Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger 77 Hawkeye RSI to .338 Federal or .358 Winchester?

Totally agree... I can’t stand Stainless in Walnut. Those are Lipsey’s special runs, not standard production models from Ruger. If I had one I’d send it off for a black nitride treatment.

I’d leave er 260 personally, and I’m a 358 fan.

Brad brings a valid point on feasibility.

Aside from that, put me in the 338 camp.

I have never had bullet issues out of my 338-06's.

180 NAB deer
200 NAB deer and black bear
200 NBST deer and black bear
200 Hornady SP (disc.) deer
210 TSX deer and elk
210 NPt deer and elk

Brad has a great point. There is very little meat in those RSI pencil barrels. You may want to send JES the barrel diameter before sending it off, and see what he thinks.
This may avoid it being sent back unfinished.

A rebarrel may be doable however, though you will also have to open up the stock channel.

Those are great handling hunting rifles, and your concept of a .358W on that platform is a worthy one!

I have a Hawkeye stainless in 338 Federal. I am impressed with the caliber and the gun. Not a fan of the swing safety but I have a while before season to decide if I will keep it or go back to my lever guns.

Are the RSI barrels thinner than Kimber Montana's??


There's a few of us with bored out Montana's. JES didn't hesitate to do the job. Which was a good bit cheaper than most smiths charge for a chamber and fit job for a blank.

It has been reported that WBR, Jr., had some 77 RSIs made in 358 WIN for his fellow members of the Blue Mountain Forest Association hunting preserve.

I put together a 77 RSI parts gun in 6.5x55 with a shortened standard contour barrel from a Hawkeye that required opening the stock's barrel channel. There isn't a lot of wood to work with, so if you find that the current barrel diameter is too small for a JES rebore, you may be able to use a standard contour Ruger take-off barrel and have it shortened and fitted to your action.

I have a stainless Hawkeye in 338 FED and really like it. It shoots nice groups with the 210 grain Partition.

I would go with the 338 only because I've never had one before & already have a dandy 358. So if you dont have one, my vote would be for a 358 because all of mine over the years have worked wonderfully.

I would go 338 Federal. I have a 338 Federal and a 350 Rem Mag and the 338 has a lot of great bullet choices in the 180-210 range. Non of the bullets in that range are too tough for the 338 Federal.

If you are interested in a Ruger Hawkeye, stainless, in 338 Federal send me a PM.

Add one more to the 338 Fed camp! I'm thinking hard about sending JES a spare 7-08 to replace a 338 Fed I sold. RSI 338 Fed! Yeah baby!!

.358 personally.

Go big or go home!!

I have a stainless Hawkeye in 358. I really like it. No experience with the 338 Fed.

This is my RSI in .308. One of my favorite stand/brush rifles. I am really hoping that Ruger / Lipseys will eventually do a run of .SS RSI rifles in 358 Win. If not I will eventually buy a donor to rebore.

Ruger has done a RLS model before in .358 but they were blued with a tang safety. They also command a premium when they become available.

I love the footprint of the short action Ruger RS rifles.

“IF”......you are a hand loader, and wish to shoot your rifle during the off-season for fun and practice...... .358 Win. You can shoot handgun bullets at low velocity cheaper and with less recoil. You can even go with cast bullets, if you really want to cut costs. If your not interested in light-load, off-season practice/plinking......either would be a good choice! memtb

I think you will find a better selection of bullets for the 338 Federal. From the 160 TTSX up to the 210 Partition.
I have a Tikka T3x that JES re-bored from 243 to 338 Federal. Great rifle but I could probably be talked out of it if you're interested.

That'll hunt.