Scout Bottom Metal

[denis]

What luck are you Scout owners having with aftermarket bottom metal?
And steel 5-round mags?
Denis

 

[tinman]

Maybe I'm uninformed.....bottom metal?

 

[denis]

The section of plastic on the bottom of the rifle under its action & around its mag well.

That would be metal in other guns.
Looking to replace that plastic with aftermarket steel or alloy.

 

[22/45 Fan]

PTG makes a replacement metal mag well for the Scouts and it's highly thought of. That said, I've never had any problems with the plastic OEM magazine well.

My Scout is a .223 Rem and Accurate Mag makes a 5-round steel magazine for it and it works as well as the standard 10-round.

 

[dfletcher]

What luck are you Scout owners having with aftermarket bottom metal?
And steel 5-round mags?
Denis

As mentioned Pacific Tool and Gauge puts out a great product. The "this looks cheap" point on the Ruger GSR is the factory bottom "metal" and this fixes is for not too much $$$.

http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/ruger-performance/2071-ruger-m77-short-action-sa-stealth-detachable-mag-bottom-metal.html

Uses AI and Ruger metal mags. If you use MagPul plastic and the "Stealth" PTG item you'll have to dress down the ribs on the mag a bit.

 

[denis]

Thanks. Much appreciated.
Just dislike the plastic & if I decide to do a project it'd have to go.
Same thing with the mags.
Steel just lasts longer.

 

[huntsman22]

Toss it in a LSS.....

 

[denis]

Kinda going in the wrong direction....

 

[Magnum Force]

I like the steel five round magazine, makes the rifle much less bulky to carry in the field. It think it looks better, too:

The bottom metal doesn't bother me too much, but I would swap if it would lower the overall weight. Probably wouldn't. I am considering swapping out the laminated stock for a fiberglass one available on ShopRuger.Com, I have heard this will drop one pound from the rifle....

 

[denis]

I'd actually prefer the Scout configuration with a fixed internal magazine, I dislike having a bulky detachable sticking out at the balance point. That 5-rounder's not too bad.
And I've got leather to carry spare rounds, but seriously doubt I'd ever carry extra mags.

The metal bottom wouldn't reduce weight any, but it'd be more resistant to aging, cold weather, and impact.
I just don't like plastic down there, even if it shaves a couple ounces.

I've not yet seen the fiberglass stock, but I'm kinda liking the laminated wood. I've got it on my Guide Gun.
If the synthetic is fairly solid, I could live with it, but I also dislike thin hollow & flimsy synthetic stocks.

 

[22/45 Fan]

I like the steel five round magazine, makes the rifle much less bulky to carry in the field. It think it looks better, too....

Accurate Mag, the supplier for Ruger's factory Scout magazines, makes 5-round steel magazines for both .308 and .223/5.56 versions of the Scout. The Accurate Mag 5-round .223/5.56 magazine is the only 5-round magazine available in any material for this cartridge while polymer (cheaper) 3 and 5-round magazines are available for the .308 rifles.

ShopRuger does not sell this .223/5.56 5-round magazine despite numerous requests so you have to buy it directly from Accurate Mag.

 

[denis]

Thanks.
Do you know if the 3-rounder's loadable from inside the gun?

How quick/visible are the sights through the optic rail on the Ruger Scout?
Fast pickup, or do you have to look around for the front sight?

I have the new Savage 110 Scout here & I'm liking the rest of it, but not the sights.
Rear's too small, too much of the front blade's obscured by the optic rail.

 

[Magnum Force]

The scope rail on the Scout Rifle has a deep valley in it that gives a clear, unobstructed view of the front sight.

I used to own an M1A and I think the front sight of the Scout Rifle gives a similar sight picture.

 

[DPris]

Apologize for the confusion, switching back to DPris after a password issue was solved.
Thanks.

That's what I was wondering.
In talking about the Savage sights with my dealer when I picked it up as a loaner, he told me there's a company that produces a rail with the center of each "rib" cut out to accommodate irons.

Wasn't sure how well Ruger addressed this area of their Scout.
Denis

 

[teuthis]

I have the polymer stock Scout. It seems just fine. I use the 5 round Ruger mags mostly. I have a couple of 10 round mags for situations, but the 5's are more functional for me. One can carry two of them in a pocket with no problems. And I love the ghost ring sights on it.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

Have not used the factory metal mag since I got 3- and 5-round synthetics. They don't rattle and the 3-rounder only sticks out about 1/4".

I wanted a light carry rifle with iron sights I could use to a couple hundred yards. Lightened mine up by swapping the laminate stock with Ruger's synthetic stock. Ruger claims 6.25lbs without a scope. Awesome. I've got an AR10 for high capacity.

 

[DPris]

I like the overall package, don't need the hi-cap magazines.
I even like the wood.
Plastic stocks I reserve mostly for the ARs.

If I could just get something flush that I could load through the top....
Denis

 

[huntsman22]

They call that the Hawkeye Predator.......

 

[DPris]

Cut the barrel back, install sights...
Denis

 

[huntsman22]

or slap yours in a hawkeye stock with appropriate magbox, follower and bottom metal.....

 

[DPris]

Not sure that'd fit.
And one of the things I like about the Scout is the laminated stock.
Something to think on.

Was discussing the situation with a friend who likes his Scout.
Uses a 3-round mag for flush fit & loads one in the chamber for walking his property.
I suppose I COULD go that route.
Four rounds loaded is only one less than my Guide Gun.

Would still need to get the steel bottom metal.
Denis