Ruger Hawkeyes

Alberta Bigbore

Alberta Bigbore

CGN Regular
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Edmonton, Alberta
ok, im starting to get a real boner for these rugers. im liking the way they fit me over remingtons, my own fault for asking to handle one.

who owns one? what do you like about them, what do you hate about them. who did own one and why did you get rid of it.


i wont ask about calibre vs. moose vs. deer, etc as i have enough common sense to figure that out :D
 
I recently picked one up in .375 Ruger. The overall quality of the Hawkeye(as compared to older Ruger bolt guns) has improved IMO. The checkering is well done, wood to metal fit is excellent, and it fits me properly when I throw it up to my shoulder. Going to install a limbsaver prior to shooting it.
 
this applies to the M77 MkIIs and Hawkeyes (exact same rifle aside from some very small cosmetic changes like slight stock geometry, floorplate, etc):

likes:
-very Mauser-like CRF design
-Ruger rings/integrated bases
-good metal/wood fit & finish (applies to their more upscale models)
-all metal parts, no BS plastic
-very crisp LC6 trigger
-excellent safety (compared to Remington 700 safety for example)
-good accuracy (all of mine have been sub-MOA)

dislikes:
-really crappy recoil pad
-some people have bad luck with the LC6 trigger, so plan for a possible $100 upgrade
-bit on the heavy side
-Ruger checkering on laminate looks like absolute garbage (only applies to MkIIs).

if you want to keep the rifle as it is with little modification they are IMO the best sub-$1000 factory gun right now.
however if you want to get into heavily modding it you are still much better off with something like a Remmy 700 action.
 
I have a MarkII that I bought last summer. Its an all weather, stainless and synthetic stock. I think its a great gun. Shoots accurately, nicely machined and finished, and the stock is a excellent fit. I'd recommend one. Really like the design of the scope rings and integral bases.
 
I am a bit of a Ruger fan:

  • 77/22
  • MKII in .308win
  • MKII in 350 Rem Mag
  • MKII in .300 Win Mag
  • Hawkeye MKII in .358win
The fit and finish are ideal for me; all stainless and synthetic. Oh yeah, they all shoot good too.
IMG_0006.jpg

IMG_0360.jpg


:D



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The Ruger Alaskan I shot this past winter is an excellent rifle. The trigger is better than past models, the action is slick, feeding is excellent, and accuracy was outstanding.

The downside for me is that there are not enough scope mounting options for these rifles. Mounted with conventional rings, the ocular is too far to the rear in a heavy recoiling caliber. I warned my pal about this on numerous occasions, but he wasn't concerned. A couple of weeks ago he got tagged, no cut but it bruised his forehead. 30mm QD extension rings for powerful Ruger rifles is a must.

Edited to add
The recoil pad on the Alaskan model is quite good, it might even be a Decelerator.
 
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What's the main difference between the Hawkeye and the older MKII.

I have a MKII SS laminated in 7mmMag that would be nice with a 375/338 bbl on it.


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Ruger Hawkeye and M77 Mark II are great rifles I had a 30-06 in a M77 Mark II and I sold it only because I need to fund another project. But as soon as I got enough money and found a deal on anther one I bought one.
Likes CRF, Nice wood stocks, great shoot really well I had 1 inch moa no issue with factory ammo.
Dislikes the recoil pads suck not a issue until you get into the mag calibers, triggers are as heavy as brick
So buy a limbsaver and a trigger. Can't wait to see a range report on your new Ruger :)
 
SuperCub said:
What's the main difference between the Hawkeye and the older MKII.

I have a MKII SS laminated in 7mmMag that would be nice with a 375/338 bbl on it.


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Click to expand...

not much.
used to be the LC6 trigger was the big difference, but now any MkII you buy has it too. M77s with a prefix of around 190 and up have the new LC6 trigger - you can recognize it by the groove running along the back (old trigger is flat at the back). heres a photo i took for another thread on the ruger safety showing the LC6:
m77mkiisafetygb8.jpg



they also changed the stock geometry a little, and added a Ruger logo on the floorplate.
 
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SuperCub said:
What's the main difference between the Hawkeye and the older MKII.
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Click to expand...


Not much other than the trigger, stock, and the bead-blasted finish.

The trigger is an improvement, but it still needed to be polished up and is much nicer now. I prefer the old canoe paddle stock for the synthetic - they feel more solid than the hollow plastic ones. The recoil pads are Decelerators (I think) and the matte finish looks good. Fit, feel, and accuracy is still the same - great.:D
 
manbearpig said:
this applies to the M77 MkIIs and Hawkeyes (exact same rifle aside from some very small cosmetic changes like slight stock geometry, floorplate, etc):

likes:
-very Mauser-like CRF design
-Ruger rings/integrated bases
-good metal/wood fit & finish (applies to their more upscale models)
-all metal parts, no BS plastic
-very crisp LC6 trigger
-excellent safety (compared to Remington 700 safety for example)
-good accuracy (all of mine have been sub-MOA)

dislikes:
-really crappy recoil pad
-some people have bad luck with the LC6 trigger, so plan for a possible $100 upgrade
-bit on the heavy side
-Ruger checkering on laminate looks like absolute garbage (only applies to MkIIs).

if you want to keep the rifle as it is with little modification they are IMO the best sub-$1000 factory gun right now.
however if you want to get into heavily modding it you are still much better off with something like a Remmy 700 action.
Click to expand...


could you please go in a bit more detail on what kind of bad luck some were havin with the triggers?
 
I had a Ruger hawkeye in 06 last year. Even after free floating, barrel lapping and bedding, the third shot would be a 2" flyer. No matter what bullet or powder it would do this routinely. It ended up on the P&D rack as a trade in. I wasn't impressed.
 
Alberta Bigbore said:
could you please go in a bit more detail on what kind of bad luck some were havin with the triggers?
Click to expand...

youd have to ask the people that didnt like em.
i havent had a single problem with ruger M77 triggers, all of mine were very crisp from the factory (even the older style). one older M77 had a bit heavier trigger pull than the others but that was fixed with a $3 wolf spring from brownells.

if i recall from an earlier thread, gatehouse and someone else had crappy factory triggers on their M77s and ended up replacing them with an aftermarket trigger.
 
I have a Hawkeye in .243 other than it being a bit heavy its been a great gun. The trigger is a bit heavy but mine is no worse than other factory guns I have bought. The gun was pretty accurate out of the box so its been left as is so far.... Its my first Ruger so I am impressed with it.
 
manbearpig said:
if i recall from an earlier thread, gatehouse and someone else had crappy factory triggers on their M77s and ended up replacing them with an aftermarket trigger.
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I own a circa 1990 Ruger MKII in 7mm RM. It came wiht a regular (read horrible) trigger. Replaced it wiht a Timney and it was good to go.

My most recent Ruger, a Hawkeye in 375 Ruger, came with the new trigger. The trigger was fine for most people, but not good enough for me. I sent it to Guntech and he had it back in my hands a week later, with the trigger smoothed and lightened.

The bottom line on most MKII's and Hawkeyes is that the triggers are easily replaced or tuned up, (for cheap) and many people don't even know thier trigger sucks, anyway:)

That 7RM has shot about 2000 rounds of ammo and it still shoots great. The 375 shot great from the start, and better after the new trigger, and I am sure it will shoot just as well once I install and bed the B&C stock that showed up in the mail the other day....:)
 
I thought you were planning to go to a McMillan!!?? My pal's Alaskan was shooting 3 shot half inch groups (300 gr TSX and 79.5 grs of 760) off the bench, with the factory Hogue stock. Hard to improve on that, but he needs to wean himself off the bench and shoot it the way it was meant to be shot. I hope you have good luck with yours.
 
Boomer said:
I thought you were planning to go to a McMillan!!?? My pal's Alaskan was shooting 3 shot half inch groups (300 gr TSX and 79.5 grs of 760) off the bench, with the factory Hogue stock.
Hard to improve on that, but he needs to wean himself off the bench and shoot it the way it was meant to be shot. I hope you have good luck with yours.
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Him and most of the shooting world as well.
 
hey, not everyone has their umbilical cord tethering them to the bench.

after sight-in i shoot most of my rifles either offhand or off the side of a post. getting sub-MOA groups off the bench with your hunting rifle is worthless if you shoot 12" groups in the field.
 
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