly be apparent what I mean.

    On slings, add a third stud and get Andy Langlois’ Ching sling and be done with it. As Finn Aagaard proved in his testing, a proper shooting sling reduces your group size/increases your hit probability substantially when shooting from supported field positions (prone through kneeling/squat).

    Most intermediate eye relief scopes are of poor quality compared to the many low power variable scopes now available. The reason for the scout scope is a very heavy caliber (where you want to keep the glass out of your face and make the loading poor easier to access), a rifle that doesn’t lend itself to an optic otherwise, or someone that doesn’t know better. Today, the combination of an Aimpoint and low powered variable obsoletes the scout scope.

  9. Sling, No single point! 2 point adjustable. VTAC or VCAS (Vickers adjustable) or with a stretch the Sheriff of Baghdad (SOB). Frank Proctor came up with a light 2 point also.
    The 2 point sling will come in handy when steadying the rifle for a distant shot utilizing a red dot optic…..(I vote for Aimpoint H-1 or T-1).

    Cool project BTW.

    I think a 2 gun comp utilizing wheel guns and bolt action rifles would be pretty cool. We could call it the “Dirty Harry” division!

    KT

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