Question on Ruger Hawkeye rifles

[sja384]

I am getting ready to buy a new rifle within the next month or two, and I have been looking at Tikka and Ruger. While I have many different types of rifles I have never owned a Ruger, but I do like the mauser style bolt. For those of you who have or have had them, do you like them? I was interested in one because it would be a little different flavor from what I have now, or should I go with the Tikka? Any input would be appreciated. Thank you very much.

[336SC]

I've got the blued/wood version of the Hawkeye in .358 Winchester and really like it.  Super 3# trigger pull right out of the box.  Not
too heavy either.  Mounted a Leupold VXII, 1x4x20 on it and suits me perfect.  My longest shot to date here in NE PA where I hunt was 126 yards.  I've got three .358 Win rifles and used my custom rifle built on a Remington 700 short action in .358 to kill this years freezer deer.  Used a handload with a 200gr RPPCL @ 2430fps.  Went maybe 50 feet but fell down a near vertical hillside.  I also have a Model 77 MKII in 7x57.  Never a problem with either rifle and like them both a lot.
336SC

[SHOOTALL]

I have the Ruger and like it alot. I have found Ruger to be a well built rifle and the rings alone make it a good deal.

[sja384]

Thank you 336SC and SHOOTALL for the replies. I have been looking at the hawkeye sporter in stainless steel with the gray and black laminated stock. I like the way it looks and feels, and It seems like a very solid gun.

[Lloyd Smale]

it would be about a toss up for me. In my opinion the hawkeye is the better looking of the two but id put better odds on the tikka being the better shooter. the ruger isnt a true control round mauser action but probably does have a better extractor. A minor point though as either will do fine in that department.

[JTB]

I like the Ruger ring setup as well, but to me the Tikka is the better built rifle.  I've never been a big fan of the front action screw set up on Rugers.  I think the odds are in favor of the Tikka being a much more accurate rifle if you're an accuracy nut like myself.

[SHOOTALL]

my most accurate rifle is a 2506 rem 700 , I have not seen a 2506 anything that was not accurate. Next is a Ruger and it might be in the scopes as one has more power. Ruger puts out some very accurate rifles these days.

[762X51]

I like the Ruger because it's a controlled round feed design. The original M77s up through the later models of the MkII were not controlled round feed but the Hawkeye most certainly IS controlled round feed. The only difference between the way a Hawkeye feeds and the way a military Mauser feeds is that the unmodified Mauser won't allow you to drop a cartridge directly into the chamber and close the bolt. CRF has a couple advantages; you can't short stroke the action and double feed it and the standing ejector is very positive and allows the user to softly drop an empty on the bench or sling it several yards. If you should get the Ruger be sure to test it's functioning. The Hawkeye I bought last year would not control the round out of the magazine and functioned more as a push feed. After a call to Ruger it was determined that my rifle should be returned to the factory and when I got it back it then functioned flawlessly as the controlled round feed it is designed as. The triggers are really good compared to years ago too. Really the only reasons TO buy a Hawkeye is for the controlled round feed or it's good looks since there are far cheaper alternatives that shoot amazingly well like Ruger's American Rifle or even Savage's Axis. Both are very low cost and both are extremely accurate.

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got 3 hawkeyes  and non of the 3 work completely like a controled round fed mauser. they do  a better job of controling the round then say a rem 700 but still arent what i consider true control round fed guns. Maybe a trip to ruger would fix mine too but i guess to me it doesnt matter a pinch of  ### as im not rolling around on the ground shooting deer upside down.

[SHOOTALL]

ive got 3 hawkeyes  and non of the 3 work completely like a controled round fed mauser. they do  a better job of controling the round then say a rem 700 but still arent what i consider true control round fed guns. Maybe a trip to ruger would fix mine too but i guess to me it doesnt matter a pinch of  ### as im not rolling around on the ground shooting deer upside down.

You mean you don't do a tatical deer hunt ? 
FWIW , I have heard that the ruger is set up to snap over a rim if someone just drops one in instead of placing it in the magazine .

[762X51]

ive got 3 hawkeyes  and non of the 3 work completely like a controled round fed mauser. they do  a better job of controling the round then say a rem 700 but still arent what i consider true control round fed guns. Maybe a trip to ruger would fix mine too but i guess to me it doesnt matter a pinch of  ### as im not rolling around on the ground shooting deer upside down.

If they are malfunctioning and aren't working as designed I wouldn't consider them a true CRF rifle either. Send them back to Ruger since they are indeed supposed to function in a controlled manner and they WILL make them do so. Most people are perfectly happy with push feed rifles and as you noted, yours, even not working as designed, work well enough to suit you. The old upside down feeding tale is not really a unique benefit of CRF, hell most all push feeds will feed upside down too. The fact you can't accidentally short stroke one and double feed it and the positive extraction and ejection are the real benefits. If those attributes don't really appeal to a shooter there's really no reason to limit your choices to a Hawkeye when there are many, many more push feed rifles of all prices and makes. Most people that just shoot deer really don't care though, it's the dangerous game hunters that like the CRF.  As Lloyd and JTB noted there's probably a better chance of the Tikka being more accurate. If it's the Tikka T3 you're interested in, I'd seriously consider the VERY similar Ruger American. I have personal experience with two Americans in .308 and both are EXTREMELY accurate. There is NOTHING a T3 will do that a Ruger American can't do for less money.

[D Fischer]

I've had two mod 77's. A 7x57 when it first came out, about 1972 and a 338 Win Mag. The thing I really liked about them was hoe well they balanced and how clean the line's were. Neither was a particulary good shooter. The 7x57 would only shoot 154gr RN bullet's and them into about 1 1/2" at 100. The 338 was accurate as I recall but I didn't shoot it a lot, got it from a guy that owed me money. They were one of the best looking rifle's I've ever seen.