Ruger Gunsite Scout or Marlin SBL for a bush gun.

I have the Ruger scout. I love it. I am however more of a lever action guy. With that I would ask if you have thought about quick follow up shots? You can't get much faster than a lever unless you go semi.
My Ruger is more accurate than my Marlin 45/70.
It a toss up. I wouldn't pick the Ruger to punch through heavy brush tho.

Bracing for impact in 3....2......1......
 
I did an informal deflection test years ago with 22-250, 260 Rem, and 44RM shooting through brush. All can hit the target, all can be deflected. 260 seemed to do the best, maybe due to the high sectional density of the 140gr 6.5mm

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I came across this today on youtube and it seems to do a decent job of illustrating the potential deflection of different calibers:
 
I have a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 that I carried for years as my bush defence/hunting combo but due to not practising with it enough to consistantly make hits at over 200 yards I limited myself to 200 yards max for hunting.

I then put together a 21" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps made it possible to shoot out to 500 yards on game.

I obviously started packing the 375RUM far more during hunting seasons.

So my question to the OP is what ranges are you going to be shooting if further than 200 yards go with the Scout.

My go to brush guns right now are single shot 14" barreled T/C Contender carbines in 375JDJ & 45-70.
 
I have a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 that I carried for years as my bush defence/hunting combo but due to not practising with it enough to consistantly make hits at over 200 yards I limited myself to 200 yards max for hunting.

I then put together a 21" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps made it possible to shoot out to 500 yards on game.

I obviously started packing the 375RUM far more during hunting seasons.

So my question to the OP is what ranges are you going to be shooting if further than 200 yards go with the Scout.

My go to brush guns right now are single shot 14" barreled T/C Contender carbines in 375JDJ & 45-70.

Only 200 yards? I figured you'd be good for at least 500.
 
The stock actually grows on you, this would be my pick.

Lol, it does doesn't it? It was one of my early objections to acquiring a Scout, but when I finally pulled the trigger and got one I found it wasn't nearly as objectionable as it looks in pictures, and to top it off it functions quite well. As far as weight goes I think it was TB that said his McMillan is the same weight as the OEM laminate, so no gains there.
 
I did an informal deflection test years ago with 22-250, 260 Rem, and 44RM shooting through brush. All can hit the target, all can be deflected. 260 seemed to do the best, maybe due to the high sectional density of the 140gr 6.5mm

11037625_10152780160747992_543949286016282975_n.jpg


11021091_10152780162007992_6656178197110132073_n.jpg


10411763_10152780162537992_1717449276291458317_n.jpg

More probably, with a limited sample size, the .260 rounds just happened to find better paths through the brush. To make a determination about which is actually better on a test of this sort would require thousands of rounds through multiple sections.
 
I have a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 that I carried for years as my bush defence/hunting combo but due to not practising with it enough to consistantly make hits at over 200 yards I limited myself to 200 yards max for hunting.

I then put together a 21" barreled Rem 700 LSS in 375RUM loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps made it possible to shoot out to 500 yards on game.

I obviously started packing the 375RUM far more during hunting seasons.

So my question to the OP is what ranges are you going to be shooting if further than 200 yards go with the Scout.

My go to brush guns right now are single shot 14" barreled T/C Contender carbines in 375JDJ & 45-70.

200 yards in for sure, probably less. Just a bush gun designed for close range stuff. In the end if you ran into a moose or a grizz, is their really gonna be that more punch in either the 45/70 or the .308? Keep in mind I dont reload. I also figured the scout would be a nice deer gun.
 
200 yards in for sure, probably less. Just a bush gun designed for close range stuff. In the end if you ran into a moose or a grizz, is their really gonna be that more punch in either the 45/70 or the .308? Keep in mind I dont reload. I also figured the scout would be a nice deer gun.

That it most certainly is.
 
Sorry to de-rail but Any thoughts on a tikka battue in .308? Looks like a great set of true glow sights for fast ,low light situations. As well as Tikka smooth action. Appears to be a couple hundred less than a Ruger scout also. Maybe not forward optic ready like the scout?
Ive got the new Tikka T3X battue in 308 with the iron sights. Love it. Light as a feather compared to my Henrys and Brownings. Haven't actually spent time developing a load with it yet. IMO, a bush gun or guide gun should have a short barrel and be light. The Battue is a 20" barrel and as mentioned very light. Looking forward to going to the range for some fun.
 
Ive got the new Tikka T3X battue in 308 with the iron sights. Love it. Light as a feather compared to my Henrys and Brownings. Haven't actually spent time developing a load with it yet. IMO, a bush gun or guide gun should have a short barrel and be light. The Battue is a 20" barrel and as mentioned very light. Looking forward to going to the range for some fun.

I would take the tikka battue over either of the OP's mentioned. Except in '06 ;)
 
200 yards in for sure, probably less. Just a bush gun designed for close range stuff. In the end if you ran into a moose or a grizz, is their really gonna be that more punch in either the 45/70 or the .308? Keep in mind I dont reload. I also figured the scout would be a nice deer gun.

Yes absolutely... look at Thornily stopping power:

.45-70
300 gr @ 2,275 ft/s (from wikipedia reference)
Relative stopping power = 192

.308
165 gr @ 2,700 ft/s (from wikipedia reference)
Relative stopping power = 100

For reference:
45 Antelope
50 Deer
100 Black Bear (To account for 350- 500 lbs. bear.)
120 Elk, Moose, Kudu, Zebra, Large African Safari Plains Game
150 Lion, Leopard, Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear
250 Hippopotamus , Rhinoceros, Cape Buffalo, Elephant
 
Ive got the new Tikka T3X battue in 308 with the iron sights. Love it. Light as a feather compared to my Henrys and Brownings. Haven't actually spent time developing a load with it yet. IMO, a bush gun or guide gun should have a short barrel and be light. The Battue is a 20" barrel and as mentioned very light. Looking forward to going to the range for some fun.

Good to hear.! I've found limited info on these. I'm Mildly obsessed with a scout/ bush rifle these days. Ammo cost and availability is making me lean very hard to a .308 or 30-06...Once again sorry to the OP if I'm derailing this thing.
 
the only stuff i do not like when you mention grizzly and guide gun: this is the detachable magazine ...

and i really like the ruger rifles mkii or hawkeye. i even use one very often in grizzly country but not that specific model.
 
I was in the same boat as you a while back. I went with the GS because I wanted to be able to enjoy it at the range as well as hunt, and not spend a fortune on ammo. It didn't hurt that I got mine BNIB for about $800

Pics for attention

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