I'm looking for a nice little all-weather rifle for hunting in the timber for deer and elk in nasty weather. I've felt up a few rifles and I like the way the rifle points. It's not too long and appears to be bomb-proof. I'm not going to give up on my M70 Featherweight, but I'd like something a bit more robust.

For those that have one of these, how has the finish held up? The ones I've seen in some stores look really dirty. Does the dirty look go away with degreasing and cleaning? Is this one of those stainless rifles that is prone to rusting quickly? Does the action ever smooth up? How does yours shoot!

Thanks guys.

What, no one has responded to this great question?? Everyone must be out deer hunting (glad mine is over ). Ok, now to answer some of your questions. I've got one in 308 and it is a great rifle. I had to bed it and float it to wring out its best accuracy. I know some swear their bone stock all weathers shoot 3/4" groups "all day long" but that wasn't the case with mine. Heres a list of some of the answers to your questions:

1. Yes they are bomb proof as hell
2. Integral mounts are great and robust (rings are a little heavy though)
3. Finish is great (matte stainless)and yes they do clean up very well.
4. Don't know about rusting (maybe some of the AK boys can answer this).
However in our neck of the woods I think the all weather will do exactly what the name implies.
5. The action can be made smooth: Polish up the bolt body (hell, I polish up the bolt handle too while I'm at it--just like the look of the polished bolt handle of the MKII's I guess). Polish the inside of the reciever lug raceways too while your at it and the rugers can be extremely smooth. While I'm in a polishing mood, I take the trigger group out and replace the spring and polish the sear and engagement areas to lighten up the trigger and smoothen it out a lot. Doesn't take too much with the newer LC6 trigger.
6. How do they shoot??? Well mine is a true "less than 1 moa" rifle now, often giving groups of 3/4" or so after bedding though of course. Here are some pics of some of the work I've done to mine and the type of accuracy I get with it:








Its a great shooter now and shoots neck in neck with my SC FN model 70 308 fwt. Honestly I couldn't tell you which one I like better (that would be a hard decision):
[img]http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x401/chiefbsa/005-16.jpg[/img]
I do, however, like the fact that it is an "All Weather" type of rifle for less than half the cost of the winchester model 70 EW. If you like the way the ruger handles and fits I'd say buy it and you'll be pretty happy with it. The only thing I thought was weird on my 308 All Weather is it only holds 4 rounds in the magazine and it is pretty heavy for what it is (8.5 pounds all up!!). I've been thinking about putting mine in a mcmillan swirly stock just because I think they look good that way. Just my .02. Take care Dan and let us know if you end up with the all weather and let us know how it shoots. Like I said, a little bit of tweaking and it should be great. Just as good, functionally, as the winchester model 70 but with a better trigger

Wow, thanks for the great writeup. I am surprised that the Hawkeye weighs as much as it does. When I handled it at the store, it didn't feel nearly that heavy. There is a 308 at a local store on sale and I think it would make a great rifle for hunting locally.

Dan, my son bought a stainless MKII this year and I have an early MKII stainless. Both started out rough but just working the bolt a lot and then spraying the bolt body with Remington drylube works wonders. Put some good grease on the bolt lugs and camming area of the bolt and you'll be pleased. Without a lot of polishing it won't be as smooth as your M70 but then again that's why the M70 costs more.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better rifle for our local area hunting. That little round is very impressive to say the least.

Man, I'm gonna have to bribe you with dinner and beer, so I can pick up some tricks as to how to do bedding that nicely.

I don't like the finish on the Hawkeye all-weather. I keep hoping that Ruger will retro the finish like they did on their blued models, but...

That said, for a fair price you get an all steel rifle with no pot metal, no shaped sheet metal, and no plastic trigger guard or follower. You might have to smooth it up a little, but who on here doesn't like to tinker a bit with their guns? And they will shoot and last several lifetimes.

Mine is a .358 Win and it is going to get the float/bed treatment this winter. It shoots good, sometimes under 1" but mostly 1.5" with 200gr Hornadys. The finish on mine has some scuff marks but I use it in the worst of weather and the worst terrain around here.

Here is my Ruger M 77 MKIII in 7mm/08. It's done some work in some very nasty weather down around Nasale and Greys River on the lower Columbia River here on the Washington side of the river near Astoria.

Thanks a lot guys. I think I will pick one up at the end of the week. A local store has a Hawkeye All-Weather in 280 Rem, NIB for $475. That, or I'll get something like a 308.

Go with the 280 Remington!!! You will love it! 280 REMINGTON....

This Ruger MKII in 6mm Remington was not "all weather" before, but it is now!! We pulled the factory stock off and I had a Boyds nutmeg laminate pillar and glass bedded and put on it. Also had the stock checkered. It shoots great and I love the Ruger rifle with controlled round feed, long magazine box, and bullet proof scope mouting system. They make a heck of a rifle in my opinion!!
David



My son & his first elk with his Ruger MKII 6mm Remington.

Very cool. I'm considering the 280 because of the great price on it. I might even pick up the same rifle in 223 for a plinker.

I've got one in .308. Got the creep out of the trigger, lightened the pull, free-floated the barrel, and worked on the magazine so that it didn't put upward pressure on the action is all I've done to it. It won't win a benchrest match, but it is a very dependable and accurate hunting rifle.

Dan you've been talking about a 280 for years, might as well just get it done

Mine Hawkeye has a different twist. Since the original stock wasnt free floating and tended to cause the gun to verticaly string shots (once the barrel heated up) I sold off the factory stock and fitted a Hogue unit with the full length bedding block. ( and thanks to bsa's words of wisdom regarding skim bedding !!)
The gun now shoots well without any shot stringing - even though I havent bedded it.

Gus

I'd snatch that .280 NOW if I were you.

Damn, I better go and check the safe. That looks just like mine

I'd get the .280 way before the 308!!!!!!!

..............What scope are you using on that Ruger compact?

But, 308s are pretty nice too and usually very accurate. And several ounces lighter. That said, it sounds like you really want the 280, so go get it. I'm just really high on the 308 caliber. You will like the Ruger. As I have said before, you may have to smooth it up a bit, but who doesn't like to tinker with their rifles?

I know I'm in the minority here, but all of my 30-06's shoot better than my 308's and the 300wsm outshoots them all.......I'm pretty darn sure Dan can get that .280 to shoot.

+1

Can't tell you much about All Weather Rugers but can say I am an unabashed fan of Ruger rifles in general. Rugged as hell and accurate is my experience.

Mine are a mix of blue, stainless, walnut, laminate and the dreaded "boat paddle" varieties. This year the stainless boat paddle .338Win Mag will be my primary elk rifle.

I'll hold you to that and expect to see some pics of a dead critter . I think you'll like that 338 as your primary elk rifle.