compact hunting rifle: Browning Micro Midas VS Ruger hawkeye compact

dukecrab

dukecrab

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Nanaimo
I always want a short hunting rifle...while some asked me why do you want a short one? a normal one is good enough.....bla..bla..

yes, I know, but I just really like compact...

my arm is short, 12.5 inch LOP just fits me very well....

I have already narrowed my choice down to

1. Browning Micro Midas; OAL 38.5'' ( the browning website says 38.125'' but I measured in store is more than 38.5'')

2. Ruger Hawkeye compact, laminate , SS barrel. OAL 35.5'' ( anyone has the real measure? maybe real world is 36 '' ?)


Both have same LOP 12.5 inch, same weight, the cost is close too...

I have shoulded the browning micro midas, it fits me really well...
I have no chance to find any ruger hawkeye compact locally but can find some online....
but ruger is about 3 inch shorter than the browning... and this 3 inch attracts me a lot...

to sum up:
I like accurate ( browning +1)
I like shorter: (ruger +1)
I like the magzine (browning +1)
I like SS barrel (ruger +1)
I like laminate stock (ruger +1)
I like the feel (Browning +1)
many people I know think browning is better brand ( browning +1)

for the safety, ruger has 3 position but browning also can cycle with safety on.... (OK, both +1)

...
yet can not decide....if I have lots money I should buy both and play for a while then sell one...but I am not rich...
if it was you, what would you choose and why?
 
I have the Ruger Compact and like it a lot. It is fast and very accurate. Winchester also has a featherweight compact that you may find interesting. The a Ruger is the most compact of all though. My son shoots it, he's only 12.
 
We recently picked up a Ruger M77 Hawkeye SS/Lam Compact in .308 for my wife, topped it with a used VX-III 2.5-8x36, trimmed the stock 3/4" and added a limbsaver pad. BTW, Factory LOP is 12 3/4"

20150321_201205_zps6i1zpsvd.jpg


Got it shooting 130gr TTSX's at 2850 ft/sec with decent results.
100_1285_zps3lvlg4j6.jpg
 
I sure wouldn't say a X-bolt is a better rifle than a Hawkeye. Accuracy is a wash as either one could be more accurate, it's just luck of the draw in that department. No plastic on the Hawkeye either. The Hawkeye will be much shorter, but is going to balance a lot more rear ward than the Browning. This is generally the biggest complaint with the compact M77s, it may or may not be a issue for you. If it is not there is no doubt in my mind to go with he Ruger.
 
landphil said:
We recently picked up a Ruger M77 Hawkeye SS/Lam Compact in .308 for my wife, topped it with a used VX-III 2.5-8x36, trimmed the stock 3/4" and added a limbsaver pad. BTW, Factory LOP is 12 3/4"


20150321_201205_zps6i1zpsvd.jpg


Got it shooting 130gr TTSX's at 2850 ft/sec with decent results.
100_1285_zps3lvlg4j6.jpg
Click to expand...



hahaha, see you here again! is that the original recoil pad or a limbsave one?
 
dukecrab said:
I always want a short hunting rifle...while some asked me why do you want a short one? a normal one is good enough.....bla..bla..

yes, I know, but I just really like compact...

my arm is short, 12.5 inch LOP just fits me very well....

I have already narrowed my choice down to

1. Browning Micro Midas; OAL 38.5'' ( the browning website says 38.125'' but I measured in store is more than 38.5'')

2. Ruger Hawkeye compact, laminate , SS barrel. OAL 35.5'' ( anyone has the real measure? maybe real world is 36 '' ?)


Both have same LOP 12.5 inch, same weight, the cost is close too...

I have shoulded the browning micro midas, it fits me really well...
I have no chance to find any ruger hawkeye compact locally but can find some online....
but ruger is about 3 inch shorter than the browning... and this 3 inch attracts me a lot...

to sum up:
I like accurate ( browning +1)
I like shorter: (ruger +1)
I like the magzine (browning +1)
I like SS barrel (ruger +1)
I like laminate stock (ruger +1)
I like the feel (Browning +1)
many people I know think browning is better brand ( browning +1)

for the safety, ruger has 3 position but browning also can cycle with safety on.... (OK, both +1)

...
yet can not decide....if I have lots money I should buy both and play for a while then sell one...but I am not rich...
if it was you, what would you choose and why?
Click to expand...
I don't like either of those to be honest.

You can always re barrel any bolt action rifle with a new barrel of any length so long as the OAL stays at 26" or more. This is what I plan to do since nobody makes what I want really
 
Brian46 said:
I don't like either of those to be honest.

You can always re barrel any bolt action rifle with a new barrel of any length so long as the OAL stays at 26" or more. This is what I plan to do since nobody makes what I want really
Click to expand...

the price may go much higher in this way I think...
 
dukecrab said:
the price may go much higher in this way I think...
Click to expand...
you can look at used stuff since you will have a brand new barrel, just something worth considering.

I have/had brownings and rugers (all older stuff) nothing wrong with them if that is what you like and fits your budget.
 
Since Hoyt is commenting...have you considered a Handi rifle? Even with a full length barrel they will be shorter than many compact bolt guns. Given that you are on the central island and everything is so thick, with short shots, mostly coastal blacktail, unlikely to encounter a bear of significant size....what about a simple solution like a Model 94 30-30, JM guide gun in 45-70?

Shots are almost always going to be close, at small animals, and the Alder monster will reach out and scratch/gouge pretty furniture.
 
nowarningshot said:
Since Hoyt is commenting...have you considered a Handi rifle? Even with a full length barrel they will be shorter than many compact bolt guns. Given that you are on the central island and everything is so thick, with short shots, mostly coastal blacktail, unlikely to encounter a bear of significant size....what about a simple solution like a Model 94 30-30, JM guide gun in 45-70?
Shots are almost always going to be close, at small animals, and the Alder monster will reach out and scratch/gouge pretty furniture.
Click to expand...

yes, with even 20 inch barrel in a single shot rifle, the over all lenght might be even shorter then a most compact blot action repeater...

I had a time wanted a single shot badly.....and I even I reached out for a TC encore pro hunter....but changed my mind at the moment making a payment...
 
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