Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles RUGER HAWKEYE

Anyone know anything about this rifle? I see it comes in .257 Roberts, a sentimental favorite of mine.

I fondled both a .257R and a 7MM-08 a couple months ago. I think I'm at the point where I'd grab either one in a heartbeat if it had one of those great Ruger walnut stocks on it. The ones I held were both blue/wood versions but I was trying to get a .308 running for deer hunting at the time and didn't want to be distracted. Things will be changing in that regard after December 1.

I think overall they're a couple inches shorter than the Model 70 and not any heavier than the FWT version. One of those deals that really felt good when I picked them up.

I have not bought one yet but handled both versions at the gun shop. Truthfully the wood/blue version felt better in my hands. The biggest plus is the trigger felt much better then any Ruger trigger I have felt.

I like the looks of the new Ruger Hawkeyes. I think the one in 257 comes in the long action which, to me, would be good as then I could seat the bullets out if I wanted to.

They are a little heavier and bulkier than I like but not bad. Compared to some other new rifles the price around here of about $600 is not bad at all. They come with rings too.

If 257Robt comes in long action,why not get a 25-06 if you have to pack all that steel around?I suppose 25-06 can do all 257R can do and it is at least as nostalgic if you want to call it a 25 Neidner

I like the Hawkeye a lot, mostly because the slimmed the stock down enough to make it feel lively in the hands.

The local WallyWorld has a Hawkeye S/S .338 Federal that I'm contemplating. I'm waiting until they mark it down -- or it turns up in the local pawn shop/used gun emporium (the gun counter manager doesn't have ammo for it -- tried to tell me it's a .338 Win Mag, and that there's no such cartridge as the "338 Federal .).

338Federal,

Truth be told, the .25-06 is probably a better round. But I have a sentimental bent for the .257 Roberts. Either one would be perfect for mule deer and other such animals.

Fact is, I am probably going to buy a Sako 85 Hunter in .270 Winchester, unless I fall in love with a .257 Roberts Hawkeye.

From what I understand, Ruger has come a long way with its bolt action rifles. Now that it offers CRF with excellent barrels, they're a winner.

Those damn Sakos are just about perfect right out of the box, though. I have yet to shoot a more accurate rifle, but the Remington 700's are damn close...at half the price. And I have nothing but utmost regard for the famed 700 action. If Remington offered its Mountain Rifle in .257 Roberts, I'd be good to go!

Remington used to offer the Mountain Rifle in .257 Roberts, so there are used ones around. That's how I got my M-700 Classic in .257. I saw a Mountain rifle advertised by a Wyoming gun store. Called them up and they had just sold it to a woman who lived not far from me, which intriqued the store owner. I finally got him to tell me who it was, and I knew her, so I called her up, and she said the Classic was just too big for her, but the MR was just right. "Well, Goldelocks, how about selling me that Classic?" And she did.

I kick myself also for passing on a couple of older Ruger 77 in .257 Roberts. I was stupid picky, or they were $50 too high. Fifty dollars! I spend more than that on supper sometimes. I only want one with iron sights, though.

Lee24,

Do you hunt with your .257 Roberts? If so, what? And what load(s)? Do you handload?

I have a very old NRA reloading book that indicates just under 3000 FPS is possible with 120 grain bullets and IMR 4350 powder.

I've shot two of the Hawkeyes,a 7 rem mag and a 375 Ruger.Both shot very well.With 150 gr Fusion ammo in the 7mm,I shot a few groups at 500 yards that ranged from 5" to 8".Scope was a Leup 2-7.

Back when I used the Roberts a lot, my 120 gr loads did a hair over 2900 from a 22" barrel;accuracy was fair.I think the cartridge could use a faster twist with 120 gr bullets,which is why,if I ever get another,it'll be a custom barrel with a 9"twist.

I have only picked up one Hawkeye and it was a .375. I expected it to be heavy like you think a Safari rifle would be, but honestly, it probably was the most well balanced rifle (behind my remington Classic) that I have ever picked up. The stock was nice and trip and felt "lively" as Muledeer put it. I'd really like to see what one in 257 or 270 felt like. I know if I were buying right now I would definitly take a look at one before I made my decision.

Yesterday, I handled a .375 Ruger African and was very impressed.The trigger was good to go right out of the box. The exact same product in .338WM would be very interesting. I would like to get a look at a Hawkeye in .300WM but they seem to be slow about hitting the shelves.
RS

I recently looked at the Hawkeyes as I have long been a fan of the M77. The new wood stock felt so much better than before I got serious and asked what calibers were in stock. It took only a second when the salesman said .257 Roberts. At the first range trip I fired only Hornady 117gr loads as that's all I had at the time. It is a favorite commercial load of mine. The rifle was quite accurate, with groups running about 1.5". The trigger felt much better than any stock M77 trigger, but still had a slight amount of creep. With a little work and some good reloads I think this is going to be a favorite!

I handled a 375 and a 30-06 at Cabela's in Lacey, WA yesterday, and they made me think bad thoughts all the way home.


Okie John

Well, after a couple trips to the range and playing with my .257 Roberts for a few days I called my dealer and should have my Hawkeye stainless .338 Federal later this week. I've used a couple of .358 Wins for years and the .338 has a better bullet selection for reloading.

Anyone know if they make the hawkeye in 7X57 ?

henry t

Nope.

I handled one the other day, and was somewhat surprised that this much-touted new model would be allowed to leave the factory with such a horrendous trigger. The Hawkeye has some desireable features, but I would not even consider using one with the factory trigger unless I had a dozen or more to choose from and try out.

forepaw

forepaw: I like your signature. I might have to ammend mine accordingly.

Purchased one in 257 Roberts last fall with the intent of chambering to 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. When the smith dropped the A.I go/no-go gauges in the chamber they went all the way in. At fist we thought the barrel might have been mismarked but evidently it was so poorly chambered that the larger gauges were to large to use. I had him set the barrel back and rechamber. The trigger is new but not much improved. I put a lighter weight spring in it and got it down to 4 lbs,(RCBS trigger gauge). The action was so rough that it sounded like the bolt was traveling on sandpaper when worked. I do like the stock. Unless I see some changes from Ruger this will be my last of thier rifles.