Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (GSR) - Barrel Length

[Captains1911]

The barrel length on this gun is advertised as 16.1”, however, I measured mine from the bolt face (on a closed bolt) to the end of the threaded muzzle (with muzzle device removed), and it actually measures 17-1/4”. How is Ruger measuring these?

 

[Varminterror]

Typically, barrel length will be measured from the end of the tenon to the muzzle. The bolt face is recessed and has some clearance from the tenon in the Ruger, so it ends up an extra length. A lot of folks measure from the gas port hole in the action, since this should mark the interstice between the bolt head and the barrel tenon. That difference doesn’t typically end up ~3/4”, however.

But…

Is yours a really early model? I remember the early 16.5” barrels being reported at 17.25”, and the early 18” models at 18.7”. I haven’t heard of any contemporary manufacture models with incorrect lengths, but I suppose it was possible before, maybe just as easy to occur now for whatever was the reason it happened before.

 

[Mauser lover]

Typically, barrel length will be measured from the end of the tenon to the muzzle.

That's not what the ATF says, is it? I thought it was with a rod down the bore, so from the bolt face to the muzzle. Did they change?

 

[jmr40]

They make it with both 16.1" and 18.7" barrels. Perhaps you got one of the 18.7" versions and the box is mislabeled and you measured wrong. Assuming current production. Not sure about older guns.

I've never had a chance to get a real close look at those rifles other than holding one briefly in a store. But I do know that virtually all Remington shotguns actual barrel length is about 1/2" shorter than advertised. Specifically those sold as 26" or 28". I suppose Ruger could be rounding off too.

 

[Varminterror]

That's not what the ATF says, is it? I thought it was with a rod down the bore, so from the bolt face to the muzzle. Did they change?

Does the ATF cut Ruger’s barrels? You might imagine, manufacturers have a luxury that if they trim barrels to a measurement reference in front of the bolt face, then when the ATF dips a rod to reach the bolt face, they always end up passing.

I just pulled 6 Ruger bolt rifles from my safe, every single one of them was exactly to their spec if measured to the front edge of the gas port. Every single one of them was a quarter inch longer if measured with a dip rod to the bolt face. 2 Savage 12’s were also dead on spec at the gas port, 1/4” longer with a dip rod. An R700 was the only factory rifle I own and checked which matched - for the obvious reason that the “Remington 3 rings of steel” puts the bolt nose recessed into the barrel tenon, so the gas port has to be farther rearward on the action than they can be with non-recessed tenon models.

But 1/4” ain’t 3/4”, and it’s a known topic for EARLY GSR’s - I haven’t heard of any recent manufacture scouts with over length barrels, but 17.25” barrels on the claimed 16” GSR’s was a thing early on.

 

[Captains1911]

Typically, barrel length will be measured from the end of the tenon to the muzzle. The bolt face is recessed and has some clearance from the tenon in the Ruger, so it ends up an extra length. A lot of folks measure from the gas port hole in the action, since this should mark the interstice between the bolt head and the barrel tenon. That difference doesn’t typically end up ~3/4”, however.

But…

Is yours a really early model? I remember the early 16.5” barrels being reported at 17.25”, and the early 18” models at 18.7”. I haven’t heard of any contemporary manufacture models with incorrect lengths, but I suppose it was possible before, maybe just as easy to occur now for whatever was the reason it happened before.

Yes, mine is an early model, that must explain it. I just never bothered to measure it. Thanks for the info.

 

[chicharrones]

The barrel length on this gun is advertised as 16.1”, however, I measured mine from the bolt face (on a closed bolt) to the end of the threaded muzzle (with muzzle device removed), and it actually measures 17-1/4”. How is Ruger measuring these?

The first few years of the “16 inch” Ruger GSRs were listed as having 16.5” barrels and they actually measure 17.25”.

Once Ruger came out with the polymer stocked models, the barrels got closer to a true 16” and the spec sheet got changed to 16.1”.

I have one of the early 16.5” GSRs with a 17.25” barrel.

Speaking of the 18 inch models, the early spec sheets claimed 18.0 even though they too were 3/4” longer. Last time I checked, Ruger stuck with the 18.75” length the entire run of the “18 inchers”.

 

[Captains1911]

But 1/4” ain’t 3/4”, and it’s a known topic for EARLY GSR’s - I haven’t heard of any recent manufacture scouts with over length barrels, but 17.25” barrels on the claimed 16” GSR’s was a thing early on.

Interesting about the early models, I never knew that. Are there any other differences or issues associated with early GSRs?

 

[chicharrones]

Interesting about the early models, I never knew that. Are there any other differences or issues associated with early GSRs?

At some point down the line, "Gunsite" got dropped from the name. So a currently produced "GSR" is now a SR. Not to mention that polymer stocks didn't exist on the early GSRs.

 

[Captains1911]

The first few years of the “16 inch” Ruger GSRs were listed as having 16.5” barrels and they actually measure 17.25”.

Once Ruger came out with the polymer stocked models, the barrels got closer to a true 16” and the spec sheet got changed to 16.1”.

I have one of the early 16.5” GSRs with a 17.25” barrel.

Speaking of the 18 inch models, the early spec sheets claimed 18.0 even though they too were 3/4” longer. Last time I checked, Ruger stuck with the 18.75” length the entire run of the “18 inchers”.

Very interesting, thanks for the info. And all this time I thought I was hunting with a 16” barrel…

This is good news because I'm considering having the barrel cut a bit and rethreaded in order to work a little better with a suppressor. With a 17.25” barrel I have plenty of length before flirting with the 16” rule.

 

[chicharrones]

Very interesting, thanks for the info. And all this time I thought I was hunting with a 16” barrel…

This is good news because I'm considering having the barrel cut a bit and rethreaded in order to work a little better with a suppressor. With a 17.25” barrel I have plenty of length before flirting with the 16” rule.

Hmmm. If you do it, post a pic of the results.

 

[Captains1911]

Hmmm. If you do it, post a pic of the results.

My plan, if it’s feasible, is to cut about 3/4” off, and rethread, utilizing the shoulder that the rear of the front sight is currently sitting against as the suppressor shoulder. We’ll see.

 

[Balrog]

Does the Ruger Gunsite use a proprietary magazine?

 

[BreechFace]

Does the Ruger Gunsite use a proprietary magazine?

AICS Patterned

 

[Balrog]

AICS Patterned

Could you tell me more about AICS magazines? From what I read, they are different from M14 and AR10 magazines. What other guns use them?

 

[BreechFace]

AICS Magazines originated in England by Acuiracy International for sniper rifles. They were in the beginning all single stack, but now there are double stack AICS magazines.

There are lots of bolt action guns that use this pattern, and a lot of chassis and bottom metal replacements for bolt guns that are AICS patterned.

MagPul even makes an AICS patterned mag.

They do not work with semi-autos due to design criteria as they were patterned with the intention of their primary use in bolt actions.

They are very good magazines and are know for their reliable feeding. I use AICS magazines in my Ruger GSR’s in 308 Win, 450 Bushmaster and 5.56.

I guess you can say they are the bolt action magazine pattern all others are compared to, at least I would.

 

[Varminterror]

Could you tell me more about AICS magazines? From what I read, they are different from M14 and AR10 magazines. What other guns use them?

For bolt action rifles, the biggest difference between AICS mags and M14 and AR10 mags is that the AICS pattern mags actually feed reliably.

 

[Captains1911]

Hmmm. If you do it, post a pic of the results.

I’m sending it off to Thunder Beast (TBAC) to have the work done. What they do with these to make them more suppressor friendly is machine the front portion of the front sight to provide a square shoulder, and clean up the threads, so no barrel cutting is required. I’ll try to remember to post a photo once I receive it back.