Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Wincester Featherweight Compact/Ruger Hawkeye Compact Review

Hey guys,

I am looking for a range/hunting report on either of these two rifles. Anyone out there have one, and care to submit their opinion of them?

I had a Ruger stainless in 260. Sweet little gun. I could get half inch groups without much effort. But I'm a lefty, so sold it and got a lefty ruger 308 stainless and built a 260 on that.

Just got a Ruger compact in 223. Gonna try to shoot it sometime over the next few days. I'll let you know how it goes. It has the tightest barrel channel fit of any rifle I've ever owned. That kind of worries me since my other Rugers have all shot better with a free floated barrel. We'll see.

The Model 70 Featherweight Compact is nothing more than a regular Featherweight with the barrel cut 2 inches shorter. Should be able to find lots of opinions, range tests, etc. on the current Mod 70 FWT. Most have been favorable.

Here is a way too long post I did of my Ruger compact stainless laminate 260 I did several years ago.
To save you the long read, I grew to really like it, but the 16 inch barrel was so loud I sold it and bought something else. My kids now shoot a Kimber Montana. Yes the stock is a little long, but the gun is so light both of my boys like it better than the compact. I download some ammo for it for them to practice with and it is easy on the shoulder and ears.
I like the Rugers a lot, just not that barrel length.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth..._Ruger_MK_2_Compact_260_repo#Post3122915

I have a few of the ruger compacts. They are very handy and a joy to carry, but muzzel blast and recoil does go up when in the larger chamberings. I have also found that they fit very well if you have a rifle rack mounted to the roof of truck. It keeps the rifle out of site if you have to make a stop going to for from your hunting grounds.

I have a few of the ruger compacts. They are very handy and a joy to carry, but muzzel blast and recoil does go up when in the larger chamberings. I have also found that they fit very well if you have a rifle rack mounted to the roof of your truck. It keeps the rifle out of site if you have to make a stop going to for from your hunting grounds.

sorry for double post

.............Below are three review links. Two of them talk about the Ruger Frontier (Ruger`s earlier version compact) and the other is about the newer Ruger compact. Happen to own a 300 WSM Ruger Frontier.

The differences between the earlier Frontiers and the newer Ruger compacts are;

Earlier Frontiers have a scout scope mount forward of the receiver for scout scope use. The newer compacts do not (conventionally mounted scope only). The Frontier can go both ways.

The earlier Frontiers at 6 3/4 lbs w/o scope have heavier contour barrels and heavier laminated stocks, while the new compacts at roughly 6 lbs w/o scope have lighter contour barrels and lighter laminated/wood stocks.

Other than the above differences, the rifle OAL is still the same and with regard to everything else, action, accuracy, handiness, field use, etc, the reviews should be about the same, which is why I also included the two Frontier links. Many things said about the older Frontier can also apply to the new Ruger compacts.

My Frontier was accurate (factory ammo and with reloads) from NIB. Since the bedding and free-float job, the rifle is more accurate now.

Here are the links;

www.gunblast.com/Ruger_FrontierRiflehtm

www.shootingtimes.com/2011/01/03/longgun_reviews_scout_102606/

www.rifleshootermag.com/2010/09/23/featured_rifles_rs_rugermodel77_201004/

The bottom link is a review of the newer Ruger compact.

Happy reading.

LOP is also 3/4" shorter. That's not quite enough to be considered a youth model, but should fit most adult females quite well.

I have the Ruger compact in .308. I've found it to be an awesome little woods gun. I was a little worried about the LOP but after shooting it those worries were gone. Yes it seems a little louder than the longer guns but I didnt find that to be a problem. BTW I'm 5'10" 210lbs just for reference

Have both for the wife. She likes the lop on the ruger better, but the barrel length on the m70 compact better. Lots of muzzle flash on the ruger. she doesn't like muzzle flash

Tim - I would pick the Winchester over the Ruger and suggest you take a look at the Browning X-bolt micro as well. 20" barrels and compare the LOP on each to determine what would work for you.

A 20-inch barrel is about as short as I'd want to go. Ergo, the Winchester for me. 16.5 inches is too much of a good thing, IMHO.

I did a 20" on my 260 and it is just as handy as the 16.5" but with more advantages