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.