Ruger Hawkeye?

[rmarshall]

Does anyone shoot a Ruger Hawkeye? Been looking at a 280 remington if anyone has any experience with one of them, or any other caliber.. Will they shoot MOA? I hear rugers can be finicky about bedding and floating the barrel.

 

[menhaden_man]

I picked up a Ruger FTW Hawkeye in 6.5 CM maybe 6 years ago... it's a really nice gun and shoots sub MOA all day with factory ammo (even bulk stuff like American Gunner). I bought another 6.5 CM a few months ago in the T3X light just for the hell of it and it shoots slightly better (like 0.4 instead of 0.5 so not sure if that really counts). I haven't reloaded for either yet, but would wager clover leafs for both guns at 100 yds. One of my hunting pals shoots a stainless Hawkeye in 7 mag (I think the standard issue) and it's a little finicky on ammo and reloads, so I suppose trim and caliber could influence results like any rifle.

Guys on here worship Tikka, CA, SWFA, and Nightforce, but I think the Hawkeye FTW is a damn fine gun that'll hold it's own.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | NRA Gun of the Week: Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter Rifle

American Rifleman’s Joe Kurtenbach examines a trusty design from Ruger chambered for 6.5 mm Creedmoor.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[CApighunter]

I've got one in 35 whelen, great rifle, after bedding and free floating it shoots sub moa. It may end up for sale though, been moving away from blued steel and walnut.

 

[rmarshall]

I’ve always been intrigued in the Whelen! That would be a thumper. Even looked at a few before. Keep me in mind..

 

[Newtosavage]

Owned a Ruger Hawkeye stainless in .280 Rem. Should have never sold that rifle.

 

[rmarshall]

Sent you a pm newtosavage. Just wanting a few extra details. Thanks all for your replies

 

[silasbowhunter]

Does anyone shoot a Ruger Hawkeye? Been looking at a 280 remington if anyone has any experience with one of them, or any other caliber.. Will they shoot MOA? I hear rugers can be finicky about bedding and floating the barrel.

My brother has one.. other than a trigger I don’t care for it’s an awesome gun!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wyatt.Carter]

Have multiple rugers ,, always get them bedded etc. They'll usually produce 1/2 moa after load testing etc.

 

[30338]

The deals on CDNN for a 280 Remington Hawkeye at $469 are kind of hard to beat.

 

[letrbuck]

I have a 280 Hawkeye. Yes, it shoots well. It's been my favorite rifle since I got it. Mine is an All Weather I picked up from CDNN years ago. At 469, you cant afford not to!

 

[rmarshall]

wow!! thats a awesome group, nice shooting. Whats the magic bullet or load combo if you don't mind sharing.. thanks

 

[Varminterror]

Does anyone shoot a Ruger Hawkeye? Been looking at a 280 remington if anyone has any experience with one of them, or any other caliber.. Will they shoot MOA? I hear rugers can be finicky about bedding and floating the barrel.

Ruger’s aren’t inherently finicky about bedding, but the square bottom action and angled front action screw is more difficult to bed than tube style actions. Many smiths make it out to be a bigger deal than it is simply because 1) it’s more time and energy than more common actions, and 2) turning away that small percentage of the market isn’t a major penalty. Years ago now. I made a decent side hustle taking on referrals from other local smiths who simply didn’t want to bother with Rugers.

There’s not much trick to helping Ruger MkII’s and Hawkeyes shoot to their potential. Free float the barrel, block and bed the action, replace the trigger or at least trigger spring, and free float the mag box - then develop a load it likes. Only the oddest individual wouldn’t shoot MOA or slightly sub.

The action is HEAVY, so if you’re wanting to build a lightweight custom mountain gun, look elsewhere. They’re not exceptionally well supported by smiths or aftermarket parts, so I wouldn’t use one for competition ever again (BTDT), but for a hunting rifle which doesn’t travel miles and miles, it’s a very dependable rifle. A 300wm Ruger Hawkeye is my “go-to” big game hunting rifle these days, replacing a Ruger MkII in .30-06 before it.