NMCoyoteHunter01
New member
How well are these guns? How is the trigger? How smooth or how much slop is in the bolt? Accuracy? Personal opinion?
What about Ruger M77 Hakeye Rifles.
- Thread starter NMCoyoteHunter01
- Start date
Hidalgo
Well-known member
They are great guns. Ruger isn't still around because they build junk.
The trigger on the standard Hawkeye is "average". The 2-stage trigger on the Hawkeye Predator and VT models is better.
Hawkeyes use the Mauser controlled feed actions. They lock up tight and function reliably.
Hawkeyes are "better than most" in my opinion out of the box.
Personal opinion? I have a safe full of Rugers. Their actions are not as smooth as a Tikka, and they aren't as accurate as some Savage models. But day in and day out they haven't failed me and are more accurate than I can usually shoot.
You won't go wrong with a Ruger. Or a Remington. Or a Tikka. Or a Ford. Or a Chevy. They are all good and will serve your purposes. I like the way Rugers handle and function and that's what matters to me. Other people hate them for whatever reason. Handle the gun and see if it feels good to YOU. That's what matters most.
The trigger on the standard Hawkeye is "average". The 2-stage trigger on the Hawkeye Predator and VT models is better.
Hawkeyes use the Mauser controlled feed actions. They lock up tight and function reliably.
Hawkeyes are "better than most" in my opinion out of the box.
Personal opinion? I have a safe full of Rugers. Their actions are not as smooth as a Tikka, and they aren't as accurate as some Savage models. But day in and day out they haven't failed me and are more accurate than I can usually shoot.
You won't go wrong with a Ruger. Or a Remington. Or a Tikka. Or a Ford. Or a Chevy. They are all good and will serve your purposes. I like the way Rugers handle and function and that's what matters to me. Other people hate them for whatever reason. Handle the gun and see if it feels good to YOU. That's what matters most.
Zegle
New member
I have the M77 Hawkeye "All-Weather" in 22-250. Accurate gun...more accurate than I can shoot I'm sure.
The trigger is a little stiff out of the box. I'd say around 5 lbs? But the trigger works fine for my purposes. It would be nice if it was a little less but you can buy an aftermarket trigger if you want. To each his own.
Altogether the Hawkeye is a great rifle (imo) and it's my go-to bolt gun when it comes to coyotes. hold one and see how it feels.
The trigger is a little stiff out of the box. I'd say around 5 lbs? But the trigger works fine for my purposes. It would be nice if it was a little less but you can buy an aftermarket trigger if you want. To each his own.
Altogether the Hawkeye is a great rifle (imo) and it's my go-to bolt gun when it comes to coyotes. hold one and see how it feels.
Okiedigger
New member
I agree 100% with Hidalgo, solid rifles. I have several M77s, including a wood/blue hawkeye in 6.5 Creedmoor. They just feel good to me, are deadnuts dependable, and they all shoot better than the nut behind the trigger.
BOWLSEYE
New member
Very solid rifles. The Hawkeye has the new LC6 trigger which is OK but not stellar. The stock is shaped a little differant that the 77 Mark II, trimmed down.
I was getting around 1 moa and so after load developement I pillar bedded, free floated and did a trigger job (Timney) and now under moa and very happy with the accuracy.
I especially like the ejection of the cases with the Ruger extractor. Very positive. If I was buying a big game rifle or hunting bear or where there was mountain lions I would buy a Ruger as its a durable work horse.
I was getting around 1 moa and so after load developement I pillar bedded, free floated and did a trigger job (Timney) and now under moa and very happy with the accuracy.
I especially like the ejection of the cases with the Ruger extractor. Very positive. If I was buying a big game rifle or hunting bear or where there was mountain lions I would buy a Ruger as its a durable work horse.
I recently found a new never fired Hawkeye in 257 Roberts. I have never owned one, but I was surprised how well it shoots. It's accurate as well, and has already taken two whitetail does. I would buy another if I felt the need to. The trigger has a very small amount of creep but not bad.
Roger London
New member
I have a Ruger Hawkeye Ultralight in .223 that's a nice little gun. I pillar bedded it into a boyd's classic stock and it shoots pretty well, esp. with its pencil barrel. One day I'd like to scratch together the change to put it into a McMillan Edge or some similar light weight stock that is better suited to it since the laminate is a little heavy, but it will do for now.
We've got a couple, an ultralight in .243 and a regular in .338 Federal. Both are solid rifles that perform well in the field. I recommend them and will likely get another for my son in .308 in the next couple years. I haven't spent a lot of time working either from the bench (they're both cut down to 12" LOP for the little people in the family), but they shoot well enough for big game or coyote hunting at reasonable distances.
.243 on deer:
.338 Fed on elk:
.243 on deer:
.338 Fed on elk:
DGW
New member
Have a Ruger 77 Hawkeye (not the II) in 257R. It is a very nice rifle. Not a tack driver, but I've no complaints about its accuracy. I did, free float the barrel and reduce the weight of the trigger pull by adjusting its factory trigger.
First time I took it to range, gent I'd been shooting with for a couple of years at range we're members, saw the rifle, looked it over closely and then offered to make me a straight trade of one of his heavy barrel 308W Savage rifles that was more of a benchrest rifle, than a hunting rifle. He wanted it for his wife to use. Mind you his Savage rifle cost well over $300 more than mine and he'd already replaced the factory Accru trigger with a Rifle Basix one. He had around 200 rds shot in his Savage. I turned him down. Told a couple of other gents we regularly shoot with of his offer. 1. Both thought he was silly to make it, 2. I was even sillier not to accept it.
First time I took it to range, gent I'd been shooting with for a couple of years at range we're members, saw the rifle, looked it over closely and then offered to make me a straight trade of one of his heavy barrel 308W Savage rifles that was more of a benchrest rifle, than a hunting rifle. He wanted it for his wife to use. Mind you his Savage rifle cost well over $300 more than mine and he'd already replaced the factory Accru trigger with a Rifle Basix one. He had around 200 rds shot in his Savage. I turned him down. Told a couple of other gents we regularly shoot with of his offer. 1. Both thought he was silly to make it, 2. I was even sillier not to accept it.
Hidalgo
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: DGWTold a couple of other gents we regularly shoot with of his offer. 1. Both thought he was silly to make it, 2. I was even sillier not to accept it.
What is a silly trade to one person might be a great trade for another. If the rifle being offered doesn't fit your needs then it's useless. As they say in car dealer school ... "A good deal is one that the customer is pleased with". If you're having no regrets then you did the right thing no matter what anyone else says. If not, it was just a missed opportunity ... nothing more.
What is a silly trade to one person might be a great trade for another. If the rifle being offered doesn't fit your needs then it's useless. As they say in car dealer school ... "A good deal is one that the customer is pleased with". If you're having no regrets then you did the right thing no matter what anyone else says. If not, it was just a missed opportunity ... nothing more.
Bearcat 74
New member
I have an Ultralight in 257 Roberts and a Stainless/Synthetic in .358 Win. Both are very accurate and well made rifles.
DANNY-L
Active member
I recently picked up the hawkeye in 6.5cm and like the way it handles and how solid it locks up. Still playing with different loads before I settle on one. I also have an older 77 in 308,pencil barrel and tang safety that I just took out of the safe yesterday to carry for the tail end of the season. After toting it around today I think I might start with it next year as well,easy handling and under 7 lbs and accurate.
NMCoyoteHunter01
New member
For those of you who have the gun in 6.5 Creedmoor how well does it perform?
Hidalgo
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: NMCoyoteHunter01For those of you who have the gun in 6.5 Creedmoor how well does it perform?
I have the Hawkeye Predator in 6.5. They are great guns.
Danny-L just posted above you about his.
I am also still working loads for mine, but it is already showing it's inherent accuracy. The Creedmoor is just plain 'ole FUN.
I have the Hawkeye Predator in 6.5. They are great guns.
Danny-L just posted above you about his.
I am also still working loads for mine, but it is already showing it's inherent accuracy. The Creedmoor is just plain 'ole FUN.
Rocky1
New member
Have a 77 Hawkeye in 257 Roberts. Love the feel of the gun, it's well balanced, and just seems to fit me well.
Topped it with a Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40, it's more accurate than I am.
Trigger on mine was ungodly sweet, straight out of the box! Breaks clean and crisp at 3 1/2 lbs. every time. I was simply amazed when I tried it; to the point I had to get the trigger pull gauge out to see exactly what it was doing. One of the nicest factory triggers I've ever found on a gun, honestly.
Had another member here encountered one just like it awhile back, she took hers to her local gunsmith to have it checked out. She thought something was wrong with it, it broke so smooth.
Topped it with a Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40, it's more accurate than I am.
Trigger on mine was ungodly sweet, straight out of the box! Breaks clean and crisp at 3 1/2 lbs. every time. I was simply amazed when I tried it; to the point I had to get the trigger pull gauge out to see exactly what it was doing. One of the nicest factory triggers I've ever found on a gun, honestly.
Had another member here encountered one just like it awhile back, she took hers to her local gunsmith to have it checked out. She thought something was wrong with it, it broke so smooth.
DANNY-L
Active member
Originally Posted By: NMCoyoteHunter01For those of you who have the gun in 6.5 Creedmoor how well does it perform?
The rifle shoots very good but it will be great by the time I get my load developed. I will hopefully be putting it to the test here on coyote once our deer season ends and calms down. I was really impressed by the lack of recoil which helps ya stay on target after the shot. If I didn't have a 6-18x scope on it I would be taking it to the woods for deer,we do a lot of deer drives where lower power is my choice.
The rifle shoots very good but it will be great by the time I get my load developed. I will hopefully be putting it to the test here on coyote once our deer season ends and calms down. I was really impressed by the lack of recoil which helps ya stay on target after the shot. If I didn't have a 6-18x scope on it I would be taking it to the woods for deer,we do a lot of deer drives where lower power is my choice.