Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger hawkeye Safety....... What can you do to it so it is easier to use?

Im thinking about building a 30-06 off of a Ruger Action. I really like the ruger action because their tough as nails, relyable, their a CRF action wich i perfer, they have a 3-position safety wich i also perfer on my big game hunting rifle, and you can pick up an action for cheaper than i have been able to find winchester and kimber CRF actions for. But the only problem i have with them is the safety is hidden. Its not as easy to use as the kimber and winchester 3-positions safetys. So the question is, is their anything that you have done to your rugers safety or anything you know that can be done to them to make them easier and not so hidden? Thanks.

I have 3 Rugers, and have no problems with the safes at all. I also have Winchesters, and the Ruger is smoother than the Winchesters, Also the Ruger does not stick out like the Winchesters, and is cleaner looking. Don't get me wrong, as I see nothing wrong with The Winchesters, as I have converted 2 Model 700 Remingtons to the swing type. I sold my 700's because of them going off when you took the safety off, I know everyone will think its my fault not the rifle, but I have since bought 2 700's and put Winchester safeties on and have had no further problems. I have only had 1 Kimber years ago, and had to take back to factory because the safety worked real hard. They fixed, and no more problems.

Practice with it..

Didn't even know they had a safety..

Here is a picture Phil Shoemaker (458Win) posted about a modification he made to his ruger. He did this with devcon.

I've never had problems with one. Though we don't wear heavy gloves down here too often either.....

I'm with Steelhead on this...

Maybe it's just a case of being way out in left field, but with all the teeth-gnashing and whining about Ruger safety levers, you'd think someone would come up with a bigger replacement.

Yep. If I had to hunt with one it would go to a good metalsmith to have the safety re-shaped in similar style to Phil Shoemakers but with real steel welded on then ground to a decent looking finish. Ruger did a really good job with the Mk ll EXCEPT for this fatal flaw. OK, maybe, on a deer gun but completely unacceptable on a DGR.

Just curious, why would anyone leave the safety locked all the way in when they thought a shot imminent? It is a '3' position safety.... I've always kept mine in the middle position when it was close to showtime.....

Just got my first Ruger a MKII, its not for dangerous game but will be spending a good bit of time practicing with it. If after a month or two I don't like it I think the Phil Shoemaker mod is what I'll do.

I have always thought Ruger could off added a 'wing' piece like this. That PS rifle looks thought out!

I did find getting the safety off on fast/running shots(HE) to be a little awkward..... but in mid position it was easy.
Mid does not block the firing pin like Model70's or Kimbers.......

Cut the thumb out of your shooting hand glove.

I removed my safety, took the rough edges off the detent radius & sat for a while working it back & forth until it smoothed out. I am not a fan of three position safties. Now, i don't even have to think about it.

I have arthritis in my right thumb, and really struggled with my brothers M77 mk II. I don't like any of the swing-type safeties - M70 included, because i simply cannot operate them without re-positioning my hand. It isn't a pathological hatred or anything, they are just a little awkward for me. And i don't think i am alone. Personally, i also rather a simple two position safety that pushes forward for off. I am happy with either a "shotgun"-type tang location, or sitting to the right of the tang. I really liked the two position safety on my old Sako 75, with the bolt release option - that is ideal, especially for dangerous game. And most of the time with a conventional safety, my real "safety" is not having a round in the chamber.

I must have the safety of the Ruger on the mid position to quickly operate it - and as pointed out, then the pin isn't blocked so that is an unacceptable option to me. The Ruger three position safety seems to add awkwardness without adding real benefits.

I really, really like the decocker-type safety on my Blaser - it is the only safety i really trust.

I swear, Ruger made that safety for girls with long fingernails.........


Casey

I have been shooting and hunting with M77 Mk IIs since the early nineties and never knew the safety was a problem until I started reading about it here. I guess I will have to get rid of all my Rugers. "grin".

Yeah, man, I hate when I read something on here and find out how ignorant I was... <grin>

Mine was tight enough to be of concern, but I invested a day and several blisters in working it...slicked right up, and now no problems.

Stiffness is not the real problem, the small amount of metal sticking out when it is 'on safe' fully is the problem - and a big one. Ruger needs to correct this.

IIRC Dan Adair had his gunsmith extend the lever. Maybe he will weigh in on the issue.