Ruger MK II Compact .308

jaeger · 12-22-2007, 09:28 PM

I am in the market for a new brush gun and would like to stay away from the levers. I found a nice used .308 ruger MK II compact today and could not believe how small this thing was. My question is does anyone have any experience with this rifle. I know that ballistically it has to suffer due to the 16.5 in barrel. Would it still be a deer slayer out to 200 yds? any input would be appreciated.

Mooseman684 · 12-22-2007, 09:37 PM

out to 300+ yards...Easily.
Rich

jaeger · 12-22-2007, 09:43 PM

Thanks that is what I needed to know. I was just a little amazed that this thing only had a 16.5 in barrel and that factory ammo would only be at about 2400 at the muzzle.

2400 at the muzzle my guesstimation.

Mooseman684 · 12-22-2007, 10:15 PM

At 250 yards, Energy would still be 1150 lbs. with a 150 gr. spitzer with a MV of 2400...plenty of punch for deer.
Rich

rfc357 · 12-23-2007, 06:37 AM

I have shot a couple of these. They are surprisingly accurate. Barrel heats up fast, and they start to walk their hits. Other than that, no problems noted. Nice light hunting rifle.

texnmidwest · 12-23-2007, 07:58 AM

I bought one in 223. Fooled around with the thing for a couple months sold it joyfully. Could not find a load it would shoot. I thought I was shooting my old mini 14! The LOP was hard to get used to so I put a slip on butt pad on it. Finally after every brand of ammo I could find and several reloads with out so much as a 2" group (most were 3+) I sold it. I even had a shooting buddy shoot it to see if the gun just didn't like me. I know Ruger bolt guns are accurate. My No. 1 will drive tacks but this little compact was not a good shooter.

jaeger · 12-28-2007, 11:43 PM

well i bought the rifle and took it to the range today. all i can say is holy crap.. i cannot believe how accurate this thing is for being so small. it had about a half of an inch drop more than my weatherby 308 at 250 yds, but thats it. I can deal with that since I try to limit my shots on all game to 200yds. anyway for anyone that has been looking at this rifle but had doubts, i am here to tell you at least in 308 with 150gr nosler ballistic tips and 47.5grs of 706 it is deadly. You will have to wear your sun screen though, quite a muzzle flash but not annoying, just cool.

texnmidwest · 12-29-2007, 09:21 AM

Glad to hear you had great success! Restores my faith in Ruger. I must have just gotten a lemon. Looking back on it when I tried to float the barrel (stock contacted barrel badly.) I could not break the mounting screws loose. I even took it to a gunsmith buddy of mine who tried to break them loose as well to no avail. So, instead of sinking the extra money into it I sold it and bought a remington 700

Scoutmaster · 12-29-2007, 10:16 AM

Jaeger,
I had owned a Ruger Compact in .308 shortly after they came out. It is a very fast handling little rifle and very capable to take deer. The velocity loss is a factor, but not enough to keep it from performing. The only criticism I can think of is that the rifle being only 6lbs. tends to kick quite a bit with larger bullets shot from the bench. I never noticed the recoil when I was standing and shooting at game. I used a Leupold 2.5-8 scope on it, which fit the short rifle perfectly. Overall a great rifle, one that I wished I had never traded in.
Don

ArkansasHunter · 12-29-2007, 10:20 AM

jaeger Thanks for the range report and the thread, it will help other that need the info...A.H

jaeger · 12-29-2007, 11:39 AM

no problem, as for the recoil call me a wuss but i fit all my rifles with limb-saver el-cheapo slip on recoil pads and the recoil was very manageable.

texnmidwest · 12-29-2007, 04:24 PM

WUSS WUSS WUSS! I use the pachymayr slip ons. They are softer. Sure tamed my 03A3. I, as you, do not like to be in pain when shooting my rifles from the bench. I have also been known to carry a small pillow with me and shoot with them between the rifle and my shoulder. Shooting at game I do not mind the recoil. I am focused on something else. I guess...one wuss to another.

357maxm · 12-29-2007, 04:53 PM

I own a Ruger compact in 308 and I love it. GREAT RIFLE. Very accurate. I have won many a bet with it against longer barrelled rifles.

12-22-2007, 09:28 PM	#1
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 256 Trader Rating: (0)	Ruger MK II Compact .308 I am in the market for a new brush gun and would like to stay away from the levers. I found a nice used .308 ruger MK II compact today and could not believe how small this thing was. My question is does anyone have any experience with this rifle. I know that ballistically it has to suffer due to the 16.5 in barrel. Would it still be a deer slayer out to 200 yds? any input would be appreciated.

12-22-2007, 09:37 PM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,183 Trader Rating: (0)	out to 300+ yards...Easily. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

12-22-2007, 09:43 PM	#3
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 256 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks that is what I needed to know. I was just a little amazed that this thing only had a 16.5 in barrel and that factory ammo would only be at about 2400 at the muzzle. 2400 at the muzzle my guesstimation. Last edited by jaeger; 12-22-2007 at 09:44 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

12-22-2007, 10:15 PM	#4
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,183 Trader Rating: (0)	At 250 yards, Energy would still be 1150 lbs. with a 150 gr. spitzer with a MV of 2400...plenty of punch for deer. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

12-23-2007, 06:37 AM	#5
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741 Trader Rating: (0)	I have shot a couple of these. They are surprisingly accurate. Barrel heats up fast, and they start to walk their hits. Other than that, no problems noted. Nice light hunting rifle.

12-23-2007, 07:58 AM	#6
texnmidwest Senior Bear Fluffer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 2,957 Trader Rating: (0)	I bought one in 223. Fooled around with the thing for a couple months sold it joyfully. Could not find a load it would shoot. I thought I was shooting my old mini 14! The LOP was hard to get used to so I put a slip on butt pad on it. Finally after every brand of ammo I could find and several reloads with out so much as a 2" group (most were 3+) I sold it. I even had a shooting buddy shoot it to see if the gun just didn't like me. I know Ruger bolt guns are accurate. My No. 1 will drive tacks but this little compact was not a good shooter.

12-28-2007, 11:43 PM	#7
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 256 Trader Rating: (0)	well i bought the rifle and took it to the range today. all i can say is holy crap.. i cannot believe how accurate this thing is for being so small. it had about a half of an inch drop more than my weatherby 308 at 250 yds, but thats it. I can deal with that since I try to limit my shots on all game to 200yds. anyway for anyone that has been looking at this rifle but had doubts, i am here to tell you at least in 308 with 150gr nosler ballistic tips and 47.5grs of 706 it is deadly. You will have to wear your sun screen though, quite a muzzle flash but not annoying, just cool.

12-29-2007, 09:21 AM	#8
texnmidwest Senior Bear Fluffer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 2,957 Trader Rating: (0)	Glad to hear you had great success! Restores my faith in Ruger. I must have just gotten a lemon. Looking back on it when I tried to float the barrel (stock contacted barrel badly.) I could not break the mounting screws loose. I even took it to a gunsmith buddy of mine who tried to break them loose as well to no avail. So, instead of sinking the extra money into it I sold it and bought a remington 700

12-29-2007, 10:16 AM	#9
Scoutmaster Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (0)	Jaeger, I had owned a Ruger Compact in .308 shortly after they came out. It is a very fast handling little rifle and very capable to take deer. The velocity loss is a factor, but not enough to keep it from performing. The only criticism I can think of is that the rifle being only 6lbs. tends to kick quite a bit with larger bullets shot from the bench. I never noticed the recoil when I was standing and shooting at game. I used a Leupold 2.5-8 scope on it, which fit the short rifle perfectly. Overall a great rifle, one that I wished I had never traded in. Don

12-29-2007, 10:20 AM	#10
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,465 Trader Rating: (0)	jaeger Thanks for the range report and the thread, it will help other that need the info...A.H

12-29-2007, 11:39 AM	#11
jaeger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 256 Trader Rating: (0)	no problem, as for the recoil call me a wuss but i fit all my rifles with limb-saver el-cheapo slip on recoil pads and the recoil was very manageable.

12-29-2007, 04:24 PM	#12
texnmidwest Senior Bear Fluffer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 2,957 Trader Rating: (0)	WUSS WUSS WUSS! I use the pachymayr slip ons. They are softer. Sure tamed my 03A3. I, as you, do not like to be in pain when shooting my rifles from the bench. I have also been known to carry a small pillow with me and shoot with them between the rifle and my shoulder. Shooting at game I do not mind the recoil. I am focused on something else. I guess...one wuss to another.

12-29-2007, 04:53 PM	#13
357maxm Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 37 Trader Rating: (0)	I own a Ruger compact in 308 and I love it. GREAT RIFLE. Very accurate. I have won many a bet with it against longer barrelled rifles.