Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Any Ruger Hawkeye Hunter owners here?

So, I have the bug for a Hawkeye Hunter pretty bad.

Anyone here have one already? Curious to hear your take on it if so, especially compared to just waiting for a used regular sporter Hawkeye to come up.

I have a Ruger Model 77 Hawkeye in .300 Win Mag. (made in 2007) Stainless barrel and a composition stock. This is a great gun, I have shot deer, elk and pigs using a 165 BarnesTSX with RL22. 1" groups at 100 yards. This is my go to gun.

Igloo,
I can only speak to the hawkeye hunter stock as i picked up one for $247 direct from Ruger:

The stock replaced a synthetic RCM stock. It immediatelly shaved 4 oz. off the rifle. The walnut density in these stocks are very light.

The stock is generously free floated, from the factory.

The hawkeye hunter stocks come with one crossbolt. It has handled over 30 rounds of 275 grain swift a-frame and 200 rounds of 225 grain SST factory 338 rcm rounds.

I did cut off some off the forend and havent rounded it. It was too long.

The stock comb was a smidgen high, so installed a taller necg front sight bead and raised the rear sight up as well.

The 275 grainer grizzly protection rounds in a 6.5 lb rifle, kicked the fkn snot out of me. The stock is no worse for wear.......

That is a really cool looking rifle! Although I am sore just reading the stats hahaha. Seriously though, very nice! And I appreciate your take on the stock. Thank you.

I'm really having a hard time deciding between one of those, because I like the Ruger action and love the look...or saving about $600 and just buying a Tikka haha

No. But I want one

You and me both moosemike

That's a great rifle photo!

I only have 2, right now. The first is an early version 9.3x62 African. It has the circassian stock and deep, but satin blued metal. It is the most accurate out of the box rifle I've had the pleasure to own. I have several loads that consistently punch a single hole with five shots at 100 yards. The other is a 308 with a 20 inch barrel and sights with the compact magnum walnut stock. I've only tried a couple powders so far and only 150 grain bullets, but so far, when shooting up through the low to max charges, nothing was over 1 1/4 inches for 5 shots, with some pretty amazing groups. But I've only shot about a hundred rounds, and not enough groups on different days and different weather to be able to determine how good it really shoots.

I like wood stocks, sights and classic lines. The Hawkeye's have that in some models. I really like the feel of the stock. Trigger pulls have been fine for me, crisp, but not too heavy. Some folks might want them lighter for target or Varmint work. My only complaint on my current ones and the couple others that have come and gone is that the bolt is not as slick as I like, but that will smooth up with use.
Bfly

Blackfly1,

Cool! Both of those sound very nice. I've been a fan of the LC6 trigger too.

This is the model I have it bad for right now haha. Would ditch the rail and go with regular Ruger rings, but...again, spending quite a bit.

I came across this Hawkeye ultralight stainless 7mm-08 NIB on GB. I hit the "Buy Now" and never looked back. I got the VX-3 2.5x8 with the post & duplex reticle in the campfire classifieds. I installed a Timney trigger.

Who wouldn’t want one of these rifles???!!! I’ve got three Rutgers, 2 M77s and one Hawkeye. All three are great hunting rifles. I’d love to have one of these Hawkeye Hunters.

That thread protector and flared bulge on the end of the barrel is uglier than a hat full off azz holes.

Do these come skim bedded? I saw they were floated... but wondering if supported by epoxy or just pillared?

I have owned a bunch of them and still own a walnut/blued 7mm-08 made in 2007. The stock fits me perfectly and it shoots 1" groups with factory ammo. It is one of my favorite rifles.

I thought these Hunter models with the threaded muzzle and 20moa rail were much more recent releases than 2007?

They are, I think dudes are just talking about Hawkeye rifles in general, which is cool.

Cabelas Canuckistan blew them out a while back, wish I had been in on that. Didn't know they weren't gonna receive more

The walnut m77 Hawkeye kind of disappeared overnight. Right before COVID they were all over the place. Not anymore.

You're right about that

I have the Lipsey's version of that 9.3x62 African. It is indeed accurate, a hallmark of most rifles chambered in that cartridge. Mine heads to Africa next season for Cape Buff.

Is that allowed for Dangerous Game?