Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles How would you improve the Ruger Hawkeye

In order of my preference (based on my experiences with the MK II, not the Hawkeye):

DO'S:
Smooth up the action, feed rails & ramp. Mine scratches brass like a cat on a post.
"Fix" the safety. Make it protude a bit more, make it larger, or both. Alternatively, go back to the tang safety (I don't mind the wing, just their implementation of it).
Increase the LOP a smigde.
Lighten the trigger to 3 to 3 1/2 lbs.
Lighten the action 6 to 8 ounces.
Lower profile bases / rings.

DONT'S:
NO REMOVABLE MAG.

I largely like the platform as-is. I don't believe my list is in anyway unreasonable or cost prohibitive and I'd love to see those changes.

Simply trade it in on a M-70!

+1

A Ruger hawkeye is just that..... a Hawkeye. It has its own character, personality, feel. Some like it, some love it, some just manage to get by, some hate it.

My Hawkeye in 270 Win wears a Hogue stock with the full length bedding block. Its a hunting rifle at that, something that can take the hard knocks, mud, dirt, [bleep] - everything you throw at it!! Does the job I need it to do.

Could we make it better ...... yeah probably .....but then it wouldnt be what it is!!!

Gus

Nicely said Gus. However, You left out the part where it shoots lights out too . I like my pre 64's and other CRF winchester model 70's but my Ruger M77's can do anything they can with just as much accuracy and reliability. What more does one want. The rugers are just a little rough around the edges but once they are cleaned up a bit they are very worth while.......

Bring back the deep shiny bluing!

BSA, agree with ya. Mine keeps my other makes and calibres company. When I feel I want to hunt with that one, out it comes.

Gus

Just bought my first Hawkeye. It's a 223, brand new for $400 at the local Scheel's on closeout. Figured I couldn't go wrong at that price, had a 270 also but I'm 270 poor. Never had a 223 sporter before so thought I would give it a try. Haven't shot it yet but seems like a nice rifle, triger is pretty decent too.

I love mine just fine. Lighter trigger would be a blessing and I wish I could've had my RCM without sights (I know, I'm about the only one who doesn't want them!).

I have no problem with the safety, I absolutely LOVE everything about the walnut stock, like the shorter LOP when hunting, and I am doing just fine with the factory butt pad.

Smooth up the action, put a bigger safety on it for when you are wearing gloves. I like it cuz its a tough reliable SOB of a rifle that always go bang when I pull the trigger, in my experience anyways. I've always gotten good accuracy out of mine as well.

Keep it all steel & walnut,add more chamberings(classics)fix the safety...Just keep it better than Savage and Remingtons and you have a winner!
Did I say I like my 6.5 Creedmoor....

I do not like the bass ackward safety on my pre-war model 70. That one also turns me off on the CZ 527. I kind of like my safeties to be on fire in the forward position.

As to the Ruger, when your hands become arthritic, a larger lever would be a good thing. As for Devcon, a friend swears he repaired an English sports car engine block with the stuff years ago and it held up.

Jack

I don't have any major issues with the Hawkeye. Never had trouble with the safety or the angled action screw. I like mine pretty well as they are and each has shot fine.

I must admit the newer ones with the return to the gloss deep blue have my attention. There's one in a local shop with some of the best factory bluing I've seen in years.

If I were making improvements, it could go on a diet. I love the Hawkeye's walnut stock. The rings work fine but are admittedly heavier than need be and most of mine have since purchased, been replaced with Leupold lows. Otherwise, I actually prefer the old Mk II shiny SS version over the matte, but not by much.

I can deal with the safety.

My two big wishes would be that Ruger either develop or collaborate with someone to

make LW aluminum or titanium scope rings

Build a LW (sub 24oz) fiberglass or kevlar type stock. McMillan, Banser, or Brown come to mind. Fund a little R&D or a mold or what ever it takes.

Problem is that winchesters aren't what they were. multi-piece bolts and enclosed triggers. The Ruger is perhaps truer to the ideal CRF than the current Winchester. Add in the fact that the Ruger receiver actually weighs less than the Winchester. Just need a stock option and some LW rings

Id love a stainless pre-64... but they don't exist.

Depending on the particular set those Ruger rings will weigh 4 ounces each - that's half a pound added to the weight of the rifle in scope rings alone. I can see the theoretical benefit of permanently milled in scope bases but that limits you to rings made specifically to fit those bases. If they're going to do that they could change to a universal Weaver pattern or better yet just forgo them for a round top receiver and let the user supply bases and rings. It's a nice idea in theory and to Ruger's credit they give you rings with the rifle but if'n I had my druthers I'd rather just have all the options of doing it myself.

IIRC McMillan can't make a lightweight Edge fill stock due to that angled front screw since the design does not allow enough meat in the recoil shoulder area.

Again, nice idea when it first came out - pull the action back into the recoil shoulder area to make up for the variances of mass produced wooden stocks but it has had unforeseen ramifications down the road.

That said, I like my Hawkeyes. The stock triggers are dependable and can be worked down to a nice crisp hunting pull. Accuracy is good to excellent in my small 3 rifle sample. Actions can be rough (bumpity bumpity bump) or have a fairly smooth bolt throw. Not lightweights but not as heavy as any of my Model 70's out of the box (until you add those boat anchor scope rings ).

It is what it is and what most all Ruger products are - a solid, dependable product, strong and tough as hell, not necessarily as "refined" as some but more accurate than you'd think they should be and offered at a very reasonable price compared to the competition.

How would you improve the Ruger Hawkeye?.....

Nothing a tomato plant wouldn't fix.

Pretty much like it as it is......but the name needs to be changed. The Ruger Hawkeye is a single-shot pistol.....not a rifle. I still get confused when I see that name an discover it is a new rifle, not an older pistol.

Just put the safety back on the tang where it belongs and I will live with any other gripes I might have.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner right there!

Dale