Dilemma: M14 Shorty or Ruger Scout

You can also make m305's into pseudo-scout rifles. They will be semi auto and weigh more, but they retain the clip charger guide where for some reason the ruger decided not to do.

Keep in mind the magazine in the ruger rifle rattles a lot and will annoy you a lot, kind of like when gatorade is on sale at the gas station and they're all out of orange. Who drinks pink gatorade seriously?
 
Do you want to use a scope or the iron sights that come with the Ruger Scout or Norinco shorty. If you want to use a scope I would go with the Scout because of the weight, especially if you are carrying the gun for extended periods. The cost of the Scout with a decent scope is going to be nearly three times that of the Norinco shorty. I also agree it is easier to maintain the Scout and it will be more accurate out of the box, however I like the Norinco shorty but do not use it with a scope because of the combined weight, when I carry it. One consideration with the Scout is that it is not as easy to adjust the iron sights for different distances, compared to the Norinco shorty. In an ideal world having both is the best option!
 
shredder said:
OP, are you looking for a semi-auto or a bolt action rifle?

I have a Norc M305 that's been tuned and chopped by M14Doctor, and it's a great rifle. I had it chopped BEFORE CanAm brought in shorty M305's (dangit!! :D) and use it as a bush-pushing rifle with a 4x scope on it. It's nice and handy, and I really like the semi-auto since "there's bears in them thar woods" and really don't want to be shat out a bear's ass because I wandered between a sow and her cubs while out deer hunting.
Click to expand...

I DO like the idea of semi for quick shots, but I am thinking about what folks have mentioned about durability, accuracy and fit and finish. A M14doctor chopped or M14Doctor shorty would be the only way I would go, which should even the price of the rifles out considerable.
 
If you can handle paying a bit more for .303, or can reload, get yourself a Lee Enfield Number 4 or 5, and have something more practical than the Ruger, at about the same cost as a Meh305, with no tweaking required.

In my humble opinion.

EDIT: I just noticed the Lee Carbine in your avatar: Why the heck would you want EITHER the Ruger OR an M305, if you are already a Lee Metford / Enfield fella??????

;)

:cheers:
 
nelly said:
If you can handle paying a bit more for .303, or can reload, get yourself a Lee Enfield Number 4 or 5, and have something more practical than the Ruger, at about the same cost as a Meh305, with no tweaking required.

In my humble opinion.

EDIT: I just noticed the Lee Carbine in your avatar: Why the heck would you want EITHER the Ruger OR an M305, if you are already a Lee Metford / Enfield fella??????

;)

:cheers:
Click to expand...

Ha! The old Metford does shoot pretty darn well, but you now how it is with guns... always want something different! In fact, I might sell the metford to help pay for theis next rifle (ducking now).:D
 
I haven't yet taken my M305 Short rifle to the range yet, and only handled the Ruger in a gunshop about a week ago, so given those qualifiers I'll make a few observations.

I saw a Youtube review of the Ruger where the rifle was criticized as having plastic parts around the trigger guard/magwell, etc., so I naturally kept an eye out for that when I handled one last week and am happy to say that the parts on my specimen weren't plastic at all. That said, I suspect that some of the earlier guns might have had some plastic parts and would hate for you to order a rifle sight unseen via mail-order/internet and get something sub-par from what you expected. I think the design is great, but it's something to be cognizant of if you order one.

It sounds like you're correct about the price difference being somewhat closer if you're after a tweaked M305. My shorty might very well need another set of rear sites and it's anywhere from about just under $100 to over $200 for the UTG or Ultimak scout mounts respectively, plus another $40-50 for an Op rod spring guide. It looks like mine would benefit from having the barrel indexing adjusted, not to mention the regular fixes to the gas system and front stock ferrule of the Norc synthetic stocks, etc... I love the gun, but have to admit that less the rings and scope, the Ruger's better right out of the box.

Good luck either way!
 
Red Herring said:
Ha! The old Metford does shoot pretty darn well, but you now how it is with guns... always want something different! In fact, I might sell the metford to help pay for theis next rifle (ducking now).:D
Click to expand...

Well, if that Metford is going on the block, I know a guy who might be interested... Look me up, if my wife doesn't hear about it first!
 
I have owned three different M14 type rifles, although with full length barrels. A Norinco, a Polytech (I know, but this one actually shoots well, go figure and has done so since '89 when I bought it!) and an old M14 made by TRW that I bought with all of its kit. I have liked the M14's looks since I was a kid and the were new. A very fun gun and I have even hunted with them. But they are a battle rifle, no-doubt, and somewhat dated even in that capacity although to my understanding, still effective.

I purchased a Ruger Scout (stainless steel) this year and do find it to be the nearly perfect all-around high power rifle that it is supposed to be. It is not only lighter than the M14, but it "feels" handier and shoulders fast. It is light, but not airy. A rifle needs some weight. The barrel is not thin and whippy like one would hope not to find, but of a good medium weight with a long thick step to support the forward rail, but to my belief also tames some of the vibration. It certainly shoots well enough even if the bolt is not quite as smooth as I would like, and the trigger breaks clean. Polymer 3 and 5 round mags are avilable for import to Canada from Andean's in the U.S. and they are a great improvement over the steel magazines. I would only need a 10 round mag anyway if Mars attacks. They make the rifle less handy in the field.

At the end of the day, it is a very personal decision. The Ruger Scout as an all around rifle with some Canadian hunting in mind (other than big bears) is a better decision to my mind. And If you don't like it, many would be happy to take it off your hands.

Have fun and stay safe.

andean-inc.com for importing 3 and 5 round Ruger Scout magazines, shorter, lighter, quiet, strong, top-load in the rifle and with the covers that you don't think you need untill you actually start using them.
 
Last edited:
How is it possible to top load a single stack magazine? Are you depressing the rim of the cartridge while using your other hand to insert another or are you doing this like an Enfield?
 
The more I think about it.... I think I'll go with my M305. I need to index my barrel, which will most likely be free. Then maybe weld my oprod guide and unitize the gas system. However, the thing shoots well enough for me. In a SHTF situation I'm going to grab my Mini-14 anyway....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom