Well, I just got a new Kimber Super America in .308 on a fair trade. I have also been looking at ruger Hawkeyes at a local dealer.

After a bit of time, and a really nice dealer letting me take apart several rifles, here are some conclusions, probably worth what they cost you

I took apart 8 total rifles (counting mine) 2 short and 2 long actions from both mfgs.
I know a 4 rifle sample ain't a lot, but it's better than typical I think. The quality on both rifles is good, the consistency is far better on the Rugers.

The bolt cycled better on the Ruger across the board. smoother, crisper at closing, more precise feel.

The bore on the rifles were comparable, looked at them with the naked eye and my Hawkeye borescope.

Kimber is definitely a good bit lighter--didn't weigh them, but it's obvious.

Kimber had far better wood across the board.

Preferred the Kimber butt pad, don't like the color on the Ruger, but that's just personal, the Kimber pad is softer to the fingernail test.

Kimbers are pillar bedded, sometimes well, sometimes not, I actually would give the nod to Ruger in this department, I prefer consistency over methodology, especially if the method may be detrimental, which it surely would have been on one of the Kimbers I looked at, pillar bound against action screw severely.

Ruger has--well--Ruger scope mounts +/- I say minus, less flexible--but probably fine in general.....

Finish, fit overall appearance is comparable on both, of course my gun, the Super America is the super high gloss bluing, I actually prefer the matte finsih of the Ruger metal, but of course as stated--Kimber much prettier wood for sure.

My final vote would be for the Hawkeye. It is a good bit less expensive, and seems to be pretty close or better otherwise, except if you are sold by pretty wood.

Guess what got me to trade for the Super America.......


Anyway, just a little intel, I hope it helps folks as they look at these rifles, few places will let you disassemble a rifle now a days in my experience, hell they won't even let you put your finger in the trigger at Bass Pro anymore, trigger lock has to stay in until you are escorted out of the store, and of course there, all gun sales are 'final'...pisses me off.

If I buy a gun and can't even dry fire it a time or two, or shoulder it properly with my finger in the trigger guard to assess LOP etc, I'd rather mail order it from Able Ammo or Hendershots, Good people at those places!!!

That's a reasonable call, and I like your "consistency over methodology" analysis. One has more attractive features and the other has the features it has better executed.

The Ruger 77 is indeed a good gun. It has been improved and enjoys an excellent reputation.

Due to my age I wanted a lighter rifle than the pre 64 M70's, 99F's etc that I had been hunting with the last half century.

I find the Kimbers to fill my need for a lightweight and I now have four of them. The Kimber does have a safety that operates better for me than the 77 and as you noted a softer pad.

I have a Ruger Hawkeye and love the gun. My one complaint is I wish they would put an adjustable trigger in them as the stock one has a heavy pull to it. Oh well I guess Timney can make more money this way.

I own both, a Kimber and a Ruger Hawkeye. I like you feel that both rifles are excellent in some ways and just ok in others. Overall I am very pleased with both purchases. The Kimber has an absolutely superb trigger, which makes a big difference in how easy a gun is to shoot well IMHO. The new Ruger Hawkeyes (like mine) have the LC6 trigger and this is a big step up from the previous Ruger trigger.

Like I said, I am happy with both and glad they are in my safe to stay.

Matt

I just got the Ruger, in .257 Bob, and I like it. I like it's slim body and the LOP seems perfect for my reach. I like the trigger OK. I can't say much about more expensive rifles as I keep under a grand when purchasing. Just let me win the lottery! I've looked at and handled some pricier stuff, and doubt I could spend my hard earned money at double or triple for what seems like a small bit of extra class. Big spenders will now tear me apart.

A fairer comparison would be two Hawkeyes vs a Kimber would it not?

The only Hawkeye I would buy is the 375 African.
I had a Kimber Montana in 260 Rem that was an half inch rifle when it could be held steady enough to do it, they are too light. It was called Mahler 'cause it would have served well as a conductors baton. The 8400 at 6.75lbs is about right.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:
...Guess what got me to trade for the Super America...

Hummm....

Maybe a note in the Owner's Manual saying the Termite Food was soaked in Chlordane for a week!!!

Nice report.

By the way, have you ever been on a Hunt and had any problem due to the majority of your actions being from different manufacturers?

Good report.I've never seen a Kimber in person but I own three Ruger's.Just added a Hawkeye in .280 a short time back.Never had a problem with my old M-77 or 10/22.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core
.....
By the way, have you ever been on a Hunt and had any problem due to the majority of your actions being from different manufacturers?

Nah, 9 out of ten times it's a Sako 75 or 85 anyways, and to be honest, I could probably use a single shot-- but I do hunt with all of mine, never an issue....yet!!

Just as a little FYI on the pricing,

My Kimber Super America rang the bell at $1600 even out the door if I would have bought outright, but I made a good trade, so on the point, it was over twice the prices I have seen on the Hawkeye! Another reason I prefer the Hawkeye overall.

The 84M walnut Kimbers I've seen are about 200 more than a Hawkeye though, 875--900 vs 675-725 on the Hawkeye so maybe that's a more fair comparison.

I have a Kimber and I also have a Hawkeye - Kimber has had issues with the bolt and has been the only rifle I have ever owned that had to go back to the factory (twice). I won't ever buy another. Hawkeye has been flawless and both are equally accurate in as much that I wouldn't call one consistently better than the other. Value wise I would buy the Ruger every time in the future as I don't see the extra value in the Kimbers to warrant the extra price.

i agree with tped. get the hawkeye and just hunt.

Ruger offers reliable quality, stable manufacturing processes and very good engineering, based on profound knowledge what their customers want.

From the outside they look like a very well run business.

I like their products.

It's time to eat my words, well not quite.
Yesterday I helped a friend sight in a Ruger 77 Ultralight S/S in 7mm-08, not a Hawkeye.
After some preliminary shots of a new rifle the first attempt at a group at 50 yards produced a 3 shot ragged hole. They were the 6th,7th and 8th rounds down a new barrel. Ammo bog standard Remington 140 grain PSP. The first and only 100 yard group was 5/16 inch.
It was impressive. I'm a convert except for that too heavy LC6 trigger the rifle was as good as they get, and at the price, very good value for money.

Don,

Good run down of the different rifles with the +'s and -'s.
Thanks for taking the time to write up your assessment.
I had a HUGE problem with the one and only Kimber I owned, so no more Kimbers for me. I know my problem was a sample of one, but I can't see giving my money to a company that produced the POS rifle I had.
I do have an excellent Ruger 77 Mk II in 257 Roberts that flat shoots, so I'm very happy with it.

Don

+1 on the comparison. I just picked up a 308 Super America on Saturday. It's a bit light for much bench work, but the trigger makes up for that. I don't shoot off the bench much, other than to sight in or work up loads. I was getting 1.5" groups at 100 yards over the hood of my Jeep. Those same loads were giving 3" groups with a Savage 10. I suspect the rifle will shoot better than what I can. It was bought specifically for hunts that require a lot of walking.

I haven't had opportunity to handle or shoot a Hawkeye, but have liked every Ruger I've ever had. If the Rugers had triggers comparable to the Kimbers, they'd probably increase their sales by a wide margin.

I have a Kimber 84 with the select grade walnut. Its a fine rifle. How ever I do have one issue with it.
Do to my own stupidity, I had a hand load come apart in the chamber.
A grain of powder got under the ejector.
Try as I might I could not get it out with out pulling the rifle out of the stock.
Good thing I was working on the ejector. beacuse I had my thumb on it when I turned the barreld action in my hands.
The ejectort pin fell out !
Only the stock holds it in ! Seems a little cheesy to me.
but it shoots great and I can't complain about its utility as a hunting rifle at all.
I also have a All weather hawkeke , in .338 Win.
Extreemly happy with it so far. it puts a 225 grain accubond well under MOA.
The pad on the all weather model is much better than on the wood ones.
I would bet that the new Ultra light hawkeye in .308 would be a great rifle. And probably about 300.00 less than my Kimber.
As far as the trigger on ther ruger. It very crisp, but too heavy.
I sugjest a wolf replacment trigger return spring to lighten pull weight...tj3006

I love my Kimber montana. I had one issue with it, but it came back from the factory fixed in less than a week.
It shoots better than I can, fits great, carries great, minimal recoil for a .300 winny, crisp light trigger and looks cool to boot.
Gonna use it on a spot and stalk Vancouver Island black bear hunt in a month, and then a Wild boar hunt next year in CA.
Great over all gun!!
W.

quote:

Originally posted by ACRecurve:
If the Rugers had triggers comparable to the Kimbers, they'd probably increase their sales by a wide margin.

Damn skippy!