Kenneth L. Walters
Single-Sixer
Am I correct that the only Ruger bolt action with iron sights chambered in 223 is the African rifle?
223 with iron sights
- Thread starter Kenneth L. Walters
- Start date
No, that is not the case. When the MKII 77 SS line was closed out, the ones with the synthetic stocks and stainless barrels/receivers, there was a very short run of sighted 223 caliber rifles produced. Perhaps as few as 100........They were shipped to a number of distributors. I bought five of them. 8)
Seems like a Ruger bolt action rifle chambered in 223 with iron sights is in short supply. I got mine. 
OP
Kenneth L. Walters
Single-Sixer
What I want is a scout rifle in both 223 and 7.62x39.
I have a Ruger Scout and I agree completely. I would buy one in 223 and 6.8 SPC.
![Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, Clinically Proven, Fragrance Free, Unscented, Water Based, Hypoallergenic, Multi-Use, Hand Wipes 336 Wipes Total (6X Flip-Top Packs) [Packaging May Vary]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41KLBHu9CAL._SL500_.jpg)
hammie
Single-Sixer
I know I shouldn't say this on the ruger forum, and in all honesty, I would have MUCH preferred the ruger gun site rifle in .223, but that' not available.
Instead I just bought a savage, model 11 hog hunter chambered for .223. It has a 20 inch barrel, iron sights, a tactical bolt handle, and is threaded for a flash suppressor. I will put an illuminated reticule, 1-4x scope on it and it will serve as my poor man's scout rifle. No detachable magazine feature, but I can live with that.
If the magazine feature is vital, mossberg makes a .223 bolt action carbine, which takes the AR15 mag-pul detachable magazines. No iron sights, but I guess you could have those added by a gunsmith.
Instead I just bought a savage, model 11 hog hunter chambered for .223. It has a 20 inch barrel, iron sights, a tactical bolt handle, and is threaded for a flash suppressor. I will put an illuminated reticule, 1-4x scope on it and it will serve as my poor man's scout rifle. No detachable magazine feature, but I can live with that.
If the magazine feature is vital, mossberg makes a .223 bolt action carbine, which takes the AR15 mag-pul detachable magazines. No iron sights, but I guess you could have those added by a gunsmith.
OP
Kenneth L. Walters
Single-Sixer
hammie said:
Now that is good to know. Savage makes too many models to keep up with but this one is certainly interesting. Thanks!
Don't suppose that they have one in 7.62x39 do they? They do!
hammie
Single-Sixer
@walters: Yep. The model 10 FCM Scout. You're right about savage making so many models. I overlooked that variation.
Quarterbore
Blackhawk
If they make a gunsight, I hope they do it in 5.56 and not 223. Put a proper 1:8 twist barrel on it and a throat that can handle heavy 69-gr and heaver match bullets. Odds are however, they will make a varmint rifle out of it instead...
Suggest you tell Mike Fifer, Ruger CEO,and not waste energy here......... 8)
I bought five of them.
That's a rifle on my "Bucket List". Would you consider parting with one? Thanks; Mike
That's a rifle on my "Bucket List". Would you consider parting with one? Thanks; Mike
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,870
one of my pet peeves. All rifles should have iron sights whether they have scopes or not.
Agreed.......I lobbied for sights on the 223 for years; Finally, at the end of the build, Ruger produced "about 100" of the Mark II syn stk SS 223 rifles.........Dunno why, but I am and was pleased to find them............. To me, they point superbly......... 8)
This weekend has been so hot I have been looking for some activity to do inside. I picked up my Hawkeye African .223 twice and decided to mount a scope. I held the rifle in my hands and brought it up to my shoulder and looked down those express sights and just put it back down. The rifle handles great with the iron sights and it will not be getting a scope anytime soon.
I am with you, rifles with sights that can be scoped are much more versatile. A good set of sights on a rifle is a plus. I find the express sights to be some of the best I have used. There is no elevation adjustment but that does not seem to be a problem for me so far.
Might have to take a look at a Ruger compact magnum rifle in 308. Not express sights but they seem nice.
http://www.ruger.com/products/m77RugerCompactMagnum/specSheets/37101.html
I looked at some of those Savages but I find them less than aesthetically pleasing. Great rifle but in my opinion, a bit on the ugly side.
I am with you, rifles with sights that can be scoped are much more versatile. A good set of sights on a rifle is a plus. I find the express sights to be some of the best I have used. There is no elevation adjustment but that does not seem to be a problem for me so far.
Might have to take a look at a Ruger compact magnum rifle in 308. Not express sights but they seem nice.
http://www.ruger.com/products/m77RugerCompactMagnum/specSheets/37101.html
I looked at some of those Savages but I find them less than aesthetically pleasing. Great rifle but in my opinion, a bit on the ugly side.
Klondike Mike said:
Perhaps........I recall that a couple went down the road.......I may part with another. 8) MIKE
Hawkeye; I've sent you a PM. Thanks; Mike
bearman49709
Bearcat
eveled said:
One of my pet peeves. NO rifle should have iron sights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rugerjunkie
Hunter
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2005
- Messages
- 2,048
bearman49709 said:
Some rifles have no practical use for iron sights like a prairie dog rifle for example. But a true hunting rifle? Let's see how well yours shoots when a scope fails and you have no open sights for back up vs me removing my scope if it were to fail and having iron sights to keep hunting. It may be the hunting trip you've always wanted to go on , or the big buck of a lifetime you miss out on because you relied on only a scope. They fail. $50 cheapies and $1000 plus scopes...they can all fail and at a much higher percentage than iron sights.
Maybe for a so called hunter that goes out to the bars and then tells the wifey "my scope broke and couldn't hunt and thats why I didn't get anything". Me...I'll have at least one rifle with sights along no matter where I'm going.
RJ556
Buckeye
Exactly what you said Rugerjunkie. My bear rifle will wear a low power variable. But, after the bear is shot, whether in sight or not, the scope will come off and the irons will be deployed for approaching the bear.
bearman49709
Bearcat
rugerjunkie said:
In 40 years of hunting I have NEVER had a scope fail while hunting nor have I ever met anyone who has! It can happen and I'm sure it has but a lot CAN happen and I don't live my life in fear! You claim that if you scope breaks all you have to do is remove your scope and shoot, just how many animals are going to stand around and watch you fumble around and then shoot? Oh and how did you know your scope was broke just before you shoot, what it broke two days ago and you didn't take your back-up rifle for your once in a lifetime buck?
Drop your rifle out of a scabbard, or some other similar mishap, while on some "up there" slope, bend the scope body or fracture a lens and see what the result(s) are with that slick barrel rifle......Your Outfitter will tell you "You better have a backup plan and/or a second gun, if you are going to hunt with a slick barrel scope only rifle....." Things to consider before you leave camp and get on the horse, I softly suggest......... 8)
RJ556
Buckeye
bearman, do you really think he was not talking about switching to iron sights while an animal was attempting to be shot? He was talking about being able to finish out the remaining time of his hunt after the scope was removed. Hunt long enough with your slick barrels and you may get the chance to end your hunt early when your infallible scope bellies up.
mcknight77
Blackhawk
I want sights on my hunting rifles, expecially the ones I take on fly-ins.
I've had a 4x Weaver shoot the rear lense loose, a Redfield that fogged the second day of a sheep hunt, and another Redfield that came out of the travel case with a bent tube. Oh, and another Redfield that ended up on the bottom of the pile of shale and me after a tumble. Another bent tube. That led me to Leupolds and backup irons. And, getting old has kept me out of the high country lately, so I'm not as hard on scopes as I used to be.
To each his own.
I've had a 4x Weaver shoot the rear lense loose, a Redfield that fogged the second day of a sheep hunt, and another Redfield that came out of the travel case with a bent tube. Oh, and another Redfield that ended up on the bottom of the pile of shale and me after a tumble. Another bent tube. That led me to Leupolds and backup irons. And, getting old has kept me out of the high country lately, so I'm not as hard on scopes as I used to be.
To each his own.
picketpin
Buckeye
MOST of my "GO To" hunting rifles are #1s in the Medium Sporter "S" configuration, even if they didn't start life that way. I have them in 6mm, a rifle that Spltz got off GB on the weekend when we cound't check if it was legit, it wasn't. It had started life as a standard "B" I changed to a AH forearm, so a fake "S". I had already made an "S" in 257 Roberts back in the 80s. Have another in 30-06 that I made and a 7mm STW that started life as a 7mm Mag "S" Factory along with factory rifles in 7mm Mag, 300 Win Mag and 338 Win Mag.
There is SOME hope that the soon to arrive 264 Win Mag "MIGHT" show up as a "S" These are my PRIMARY big game rifles.
That said, I do and have hunted wth many slick barreled rifles, but I NEVER go on a hunting trip without at least one extra rifle in the truck or at least in camp.
I learned that one in the 70s when I short stroked a Tang Safety, push feed and ended up with a shell case jammed in the chamber. I didn't have a rod small enough to get down the barrel to tap it out and cut the crap out of my hand trying to do it in the field with a knife. No, you can NOT cut the stainless steel ariel on yor Dodge with a Letterman tool.. While not a scope or sight issue it is a BACKUP rifle issue.
I also now carry a .223 segmented GI steel rod in my rucksack, fanny pack or coat pocket when hunting. I have never had to use one, BUT it really was a BIG big. ;-)
Same holds true for my 77s. When I hunt big game with one, it's usually with STs, round top recievers with factory sights in 257 Roberts, 30-06, 7mm Mag and 338 Win Mag.
The only down side that I see is that it does limit scope choices due to the scope picking up the front sight.
RWT
Jimmy, talk about bum luck. At least I just break.......me, not my rifles/scopes. ;-)
There is SOME hope that the soon to arrive 264 Win Mag "MIGHT" show up as a "S" These are my PRIMARY big game rifles.
That said, I do and have hunted wth many slick barreled rifles, but I NEVER go on a hunting trip without at least one extra rifle in the truck or at least in camp.
I learned that one in the 70s when I short stroked a Tang Safety, push feed and ended up with a shell case jammed in the chamber. I didn't have a rod small enough to get down the barrel to tap it out and cut the crap out of my hand trying to do it in the field with a knife. No, you can NOT cut the stainless steel ariel on yor Dodge with a Letterman tool.. While not a scope or sight issue it is a BACKUP rifle issue.
I also now carry a .223 segmented GI steel rod in my rucksack, fanny pack or coat pocket when hunting. I have never had to use one, BUT it really was a BIG big. ;-)
Same holds true for my 77s. When I hunt big game with one, it's usually with STs, round top recievers with factory sights in 257 Roberts, 30-06, 7mm Mag and 338 Win Mag.
The only down side that I see is that it does limit scope choices due to the scope picking up the front sight.
RWT
Jimmy, talk about bum luck. At least I just break.......me, not my rifles/scopes. ;-)
mcknight77
Blackhawk
picketpin said:
Ross, Leupolds are a LOT cheaper than hospital bills!
I have a drawer full of broken scopes. There are no Leupolds in that drawer.
wunbe
Buckeye
Carrying a spare scope already sighted in is the medicine for #1 hunters like me whose old eyes find the cheapo factory irons to be useless ballast. You can even back pack it with you!
wunbe
wunbe
Imissedagain
Single-Sixer
It's not a Ruger but if you ever get a chance to fire a Steyr SL carbine in .223 with double set triggers give it a go. My full stock with express sights is a ragged hole gun. Just lay it on a few sandbags and have fun. I have a 3-9x 40 mm and a Weaver T36 fine crosshair. My last group was .325 including the flyer. Factory UMC 50 gr fmj. The 20" barrel gets hot but treat it properly and it's love. Now I also have Leupold 2.5x28 IER the was bought for my #1 .458 snubby.. Which will get a front banded sight shortly. I like iron sights for any field gun.
