New - Ruger Hawkeye vs Model 70

[diemaco]

The Ruger Africans are in my opinion the best version of the hawkeye's. Beautiful wood, gloss deep bluing, when found they usually in classic cartridges like the 6.5x55, 7x57, 9.3x62.

Looking at these pictures makes me have sellers remorse.

Are those both in 9.3x62? The barrel contour look different?

 

[dgradinaru]

Both 9.3's. The one on the left is the older hawkeye african model that had a thicker barrel, while the one on the right was the most recent lipsey's run with a sporter barrel.

 

[blakeyboy]

Both 9.3's. The one on the left is the older hawkeye african model that had a thicker barrel, while the one on the right was the most recent lipsey's run with a sporter barrel.

I can see why that 9.3 has a following, the sd on those .366" 300's is way up there at .320, almost as good as the .331 of the 30-06 220's, and way better than the .305 of the 375 300's. Nice bridge cartridge to the big boys.

Love looking at these rugers. Very likely my next purchase although I'm loving everything I have right now and still need to get some blood on the little ultralight I just developed.

It surprises me they offer the Hawkeye in .204 ruger, such a puzzling option, I imagine it will become a rare collector at some point.....gives hope they will throw the 6mm-Arc and 6.5 Grendel options into it???...and they should as they'd sell more because both are viable big game options legal in most of the continent.

Wonder what it would be like to open the bolt on the .204 to take the x39 case? but a shame to rebarrel and convert a .204 to an Arc or Grendel as it sounds like they are putting some excellent 5r minimum clearance chambers/headspace/centered chamber barrels on these things. I could see wanting more than one of these for sure. On the other hand I'm sort of glad I can't get my Grendel in one as really don't want to invest in guns at the moment, at least my wallet doesn't want me to.

 

[WhelanLad]

nice thread, ironically i just dusted my m77 mkii Hawkeye off an am about to scope it tonight.. the reason?
im turning 35 in a few days/weeks or something and well, figured it IS the year of the .35Whelen for me.........

im goin away on a bit of a 4x4 , camping , leisure trip in a few days and want to take it along for the ride!


ive often sat the Ruger down because of its weight, i mostly walk an stalk with gun in hand throughout the day an in recent years spoilt myself with the likes of a Kimber montana.......... this really screwed up the 'favourites' ...

ive not had much to do with model 70s to compare! so interested in reading some of the above posts

 

[Joel]

Enjoy the trip and happy birthday!!!

 

[WhelanLad]

Enjoy the trip and happy birthday!!!

your tone might change , i forgot to mention that my new 'girlfriend' will be coming on the trip, hence a bit more leisure than hunt... ha ha. She is a keen hiker though an outdoor enthusiast but is new to the hunting life.....
but thanks for the well wishes an such mate, ill try get some photos an maybe post a little trip report from down under an its Snowy mountains area!

 

[Ardent]

I can see why that 9.3 has a following, the sd on those .366" 300's is way up there at .320, almost as good as the .331 of the 30-06 220's, and way better than the .305 of the 375 300's. Nice bridge cartridge to the big boys.

Love looking at these rugers. Very likely my next purchase although I'm loving everything I have right now and still need to get some blood on the little ultralight I just developed.

It surprises me they offer the Hawkeye in .204 ruger, such a puzzling option, I imagine it will become a rare collector at some point.....gives hope they will throw the 6mm-Arc and 6.5 Grendel options into it???...and they should as they'd sell more because both are viable big game options legal in most of the continent.

Wonder what it would be like to open the bolt on the .204 to take the x39 case? but a shame to rebarrel and convert a .204 to an Arc or Grendel as it sounds like they are putting some excellent 5r minimum clearance chambers/headspace/centered chamber barrels on these things. I could see wanting more than one of these for sure. On the other hand I'm sort of glad I can't get my Grendel in one as really don't want to invest in guns at the moment, at least my wallet doesn't want me to.

The M77 MkII came in 7.62x39, including SS versions. I’d find one of those to build off, it’s a very undervalued action.

 

[blakeyboy]

The M77 MkII came in 7.62x39, including SS versions. I’d find one of those to build off, it’s a very undervalued action.

I know, the boat paddle etc. I have put out feelers here many times. I would trade Leica ultravid hd's in 10x32 for one, I have desirable leupold fixed powers, a crf-1600, so a trade could work with some decent gear on my end, or likely come up with a reasonable amount of cash. It's one I would rebarrel to the grendel right away. I do like the updated changes to this last rendition Hawkeye though, seems a 100% option, and do love the wood/red recoil pad on stainless with future proof threaded, so I'd only be getting 98% there if I found a x39 so I don't work too hard at it. If anyone sees one come up and remembers, give me a poke. In the meantime I'll keep putting it into the universe that ruger must chamber the Arc and Grendel at some point...the must see that would be a winner and way outsell the .204 chambering. It would also be some of the first 'higher end' sporting options in those chamberings over the working man budget 'howa/ranch/cz 527', well the cz is a step above those but not new Hawkeye level. It would seem a no-brainer for Ruger to do this so I'll hold out with side eye to the older x39.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

I know, the boat paddle etc. I have put out feelers here many times. I would trade Leica ultravid hd's in 10x32 for one, I have desirable leupold fixed powers, a crf-1600, so a trade could work with some decent gear on my end, or likely come up with a reasonable amount of cash. It's one I would rebarrel to the grendel right away. I do like the updated changes to this last rendition Hawkeye though, seems a 100% option, and do love the wood/red recoil pad on stainless with future proof threaded, so I'd only be getting 98% there if I found a x39 so I don't work too hard at it. If anyone sees one come up and remembers, give me a poke. In the meantime I'll keep putting it into the universe that ruger must chamber the Arc and Grendel at some point...the must see that would be a winner and way outsell the .204 chambering. It would also be some of the first 'higher end' sporting options in those chamberings over the working man budget 'howa/ranch/cz 527', well the cz is a step above those but not new Hawkeye level. It would seem a no-brainer for Ruger to do this so I'll hold out with side eye to the older x39.

Blakeyboy you are a handloader...correct? Why in gods name would you not just grab a factory 6.5 Creed Hawkeye and download it with H4895 to achieve Grendel velocities and recoil energy?
Grendel would have janky/hitchy feeding compared to the Creed in that action and the mag is holding an equal amount down, I just honestly don't see any reason to do what you've described unless for the pure sake of rifle loonyism.

A scaled action such as a Howa Mini or a mini Mauser like a CZ527 or Zastava makes sense, just can't wrap my head around how much expense and trouble one would go to to do what you're describing.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

It would also be some of the first 'higher end' sporting options in those chamberings over the working man budget 'howa/ranch/cz 527', well the cz is a step above those but not new Hawkeye level.

Blakeyboy you gotta slow down and take a breath...you're putting that Ruger on an undeserved pedestal.
I have owned/shot many examples of each and the basic Ruger MKII/Hawkeye is not a "high-end" rifle by any stretch of the imagination. Now,before I get flamed, the Ruger is most definitely one of my favorite rifle designs and are reliable in function and reasonably accurate but no better build quality than either the Howa or CZ you listed.

I have always felt that the used MKII and Hawkeyes you see on the EE between 700$-900$ are the best all around value in a quality hunting rifle one could possibly buy, especially in stainless.
MKII's usually need a bit of trigger work and sometimes bedding or barrel channel tweaking but I would try and steer a new hunter or shooter towards either a used Ruger or a Tikka T3.

 

[Joel]

Blakeyboy you gotta slow down and take a breath...you're putting that Ruger on an undeserved pedestal.
I have owned/shot many examples of each and the basic Ruger MKII/Hawkeye is not a "high-end" rifle by any stretch of the imagination. Now,before I get flamed, the Ruger is most definitely one of my favorite rifle designs and they are of decent build quality but no better than either the Howa or CZ you listed.

With a not so hot trigger from the factory. They sure clean up nice though. I like the LC-6 as is a lot better than the factory Mk II trigger.

 

[blakeyboy]

I hear ya Sunsteel, I forget how vast the scale to high end is. Especially in the controlled round feed stuff I see your point, but I'm seeing it in a completely different level than anything savage, even tikka or Sako a7, and way above all the budget stuff most are talking about and buying these days. It won't be in the blaser k95 level as I have gone that high in past but compared to a ruger american it's 'higher end' to me

 

[Ardent]

If a 6.5Gr is desired, a downloaded 6.5Cr isn’t going to be the same thing, also won’t eat the 6.5Gr loads one already stocks. Cartridges always run better when at full capacity, and we’re in the business of optimization to the point of lunacy around here.

I agree functionally, no game animal will ever know the difference. Everyone in 6.5 would shoot a 6.5-284 and download them to 6.5Cr or Gr if this was the shining path.

 

[blakeyboy]

Blakeyboy you are a handloader...correct? Why in gods name would you not just grab a factory 6.5 Creed Hawkeye and download it with H4895 to achieve Grendel velocities and recoil energy?
Grendel would have janky/hitchy feeding compared to the Creed in that action and the mag is holding an equal amount down, I just honestly don't see any reason to do what you've described unless for the pure sake of rifle loonyism.

A scaled action such as a Howa Mini or a mini Mauser like a CZ527 or Zastava makes sense, just can't wrap my head around how much expense and trouble one would go to to do what you're describing.

I do not hand load. Factory only. I do have a bucket full of brass for grendel one day though. Usually keep 1000 rounds on hand at any given time. An all stainless crf with nice stock and high reputation for accuracy is not available in the micro length action cartridge world. I'm not saying I want that rifle in 6.5 G but I likely would get it to go with whatever else I end up choosing. I think it's bizarre they chamber it in .204 but not the Arc or Grendel, that's all. I have considered 30-06 and 6 CM but since already heavy into 6.5 G the 30-06 might become my elephant gun lol

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

If a 6.5Gr is desired, a downloaded 6.5Cr isn’t going to be the same thing, also won’t eat the 6.5Gr loads one already stocks. Cartridges always run better when at full capacity, and we’re in the business of optimization to the point of lunacy around here.

I agree functionally, no game animal will ever know the difference. Everyone in 6.5 would shoot a 6.5-284 and download them to 6.5Cr or Gr if this was the shining path.

Sorry but I disagree.
I have extensive experience handloading both reduced and subsonic/mouse fart loads in .308win based cartridges and if the rifle likes a particular bullet with a full power load it will absolutely come around 300-400fps slower with a reduced H4895 load with excellent accuracy 9 times out of ten.

Also a 6.5-284 is a bit of a stretch for a Ruger short action.

 

[blakeyboy]

With a not so hot trigger from the factory. They sure clean up nice though. I like the LC-6 as is a lot better than the factory Mk II trigger.

I know this guy named Henry Rempel that would get the x39 project for the new barrel, bedding, trigger. He's only half hour drive away for me.

Sounds like the new Hawkeye wouldn't need his attention at all, well maybe to bring that trigger down to a crisp 3.0 but that's about it maybe. I'd want to shoot it before doing anything other than tuning up the trigger which I hear runs 3.5 to 4.5 with a bit of creep.

 

[Ardent]

How many competitions of any genre are won with 70% load density H4895 loads?

I love downloading with H4895, done it lots. It’s why I finally gave up the H&H and made a wildcat that duplicated the ballistics of my download from a .30-06 based case. My load I ended up using for everything in the H&H, here and abroad was 60grs H4895. I get the same performance from 50grs of it in the new case, with less recoil and better accuracy. This isn’t to say the H&H accuracy was poor.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

How many competitions of any genre are won with 70% load density H4895 loads?

For my son and I to shoot our spring bear and a couple of dinks in the fall and then range shoot steel out to 500 the rest of the year .25" benchrest accuracy is not needed.
I'm one of those heathens that is happy with a factory rifle and tuned load that consistently shoots MOA, and I have never had an issue doing so with reduced loads when the situation dictated it.

I have limited experience with downloading magnum or /06 cases and their respective increase in volume.

 

[Ardent]

Can respect that, done the same lots in many cartridges.

Just my take, people get into PPCs and 6.5 Grendel for the bugholes they shoot with nil recoil, it’s a minimalist cartridge to the max. That minimalist thinking doesn’t cross breed well in my mind with downloading a much larger case and running it at part capacity. Though I do see your point that animals can’t tell the shape of the brass tube that launched the bullet.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

Can respect that, done the same lots in many cartridges.

Just my take, people get into PPCs and 6.5 Grendel for the bugholes they shoot with nil recoil, it’s a minimalist cartridge to the max. That minimalist thinking doesn’t cross breed well in my mind with downloading a much larger case and running it at part capacity. Though I do see your point that animals can’t tell the shape of the brass tube that launched the bullet.

...and now considering the O.P. has stated he doesn't handload than any suggestion I gave him previous is as worthless as the paper it was printed on!

I am guilty of trying to save others time and money sometimes, usually from personal experience of past adventures, but I suppose its' all part of being a loony and I'm still chasing my latest greatest to this day spending much of my time and most of my money!