Ruger Hawkeye?

M

michaelcj

New member
I'm looking for feedback on quality / accuracy / general feeling on the current Ruger bolt guns. Haven't seen them mentioned on forums, good thing or not?

As a southpaw I like the selection they have in the hawkeye line for lefties, and I've always thought the Ruger had pretty nice looking classic lines but have only owned their #1 singles. Nice to have function and form together but good looking dud is still a dud.

May be shopping for a new bolt gun so any feedback would be appreciated.

Mike
 
I had a ruger m77 in 22-250 for years and it was a good gun and it served me well. But...

I traded it in on the same calibre but in a Tikka T3 Lite Stainless and i would never go back!!!

The tikka will group under an inch all day long and has one of the smoothest actions on the market. The trigger is also user adjustable and is sweet.

In all i am glad i bought a Tikka and am planning on buying many more...
 
I have a hawkeye grey laminated stainless in 300 win mag and just purchased a gunsite scout hawkeye both lefties. The scout's action is much smoother than my 300 win mag was when it was new but as mentioned earlier they smooth out. My win mag is very accurate and well made I have not shot the scout as of yet to give a report. I think the hawkeye is a fine rifle that will not disappoint you for the money.
 
I ordered a LH Hawkeye in .204 Ruger about 6 months ago. Afterwards, I fought out that Ruger sets all their Hawkeye rifle triggers to 5 1/2 pounds and their triggers aren't adjustable. 5 1/2 pounds is way too much for a varmint round. I had to put a Timney trigger on mine, now set to 2 1/2 pounds. Supposedly Ruger makes some "target" rifles with adjustable triggers with lower pulls than 5 1/2 pounds- but not in left hand.
 
The Hawkeye's are a definate step up over the older MK-2 rifles. The triggers are much better. If I were a lefty a new Hawkeye would be the first rifle I'd look at. As a right handed shooter I slightly prefer the new Winchesters, but they ain't being offered in left handed versions.
 
I had one in 30-06. It was a decent rifle. The wood was really nice, the action was smooth (as far as Mauser actions go). It was also pretty accurate. Certainly acceptable for a hunting rifle. My only complaint was the barrel was a little dainty for my taste. I have heard Ruger makes 'em this way so they carry better in the field. But I wanted a little more heft and better heat dissipation. Recoil was also pretty brutal with a 30-06.

All around good gun. I happen to like all the Remington 700s that my family members bring to the range and on hunting trips. But I can't say a Hawkeye is not a good gun.

Oh yea, the trigger is a little gritty and I don't think it's adjustable.
 
The Hawkeye trigger isn't mechanically adjustable, but all you need is a new and lighter spring to get you to about a 2 pound pull. I had a gunsmith do it for me, but now that I saw how easy it was, I'd do the next one myself. And on a separate post, somebody mentioned that Brownells will sell you the spring for about $3.
 
We bought my son a Hawkeye in 7mm-08 for his graduation, he has shot about 100 rounds through it, shoots very good. He has yet to go under 1/2" but nothing over 1 1/4" using 120 to 140 gr. bullets, with different powders etc. Trigger is a bit heavy but that can be fixed. It is the all weather / stainless steel model, has a nice finish to it.
 
I have a stainless Hawkeye in .358 Winchester, its been going with no problems now for about 3 years. I have zero complaints about the rifle, and would buy another in a heartbeat. It is just as accurate as my Winchester and Browning rifles, but didn't cost as much........which is always a plus.

Some people don't care the the included Ruger scope rings, but I have them on both my Ruger rifles (3 years for one, 5 years for the other) and have had no problems with them working loose, and they match the finish on the gun quite well on both the blued and stainless models I have.
 
I have talked to quite a few people about the Hawkeye. I personally own 3 ruger bolt actions. Two are m77s and one is a Hawkeye. The Hawkeye is my main rockchuck gun. However, in order to get it to consistently hit within 1" at 200 yards I free floated the barrel and put it in an aftermarket stock. The original stock was getting me around 2" at 100 yards. After I free floated it and found a good handload that it liked, I have been getting MUCH better groups.

I have talked to a couple of guys who say that they could only get 4" groups from their rifles and they tried to get Ruger to fix the problem and Ruger was unsympathetic. Also, I have heard that if you change ANYTHING about the stock rifle, it voids the warranty in Ruger's eyes. So, if you free float it be prepared to live with it after that.
 
I have 2 older ones in (.223 & 30-06) and both are good shooters. Just picked up a new one in .223 a couple weeks ago, but haven't mounted a scope yet or fired it any yet. I can tell that the action is not nearly as smooth (feels a little gritty) as the two older guns I have, but the finish on the wood and metal is excellent. It may just need cleaned and oiled. I hope the action will get smoother with some use. My other two were smooth from the day I bought them. I can't wait to get a scope on it and get to the range. :cool:

ps: CDNN is running a good deal on them right now. $549 for the lefties.:D
 
I recently handled a Hawkeye chambered for the Soviet 7.62 X 39 cartridge. Essentially, a lightweight bolt action carbine shooting a bullet of 27% LESS weight than 30-30 but approx same velocity. Turned the rifle upside down to check wood to metal fit at trigger guard and magazine. Fit was quite poor for a rifle of this cost. No thanks!

Jack
 
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