Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger Hawkeye Hunter range report

I have to brag for a few. I’ve really been wanting to buy a 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifle for a while. I know, a lot of you are dead set against this caliber, but they’ve worked well for me and I’m more than stocked up on casings, bullets, and factory ammo in this caliber more than any other that I own. I own several creedmoors including a Tikka T3x Hunter in 6.5 creedmoor that I bought my youngest daughter several years ago.
Doing research, the best part of a gun purchase in my opinion, I’ve been mulling over several different makes and models including thinking of going the custom route. I really like a classic looking rifle along with some modern touches. Thought about some of the tikka rifles, Winchester Model 70’s, Kimber’s, Sako’s, even some Weatherby Mk V’s. Believe it or not I went with the Ruger Hawkeye Hunter in stainless steel, walnut stock, and comes with a threaded barrel. Although I’ve always been a fan of the Ruger M77’s I was unsure what kind of accuracy I could expect. Hoping for the best, I took a chance.
The only modifications that I made, were I removed the picattiny rail and replaced it with Warne’s medium height model 77 style rings. I thought the picattiny rail would make the scope sit too high for my taste. I took the rifle apart and cleaned it, re-tourqing everything down and mounted an old Leupold 3-10 Vari-x iii.
I had several different types of factory ammo on hand and these were the result. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised!

Nice looking rifle.

Spiffy!

Gratifying when it works out like that.

Nice rifle and it’s a shooter.

That warrants bragging! Congrats

Thanks guys, although I was happy with the accuracy of the Hornady Precision Hunter, I was disappointed in its speeds considering that’s the ammo I have the most of. Lol. I was however pretty pleased with the speeds of the other ammo I tested.

Nice looking rifle.

I really like the SS/walnut look.

Great choice.

That's a darn good looking rig.

She’s a beauty and Nice groups, but damn, that 143 is slow!
Why I like the 130s in the CM. Still enough weight and lot better velocity…. flat shooting at ranges I hunt or shoot at

Nice when all the loads hit the same place on the target. My Savage 12 does the same.

You’re right, it’s slow at least the 143’s are. I’m somewhat happy with the speeds of the other rounds tested and I know I could load it much faster.
The Hornady TAP 147gr ELDM out of my daughter’s Tikka Hunter is even slower and slower still is the same ammo in my Seekins SP10. Both of those rifles with stupid slow speeds still have killed several good size bucks.
It does bother me though, lol. I wish it were faster!

Yes Sir, super happy about this!

130gr been killing just fine in a 6.8 for a long long while; 100 years now.

Looks great and shoots great.. Hard not to like that one.. Thanks for sharing..

How it usually goes is, you trade in this rifle for a 6.5PRC to get that speed, but she only groups so-so. Lol.

Very nice. I’ve had three Hawkeyes and all were plenty accurate; the Predator .308 especially. Mostly now I go lighter, but in their weight class the Hawkeyes are a fine choice.

What’s it weigh all up?

I’m not sure, I’ll have to let you know.

Don’t go to any trouble, just curious.

Congrats ChanceD! A looker AND a shooter. How do you find it balances and carries? Really interested in one of these. My current big game rifles a Tikka T3X Lite stainless in 6.5 CM with a 20" barrel but I can be swayed!

So how can the old gay 270 shoot 130s or 140s faster than the PRC and still retain accuracy, we’ll never know.

Think he meant it as a "just my luck" thing lol

Yes.

8 3/4 lbs. not the lightest but it’ll do just fine for me. For the one that asked if it’s well balanced and easy to carry, I think so, the rifle feels good in the hand and points well.

That thing really looks good up close.

That’s a pound over the weight of my M70 EW .308 with a Accupoint 3-9, and probably a bit under my Hawkeye Predator, which I never weighed. One in .308 was on my possibles list but I found the Winchester first.

If you ever want to go big on a scope, I have a set of Warne 30mm high rings that worked with a 56mm objective Credo HX.

Congrats.

Helluva pretty rifle!

Damn, I really like that. Looks like it’ll be a hammer too👊🏻

Do they not come with the old Ruger rings any more?

Not this version, this one would come with a picattiny, which puts the scope height much higher. I opted to switch it out for a lower cleaner more user friendly version/ look.

I just pulled the rail of one of my Minis because it put the scope too high and the cheek weld sucked. You did the right thing.

Beautiful classic rifle. I don't think weight is much of a concern with such a rifle. The short distances I walk to shoot, a little weight helps anyway.

I couldn't take it any longer after seeing this thread. I don't keep up with what's out there and avaliable like I use too so I wasn't even aware of these. I had to run out and grab one in .308. I don't get excited about a new rifle too often but this is one nice feeling rig.

I hope that mine shoots as well as yours.

Badass! I had been looking for some time and these were no where to be found locally. I picked mine up through gunbroker, did you find yours locally?Let us know how it shoots!

I did. Funny story, I walked in the local shop and was gonna ask them about ordering one for me.

As soon as I walked in, my buddy behind the counter was holding this one in his hand. I asked "what is that chambered in?"
To which he said, "what would you like it be chambered in?"

"308, of course."

Handed it to me and said "here ya go."

Totally weird how it worked out.

Wish I hadn't read this post, I have too many rifles already! Stainless/walnut has always flipped my switch, and the fact it's available in left hand, makes me want to add a Creedmore to my accumulation.

I bought a Hawkeye in 9.3x62mm just for a change of pace with hunting Cape Buffalo.

To date, it is the only factory rifle (and I've had a few) that didn't need the complete action massaged by a gunsmith to make it ready for DG hunting. It was ready to go out of the box, and I'm real picky about those things.

Doubt I'll ever come across another like that again...

Sweet rifles. I remember when someone here put one of their Hawkeye rifles in a walnut stock. Pretty sweet looking set up. Around that time I threw one of my stainless Hawkeye rifles in a walnut stock. It was chambered in 308w and it shot damn well. I always thought stainless and walnut was a great looking combo. Cool to see Ruger actually making them now. Kind of making me want to throw one of my Superlites in the spare deluxe walnut stocks I have..Hmmm.

Meant to be then!

What ammo/load will you use for the shakedown cruise?

Probably start varget and an interlock. Ain't seen that combo not work yet.