Ruger Scout 308 vs 450 - Deer Rifle

The appeal is in the short compact design and general look of the rifle.
In terms of capability I’m sure either the 308 or 450 would be good but I am leaning towards the 308.


Suther said:
If you don't want to forward mount the scope (which looks like it would mean removing the rear sight and not having irons?) and you don't care about the higher capacity magazines what draws you to the Scout? Seems those are the primary features that make it desirable? You say you walk a lot, have you looked at the weight of these? Ruger lists it at 7.1lb, not the heaviest gun but not exactly light either.

I'd go 308. It's just a more useful cartridge imo. 450 has neither the sectional density nor the velocity I look for in a big game cartridge though. When discussions get into moderate velocity and bigger bores my mind goes to lever gun calibers - 444 Marlin has been on my mind a lot lately for some reason...
Click to expand...
 
If that 45 cal projectile opens some, and it will, that's corking a nice hole. And a 300 grain projectile has some momentum. Even the 250s penetrate far enough that its tough to argue with them for big game.

SD numbers absent of context are kinda meaningless. SD of an FMJ round? Of a Barnes bullet? Of a ballistic tip that sheds almost half its weight and opens super wide? All of those have the same initial SD but behave very differently in the animal.

Wouldn't imagine it lacking penetration or wound size to kill big game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZjEeX5iArE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xPYha3aTGs

Is 308 more effective? Depends how you define "effective" I guess. It might be more available, but really doubt any animal you shoot with either is going to be concerned about the difference...within 200 yards anyway.
 
450, with a 16" 308 you may as well get an SKS, it'll have more velocity and'll likely put deer on the ground faster.
 
That was my big hangup too, the short barrel...mostly not liking the drama or the sturm und drang they produce. Some folks might not mind at all.

If so, a 308 can still get a 150gr bullet doing 2680 FPS. Beats an SKS by about 400 fps at least. The 168 gr at 2466 fps is pretty slow, but if that's a good bullet, it also ain't far off what a 303 Brit is usually doing with a 174 etc.

Big step up from an SKS still. Not for me, but I see its place.

https://rifleshooter.com/2014/12/30...ato-barrel-length-versus-velocity-28-to-16-5/

Firearmsnews.com had a 16.5" barreled rifle shooting 178 grain ELD-X bullets loaded by Black Hills at like 2480 fps. Again tie or besting 303 Brit by a few FPS. It'll still clobber.
 
Check out Bartel's ammo test on this very forum, several of the 150gr loads are running sub 2500fps in the 16" barrel.

Here's a gem, that sh*t's a 100 bucks a box :

"308 Win, Nosler TG 150gr Accubond ~ 2875 fps claimed
16.1" Ruger ~ 2446 fps"
 
Looking into rifle specs further I don’t think the guide gun is the rifle for my purposes.
Id like to drop down the weight on it, I already have a 308 that doesn’t get carried around due to its weight.

Going to a Ruger ranch makes more sense from a cost and weight savings perspective - not as cool as the guide gun but it will do the job just as well if not better and it’s easily half the cost.

On a completely different perspective but still on the lines of compact sub 100 yard gun is of course a 44rem mag lever with a 16”.
45-70 would also be an option but it’s hard enough finding them in stock yet alone one of the guide gun versions.

Thanks everyone for your input
 
I sold my laminate stock 308 to get a synthetic Ruger Scout in 450BM. It's a hoot as a brush gun inside 100, but I really miss that 308. It definitely came out with me a lot more often.
 
It sounds like you’re looking for a big thick piece of metal to send down range at bambie under 100 yards. 45-70 or 450BM will definitely punch that meal ticket.

Is it as cost effective, and plentiful, or fast as a 308 Win, probably not (only hearsay on my part) Will the the big bullet deflect less in the bush, shrug, don’t know.

If you wish to share ammo between existing rifles for 308, if you want a new rifle to fuel (which most of us do) pick up something new. If minimal rifles # is your goal 308, if your good for different rifles for different need, great excuse for a new caliber
 
I really love my Howa Mini 450BM with it's 16" barrel. It's unbelievably handy in the bush and even though I have yet to shoot something with it, I'm pretty sure it's going to work pretty well. A 250 or 300gr projectile at 100yds or less (really it can be effective well beyond 100yds) is going to be more than adequate for just about anything, especially if you can get a hold of some TTSX. Mine shoots the 250gr TTSX into under an inch at 100yds. I don't find recoil or muzzle blast to be obnoxious.

Can't go wrong with the .308 either though.
 
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