I handled one today at Sportsman's Warehouse. It was a stainless 30-06 with the synthetic stock. I really liked the trigger. The action was a little stiff, but probably would smooth up with use.

I may buy one, but I need to think about it.

Make mine the MKII. I looked over the new Hawkeyes too. I didn't like the new finish. Give me polished blue and the old bolt. IMO the new bolt looks "unfinished". I likes th eold one - wish Ruger woulda just changed the trigger and left the rest alone.

I do hope then that I will be able to get MKII's cheap as people "trade up".

I rather like the hawkeye.
The wood and blue ones are more to my fancy , but stainless ones aint bad either.
Make mine a .257 Roberts , or a .358 winchester.
If you get one please post on how it shoots !
...tj3006

I too am a MKII fan. I have a SS 30-06, and have been looking for a Blue/wood 30-06 for a while now. Sure wish Ruger would flood the market with the new Hawkeyes so I could pick up a MKII in like new condition.

So I see this thread and the story about seeing them at Sportsmans Warehouse.

I decided to go over to the closest S.W. (in Mesa)during lunch to see one.

I walk up to their gun counter and ask if they have any "Ruger Hawkeyes".

The salesman says "Ruger what?" "Whats that?"

I informed him it was the newest Ruger bolt action and he said he had never heard of them.

We have three S.W. in the Phoenix area - Why is it the Mesa store has the most untrained help and is out of stock on half the things I go in for?

Don't get me wrong - they are always there to try and help - they just can't most of the time.

Great prices aren't worth squat if they are always out of stock!

end of rant............

I still would like to see one of these rifles.

You still have the option of the old one with the new trigger. I'm told the newer mk2's have the new trigger and indeed saw one with it. I do like the Hawkeyes better with the matte finish but the choice is still there.

OK. Just to get it right.

The new Hawkeye is no different than the Mark II
except for:

1. finish

2. trigger

3. very, very slimmed down stock (wood)

Anything else?

Don

That is about all the Ruger needed, except for a bit longer safety lever. They had to leave us something to bitch about.

Actually I got the same blank stare when I asked to see a Ruger Hawkeye at the Sportman's Warehouse in Round Rock Texas. However I just asked to see the rifle that looked like a Hawkeye, and it was same. The guy tried to sell me a Tika instead. I think they have a lot of Tikas.