Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Ruger Gunsite Scout

hello, I just acquired a Ruger Gunsite Scout in .308, any suggestions on a scope for that rifle?

It would help if you defined what you planned on using the rifle for, as well as your budget.

For the front mounted Scout scope there are few options. Burris & Leupold fixed or low power variable.


I went conventional mount with mine & a low power variable fits best here as well IMO. A tool to remove it, along with the rear peep & wrench is in a stock pouch along with another mag. Just trying to maintain the concept.

Your intended use might decide for you.

II mounted a Leupold X-III 2.5X8 on mine in the conventional manner. Mines a very accurate rifle. Even with Factory ammo.

I took a weaver 2x scope that I taken off my anaconda. Forward mounted it.

Not the best choice but it works.

I thought about picking up one of those a while back. Seems like a handy short rifle. Would make a good truck gun.

They are. Not too heavy either. The ones with the synthetic stocks are even lighter.

If you choose to use a scout scope I would recommend the 2-7x32 Burris. They have great information on how to use the range marks depending on the load/barrel length.

For a conventionlly mounted scope a 2.5-8 Leupold or a 2-7 Leupold would be my recommendation. If the Burris FFII 2.5 -8 was still available I might go with that.

I have a 2-7 Burris Scout scope on mine at the moment. I like it for some purposes and had the same scope on my first one. I sold the first one to go to a stainless model with an 18.7 in barrel.

I wanted to use a conventionally mounted scope at times and keep the peep sight mounted at the same time. To allow that I put an XS sight systems scout rail on it. I would likely skip tthat step now and mount the conventional scope in a cantilever mount. This would accomplish the same thing and savve a fe bucks.

As another poster said the synthetic stock is lighter and I recommend that as well.

deer hunting, specifically driving, $500

How is the light gathering on the Burris Scout Scope?

The weaver works fine in day light, but dusk and dawn it’s terrible.

I would compare it to the old Leupold VariXIIC. Someone who knows something about scopes may know actual numbers and how far I am off in my guess.

I shot my Scout/ Burris yestereday in the morning fog and it did fine.

The burris 2.75 scout is superb in low light. It also weighs 7 oz. Put in warne mountain tech rings, it was right at 10 oz.

Would never even consider one of those goofy, variable scouts scopes.

Called a big bull all night. He came in at the dimmest first light. Coupla guys with $12,000 cameras could barely make out the dark bull. But that $270 burris had no problem.

Those heavy crosshairs were appreciated..........

I've been pleased with my Leopold 2.0 fwd mount

I had 2 Ruger Scouts, one in .308, the other in 450 Bushmaster. Never could even get close to liking the forward mount scope setup. You'll find most
hunters who really use the scout rifles end up with a conventional rear mount scope.

I ended up with a Swaro 1.5 x 6 x 42 on the .308 and a S&B 8x56 on the 450 Bushmaster and both served their purpose.
For hog hunting, the 450 BM and 8x56 combo work very well in low light.

I have since moved on to custom rifles in the same calibers and sold the Rugers.

Bought one in ‘20, it came with the Burris 2-7 scout scope. Killed a decent buck the first morning of rifle season. Got home, took off the scope and rather than save a few dollars on the internet, drove to the close-by Cabellas and bought the 1-6 Vortex Strike Eagle. My Dad gave me [bleep] about switching out a successful scope, I told him I would never know how big the buck was in the brush at daybreak an hour before I killed the one I did because I couldn’t get enough light in the scope to feel comfortable. The scout scope concept is neat and I respect those that stick to it, but my switch was like night and day, literally.

Mr. Coopers concept was conceived in the '80's if not sooner.

Still viable, but changes in rifles & components, have come about over time.

In todays times a certain length & weight rifle with sensible power still has an important place if hunting or foraging. No rules as to how you fix yours up, but the concept still offers a great baseline.

Illuminated LVPO.