ruger ultra compact rifles?

[t george]

Hi, I am looking for a general opinion on the ruger compacts... I am thinking 7mm-08(have been following that thread). I know that there are comparable rifles such as the tikas, featherweight model 70's, and remington 7. I alread have a remington 700 in 30-06 and and another (older) 700 in 243 and then a thompson center contender in 223. all that considered I find that my 243 doesnt get the time in the field like it used to. if im varmiting I take the 223 and if anything bigger I take the 30-06.

I really like the looks of the stainless steel ruger with the black/gray laminet stock and I think that the 7-08 will be a good middle ground between my other two hunting rifles.

I am currently thinking about trading the 243 I have now for the compact 7-08, but I could always use more insight from some folks who may already have some experiance with the little rugers.

what say yall?

Thanks,
t george

 

[JimmAr]

Decent hunting rifles in a light package.. recommend them for hunting only really.. anything beyond 300-400 yard their accuracy is no good with those toothpick barrels.

 

[interlock]

i have a remmy model 7 in 7mm08. it is a great little rifle, really easy to use and handle. I have to disagree with JimmAr above. The accuracy, with the right bullet, is as good as anything. But, to qualify, it is a little fussy. i also have a ruger m77 mk 2, i don't know what action the ruger compacts are built on but the m77 mk 2 is a nice action. Controlled feed not a push feed system.

I think with the shorter barrel comes a bit of a velocity trade off. probably 200 fps or so. I have to say that the deer i shoot with mine don't complain. The 7mm08 is a great round. if you stay with 120 gr or 130 gr bullets then the velocity trade off isn't so big because they like faster powder.

either choice is a good choice. 7mm08 is a very potent round.

interlock

 

[dakotasin]

my ruger and its mods: http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18014&PN=1

the velocity trade off: http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18089&PN=1

overall, i am thrilled w/ the little gun. the one in my thread and pics in the above links is a 243, but only because i already have a 7-08. if i didn't have a 7-08, it would have been chambered to that.

 

[kanook]

308, 260, 223, and soon the 6.8spc. I have never had any problem with any of mine, unless you want to count the problem of which one to take with you.

 

[interlock]

my ruger and its mods: http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum/fo...TID=18014&PN=1

the velocity trade off: http://www.baitshopboyz.com/forum/fo...TID=18089&PN=1

overall, i am thrilled w/ the little gun. the one in my thread and pics in the above links is a 243, but only because i already have a 7-08. if i didn't have a 7-08, it would have been chambered to that.

remember the ruger has a 16 inch barrel and the remmy a 20 or in older ones a 18.5 inch barrel.

 

[t george]

how does everyone feel about the finish on the hawkeye compacts? I have read were a few people thought that the older finsh was better? I am kinda thinking that a 20in stainless ruger mkII might just be the ticket. But I probly wont know forsure until I am at the gun store and have had a chance to shoulder and really look them over. Hopfully I will be able to find a gun store that I can compare the two side by side.

 

[slicksleeve]

Hi, i happen to have a browning blr in 243, and a 7mm-08 in a model 7. (my wife's rifle). I killed my first deer with the blr, she killed hers with the model 7. Both deer were young bucks and both ran about 50 yards before plowing up in the dirt deader than last week. Bottom line, both are excellent for deer if you know how to shoot. If you can't shoot you might want to go with a .300 manglem or something else that says says magnum on it. That seems the trend here in Alabama, if you can't shoot, you must need a more powerful rifle. If you lose a deer, it wasn't your poor shooting with a .270 win., You must need a .300 win mag. for those 85 lb. does we have here.

 

[litman252]

Do you want a diffrent rifle or caliber? You could change your barrel if you wanted to on the .243...........

New rifle is more fun though


Tony

 

[t george]

yeah I think I just want a change I really like the idea of the short, easy to handle ruger but Im not sure I like the speed loss... so I was thinking instead of a 243 I would get the 7mm08. I have pretty much decided on the caliber, but im not sold on the finish of the ruger hawkeyes. I think that the mkII in 7mm08 with a 20 inch barrel and the black laminate stock sounds about right, that is if I can find one. Im not really stuck on the ruger, but they do appeal to me.

I think the 20in barrel will be just the right ballance in regards to being short and handy while still keepin the somewhat faster speeds.

(and I just allways wanted a 7mm08 of some kind.)

Thanks,
Tyler.

P.S. what are your thoughts on the howa 1500?

 

[litman252]

Howa's are nice and seem to be accurate, have not shot one. All but one right hand Ruger and the lefties are in stock now, hard to find one to handle but anyone should be able to order for you.....

Tony