Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Lefty 204 Ruger? Specifically a Hawkeye?

I formerly lived in New Mexico for 10 years off and on. Trigger time and targets where commonplace. Jackrabbits, cotton tails and coyotes. I longed for a 204 when they first came out. I goofed with the 17 HMR a short time. Shot 2 coyotes with it. Have my own opinion. Great for Fox....

In Washington we have a .22 centerfire minimum for cougar. Which keeps my calling rifles to .223, .223 AI or .243 just "in case" to be legal. My good buddy shot a cougar yesterday and I see 1-5 per year...so it's not a Pipe Dream.

But I still have that 204 itch that has never been scratched. Someone posted a link to CDNN lefties that close out on occasion. Some stainless American's in there for $299 that are almost too hard to pass up. But I did see a Hawkeye in 204 for $499.

Got me thinking again.

Any down side to the 204 specifically in that Hawkeye config? I'll google the twist etc shortly. I've owned a few LH Rugers. They're just OK. Prefer them over Savage for a factory rig. Accuracy has been hit or miss in my experience.

This sized bolt face a decent once for potential builds down the road too I'd guess?

Not a .204 but I have a left hand SS Hawkeye in .223 with IIRC a 1:9 twist.

It is typical of modern Hawkeyes after being bedded, free floated and having a trigger job. It is decently accurate, once in a while it will go under half MOA but most 4 shot groups stay in the .8's down to maybe .6's day to day. The factory trigger breaks cleanly right at 3 pounds, the smith did a good job on that. The only drawback is the weight, it is pretty heavy for a .223, although that does help see bullet strikes.

FWIW I have three LH stainless Hawkeyes, this .223, a .308 and a .25-06 and the above could be said for all of them. The .25-06 is the most accurate of the three. It has a heavy magnum contour barrel which probably helps but in turn makes it exceptionally heavy.

I like the 204 and would not shy away from the Hawkeye. I think the $499 is a good buy and would make a great donor action should you decide to do something different down the road.

When it came time to buy a lefty .204 I went with the CZ and have not been disappointed.
If you arent expecting better than MOA the Ruger is priced right but if you expect better the CZ is the better option.

Hard to argue with that. I still struggle with the dangling magazine, backward safety and high bolt lift.

JJ I am in your shoes. I think I will go with the Tikka when I get the bucks.

Forgot all about the Tikka, do they still make them in .204? It would be my first choice as well.

Does Tikka make a LH .204 any more? I checked their website when I first read this thread and don't see it listed as a left hand option in the T3x Lite, Hunter, Sporter or CTR models. However I've noted at least one omission on their specs page so it's possible they still make it but aren't listing it.

They did chamber it in the T3, I see a couple of LH Hunter models for sale on gunbroker.

I like my CZ 527 204 so much I painted it snow-Camo for coyote hunting and am thinking of getting a second. I'd certainly be willing to try a Tikka though if I could find one

Try Eurooptic.com

The Tx3 stainless is a varmint configuration 204 in LT Hand. IIRC, it has a ~ 20" barrel and is just under 8 lbs.

I wonder if Beretta will import this LH model?

That's what started my Tikka T3x thread. Lots of neat LH options listed but doubtful many make it to the US

I don't follow too many of the mainstream rifles since they're all Righties. But whatever that CTR rifle is sure seems to be a great budget Precision Rifle. I'd choose one of their Varmint options if I could get my hands on one in 2017

Beretta was not at DSC last week but will likely have a big presence at SHOT. I'll see if I can find out what will be brought in this year.

Left Hand 204, nothing beats the CZ, unless you build

I have a Tikka T3 204R coming in. I'm pretty fond of them and have a few in other calibers. they all shoot very well.

I wouldn't buy one for these reasons.... Yes, I've handled them and don't like them. They look sweet, but the magazine hanging down where I normally underhand carry, just doesn't cut it... I actually just checked out/handled a used one at a local Cabela's. Price seemed to be reasonable enough with the 10% discount price...I'd go Hawkeye in a heartbeat though.

Handled a couple, Tikka, Ruger and the CZ. Wound up with the CZ. While some don't care for the safety, mag and bolt iift, I found that I don't even notice them once I started shooting it.

Good luck with your search!

I like my 204 CZ LH

Hard to argue with how a CZ shoots. I've owned and shot them through the years and they have always shot well.

Does anyone know the twist on the T3?

The 204 Ruger has a twist rate of 1-12".

Used a M77 SS/SYN in 204 for a few years. Trigger Job and reloaded some 35gr Bergers. 20" tube and it shot GREAT! My 338RCM was a Hawkeye. I had that sucker shooting 1.5-2" groups all day long. Restocked in an MPI and bedded, Trigger Job and a new crown..... and the groups shrank to 1.5-1.75" groups.

Go figure,

Just received my T3 Hunter in 204 Ruger. Haven't had it out but will get some time with it pretty soon.

OSU-

Any word at SHOT what Tikka will bring to the US? The Varmint series T3x or probably not?

Jesse, I spoke with the rifle products manager from Beretta. He said Beretta was going to bring in almost everything Tikka offers in a LH model. What's odd is that they weren't showing much in the LH configs.

I brought a T3X brochure back and can post a scan of the different models to be offered in LH configs if that will help.

He was a really nice guy but based on history, I don't have too much faith that Beretta will bring in as much as he was touting.

Let me make a plug for Eurooptics. It hs LH T3 hunters in several calibers in stock, the 204 Ruger being one of them.

Great guys to deal with and their pricing is really good. These are closeout prices and when the T3's are gone, there will be no more, since the T3X has taken its place.

I know have the T3 Hunter model in 204 Ruger, 223 w/1-8" twist, and the 260 w/1-8" twist barrels.