Ruger Hawkeye Accuracy Improvements

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knifeguy

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I bought a new Ruger Hawkeye in 7mm-08 with a synthetic stock. Does anyone have any experience in improving their accuracy. It shoots horrible (3in) groups with 140 grain factory ammo. It does do about 1 inch groups with 175 grain handloads. Should I just stick with the hand loads, free float the barrel, or bed the action. Any advice would be appreciated
 
Reading between the lines a bit, it sounds as though you'd prefer to feed it 140's? If so, I think you should work through a nice series of hand-loaded 140's and see if you can find a combo it likes. I now have eleven ruger centerfire rifles and they can be a bit picky about their diet. Find the right combination though and you'll find happiness. Start with the simple stuff before you put a bunch of time & money into fixing something that may not be broken. Best of luck.
 
thanks

Correct, I would much rather shoot a lighter bullet than 175 grains. I have only put around 20 rounds through it. Do you think my groupings might tighten up as the barrel breaks in?
 
They might, but I personally would not expect much/dramatic change. I also advocate trying simpler things before more complicated or expensive things. If you end up getting around to bedding, etc, I suggest NOT messing with the forend pressure point or bedding until you've tried the quick & easy check of putting a couple thicknesses of matchbook cover (similar to cardstock?) under the front of the receiver and screwing it all back together to spec. This should lift the bbl off the forend pressure point, and will help you learn whether messing with that part of the stock is going to drive things in the direction you want. I have a Hawkeye in 308, and I'm pleased with its accuracy, though it's not a target rifle by any stretch. Also, it's a little finicky (not bad, but a little) about ammo based upon initial load work. Nevertheless, it shoots quite well.
 
Also you may want to check the torque on the forward lug & the two trigger guard bolts. I don't know the specs off the top of my head but maybe someone will chime in with them. Otherwise there is an m77 tutorial through ruger.com that is excellent.
 
I've got two Rugers and lucked up on the loads. Both shoot better than me. As listed above, try some 140 handloads. My 280 likes 140 Noslers, but I hold them below 3000fps.
 
I have only put around 20 rounds through it. Do you think my groupings might tighten up as the barrel breaks in?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't start throwing money at the rifle, until it had at least 60 rounds through it.
 
My Sako 75 won't shoot 140's worth a darn or didn't when I got it long ago. It'll shoot 150's to 1" or under and like the Sierra Matchkings in 130 and will do OK with 120's as long as they are BT's.

I load 150grn Nosler BT's over 45.5 grns of 4831SC for about 2700+/- fps. It'll get the job done on anything I hunt and usually with devastating results.
 
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