I now have 2 frontiers 7-08 and .358 both shoot under 1" with the first loads I tried, can't wait to run some over the chrony to check the velocity I am getting out of the 161/2 barrels, if I get 2200fps with a 250 grain load I will be more than happy. The 7-08 just loves 175 grain round nose hornadys and thats just fine with me.
Ruger Compacts...got one??
- Thread starter brenden270
- Start date
Well stated. Not all of us hunt open areas. I hunt in flooded timber (10 square miles of swamp) and you would be lucky to see 25 yards in some areas because it is so thick. Small compact rifles are the order of the day when hunting there. I've shot deer at 5-15 yards that I've walked up on and had no idea I was there.
This kind of hunting requires a short barreled easy pointing firearm to get the job done well.
I have a frontier in 300 WSM. I have never really had an issue with blast or recoil on it. With factory it shoots about 1.5" @ 100M. I have shot two deer with it and handloaded 165 gr SGK's which worked very well. I am now loading Barnes 165 gr XLC's and they group much better. I am getting about 0.75" groups at 100M which is plenty accurate for a bush gun. Where I hunt whitetails it is some pretty nasty thick bush and I spend the whole day hiking so it is perfect for that. I really like the fit and finish on Ruger rifles.
- Location
- Lloydminster
I was doing some searching. We can actually get the Frontier 338 Federal in a few weeks and price is not as bad as I thought $979.
Are you able to get a stainless Compact in 308win? I think they call it a Hawkeye now instead of the MKII.
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
you can put on a Limbsaver recoil pad -they have one for the Compact. It adds about 3/4 inch or more. It's a couple of mm wider than the stock at the base of the pad but that's no biggie. you will have to fill one of the screw holes holes in the base.
- Location
- Lloydminster
Yes.
- Location
- Squamish, BC
Just bought one (in.308) here near Toronto at LeBaron. It's laminate stock/stainless. Put on a Leupold 2-7x with the mounts that come with the rifle. And yes it's called Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact.
Have had it in the safe for a week now and haven't fired it! Tomorrow heading up north of Huntsville and going to unleash
...to sight it in at least! I will return here with my review after getting it dialed in.Cheers.
Have a Frontier stainless in 308 with Leupold 2.5 long eye relief scope on the scout mount rib. I believe the barrels are hammer forged and also quite a bit heavier than the compacts which may be the reason why they shoot so well. I got the rifle about a year ago after waiting nearly eight months after I ordered it, I guess they were too expensive compared with the compacts and that is probably the reason that Ruger stopped making the Frontier models.
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I asked the same question and got liots of excellent answers. see
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=348009
Thanks Johnc thats what I needed.
- Location
- Squamish, BC
Finally got to test out my compact .308 yesterday! Got a couple of boxes of 150 and 180 grain Super X through it. I've got a Leupold VXI 2-7x on it. My overall impression is great, even with a hot barrel. I was, however, surprised with the recoil. Hadn't expected it from .308 though I've never fired such a small rifle before. It wasn't a mule, but my shoulder was feeling all those rounds last night at supper! The muzzle jump and blast were as expected.
Was sighting in the scope at around 60 yards, as the undergrowth is quite this year I couldn't see out to 100. I was doing 3 shot groups, the best was 1 inch. 2 of the shots were touching, with the 3rd being about 1 inch low and less than 0.5 inches to the left. I was pretty happy. This was a hot barrel as well.
The bolt was super smooth, ejected perfectly. The trigger was maybe just a *tad* heavy for me, but no biggie at all.
This morning it was shooting a bit to the left at 50 yards so I guess I still have work to do - I am by no means a sharp shooter or an expert at sighting in scopes.
Sorry there aren't any pics. Just wanted to share my experience and let everyone know that IMO this is a very nice little rifle.
Cheers
Was sighting in the scope at around 60 yards, as the undergrowth is quite this year I couldn't see out to 100. I was doing 3 shot groups, the best was 1 inch. 2 of the shots were touching, with the 3rd being about 1 inch low and less than 0.5 inches to the left. I was pretty happy. This was a hot barrel as well.
The bolt was super smooth, ejected perfectly. The trigger was maybe just a *tad* heavy for me, but no biggie at all.
This morning it was shooting a bit to the left at 50 yards so I guess I still have work to do - I am by no means a sharp shooter or an expert at sighting in scopes.
Sorry there aren't any pics. Just wanted to share my experience and let everyone know that IMO this is a very nice little rifle.
Cheers
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
i've found what helps is to pull down a bit on the forend when firing and make sure the stock is snug in your shoulder pocket- the the gun moves straight back. I have a Frontier in .300WSM and once I started using that approach I could bench 50 max load rounds no problems.
if you don't mind an extra 1/2 to 3/4 inches stock length Limbsaver makes a recoil pad that fits it. I put one on my 7mm-08 and it reduced the felt recoil quite a bit
Can't find it easily and too spendy also.
In my case it's been ALWAYS reloads for over twenty years - 308 Win necked up mostly - or 358Win once fired brass purchased or scrounged here and there. I've never owned or even fired a factory 358Win load that I can recall - prefer rolling my own anyway.
