My new .358 Hawkeye

[HeathSexton]

After reading about bullet's Hawkeye in .358 I knew I needed one. I had a BLR, but I was never big on the geared action for a lever, I wanted a bolt. After post after post about accuracy, velocity, blah blah it sealed the deal, I ordered one. I ordered a stainless/synthetic sinply because I don't want to scratch up a nice piece of walnut. My guns go from through a lot, so stainless/synthetic was the way to roll.

I topped the gun with a 3-9x40 Nikon for just shooting. I fired a few groups yesterday and they were .7 - 1.1" all at 75yds, farthest I can shoot. I traded for a 1.75-6x32mm Vari-X III and it arrived today. After carefully mounting it, carefuly because it is soooo short. It just barely fit the rings on the short action Ruger. After 15 rounds I had 3 more 3 shot groups in the .4's to .6's again all at 75yds. I am going to shoot at 100yds as soon as I can, but it is plenty accurate I think. I am shooting 200gr Hornady SP, Win .308 brass, WLR Primer, 47grs H4895. I don't know the velocity, they ran 2380fps from my 20" BLR. It seemed to be a slow barrel as other shooting this load from the BLR were in the 2450fps range.

 

[JD338]

Heath

Congratulations on your new Hawkeye. Its one nice looking rifle. I think you have opted for the perfect scope. Accuracy is excellent, your load development is done! You are ready for the hunt.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Wonderful rifle Heath. Congrats! Nice accuracy too.

Man those rings barely fit huh?

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Looks like a well balanced rifle. Rugers dont shoot all that bad once you've found a load for them either. I've never seen a scope mounted like that. Thats really close!!!

I've worked with quite a few probly around 10 in all sorts of calibers from .223 to 300 win mag and every single one would do under 1" at 100 yards with reloads and a trigger job. My first rifle that got me into LR shooting was a ruger mk2 stainless/synthetic 25-06 rem w/muzzle brake. With reloads and a trigger job, busting milk jugs at 500 yards was getting to be a regularity.

 

[.405]

Very nice looking gun. I had a Savage 99 in .358.Very good caliber.
The only .35's I have left are the .35 Rem and a .350 Rem Mag.

 

[HeathSexton]

Thanks guys! I really liked the looks of the 1.5x5 VX-III but I got a offer on a trade for the 1.75x6, I really like it, the length is just a hair short, LOL.


That won't cause a problem will it, the rings being that close? I showed it to a friend and he said there had to be 1/16" between the rings and bell on scopes, I sure ain't got that.


It shoots real nice. I have other Rugers that shoot good but they have had to be floated or bedded or it has taken some load work. This one was just automatic.

 

[.405]

Looks fine, if it is not cutting into the Obj bell.You could always call Ruger and get a front extention ring.I use dual extention rings on my #1.

 

[HeathSexton]

So you would extend the front ring?

 

[.405]

So you would extend the front ring?

It would extend it back about 1/2' and would give you more eye relief.
Eye relief is critical for me.Leupold is great but I like all I can get. You don't want to crawl the stock to get the full field of view.
In your case I would get a front extention ring ,standard rear ring.

 

[TBASTIAN]

Very nice rifle...should be a real meat stacker!

 

[DrMike]

Heath,

I enjoyed my Hawkeye in .358 so much that I bought a 35 Whelan Hawkeye. Both are favourites.

You done good.

 

[.405]

If you ever get a chance,check out the .350 Rem Mag. It is a monster.
I would love to have another.358 Win someday.The Hawkeye looks like a great one.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Weaver makes a forward extend ring. I makes the Leupold very shootable on my AR.

 

[HeathSexton]

A friend who passed away last year had a .35 Whelen and a .350 Rem mag. Both were in the Encore and both were very accurate. The .350 was a real attenion getter in the light Encore.


I called Ruger today to get an extended ring and they are sending one the problem is they don't offer the extension ring in matte. So they are sending me a polished stainless ring, can I just get that bead blasted and dull it down?



Thanks

 

[.405]

A friend who passed away last year had a .35 Whelen and a .350 Rem mag. Both were in the Encore and both were very accurate. The .350 was a real attenion getter in the light Encore.


I called Ruger today to get an extended ring and they are sending one the problem is they don't offer the extension ring in matte. So they are sending me a polished stainless ring, can I just get that bead blasted and dull it down?



Thanks

Yep, if you have a way to bead blast it.Their polished stainless isn't like nickel though ,so you may be ok.

 

[HeathSexton]

I have 286 RN Hornady 200 grainers I was going to load up and shoot in the .358 Hawkeye. The gun absolutely will not feed round nose bullets. I know that the PSP would be better for range but I figured I would just shoot these up.


Any ideas on what to do?


Thanks

 

[DrMike]

Heath, an interesting observation. I tried 200 grain Sierra RN bullets in my Hawkeye, and they won't feed, just as you report with the 200 grain Hornadys. Interestingly enough, I've shot 250 grain Woodleighs, and they feed just fine. I suspect that it is an issue related to the feed ramps and the OAL. In any case, it isn't sufficiently serious enough for me to keep trying to use them. Now, if Nosler would just make 200 grain AB in .358 diameter...

 

[HeathSexton]

Dr.Mike

at least it's just not my gun. How do 250's do from your .358?


Anyone need 286 Hornady 200gr RN bullets? I got to get some PSP's now.

 

[DrMike]

Heath,

They can shoot quite well, but because the velocity is reduced and due to the longer bullet length intruding into the powder space, I generally restrict myself to 225 grain bullets as the heaviest I shoot from my .358.

I have shot 250 grain Speer SPs in my BLR, and the accuracy was very good. Velocity was between 2100 and 2200 fps. I had similar results with 250 grain Hornady SPs, again in my BLR. I have not really worked with Woodleighs in my Hawkeye, except to work up a couple of loads. They shot well enough, but the results were not exciting enough to make me continue looking at the possibility of using that weight bullet.

 

[HeathSexton]

DrMike,

thanks for the info. I was curious about the 250's but 200's and maybe 225's is where I'll stay.

I was going to load up some 158gr jacketed pistol bullets for some plinkers and my .358 won't chamber them either. Must be the blunt nose and the angle of the ramp as you mentioned.