Guide Gun range report

[Voodooracer]

I finally got a chance to take my guide gun in 416 ruger out and get it sighted in with the Leupold vx-hog scope 1-4x20. Im very happy thus far with the groups i got, i was firing 3 round groups and 25 yards and moved out to 100 yards, here are the best groups of the afternoon. The first group at 25 yards put all 3 rounds into just about the same hole, luck was on my side today haha. Then I stretched out to 100 yards, the first shot was pretty low and I had to adjust the scope a bit but the last two were nicely centered and the gun shoots much better than I can. All in all I'm very happy and surprised how well the rifle is shooting, Hopefully I will be able to test it out on black bear this coming season!

 

[ActionBob]

Nice! Post some pics of the gun and scope when you get a chance. Be sure to give us both sides of the gun. Those laminated Rugers are not traditional and may not be for everyone, but a cool thing about them is that each is very individual.

 

[Voodooracer]

Here are a few more photos ActionBob! I think it wi be a great working gun for me!

 

[ActionBob]

Have to agree that should be a very practical and effective combo. A black bear sounds like a great break in and way to "get some blood on it". I think you would be hard pressed to come up with quicker handling bolt gun in a tree stand or on a spot and stalk in the bush.

 

[Voodooracer]

I completely agree, I am looking forward to bloodying it. I was a little hesitant at first about the scope and reticle combo and it being too "busy" but doing some practical snap shooting today I didn't even notice it, my eye was drawn right away to the center of the reticle. You are right, after handling and shooting my cz 550's, this ruger handles so quickly and gets on target effortlessly. It is much more compact than my cz's

 

[CAustin]

Voodoracer I have one of the first ones of these off the line and love it. The Matt stainless is great in the bush. It shoots like a dream. I look forward to hearing what you get first with it. I took a lioness first in the Kalahari.

 

[Voodooracer]

Thanks CAustin! I can't wait to take game with it. Wow that is awesome! I would love to hunt lion and buffalo one day

 

[ActionBob]

Hey I'm working on lining something up for my wife an I to hunt lions in the spring... I hear they are cheaper by the dozen! Tag along.

P.S. The wife will be using her Ruger Guide Gun in 375, shoots about the same with the brake on as her 30-06 without brake. Except for a lot bigger BANG!

 

[CAustin]

Wonder if we could get a bakers dozen of them ActionBob.

 

[ActionBob]

I'll bet someone would throw out a deal for that! Ha Ha

 

[jduckhunter]

I finally put a scope on my new guide gun in 30-06 this weekend and took it to the range. I borrowed a Vortex 4x 12 from my son as my new Leupold 3x9 ultra light isn't due to be delivered until tomorrow, we were going to the range this weekend and I really wanted to shoot that gun. I put together some Speer 165 gr BTSP with IMR4350 and seated them to factory recommended depth. I put 5 shots in a group just over an inch at 100 yds. I think with a little tweaking it will do a lot better.
Congrats Voodooracer it looks like your off to a great start with yours too. I love the way it handles and I think the stock will grow on me. I have another Ruger 30-06 with a desert camo laminated stock that I bought back in the 80's and I love that gun.

 

[Voodooracer]

That's great to hear jduckhunter! They seem to be fairly accurate in the chamberings offered. I'm glad to hear you are having good luck with yours so far! I like the adjustable spacers in the stock, definitely gives it more custom fit.

 

[jduckhunter]

That's great to hear jduckhunter! They seem to be fairly accurate in the chamberings offered. I'm glad to hear you are having good luck with yours so far! I like the adjustable spacers in the stock, definitely gives it more custom fit.

Yeah the spacers are nice for fit, I have 2 in and it fits me really nice, but they sure don't do much for looks do they. I think my next move will be to check the freebore and seat the bullets a little longer that should tighten up my group.

 

[Voodooracer]

I agree, they don't look the best but pretty is as pretty does I suppose haha. That sounds great, I can't wait to hear what you can wring out of it for accuracy

 

[jduckhunter]

Well I took my guide gun back to the range yesterday, with the same bullet and power combination as before. The only thing I changed was the seating depth, I seated these 35 thousandths longer. At 100 yds. with the first four I had group just under 3/4" and the fifth one spread out a little bit but all five were still under 1". So at this point I have a pretty nice handling, 20" barreled, stainless 30-06 with a laminated stock, that shoots 165 gr. bullets at 2700 fps and groups five under 1". But you know I'm not done yet, I think that it can do better. I might have to settle on that load for now though as the Wyoming mule deer season is sneaking up on me pretty quick and I want to use this gun on a deer in the worst way.
My suppressor paperwork was submitted over 6 months ago so hopefully I will get it back soon, then I'll find out how she shoots with a suppressor screwed on.

 

[Voodooracer]

That sounds very promising jduckhunter! Be sure to let us know how it performs in the field and with a suppressor too!

 

[jduckhunter]

Well my new guide gun finally saw some use in Wyoming last week. With that short barrel she handles like a dream and when it came time to shoot it was up and on target like a lightning strike. I never missed the 100 fps I gave up by going with the shorter barrel, and I know the deer I shot never knew the difference. I hit my deer at about 300 yards coming up the other side of a canyon, he was going almost straight up and facing away from me. I allowed a few inches to the left as there was a stiff breeze blowing and caught him square in the spine. The 165 gr. Speer BTSP smashed two vertebrae destroyed his heart and lungs lost it's jacket and came to rest in his right shoulder. I never thought that I would be a fan of a short barreled, stainless steel rifle but this one won me over.

 

[CAustin]

Looks like you put it on one jduckhunter.

 

[gizmo]

i have the same rifle with a monarch 1-4 scope. i will hunt lion and buff with it this summer. i love the gun and it shoots great. i've put several round through it thus far. just wish ammo wasn't so stinkin hard to find around where i'm at.

 

[Voodooracer]

Congrats jduckhunter! That is a great looking trophy and I'm glad your guide gun performed well!