I didn’t want to highjack the other 9.3x62 thread with my question so I thought I would start my own. I have two 9.3x62 one is the Ruger Hawkeye African and the other is a Husqvarna. I bought the Husky first; it is a beautiful rifle, light easy to carry, I like the lines of the stock, curved butt, the barrel tapper. I know I sound like I’m describing a pretty woman. Then I lusted after the Ruger found one and my wife bought it for me, I really like the Ruger it is easier to shoot than the Husky, it’s heavier and I have had a recoil pad added, nice lines but it doesn’t appeal to me like the Husky. I bought the 9.3x62 hoping that I would get to Africa one day that will never happen. I have hunted deer with both rifles and will continue to and hope to draw an elk permit here in Kentucky and use the 9.3x62 then. When my wife bought me the Ruger I said I would sell the Husky but I couldn’t bring myself to do it I stuck it in the back of the safe and take it out from time to time to fondle I mean wipe it down admire it and put back. I have had the Husky at the gunsmith to have a recoil pad added but couldn’t bring myself to have the curve cut off to have the pad added. I need to sell one of these rifles; I have some other gun related expenses that I need to cover. The reason I bought the Ruger I was hoping for less recoil and it is easier to shoot, after a shooting session with the Husky my neck bothers me for a few days. Which one would you sell or which one would you keep, they both shoot better than I do. Bryan

I would keep the Ruger, because the Ruger Hawkey African rifles open sites line up for me so very well. I'd bet the Ruger is probably more accurate as well. Not many of those were made in 9.3x62. I've been kicking myself for a long time for not getting one when I had the chance. They could be had for $700 when new. Now they tend to go for north of a grand and they are hard to find.

I agree with ColoradoMatt. I have an old beat up Husqvarna in 9.3x62 that I've owned about 10 years, It's an open sight gun and very accurate, I use it as my bad weather gun. I also have a Ruger Hawkeye African in 9.3x62 that I really like. The African is shorter and handier than the Husqvarna and shoots extremely well. As ColoradoMatt said Ruger didn't make many Hawkeyes in 9.3x62 and the value will probably continue to climb on that model. I'd stick with the Hawkeye.

No, no, no. The above two are wrong.

Sell the Ruger Hawkeye.

To me!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Pick the one you like more and sell the other.

Lord I am glad I'm not having to make this decision

I would keep the African. Unless you can make money on it and the Husqvarna has more sentimental value.

If it were me I would unquestionably keep the Husky.....I had a Ruger in 9.3x62 for a while - open sights were good but otherwise barrel heavy and unbalanced for me.....

Given your dilemma, I'd keep both.

Me, I'd say adios to the Ruger and keep the Husqvarna.

Husky rules!!

There is a lot of variation in Husky 98 rifles. I think we all really need to see your Husky to truly make an objective opinion!

I have a Simson M98 made before 1912 - Octagon to round barrel with full length rib. It was badly pitted in storage with a mint bore & damaged stock.

I bought it and had it restored with a new stock, rust blue & scope. I just love it & it shoots very well.

You can get similar German rifles in that caliber on Guns International for around $1200 or less.

The Husky has a terrible slim stock with a huge drop that kicks like a mule. I had a 9.3X57 that was horrible to shoot! In many of these rifles the stock cracks at the tang due to poor design.

I would keep the Ruger as you shoot well with it and you will have confidence in it if you hunt with it.

Look at these

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100811840

https://www.hinterlandoutfitte...k-stock-p-52216.html

That Sauer is a real bargain IMO.

I admit up front that I traded away the only Ruger I ever owned, but in your case I'd definitely sell the Ruger and put a curved pad on the Husky!

Make a list of the Pro's and Con's for each rifle. Keep the one that has the most Pro's and the fewest Con's. One of the "Pro's" is that your wife bought you the Ruger. This should be at the top of the Pro's list! Don't screw up on this!

I have a 9.3 Husky, took it to Africa.
The manager of the lodge in RSA asked me what rifle I brought, I told him a 9.3 Husky. He said "That is what I use." I was instantly his new best friend.
I would keep the Husky, if you sell it you will not get very much and you will always regret doing it. It is light built with the intention of being a hunting rifle not being shot a lot at the range.
When shooting at game rifles have no recoil and make no noise.

M

Easy, keep the Ruger and sell the Husky to me.

Selling the rifle, gifted by your wife, could be a very bad idea! I'd keep both.

First problem, you stated you "want to go to Africa but you will never go", wrong answer.
You should go to Africa, you NEED to go to Africa, you WILL go to Africa!
Don't talk yourself out of it.

Second problem, you "need to sell one of these rifles", wrong answer.
You Must keep them both! one is a gift from your wife and no matter what she says it will be wrong to sell it and it has some qualities that the Husky doesn't.
On top of that you can't sell the Husky, you are infatuated with it. Keep them both and sell one of the kids, the dog or some of your wife's jewelry to finance the next gun project.
Now you are on the right path!

Snellstrom is absolutely correct. Do not sell the rifle that your wife bought for you. Your life will start downhill. Also, don't shoot that Husky in its present guise. You only get one neck. If you cut the buttstock flat for a recoil pad, it is no big deal. Many classic flintlocks were converted to percussion ignition. The Europeans, especially the British often make big changes to the stocks on very expensive shotguns so they fit the shooter correctly. Beauty is as it does. I used to churn guns to finance new projects. I regret every one of those sales now. If money is that tight, get a part time job flipping burgers a couple evenings per week. You can't live on that salary, but it will quickly pay for several gun projects.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:
Given your dilemma, I'd keep both.

Me, I'd say adios to the Ruger and keep the Husqvarna.

Nope....sell both and put the proceeds toward a new one built on a VZ-24 action.....

Go pump gas for a couple weekends to pay the bill and keep both of them. Then put a good pad on the Husqvarna.

They make 10's of thousands of Ruger Hawkeye's every year, and they will never make another Husky! That being said I would never sell a gift rifle from my wife. I would, and have had my 3 husky's cut to my desired length of pull and square to the bore and added Packmayr red recoil pads. All 3 are a different variation and a lot of things will get sold to pay bills before even my least desirable Husky. Hope this helps, and good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by lshopper:
They make 10's of thousands of Ruger Hawkeye's every year, and they will never make another Husky! That being said I would never sell a gift rifle from my wife. I would, and have had my 3 husky's cut to my desired length of pull and square to the bore and added Packmayr red recoil pads. All 3 are a different variation and a lot of things will get sold to pay bills before even my least desirable Husky. Hope this helps, and good luck!

They did not make 10's of thousands of Ruger Hawkeye Africans in 9.3x62. Probably no more than a couple hundred, if that, and they likely won't be making anymore. There are a lot more 9.3 Husky's out there, and they are fairly cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:

They did not make 10's of thousands of Ruger Hawkeye Africans in 9.3x62. Probably no more than a couple hundred, if that, and they likely won't be making anymore. There are a lot more 9.3 Husky's out there, and they are fairly cheap.

+1

I never said they made tens of thousands of 9.3x62's, I simply said they make tens of thousands of Ruger Hawkeye's every year. My intent was to denote how common and unspecial a Ruger is in comparison to a Husqvarna and 9.3x 62. Anybody with a little imagination can make a current Ruger Hawkeye into the African model. Much more difficult to find good rifles in serviceable condition for those old Huskies. I generally speak very plainly, so don't read anything into what I say past what specifically I said.

Thank you for all the replies. The Ruger was not a gift from my wife, I was short on gun money when I found it and she gave me the cash to buy it. I should sell both of the rifles, I have a nice 7x57 chambered FN Mauser that sits in the back of my safe that the stock fits me real well I should have a 9.3x62 barrel screwed on it and be done with it.
Bryan

quote:

Originally posted by 7x57:
Thank you for all the replies. The Ruger was not a gift from my wife, I was short on gun money when I found it and she gave me the cash to buy it. I should sell both of the rifles, I have a nice 7x57 chambered FN Mauser that sits in the back of my safe that the stock fits me real well I should have a 9.3x62 barrel screwed on it and be done with it.
Bryan

I might add you don't need to cut the curve off the Husky to install a recoil pad, Boil the pad and bend it then install it..

Both the Africans and the Huskys are excellent rifles..Only you can make that choice, the rest is folly and varying opinnions..Id probably keep the one that shoots the smallest group, but Im an accuracy nut. Both of those guns are a good investment and will increase in value.

I just bought a beautiful 9.3x62 Husky on AR from Bill in Oregan, its been slightly modified with recoil pad and very nice looking irons, and well done indeed.