Ruger M77 Hawkeye vs Weatherby Vanguard S2

[Joel]

You can't go wrong with either, I own both, I have more Vanguards, and in a .270 I want a 24" barrel, I have never owned a Creedmoor [yet], both are honest value rifles, the stock on the Vanguard fits me better. Vanguards might be slightly more accurate. I like Ruger's safety better. Both have better synthetic stocks than many other rifles. One is a classic CRF the other a classic push feed, none of mine in either brand have ever jammed. tough choice.

Starting to really look like the only answer is both!

I like the idea of a hell for tough rifle like the Ruger but its hard to imagine a Vanguard quitting either.

Blakeyboy, whats the deal with the hate for Howas? Get burned on some lemons, or?

 

[medvedqc]

I've owned and hunted both ruger hawkeye, and a couple weatherby S2 rifles. I always go back to Tikka. That being said out of the 2 you specifically asked about I would go with the Ruger every time.

this,+1.

 

[Butcherbill]

Both are great but I prefer the Ruger, it checks all the boxes for me but you won’t go wrong with either to be honest.

 

[Joel]

You know what...

Being that I ain't too keen on changing calibers and already have a lot of 6.5 supplies...think I am gonna go with the Vanguard for now...BUT hold out for a Hawkeye in 6.5 Creedmoor if one ever pops up for grabs.

 

[156821]

I have had 3 of both the M77 and the vanguard. I tuned up the Hawkeye trigger with a simple spring for like $8. Vanguards are S2 and simply adjusted the trigger in them. The vanguards were more consistently accurate, however of the 6 the most accurate one in the bunch is a M77 mark II. I like the Ruger safety better. Finally the vanguards come with an accuracy guarantee and I don’t believe the M77 do. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on the last point.

 

[kamlooky]

S2's don't reqwire the bolt dance.

 

[wannabe]

I have owned more than a few rugers and the hawkeye was the WORST.....worse than the american by far.....but then again another hawkeye was just as good and smooth as an earlier MkII....if at all possible try the hawkeye out prior to buying it....my issue was a loose and binding bolt....it was horrid....after weeks of spit and polish it is now passible but when I first got it I almost cried...

 

[Joel]

S2's don't reqwire the bolt dance.

Haha whats the bolt dance, kamlooky? Is that part of disassembling a Ruger bolt, or?

I have owned more than a few rugers and the hawkeye was the WORST.....worse than the american by far.....but then again another hawkeye was just as good and smooth as an earlier MkII....if at all possible try the hawkeye out prior to buying it....my issue was a loose and binding bolt....it was horrid....after weeks of spit and polish it is now passible but when I first got it I almost cried...[/img]

Yikes!

A MkII in the Hawkeye wood stock would be pretty wicked too

 

[kamlooky]

Had a couple that don't feed werd chit.
Need to jiggle the bolt to feed a round.
I shedded a tear on the last one I sold.

 

[Joel]

Had a couple that don't feed werd chit.
Need to jiggle the bolt to feed a round.
I shedded a tear on the last one I sold.

Ah jeez OK I understand. SOrry to hear that!

 

[Butcherbill]

The Howa/Vanguard bolt is smoother for sure but I’ve never thought the Ruger was rough, definitely a different motion to operate the Mauser style bolt over the Howa. Both mine shoot factory ammo well, moa at 100m if I do my part. Haven’t loaded for either of them yet, if the Howa came with irons and was offered in a LH action I’d have a hard time choosing which one to grab. The Ruger has better box mags (AICS) than the Howa/Vanguard Legacy DM kit.

I have gravitated more and more to a .30 cal compact bolt action with, box mag, iron sights and optic mounting options and the Ruger has the Howa beat for me. That said I hunted with the Howa for a couple seasons and it didn’t leave me wanting anything other than a LH option, that won’t be an issue for any right handed shooter though. I don’t even mind the synthetic hogue stock, it’s pillar bedded and works fine.

 

[Joel]

I wonder how a Tikka compact in 308 would work for you if you could graft some sights onto it?

 

[ShrtRnd]

I wonder how a Tikka compact in 308 would work for you if you could graft some sights onto it?

That would also become Rem Model 7 territory if one were going that route.

 

[Joel]

That would also become Rem Model 7 territory if one were going that route.

Oh true that. Good call. Sometimes you see really good deals on em in HS Precision or McM stocks too

 

[ShrtRnd]

An easy rebarrel to 7-08, 6.5Cm, 308 or 284W would have a pretty slick handling hardwood Deer/Treestand rig for sure.

 

[Butcherbill]

I wonder how a Tikka compact in 308 would work for you if you could graft some sights onto it?

Tikka was on my list while I was trying to pick a LH bolt but it didn’t make the top 3, didn’t find a compact at the time. The Ruger had everything I wanted/needed in a rifle, the 700ltr was a close second once I was able to handle my top 5 picks. Browning X bolt was my 3rd pick, no compact offering or irons but it fit me nicely.

The Ruger hasn’t disappointed, it shoots accurate, handles nice and the stainless/laminate is a sharp looking combo. The factory irons are great as well.

 

[Joel]

Cool! So you've got a left handed GSR? Sorry if I missed that earlier

 

[Butcherbill]

Cool! So you've got a left handed GSR? Sorry if I missed that earlier

Correct, wasn’t an easy one to find. RH ones were scarce enough over the last couple years but I managed to find one at a reasonable price in .308

 

[Joel]

Oh heck no that couldn't have been easy to find at all. Happy you scored one.

Great looking generalist of a rifle there

 

[Joel]

Definitely not the shortest, most svelte or lightweight rifle out there, but it feels pretty solid and fits well.