Ruger Compact Scout

[HeadDamage]

Ok not a true Scout Rifle but this is a 16" barrel 308win Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact with a Ruger GSR stock and PT&G bottom metal. I love this Compact for carry in the bush during hunting season but I also like the Ruger GSR Scout. I considered getting a GSR but thought that it was a bit clunky for what I wanted, I don't need the forward mounted rail and thicker barrel that does with it. I do like iron sights on my rifles but GSR rear sight has to come off anyway for the scope to be where I want it back on the receiver. Any way managed to get the stock here on CGN, ordered the bottom metal from PT&G (no problem shipping as long as there isn't a mag with it), and got the mag from another CGN member here in Calgary.

There was a bit of fitting, mostly to the AICS mag but I think I've got it sorted out. I haven't got a GSR to compare it to but I suspect the receiver on the GSR might be a little different than the Hawkeye hence the fitting. There was no way the mag would seat and feed without trimming it a bit at the front and rear corners. It is feeding and ejecting dummy rounds now but I still need to go try it out with some live ammo.

Scope is a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x but I might change it out to the Leupold Mk4 2.5-8x MRT with illuminated mildot reticle that is on my AR15 (seeing as how I can't ####ing use that any more!).

With the one spacer the length of pull is the same as the original Compact stock. The forend was made for a thicker barrel so it is nicely free floated, it is also longer than the forend on the Compact stock but I think I like the extra length because it gives me more to hang onto.

And now with a 20rd magazine:

Modification to AICS mag to fit the M77 mk2 Hawkeye when using the GSR stock and PT&G bottom metal...

Front of mag

Rear of mag

20rd mag next to AICS 10rd mag

 

[Ardent]

Looks fun, I love a light .308 bolt carbine for general bush carry and rangy plinking.

 

[WhelanLad]

Looks fun, I love a light .308 bolt carbine for general bush carry and rangy plinking.

how light would this be ? hard to imagine a ruger being light with those beefy actions?

 

[cam1936]

how light would this be ? hard to imagine a ruger being light with those beefy actions?

They can be made realitivly light, but laminate stock and AICS mag must add a fair amount.

Awesome rifle Headdamage!!

 

[TacticalTeacher]

Great looking rig.
Looks handy and compact....

Cheers, Barney

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

Looks really sharp HeadDamage!
Fitting a GSR Scout Poly stock to a MK II S/A has always been on my bucket list seeing yours makes me want to give it a go...great job!
Consider using 6rd P-mags in that most excellent bottom metal and you will really trim her up.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

how light would this be ? hard to imagine a ruger being light with those beefy actions?

Mine is 7lbs 3oz and I can make reliable hits out to 300yds.
The PT&G bottom metal adds 4ozs over the stock one,so with the factory bottom metal it went under 7lbs as pictured.

This one is my 13yo sons hunting rifle. 7lbs on the nose,not a Kimber Montana but 7lbs all-up with a 19" med. profile barrel is no porker and an ideal weight for an all day carry rifle.

 

[dash77]

OP, great,practical set up.

Sun&Steel, what RDS are you running?Hows the cheekweld?

I’ve tried Vortex Sparc and Aimpoint m4s on my GSR,both mounted at lowest height available, to find I need a bit of a cheek riser(kitchen sponge and tape,cuz I’m ghetto like that).

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

OP, great,practical set up.

Sun&Steel, what RDS are you running?Hows the cheekweld?

I’ve tried Vortex Sparc and Aimpoint m4s on my GSR,both mounted at lowest height available, to find I need a bit of a cheek riser(kitchen sponge and tape,cuz I’m ghetto like that).

Holosun HS403, basically same height and profile as an Aimpoint micro. Cheekweld is spot-on no lifting from the comb. If you check out the second picture of my scoped GSR you'll notice how close to the bore the objective of that Leupold sits. I purchased Leupold low rings for it as the stock Rugers are too high IMHO and I won't tolerate optics that sit too high for proper weld.

 

[hoytcanon]

I have a pair of original M77 Mark II Stainless Frontier rifles in 7-08 and .358... very handy little rifles and accurate to boot. That is the weight loaded with five rounds of 250 Partitions.

 

[todbartell]

ditch that 10 round steel mag and get a Magpul AICS polymer, they hold six rounds and are much lighter and less obtrusive

 

[HeadDamage]

Just checked, 7lbs 11oz with steel ten round mag, 7lbs 2oz without it. I ordered a pair of the 5rd pmags yesterday for hunting. The 5rd pmags hold 6rds?

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

Just checked, 7lbs 11oz with steel ten round mag, 7lbs 2oz without it. I ordered a pair of the 5rd pmags yesterday for hunting. The 5rd pmags hold 6rds?

yep just nip that little tab on the bottom of the follower to gain your +1

 

[hoytcanon]

Just checked, 7lbs 11oz with steel ten round mag, 7lbs 2oz without it. I ordered a pair of the 5rd pmags yesterday for hunting. The 5rd pmags hold 6rds?

The Compact's 16.5" pencil barrel accounts for most of the weight savings, and some due to the "bobbed" stock... the Frontier has the standard "R" contour to the 16.5" length... I have both of the pictured Frontier rifles in "Big Boy" stocks, not the factory short LOP stocks.

 

[joey.45]

I bought a Ruger Hawkeye stainless 358 Winchester and a mkii laminated stock from hoytcannon(thanks) .I cut the 22 inch barrel to 18.5 inch and it's a perfect fit in the frontier stock. It turned out great. The little longer Barrel gives it a good feel. Still a super compact little boomstick!

 

[hoytcanon]

I bought a Ruger Hawkeye stainless 358 Winchester and a mkii laminated stock from hoytcannon(thanks) .I cut the 22 inch barrel to 18.5 inch and it's a perfect fit in the frontier stock. It turned out great. The little longer Barrel gives it a good feel. Still a super compact little boomstick!View attachment 381449

 

[WhelanLad]

The Compact's 16.5" pencil barrel accounts for most of the weight savings, and some due to the "bobbed" stock... the Frontier has the standard "R" contour to the 16.5" length... I have both of the pictured Frontier rifles in "Big Boy" stocks, not the factory short LOP stocks.

yeah interesting, those rifles of yours are light enough but do have lopped barrels or are they factory?


Thanks to everyone for posting photos of their Scaled Rugers! mines in the ball park of 4kg or 8.8lb scoped an to me its a No go. (hawkeye mk2 35wln)

 

[joey.45]

yeah interesting, those rifles of yours are light enough but do have lopped barrels or are they factory?


Thanks to everyone for posting photos of their Scaled Rugers! mines in the ball park of 4kg or 8.8lb scoped an to me its a No go. (hawkeye mk2 35wln)

My 358 weighs in at 7 lbs 7 oz. not bad .

 

[hoytcanon]

yeah interesting, those rifles of yours are light enough but do have lopped barrels or are they factory?

These are all factory original configuration. Just getting back from my bush range, sighting in my two .358 carbines for a bear hunt.

The top rifle is the Ruger M77 Mark II .358 Frontier with a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5X20 mounted, the bottom rifle is a M77 Mark II RLS .358 Carbine with a Leupold VX-3 1.75-6X32 mounted.

The groups are from each rifle at 198 yards lasered.

 

[HeadDamage]

This thing is going to look goofy with a 20rd mag but when it gets here I'll post a pic.