KansasTrapper77
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Now, Ruger No. 1s and Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colts? Whole different story on them.
Ruger Hawkeye Reputation?
- Thread starter schlitz45
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Varminterror
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Tang safety's, which are largely about half or 1/3 of the "collector" market for Ruger M77's of any generation (tangers, Safari Magnums, and boat paddles making up almost the entirety of the collectors market for Ruger M77's). So 1973 through 1991 production, most easily identified by their tang safety and NOT being MkII or Hawkeye labeled models, are the only M77's ever made which have opportunity to have potential for these problematic Wilson barrels. These problematic Wilson barrels, of course, representing a sub-set of the Wilson barrels delivered to Ruger, and the Wilson contract representing a sub-set of the total contracted barrels throughout that time.
The good news, in general, even about the problematic M77's is that the market really, really just doesn't care. Pricing is what it is - folks wanting precision rifles aren't searching collector markets or paying collector prices for tang safety M77's, so if someone stumbles upon a tanger which doesn't shoot well, and they're unwilling to do the work to rectify the issue themselves, they're easily able to resell the rifle and recoup their expense.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I won't go looking for one but if I found a nice tang safety 77 at a reasonable price, I wouldn't walk away from it either. Particularly one of the internationals.
I like that!This will be mine soon....
they are only making 270 of these with a special serial number. M77270-XXX. This also the only Hawkeye that has been released with this exact configuration.
InTheSwamp
Member
Always wanted me a Hawkeye, and they're plentiful now. This one is in the crosshairs.
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...bolt-action-rifle-65-creedmoor-24in/p/1458218
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...bolt-action-rifle-65-creedmoor-24in/p/1458218
Tentwing
Member
I picked up a new one in 2009 . I had just been given great news my doctor said that I was in full remission. Since earlier in my sickness I had given most of my firearms to my sons, son in law and grandchildren I no longer had anything suitable for hunting. I decided that I would try calibers that I was curious about, but had never tried. I called a buddy at one of my LGS’s , and told him that I was interested in a 25-06. He knows that I like sturdy ( probably gonna leave it to my grandkids type stuff) , so he ordered me a Ruger Hawkeye.
I placed a decent moderately priced scope on it and began the process of finding out what ammunition it liked best as I don’t reload. It shoots more accurately than my limited ability. Most whitetail and feral pigs in my part of the country are taken between 45 and 80 ish yards. Hornady loaded with 117 gr Sierra Gamekings drop pigs and deer hard and quick. They also will consistently keep sub 1&1/4 inch groups at 100 with a steady table, sand bag , and low wind. These ( respectable hunting groups) stay respectable at 150, 200, even out to 300 on paper. Again steady table sand bag under the forearm and low wind , and old man with his finger on the trigger doing his part. I have never taken a shot at an animal over 200, but out to 147 and below I have yet to miss a single heart. Your mileage may vary , hope some of this helps Tentwing
I placed a decent moderately priced scope on it and began the process of finding out what ammunition it liked best as I don’t reload. It shoots more accurately than my limited ability. Most whitetail and feral pigs in my part of the country are taken between 45 and 80 ish yards. Hornady loaded with 117 gr Sierra Gamekings drop pigs and deer hard and quick. They also will consistently keep sub 1&1/4 inch groups at 100 with a steady table, sand bag , and low wind. These ( respectable hunting groups) stay respectable at 150, 200, even out to 300 on paper. Again steady table sand bag under the forearm and low wind , and old man with his finger on the trigger doing his part. I have never taken a shot at an animal over 200, but out to 147 and below I have yet to miss a single heart. Your mileage may vary , hope some of this helps Tentwing
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6.8 hunter
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Thats kind of special model, Ruger uses their magnum contour and a 24" length for the 25-06
Omaha-BeenGlockin
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Bought mine in 2009-10ish?? for $499 long before the huge price jump---its a stainless/synthetic .30-06.
Accuracy is ok---not bad not exceptional---but ok-----I really haven't shot it much because it's a big heavy rifle and much prefer my Browning X-bolt.
I keep the Ruger for the really nasty weather since every part in it is made of stainless---so it isn't going anywhere even though it's not used much.
Accuracy is ok---not bad not exceptional---but ok-----I really haven't shot it much because it's a big heavy rifle and much prefer my Browning X-bolt.
I keep the Ruger for the really nasty weather since every part in it is made of stainless---so it isn't going anywhere even though it's not used much.
Varminterror
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One of my All-Weather’s looks like it has Chicken Pox. Despite being stainless everywhere, it must not have been properly passivated, and it did not survive well on the 3 day hike out and 2 day drive home, despite being waxed and oiled during the trip (rained part of every day).
WestKentucky
Member
I owned a m77 .243 for about 2 weeks. It was terrible on accuracy. Sold it to a guy who was legally blind… legit… he could see just not very well at all. He tuned it up and figured out a hand load for it that made it a 3” gun at 100 yards. Based on that gun I avoid buying Ruger rifles I can’t test drive first. My work friend has a couple American in 223 and 308. They are not bad at all. Not a custom top notch build, but tight enough for hunting rifle for sure.
Varminterror
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Another instance where you’ve cited the Hawkeye regarding a recall notice pertaining ONLY to original M77’s, with not a damned thing to do with the Hawkeye.
I guess I'm not sure at this point. Are you saying there are actual tangible differences between 1st gen, 2nd gen, and 3rd gen rifles? Cuz sumtin smells fishy
Varminterror
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I guess I'm not sure at this point. Are you saying there are actual tangible differences between 1st gen, 2nd gen, and 3rd gen rifles? Cuz sumtin smells fishy
Certainly a difference between the triggers, which are the subject of the M77 recall, non-applicable to the Hawkeye.
The Ruger American is another pleasant surprise. Try before you buy or buy new? Exactly. That's why I never have trouble selling a rifle at work. They have heard all my stories.
GooseGestapo
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My Ruger M77MkII in .257Roberts was a general disappointment.
Not “terrible”, but it was just mediocre, which was worse!
Nothing shot “bad” but also nothing great. 1.5-2” groups. Not a long, but a medium length throat.
My custom M98 Mauser shoots well under MOA, but has some idiosyncrasies. It has the “so called” 3” long throat. Custom E.R.Shaw barrel with 3/‘83 date stamp.
Not “terrible”, but it was just mediocre, which was worse!
Nothing shot “bad” but also nothing great. 1.5-2” groups. Not a long, but a medium length throat.
My custom M98 Mauser shoots well under MOA, but has some idiosyncrasies. It has the “so called” 3” long throat. Custom E.R.Shaw barrel with 3/‘83 date stamp.
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GooseGestapo
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Did I mention I had strong urges to build a .280 AI, but got seduced by a Walmart clearance REM M700 in 7RemMag for $250 otd.
I also had 7mag dies, cases, bullets, and a copious amount of milsurp .50 BMG surplus powders….
I’m a sucker for “deals” though ; bought two Marlin M1895’s (Remlins) in ‘16 for $248 each! Already had a M1895 Guide Gun w18.5” bbl…THATS a “tack driver “ but so is the Remlin I kept… and so the gun room over flows…
Walmart clearance and Dicks sporting goods clearance over the years has corrupted me.
A dependable 1.5 to 2 inch gun in my part of the country would never be a hindrance.
I just don't get some of these comments.
Are we talking hunting rifles. Target rifles. Paper shooting for bragging rights. More sensible times past and a rifle Iike that would have made a fine hunter. Twenty or thirty years ago a hunter would have never ever known the difference .
dieselchief
Member
i live in a state where a deer rifle defination is as described as follows. a rem 742 that works most of the time, ammo is federal bought on the way up north at the holiday station.
...so anything that hits paper plates is good. two hawkeyes i purchased fit that description (slow learner), unfortunately i left that mentality 40 years ago. finally got lucky and the one i have now shoots 1 3/8 groups using regular hunting ammo.
...so anything that hits paper plates is good. two hawkeyes i purchased fit that description (slow learner), unfortunately i left that mentality 40 years ago. finally got lucky and the one i have now shoots 1 3/8 groups using regular hunting ammo.
GooseGestapo
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I suppose it goes to expectations!
My best friend bought a Ruger M77 (original tang safety) in .270win in 1975. He had pre loaded some range pickup brass with Hornady 130gr flat base PtSpt bullets over 55.0gr of IMR4350, seated to the edge of the cannelure.
We took the brand new rifle to a local range where we benched it at 100yds to check the iron sights setting. After he fired 2- shots adjusting between shots getting it zeroed, he fired three shots. You could cover all three with a penny!
We were both incredulous!
I fired three more. Again, all three covered by a penny!
I have two Interarms MkX (Zastava of Serbia) Mausers. One in .30/06, another in .270 from the same time period. Either one using a Sierra ProHunter, or GameKing (130gr- .270, 165gr- .30/06), over same said Powder (55.0gr IMR4350, or 56.5 in .30/06) will print Identical clover leafs. Another friends .25/06 does likewise.
My most accurate rifle is a Remington M700 ADL Synthetic (circa 2003 mfg) with a 24”bbl with the Sierra 55gr over 39.0gr of H380 @2.350”, shoots 5-shots in the .3’s for 5-shots. Winchester bulk brass, from USA 50-shot box, NO match prep except uniform trimming. I did remove the pressure ridge from the forend, to free float the barrel…
My Ruger M77MkII Hawkeye African in .375Ruger circa first year production which had the barrel damaged by a vehicle accident in Zimbabwe was sent back to Ruger and a new barrel installed. After about a 100rd break in and cursory load development, With a Sierra 250gr GameKing over 75.0gr of RL15 will shoot 5-shot 7/8” groups.
If my 1943 Remington 03-A3 “as issue” , fresh off the rack at CMP-South, will make 4-rounds touch at 100yds after a 1-click adjustment from a sighter, (155gr Hornady A-max, match prepped brass, CCI milspec primer, 48.0gr H4895) with its war production 2-groove barrel, I expect a $1000.00+ rifle to shoot better than 2” 3-shots @100yds!
My Marlin .338MX, .338MXLR, and “Remlin” .308MXLR, as well shoot 5-shots under 1.5”.
But if you’re satisfied, so be it….
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That's excellent. Your prep and techniques show. So while hunting how does that give you an advantage when the average deer shot by the average Joe is 100 yds.
And one thousand dollars for a rifle isn't high. It's just cheep rifles are so cheep. Which some of those are consistent inch and a half guns with proper techniques. There's always an exception.
An ex son in law brought me a Ruger he was going to sell. 06 with that funny cool plastic stock. Till I pointed out the fact my place rolls and has enough trees that there's few stands you can even get to 150 yds. In the woods where deer live. Who cares about two inches give or take. To prove it we took out the full size deer target and the grandsons, him ,and I spent the day moving from stand to stand ,shack to shack and the deer always dies.
I proved that even though the internet says your rifle is junk in real life it's not.
The fighter pilots and experts can take over from here. I'm just common and done yacking
Varminterror
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Yes, we did know the difference back then between rifles which shot pie plates vs. those which shot thumbtacks.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I know I did. Thirty years ago I was bench testing scoped pistols.
GooseGestapo
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I’m not the best off hand rifle shot. But having a rifle capable of pinpoint accuracy grants me the confidence to make the quick decision shots, and a competent trigger allows me to control the release of the shot. I often hunt in dense woods in the oak bottoms of Georgia, and being able to thread my shots through tiny openings greatly increases my chances for success. The same afternoon may find me hunting open pasture or a nuisance control opportunity at the airport requiring a long distance shot with grave consequences for a botched shot.
As WalkAlong, can attest, often a 2” group grows to 5”+ at 200yds, 10”+ at 300yds. Add in unpredictable thermals and swirling winds, you’ll need all the variables as possible in your favor.
The last time I shot the above .270, it was a 310yd shot across a pasture in East Alabama near the town of Camp Hill, on a COLD BLUSTERY January evening near dusk. Holding 6” above my intended poi, and 5” into the 10mph cross wind shooting from an improvised prone position, at a 110lb doe. When she stopped on a small rise, I released the 140gr Sierra GameKing that broke the spine 2” in front of the right shoulder dropping her on the spot.
6wks earlier I shot another doe, off hand through brush at 90yds as she gaited through an opening. The 130gr Nosler broke both shoulders and spine. The trigger is a factory installed Dayton Traister adjusted to 2.75lbs.
I’ve hunted deer for 50+ years and taken over 300+ (lost count around 320+/-).
Confidence in your equipment is a huge huge difference!
To me it’s the pride of ownership and regards for the resource I dedicated my lifes career promoting and protecting that compels me to a degree of perfection in what I regard as more than utilitarian tools, but functional pieces of mechanical art!
Don’t get me started on Glock pistols!
Former renowned gun writer Townsend Whelen once commented, “only accurate rifles are interesting”!
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Varminterror
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Shooting better than the average joe means we don't have to be limited in the same ways as the average joe, AND means we get improved assurance that our field precision will always be tight enough even when we do shoot at short ranges. Better to know that when I shoot at the center of a heart, I'll hit the center of the heart, not just somewhere nearish to the heart.
