.358 Win GSR?

[shadow9]

Besides the Ruger GSR being a 0-300yd gun (primarily, granted you can take it further out), and the .358 Win being a 0-300 yd cartridge (0-200 most effective though), it seems like the two would be a natural pair. Also, that soft buttpad on the GSR would do well to soak up some of the recoil, and the bolt-action means you can run spitzer AND RN/FN projectiles.

The .358 would have the advantage for handloaders with a GP/SP or Blackhawk to share their bullets with the rifle.

Alternately, how hard would it be to have a GSR rebarreled for .358 Win? I figure you wouldn't have to change anything besides the barrel and chamber...

Or is the .358 Win such a near-dead cartridge that it isn't worth the effort?

 

[Savage99]

The .358 Win. never really got off the ground sales wise. Us rifle aficionados like to think of something 'new'.

I have hunted with the 358 since 1966 and it's fun to talk up.

What's a GSR?

 

[morcey2]

What's a GSR?

I think it's Gunsite Scout Rifle? Just a guess.

 

[Willie Sutton]

.350 Win Mag <Edit: Corrected after the fact: I intended to write "Rem Mag"> would be the classic Super-Scout choice. First in converted Remington 600's and then in custom Remington 7's. Find a nice Remington 600 or 660 in the caliber and enjoy. It's a classic choice. I've got the prototype Model 7 built at the smithy at Gunsite and it's a great medium rifle for North America and much of Africans plains game.

Willie

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[shadow9]

GSR=Gunsite Scout, yes.

Willie - .350 Win Mag? Or .350 Rem Mag?

 

[eldon519]

The GSR is sort of a pseudo-fighting rifle. I can't think of any reason why I would want a .358 fighting rifle. In a real doomsday scenario, ammo isn't so common either. And if I ever were to be fighting with a bolt action rifle, I'd be wanting to stretch my shots out a ways since CQB isn't exactly its forte, and .358 doesn't offer much there compared to .308. Unless we are attacked by elk-riding Huns, I don't see the benefit. It is a fine hunting caliber, but all the extra features of the GSR are basically pointless on a hunting rifle. Most just make it heavier. Back when Ruger made the Frontier though, I always thought that was a great package for a .358.

 

[jmr40]

The Scout rifle concept makes a better close range hunting rifle than a fighting rifle. Don't let the name mislead. In fact Cooper meant is as a dual purpose gun and could be chambered in rounds large, or small enough to be suitable for hunting in the locale used. You wouldn't use the same chambering in Africa that you would use in other places.

That said, the Ruger GSR is not that well designed as Scout rifle. There are better choices and better chamberings in my opinion.

 

[Jaxondog]

Elk riding Hun's!!! iiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[eldon519]

jmr40,

I am aware of Cooper's intended notion, but I don't think this iteration is a great idea for a hunting rifle; most of the features don't make sense if that is its true purpose. I think Ruger's iteration puts a little more emphasis on the fighting or maybe just the tacticool. Flashhider? Detachable 10 round mags? I guess the backup sights could be useful, but not in about 99% of common hunting scenarios.

 

[Jim Watson]

I kind of understand the attraction, but really; if I want a moose mangler, a 220 grain .30 cal as from .30-40 Krag and .30-03 days will do all I need done with no need to move up to a bigger bore.

 

[Willie Sutton]

"Willie - .350 Win Mag? Or .350 Rem Mag?"


Rem. Teach me to try to hack out replies while sitting in traffic on an iPhone. Or as much traffic as Key Largo can create.

The .350 Rem Mag is a very versitile cartridge, fondly called the "Fireplug". Other than Colonel Jeff's spectacular failure to anchor Mr. M'bogo with one (Cape Bufffalo for those not fluent in Swahili), it's performed about as well as any other medium cartridge when used at sensible ranges.


Very unfortunately, the online version of the Scout Rifle Conference Proceedings seems to be missing from the forum where I used to reference it. There's some good reading here anyhow, including a few comments from others who feel about the Ruger "Scout" more or less like I do:

http://www.scoutrifle.org/index.php?topic=2149.0


Eric Ching's old site is a great historical resource and is a fine legacy for a good man.

http://chingsling.com/


I'm privileged to own two of his rifles, one a .458 Win Mag Model 70 built up by Mr. Brockman that is my heavy rifle, and another being one of the very first original Scouts, built up on a Remington 600. In fact, this *particular* rifle is one of the first half dozen or so actual genesis rifles of the modern Scout Rifle concept, which is described in Jeff's words here:


"The idea behind the scout rifle is not new. The famous old Mannlicher 6.5 carbine was a step in this direction, as was the equally famous Winchester Model 94 30-30 carbine. The British "Jungle Carbine" of World War II was another example of the breed, and finally there came the ill-fated Remington 600 carbines of a decade ago--excellent guns in most ways but ahead of their time. I acquired a 600 in 308 and fitted it with a Leupold 2X intermediate-eye-relief telescope. This laid the groundwork of the scout concept..."


This leads us to taxonomy:

http://www.donath.org/Rants/ScoutRifleTaxonomy/

The "Super Scout" so noted is the rifle that I had built on a Remington Model 7 in .350 Rem Mag at the smithy at Gunsite in about 1984 or so. I'd need to check to see exact date. The "Lion Scout" was a Remington 600, the Super Scout I, my rifle, was on a Model 7 action.


In any event, the .350 Rem Mag has history within the Scout Rifle Family.



"The GSR is sort of a pseudo-fighting rifle"


The GSR is a marketing fad sold to tacti-cool folks and the odd hunter, who would be better off with something else (including other Rugers without the nonsense bolted onto all four corners). It has no connection to Orange Gunsite, and is not a Scout Rifle as recognized by anyone intimately familiar with the concept. It's a mule, neither a horse nor a donkey.

One should definately read the taxonomy to see with what humor non-Scouts posing as Scouts were/are regarded by the Family.


Willie

.

 

[stiab]

Ruger has already offered the .358 Win in 3 of their bolt action rifles that I am aware of, the M77, 77 RSI, and Hawkeye. There is a RSI (18" barrel) on gunbroker at this time, and I saw a Hawkeye at a LGS for $650 in VA last month.

 

[AKMtnRunner]

I'll revive this thread since I think there would be a lot going for a 358 GSR

IMHO:
1. The shorter GSR barrels are ideal for the 358 Win.
2. The GSR is offered with left handed actions
3. The GSR has great iron sights with a long sight radius or ready for a scout scope (if that's your thing), ideal for a short to medium range rifle and cartridge
4. The 358 could be loaded with 38/357 revolver bullets, and with the great powder efficiency of the 308 case, and 10 round magazines, it would make an awesome fun plinking rifle.
5. Loaded heavy, this rifle could do 99% of what a 45/70 could do, and do it more efficiently, with greater range, and with less recoil.

No other rifle and cartridge setup can match these. Next time some extra cash crosses paths with a GSR for the right price, I may have to pick it up and send the action and barrel to JES.

 

[Float Pilot]

Up here in AK, a scout type rifle in 338 Federal or 358 Winchester would probably sell.

It would fill the niche market for guys like me who used to carry a Model 71 in 348 Win while out in the thick forest.

Steyr briefly offered their Scout carbine in their 376 Steyr cartridge (9.55 x 60 mm). It was a real thumper and folks up here will commit unnatural acts to find one.

 

[natman]

Besides the Ruger GSR being a 0-300yd gun (primarily, granted you can take it further out), and the .358 Win being a 0-300 yd cartridge (0-200 most effective though), it seems like the two would be a natural pair. Also, that soft buttpad on the GSR would do well to soak up some of the recoil, and the bolt-action means you can run spitzer AND RN/FN projectiles.

All 358 factory rifles, including the lever action Savage 99, Browning BLR and Winchester 88, had magazines that took spitzers. I realize that Winchester loaded it's factory ammo with a round nose, but that was just silliness on their part, it wasn't required.

Alternately, how hard would it be to have a GSR rebarreled for .358 Win? I figure you wouldn't have to change anything besides the barrel and chamber...

Or is the .358 Win such a near-dead cartridge that it isn't worth the effort?

Just a new barrel. The bolt face and magazine won't know the difference. It would be a lot less work than trying to modify one to 350 Rem Mag, the 350 RM's Scout history notwithstanding. If you reload the 358's status is a non-issue. Bullets are readily available and brass can easily be made from 308 cases if necessary. If you don't reload you'd be better off with a 308.

While an 8+ lb 358 makes more sense than an 8+ lb 308, you'd be better off starting with a conventional magazine rifle than a GSR. A true Scout rifle in 358 would be a very nice package.

 

[Elkins45]

308 cases celebrate their ascent into manhood when finally the day comes that they are necked up to 358. There simply is no better medium bore cast bullet cartridge than 358 Win. Finding a LH one in 358 is the only way I could ever see myself dropping $800 on a GSR.