Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Ruger M77 Hawkeye .257 Roberts

Okay, thanks.

Welcome back Bricktop. Looks like you've kept yourself busy. As of yet I don't own any Rugers, but I sure like the lines of those hawkeyes.

They're one of the best deals out there. I'm kind of kicking around the idea of getting another short action version and having a fast twist .220 Swift made up. (Sort of like the old Model 77V.)

not a lefty, but I recently acquired my 1st hawkeye in the RSI flavor (.250 salvage). I'm very impressed with the package. stock dimensions are good, balance is good, I like the action/CRF, it looks good, etc. Trigger is a little heavy in issued guise, but that can be remedied. I'm thinking that a .223 hawkeye is next on the list.

Ruger is one of the few who uses a 1-in-9" twist as well. That was a good selling point for me. I picked up a (relatively) inexpensive used CM Hawkeye .223 to back up my stainless version recently. (It was $500 all said and done.)

Ruger - between the 223 and 243 seems to get it, a little on twist.

I've been eye-raping a NIB Hawkeye at Cabelas in 35 Whelen (I'm a righty BTW). I might be getting old but they seem heavier than the old MKII's I'm used to - perhaps an extra dense chunk of timber on this one maybe. Cabelas by me doesn't stock ANY Hawkeyes - only the American it seems.

What barrel profile are the .35 Whelens using? The .25-06 versions use a magnum profile for whatever reason.

My Tikka T3 Hunter has a 1-8 twist. That's why I bought it.

I chronographed a new load today:

• 117 grain Hornady BTSP
• 42.4 grains H4350
• W-W non +P case
• WLR primer
• C.O.L. 2.780"
• Chronographed 10 rounds over an Alpha Model Shooting Chrony for an average velocity of 2812 FPS
• Ambient temperature 79 Deg F
• Four different three-shot groups fired, each measuring approximately 0.793"

I picked up three pounds of RL-19 from another local shooter that I'd like to try next. (I also have nine or ten pounds of IMR-4350, an 8 lb. jug of AA-4350, and an 8 lb. jug of Ramshot Big Game.)

I think I'd feel pretty smug with THOSE results.....

It's been a pain in the ass to get to the range for whatever reason this year. I've either been hooked up with something, the range has been hosting various events, the weather hasn't cooperated, etc.

I picked up one of the Predators this year (.308) and I'm very pleased. The veggie pizza stock is a little wild for an old fat man, but preliminary groups are very encouraging. The 2-stage trigger is a peach.

Your .257 would be a perfect partner to this '06 I had built. I'm thinking about it seriously; a 24" barreled 77 with a short action in .257 would be just right for these little TX whitetails.
Bob

My 257 Roberts with a 1/9 twist loves 100G bullets - all flavors.

I believe the shape and form of the Hawkeye stock is among the best offered on a factory rifle.

Agreed. Love to have one with a nice piece of Circassian for my next build.
Bob

I loaded up and tried an RL-19 load the other day:

• 117 grain Hornady BTSP
• 46.0 grains RL-19
• R-P case
• WLR primer
• C.O.L. 2.780"
• Chronographed 10 rounds over an Alpha Model Shooting Chrony for an average velocity of 2914 FPS, S.D. of 16.70
• Ambient temperature of 80 Deg F
• Two different five-shot groups fired, each measuring 0.561" (two three-shot groups also fired measuring approximately the same, but chronograph malfunctions prevented data capture -- diffusers were required)
• Load data from Hornady manual listed in 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th editions (maximum listed load is 47.2 grains)
• No excessive pressures exhibited in extraction or fired cases

That's pretty darned impressive. I have a pound of RL19 and nothing much to do with it. Maybe I should try it. What would you expect for velocities with the Ruger ultralight 20" barrel.

RL-19 is slow stuff, right behind IMR-4831. I would guess closer to a 200 FPS hit with four inches less barrel. However, even at 2700 FPS, a 117-grain slug is still delivering 1892 LBF-FT of energy, which is only 115 LBF-FT less than Hornady's +P Light Magnum load with the same bullet. I'd run a few over a chronograph and see for sure.

Bricktop, you have likely done more testing with the 257 Bob than many on here, if given a choice of all the powders that work for it, which one would be your choice when using a 117 grain bullet?