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M77 Scout Rifle Discontinued? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/16/2026 8:02:17 PM EDT
| Looks like the M77/Hawkeye based scout rifle has been removed from Ruger's site. Anyone have any insider info? I'm a big fan of the Hawkeye series and I always wanted to get one, but never did because I prefer internal magazines on a scout rather than detachable. I would have assumed they were good sellers. |
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Originally Posted By machinegunseabee: No insider info but yes it is done. I called Ruger and the guy on the other end confirmed they stopped production on the 1st of the year. If you want new there are still some out there and on gunbroker. Dang. Again I really thought they were big sellers. I must have been way off. I do like that they added 16" guns to the Hawkeye Hunter line, but they're missing that sweet scout mount. Just need to mash them together. I guess kinda like the frontier rifle they used to make. |
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From what I’m seeing, the Hawkeye line is discontinued but there is American Rifle Generation II Scout Rifle shown. Change up their product lines? |
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| I had a ruger scout briefly, it was a nice rifle but I couldn't really get used to the bolt and the feeding wasn't as smooth. I instead had a Tikka chopped and threaded, AICS conversion, then had a gunsmith drill and tap iron sights with an additional scope mount. I am much happier on my end with the final product but obviously it was more costly. I had an early copy of the Ruger scout though, they did make improvements afterwards. |
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Originally Posted By FJ803FE: I had a ruger scout briefly, it was a nice rifle but I couldn't really get used to the bolt and the feeding wasn't as smooth. I instead had a Tikka chopped and threaded, AICS conversion, then had a gunsmith drill and tap iron sights with an additional scope mount. I am much happier on my end with the final product but obviously it was more costly. I had an early copy of the Ruger scout though, they did make improvements afterwards. I know this is the Ruger rifles section but you have my attention. Care to share some photos of this tikka? I also had the first version of the GSR but stupidly traded it. |
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Originally Posted By bpm990d: I have a Ruger scout rifle. It's a colossal POS and it's mere existence is proof that Ruger employs firearms designers that know fuck all about about the use of a rifle. You may not be a "fan" of the Scout rifle concept/platform, and that's fine. Currently, the M-77 action is offered in .17 WSM, .22 Hornet rifle ctgs, and .357 Mag and .44 Mag pistol ctgs. I suspect that the M-77 action was more expensive to produce than newer Ruger rifle actions and was retired for this reason. |
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Originally Posted By FJ803FE: I had a ruger scout briefly, it was a nice rifle but I couldn't really get used to the bolt and the feeding wasn't as smooth. I instead had a Tikka chopped and threaded, AICS conversion, then had a gunsmith drill and tap iron sights with an additional scope mount. I am much happier on my end with the final product but obviously it was more costly. I had an early copy of the Ruger scout though, they did make improvements afterwards. |
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Originally Posted By FJ803FE: I had a ruger scout briefly, it was a nice rifle but I couldn't really get used to the bolt and the feeding wasn't as smooth. I instead had a Tikka chopped and threaded, AICS conversion, then had a gunsmith drill and tap iron sights with an additional scope mount. I am much happier on my end with the final product but obviously it was more costly. I had an early copy of the Ruger scout though, they did make improvements afterwards. @FJ803FE Sounds great! cn you post some pics with parts used? |
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https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleScoutGenII/models.html?n=bolt They have been replaced |
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Originally Posted By machinegunseabee: https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleScoutGenII/models.html?n=bolt They have been replaced That sucks. Not at all a fan of the American over the M77/Hawkeye. |
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Attached File Its done at least for now, straight from the horses mouth at SHOT via On The Scout If you have not seen his channel he is a big Ruger GSR fan |
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Originally Posted By Stonia: I'd like to hear the reasoning, though I'm m sure we never will. Was it really a slow seller? I would guess that is the case they are a publicly traded company so they are supposed to work for the best interest of the shareholders if something‘s not selling it’s gotta go |
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Originally Posted By Stonia: I'd like to hear the reasoning, though I'm m sure we never will. Was it really a slow seller? Scout rifles don't sell. I don't know a soul that has one, I can't remember the last time I saw one at the range. Or in a store. They've always been a niche item, a very small niche. |
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Originally Posted By Ameshawki: Scout rifles don't sell. I don't know a soul that has one, I can't remember the last time I saw one at the range. Or in a store. They've always been a niche item, a very small niche. From scoutrifle.org. If true they definitely sold well for a while. I suppose it cooled off in recent years. Attached File It looks like all the Hawkeye models with detachable mags are gone. |
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Originally Posted By Stonia: From scoutrifle.org. If true they definitely sold well for a while. I suppose it cooled off in recent years. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/203509/1000035303_jpg-3699231.JPG It looks like all the Hawkeye models with detachable mags are gone. Originally Posted By Stonia: Originally Posted By Ameshawki: Scout rifles don't sell. I don't know a soul that has one, I can't remember the last time I saw one at the range. Or in a store. They've always been a niche item, a very small niche. From scoutrifle.org. If true they definitely sold well for a while. I suppose it cooled off in recent years. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/203509/1000035303_jpg-3699231.JPG It looks like all the Hawkeye models with detachable mags are gone. Damn that’s tough to read with that spelling. I can believe initial sakes were high because it was new and filled that niche but things change. It’s heavy and expensive which is not what most want. Most don’t want irons either and I’d bet of those that do would want them on a cheap gun. The reality is that the Scout is pretty outdated and was never popular to begin with. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Opinions vary about the Scout rifle concept being "Outdated" or not. It's likely that most folks did not want to spend the money for much different magnified Scout scopes which initially limited the platform's adoption. Even as an "older" rifle shooter, I have come to appreciate Scout-mounted optics. On Short/Mid-ranged platforms like the Mini-14 and Mini-30, decent Red-dot optics on Mini Scout rails are widely acclaimed by experienced users. Ruger seems to have "compressed" the Scout platform into a different series of rifles, apparently the "modern" series of Scout rifles are using an action very similar to the M-77 action., albeit with certain "improvements" which are also cheaper to make. This is always the case with most manufacturers of any device. Nothing against "Modern" Ruger Scout versions. I prefer the original M-77 Mauser-based action and extractor/ejector to the modern versions. |
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Originally Posted By raf: Opinions vary about the Scout rifle concept being "Outdated" or not. It's likely that most folks did not want to spend the money for much different magnified Scout scopes which initially limited the platform's adoption. Even as an "older" rifle shooter, I have come to appreciate Scout-mounted optics. On Short/Mid-ranged platforms like the Mini-14 and Mini-30, decent Red-dot optics on Mini Scout rails are widely acclaimed by [i]experienced/i] users. Ruger seems to have "compressed" the Scout platform into a different series of rifles, apparently the "modern" series of Scout rifles are using an action very similar to the M-77 action., albeit with certain "improvements" which are also cheaper to make. This is always the case with most manufacturers of any device. Nothing against "Modern" Ruger Scout versions. I prefer the original M-77 Mauser-based action and extractor/ejector to the modern versions. What would the best argument be for it being current/relevant? You don’t see them being used anywhere. If scout scopes were liked you’d see guns with scout mounts. A red dot on a forward mount isn’t really “scout” and definitely works well. I think that you’d have a hard time justifying a Scout over something like the Ruger SFAR with a quality scope in whatever mag range you prefer including ones that go down to no mag for quick and close. If you do want a bolt gun I feel like there’s still tons of good options. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: What would the best argument be for it being current/relevant? You don't see them being used anywhere. If scout scopes were liked you'd see guns with scout mounts. A red dot on a forward mount isn't really "scout" and definitely works well. I think that you'd have a hard time justifying a Scout over something like the Ruger SFAR with a quality scope in whatever mag range you prefer including ones that go down to no mag for quick and close. If you do want a bolt gun I feel like there's still tons of good options. Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: Originally Posted By raf: Opinions vary about the Scout rifle concept being "Outdated" or not. It's likely that most folks did not want to spend the money for much different magnified Scout scopes which initially limited the platform's adoption. Even as an "older" rifle shooter, I have come to appreciate Scout-mounted optics. On Short/Mid-ranged platforms like the Mini-14 and Mini-30, decent Red-dot optics on Mini Scout rails are widely acclaimed by [i]experienced/i] users. Ruger seems to have "compressed" the Scout platform into a different series of rifles, apparently the "modern" series of Scout rifles are using an action very similar to the M-77 action., albeit with certain "improvements" which are also cheaper to make. This is always the case with most manufacturers of any device. Nothing against "Modern" Ruger Scout versions. I prefer the original M-77 Mauser-based action and extractor/ejector to the modern versions. What would the best argument be for it being current/relevant? You don't see them being used anywhere. If scout scopes were liked you'd see guns with scout mounts. A red dot on a forward mount isn't really "scout" and definitely works well. I think that you'd have a hard time justifying a Scout over something like the Ruger SFAR with a quality scope in whatever mag range you prefer including ones that go down to no mag for quick and close. If you do want a bolt gun I feel like there's still tons of good options. It's reasonable to say that a forward mounted optic, such a RDS is well-within the Scout Rifle concept. Lots of Mini owners use a RDS due to the ctg/limited range of the platform. Firearms owners have a well-known "inertia" concerning acceptance of new concepts, especially concepts which require new/expensive equipment, as well as some personal training to use them as intended. Whether something is "liked' may not be a reasonable assessment of its effectiveness. |
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The market can be fickle but over time people usually end up with what works well which is why I pointed out that nobody uses Scout Rifles. Depending on what you think is the origin it's a 40-50+ year old idea at this point with various commercial versions available for 30+ that I can think of. I've always assumed the majority of buyers for the Scout rifles weren't even planning on scout scopes they just wanted solid bolt guns with decent iron sights. Thankfully we actually have a decent selection of iron sight guns available for those that want them. I'm glad Ruger made the new one because I love variety and it will help the American line become even more solid. I really think that hunters would use scout scopes if they thought it would help them take game. There's a reason we keep coming to different variations of the same old solutions ie conventionally placed scopes and red dots mounted almost anywhere. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: The market can be fickle but over time people usually end up with what works well which is why I pointed out that nobody uses Scout Rifles. Depending on what you think is the origin it's a 40-50+ year old idea at this point with various commercial versions available for 30+ that I can think of. I've always assumed the majority of buyers for the Scout rifles weren't even planning on scout scopes they just wanted solid bolt guns with decent iron sights. Thankfully we actually have a decent selection of iron sight guns available for those that want them. I'm glad Ruger made the new one because I love variety and it will help the American line become even more solid. I really think that hunters would use scout scopes if they thought it would help them take game. There's a reason we keep coming to different variations of the same old solutions ie conventionally placed scopes and red dots mounted almost anywhere. |
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Just got my frontier all put together. Long live the scout! Attached File I like my American ranch rifles too although that comment about disposable made me chuckle. They are shooters though. Wish leupold would go back to making the fx-ii again this was the last one I had squirreled away. |
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Originally Posted By ropin4gold: Just got my frontier all put together. Long live the scout! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/109823/IMG_6046_jpeg-3701527.JPG I like my American ranch rifles too although that comment about disposable made me chuckle. They are shooters though. Wish leupold would go back to making the fx-ii again this was the last one I had squirreled away. Solid. The frontier rifle with its internal mag would be my preferred configuration. |
| I'll probably get either a scout rifle or a similar bolt gun with a lpvo (conventionally mounted) at some point. I'm trying to figure out if I should jump in and buy one of the last Gunsite scouts to get controlled round feed, or just wait and grab a Savage or a new Ruger. The Mossberg MVP Scout seems decent also. |
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I'm pretty sure it was Bill Ruger, many years ago, who said "I'm not in the business of making guns, I'm in the business of making money" Ruger has a long history of trying new things, and when they don't sell well, they pull them off the market. If a gun model is not making them enough money, they quit making it. If the M77 based Scout Rifle was making them money, they would still be selling it. Obviously they still think there is something to the scout rifle concept because they have released it in the American rifle line. But if it doesn't sell well enough, they will drop it too. All the people here complaining about the 77 based Scout rifle disappearing, but most of you don't seem to own one. That's why they aren't being made anymore. |
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The (Amazon) book: "The Scout Rifle Study: The History of the Scout Rifle and its place in the 21st Century" Paperback February 21, 2018 by Mr Richard Allen Mann II (Author) is a hands-on examination and testing of all the factory-made Scout rifles available at time of writing. While the author is admittedly a fan of the Scout concept, the book is reasonable in its approach to the general subject, and fair and balanced in the testing/evaluation of the various rifles. Nowadays, thanks to Ultimak and Samson, we have decent Scout rails available for the Mini-14/Mini-30, M-1 Carbine, many lever-action rifles, and even the M1 Garand and M1A. The advent of decent RDS optics has expanded the utility of the Scout concept, since specific optical scout scopes are seldom required for short-to-middle range carbines like the Mini-14/Mini-30, and M-1 Carbine. Older folks may recall the "Clifton Scout Rail" (offered by XS Sights, NLA), which was a short rail, attached to the barrel just forward of the receiver, using a tube of the exact Inner Diameter to match Barrel's O.D. Image |
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Originally Posted By VaFish: I'm pretty sure it was Bill Ruger, many years ago, who said "I'm not in the business of making guns, I'm in the business of making money" Ruger has a long history of trying new things, and when they don't sell well, they pull them off the market. If a gun model is not making them enough money, they quit making it. If the M77 based Scout Rifle was making them money, they would still be selling it. Obviously they still think there is something to the scout rifle concept because they have released it in the American rifle line. But if it doesn't sell well enough, they will drop it too. All the people here complaining about the 77 based Scout rifle disappearing, but most of you don't seem to own one. That's why they aren't being made anymore. I own one of the early-run Gunsite Scout Rifle M77 types, spec'd with a 16.5" barrel but it measures out to more like 17.25" I also have one of the 18.7" all-stainless M77 Scout rifles. If I can find another, I might snag it to have a spare. I like it. Had a line on one of the 18.7" distributor-exclusive 6.5 Creedmoor M77 Scout but didn't jump in time. Which might have been a fun one to have. |
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Originally Posted By FedDC: The scout rifle is a cool concept, but tarded in application. I can’t believe they sell. Who wouldn't want a controlled-round feed do everything rifle that is suitable for deer to African plains' game? Now, who would PAY for such a thing is a very different question - raf, for one.  I think Cooper was smart to recognize that the improved LER optics of his day answered the bill for the 2nd WW German 98 LER DMR, fleshed out a concept & definition, and a couple of companies jumped on the bandwagon. What he didn't see coming was the proliferation of cheap, widely available detachable magazines, negating the need for LER optics providing for stripper clip loading. So while it's a fascinating concept, and a decent answer for optics on a number of different platforms, particularly in the communist held states, it's of limited application with modern magazine fed actions that have modern optics mounting options.  
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I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
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I still don't have a scout, though I have several M77 Hawkeye rifles. I always thought this Farrowtech Aimpoint rail replacement was neat. Keeps the dot low. Attached File I handled the American Scout at my local shop recently. I understand they're great shooters and priced reasonably, but everything about them just feels cheap by comparison. |
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Originally Posted By backbencher: Who wouldn't want a controlled-round feed do everything rifle that is suitable for deer to African plains' game? Now, who would PAY for such a thing is a very different question - raf, for one. I think Cooper was smart to recognize that the improved LER optics of his day answered the bill for the 2nd WW German 98 LER DMR, fleshed out a concept & definition, and a couple of companies jumped on the bandwagon. What he didn't see coming was the proliferation of cheap, widely available detachable magazines, negating the need for LER optics providing for stripper clip loading. So while it's a fascinating concept, and a decent answer for optics on a number of different platforms, particularly in the communist held states, it's of limited application with modern magazine fed actions that have modern optics mounting options. https://content.osgnetworks.tv/gunsandammo/content/photos/Germanys-Karabiner-98K-3.jpg https://www.pof-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/16.5-Rogue-308-1024x249.png Seldom an issue, but I can hold my 1903A3 rifle upside down, and eject and feed a new ctg. Is this important to most folks? Probably not. It's true that modern replaceable mag-fed rifles do not require a stripper clip guide, and including this feature would be an extra-cost feature for most users. OTOH, the 1903 series of rifles can have an aftermarket 10-rd mag installed, which is fed/topped-off from existing stripper clip guide, and suitable stripper clips. Kinda like the SMLE, but easier to deal with since the US ctgs are not rimmed ones. Likewise, more modern rifles with fixed capacity magazines may also have stripper clip guides added into their receivers, assuming sufficient metal is present. Again, something foregone in the search for "improvements" which also "coincidentally" reduce costs. What is "Old" is not necessarily "Obsolete". |
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Originally Posted By FedDC: The scout rifle is a cool concept, but tarded in application. I can’t believe they sell. Just wait, in a few years the used market will be saturated from grandkids that don’t want the lame scout rifles pawpaw bought them. It is 2026 and $0 tax stamps. Ruger needs to capitalize on this. More pistol/sbr configs & less fudd. |
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Originally Posted By LineHaul: Just wait, in a few years the used market will be saturated from grandkids that don’t want the lame scout rifles pawpaw bought them. It is 2026 and $0 tax stamps. Ruger needs to capitalize on this. More pistol/sbr configs & less fudd. Originally Posted By LineHaul: Originally Posted By FedDC: The scout rifle is a cool concept, but tarded in application. I can’t believe they sell. Just wait, in a few years the used market will be saturated from grandkids that don’t want the lame scout rifles pawpaw bought them. It is 2026 and $0 tax stamps. Ruger needs to capitalize on this. More pistol/sbr configs & less fudd. The 10/22 Charger pistol has gone away to become a $0 stamp SBR. |
I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
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Originally Posted By LineHaul: Just wait, in a few years the used market will be saturated from grandkids that don't want the lame scout rifles pawpaw bought them. It is 2026 and $0 tax stamps. Ruger needs to capitalize on this. More pistol/sbr configs & less fudd. Originally Posted By LineHaul: Originally Posted By FedDC: The scout rifle is a cool concept, but tarded in application. I can't believe they sell. Just wait, in a few years the used market will be saturated from grandkids that don't want the lame scout rifles pawpaw bought them. It is 2026 and $0 tax stamps. Ruger needs to capitalize on this. More pistol/sbr configs & less fudd. Back then, it was considered avant guarde and very revolutionary--and controversial. Nowadays, with various decent Scout rails for various platforms, things have changed greatly. Cooper might have had a "point" way back when. Modern RDS and other optics have transformed how folks use optics, especially "Forward Mounted Optics". For example, a decent RDS mounted on a forward rail (Ultimak or Samson) on a Mini-14/Mini-30 is "much favored" amongst experienced folks using such platforms. Suggest that the M-1 Carbine might also benefit from such a set-up. My Tula SKS has an aftermarket scout rail (replacing/augmenting OEM parts) which I'll soon try out with suitable RDS optics. The number of rifles (including ARs) with "forward-mounted" optics tells me that Cooper was "onto" something. |
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Originally Posted By backbencher: The 10/22 Charger pistol has gone away to become a $0 stamp SBR. Originally Posted By backbencher: Originally Posted By LineHaul: Originally Posted By FedDC: The scout rifle is a cool concept, but tarded in application. I can’t believe they sell. Just wait, in a few years the used market will be saturated from grandkids that don’t want the lame scout rifles pawpaw bought them. It is 2026 and $0 tax stamps. Ruger needs to capitalize on this. More pistol/sbr configs & less fudd. The 10/22 Charger pistol has gone away to become a $0 stamp SBR. There's no way they will sell as many SBR's as pistols free tax stamp or not. Let's hope that eventually SBR's won't be subject to the NFA. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: I've always assumed the majority of buyers for the Scout rifles weren't even planning on scout scopes they just wanted solid bolt guns with decent iron sights. That’s why I have mine. A hunting carbine with iron sights, scope mounting provisions, CRF, and DBM? Sign me up. But the new Americans also shoot quite well, in my limited experience with them. |
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
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Originally Posted By tangeant: They are neat rifles but they are expensive even used prices. Other cheaper options out there for short handy 308 with irons and aic mags like savage. Probably why they aren't big sellers. Now that H&R brought back the Nodak iron sights for the Ruger Americans I think that will be a top choice for people wanting that. |
BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Many types of accessory Iron Sights/rails for Ruger GSR rifle provided by many Vendors/Mfrs over decades; Some much better made than others. Suggest that what's left may not be the "best" items available way back when.; possibly the dregs not sold. Suggest not conflating what is "currently" available with the "best" items offered in the past--such ancient items possibly long extinct. |
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If you want one of the old scouts, looks like some distributor has some of them in stock as of right now https://deleonrxgunsandammo.com/product-details?id=89713120 Attached File |
M77 Scout Rifle Discontinued? (Page 1 of 2)
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