Ruger Scout - SAAMI OAL

[BeeTee]

The 308 Win data included in the Nosler #6 Guide lists the SAAMI max OAL for the 308 Win as 2.810".

As the photo below shows, my Scout has been shooting with a cartridge OAL of 2.857". It does quite well with the 165BT. I can't see where the lands are engraving the bullet ogive after extracting a loaded round.

The factory steel 10-round magazine works great with the longer OAL, but the recently acquired plastic 5-round Ruger mag accepts an OAL of no longer than about 2.820". The thickness of the plastic wall at the rear of the mag is what reduces the OAL requirement of the loaded rounds.

Not a complaint here, necessarily. It's just that I've always tried to load long - or at least close to the lands. Can't do that with the Ruger factory plastic mags, which is required if one wishes to hunt with the Scout here in Montana. By the way, loading is easier with the plastic mag. BT

 

[SJB358]

Good intel Bee Tee. Overall, what do you think of the Scout. A buddy at work has one, but he hasn't really did much with it yet.

 

[BeeTee]

Good intel Bee Tee. Overall, what do you think of the Scout. A buddy at work has one, but he hasn't really did much with it yet.

It's a really neat little rifle. Mine is pretty accurate - mostly sub/near MOA, but it's not a target rifle. It wasn't supposed to be. With the range effectiveness of the 308 and 16.5" barrel, it's way more than accurate than it needs to be for any sort of hunting that a 308 is suitable for. I primarily like it because it's such a neat little rifle....

 

[SJB358]

Good intel Bee Tee. Overall, what do you think of the Scout. A buddy at work has one, but he hasn't really did much with it yet.

It's a really neat little rifle. Mine is pretty accurate - mostly sub/near MOA, but it's not a target rifle. It wasn't supposed to be. With the range effectiveness of the 308 and 16.5" barrel, it's way more than accurate than it needs to be for any sort of hunting that a 308 is suitable for. I primarily like it because it's such a neat little rifle....

Makes sense to me. I like handy and the Scout Rifle is alot of that.

 

[DrMike]

Good post with excellent intel. Thanks for posting.

 

[Guy Miner]

Yup, many short-action rifles accept only a smidge over 2.8" oal.

They can still shoot just great! I'd like to try one of those Ruger Scout rifles someday.

Guy

 

[BeeTee]

Thanks for your comments guys...

I bought the 5-round mag directly from Ruger, and received it about 3 weeks after placing the order. Midway was out of stock, and they didn't accept backorders, which is too bad because the Ruger Scout mags are $10 cheaper from Midway.

There's also a full length scope rail mount made for the Ruger Scout rifle that bridges the action and increases the number of options for mounting optics (red dot, EER Scout or higher mag conventional scopes). And, it comes with an integral rear peep that works with the factory front sight. I'll probably be getting one...


http://www.midwayusa.com/product/436943 ... inum-matte

 

[FOTIS]

So how long of a cartridge do you have to load to touch the rifling?

 

[BeeTee]

So how long of a cartridge do you have to load to touch the rifling?

With the Nosler 165BT, about 2.910".

So, loading to an OAL of 2.820" to work with the new magazine would produce a jump of 0.090".

I'll shoot the rifle soon with a couple different seating depths to see what happens, but in the end, the rounds will have to fit the magazine... BT

 

[Oldtrader3]

The 308 Win data included in the Nosler #6 Guide lists the SAAMI max OAL for the 308 Win as 2.810".

As the photo below shows, my Scout has been shooting with a cartridge OAL of 2.857". It does quite well with the 165BT. I can't see where the lands are engraving the bullet ogive after extracting a loaded round.

The factory steel 10-round magazine works great with the longer OAL, but the recently acquired plastic 5-round Ruger mag accepts an OAL of no longer than about 2.820". The thickness of the plastic wall at the rear of the mag is what reduces the OAL requirement of the loaded rounds.

Not a complaint here, necessarily. It's just that I've always tried to load long - or at least close to the lands. Can't do that with the Ruger factory plastic mags, which is required if one wishes to hunt with the Scout here in Montana. By the way, loading is easier with the plastic mag. BT

BT, you can easily take a file and remove .020 inches from the rear wall of the plastic magazines without compromising their function very little, if at all. It would be maybe a 20 minute job if you have a file thin enough the fit that wall dimension.

 

[Guy Miner]

BT - I've found that conventional bullets like Sierras & Noslers can shoot Very Well even with quite a jump to the rifling. Try 'em and see how it works.

Guy

 

[BeeTee]

Yes, I should know soon what the 0.090" jump does to accuracy. It could be fine.

I've thought about experimenting with less pointy bullets, but the component shortages that currently exist discourage that option. With an effective range limited to about 300 yards, the Scout will still do well without a high BC bullet. Without going to a round nose to get less jump, are there any bullets that have bore diameter closer to the tip?

 

[Silent Sam]

Based on your criteria I'd be looking at flat base bullets.

 

[SJB358]

And Speers seem to have a profile that fit your criteria.

 

[Wincheringen]

"Can't do that with the Ruger factory plastic mags, which is required if one wishes to hunt with the Scout here in Montana"

Why are the plastic mags required to hunt in MT?


I'm gonna have to try getting a little closer to the lands in my GSR, I think the accuracy will be better.

 

[BeeTee]

"Can't do that with the Ruger factory plastic mags, which is required if one wishes to hunt with the Scout here in Montana"

Why are the plastic mags required to hunt in MT?

I'm gonna have to try getting a little closer to the lands in my GSR, I think the accuracy will be better.

I guess I should have just said "5-round or less mags are required to be legal to hunt with". Whether plastic or steel, it doesn't matter. By the way, I found a max cartridge OAL of 2.838" will work fine with the Ruger plastic mags.

Also... the lightweight plastic mags fit into the gun very well. Insertion is easy with very little slop. Loading 5 rounds into the mag is also easy - much easier than loading the factory 10-round steel mag. And, the gun will cycle all rounds from the magazine without the slightest problem. In short, I like the plastic mags better than the steel versions.

The bottom of the 5-round plastic mag is roughly level with the trigger guard, which might help protect the mag release lever when walking through brush or bumping into stuff. I've read where the Ruger 3-round mag sits nearly flush with the bottom of the receiver. This could leave the plastic mag release lever somewhat exposed and possibly vulnerable.

 

[Wincheringen]

I'll have to do some research into the mag restriction, I wasn't aware of one.

Anyway, I prefer the plastic mags over the steel one too.