Ruger Hawkeye Rifle

truck driver

Ammo Smith
Mar 11, 2013
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How do the new Ruger Hawkeye Rifles compare to Remington and Winchester as far as quality? Looking at a new Hawkeye in 280 Remington and was curious on the quality of these rifles and how much trouble it is to get on to shoot good?
 
I've had two Hawkeyes. One was superb in every way (358 Winchester). The other (35 Whelen), not so much. Fit and finish on the former was excellent; fit and finish on the other required quite a bit of work. A stock maker locally had to recut the checkering and it was ultimately rebarreled (though it probably didn't actually require rebarrelling). Would I buy another? Probably, though I would certainly look at the fit and finish carefully.
 
I've had several, all were solid rifles. I'd have another.
 
hodgeman":11jsql8d said:
I've had several, all were solid rifles. I'd have another.
Same here. :)
I'm using my Ruger 30-06 this year.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
 
I've got the all weather model in 25-06. It shoots Barnes 100ttsx into the best groups I've ever seen in a factory rifle. Most factory ammo around inch and a half. I've got one 75vmax load that comes in under and inch. I'm currently fiddling with it trying to get shoot 115 partitions well, but haven't got under inch and a half with them yet. I like the rifle quite a bit. The plastic stock on my version could be a little smoother on the seams, but its not a deal breaker. The action seems nicer than Remington's in the same price range and its controlled feed. It balances really well with a scope.
 
I don't know how much they are similar, but I have the M77 Mark II. Mine is stainless with the laminate stock.

Likes: The stock is very nice. Looks very cool. Also, the action is as smooth as butter.

Dislikes: The polished stainless, I think the Hawkeye is bead blasted, so that's an improvement. Really dislike the angled action screw. Especially that its a standard flat-head screw instead of torques or alan head.

I'd get another one.
 
If you had your choice between a new Ruger Hawkeye in 280 or a M700 CDL that has been pillar bedded and slightly used which would you choose and why?
 
truck driver":35w04tlu said:
If you had your choice between a new Ruger Hawkeye in 280 or a M700 CDL that has been pillar bedded and slightly used which would you choose and why?

I'd take the Ruger in a heartbeat.

I like CRF- fully realizing that it's generally much ado about nothing. But I like it. The Hawkeyes are generally good shooters- all of them I've had ranked from stellar to acceptable accuracy. I can't say that for 700s, I've had some real dogs. I also like the Hawkeye trigger, it's just a more robust design than the more common box triggers. I also like Ruger's scope mounting with integral bases- heavy, but it works.
 
I inherited one of these a few years back from the wife of a childhood friend who passed away. It is a .22-250 and shoots really straight with many loads.

It has the classic look and is a very good rifle.

Now stacked up against a Winchester Model 70 there is still no contest in my mind. But it is "better" than the new Remingtons in my opinion.

Better of course is like beauty, its in the eye of the beholder.

For what its worth, I do not think you would go wrong with any of those three choices. Especially in a .280.

That's a great caliber. Very under appreciated.

Good luck -

Dale
 
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