Hi all,

Have any of you had experience with this model, with emphasis on out of the box accuracy?

I have handled them and wasn't super impressed by the plastic stock quality but I really like the Ruger actions, solid scope mounts, safety and am looking for an affordable, rugged 'working rifle'.

Thanks

i've hunted with m77's and mk2's for over 35 years, but no first hand experience with hawkeyes except i gave a friend's son one as a gift a couple years ago. it was in 30-06, and shot exceptionally well. the young man has killed several deer and 2 elk with his hawkeye, so it works for him.

the hawkeye is a whole different rifle than the 77 or the 77-2.
i grabbed one of the 358's when they came out.
i WANT a 280.
the trigger is niiiice for a hunting rifle.

The OP is correct in that the plastic stock is a MAJOR P.O.S!I have one in .358 that would shoot well until it got hot or if it was extremely hot outside.

That piece of crap stock would actually get "soggy" when it got hot. I changed the stock to an HS precision and the that fixed it.

Mine was also misfiring and giving soft hits. It had some machine buggers in the firing pin channel that were easily fixed with a pass through with the proper drill bit on a mill.

Besides the typical poor QC issues that are endemic to Ruger rifles I am very happy with my Hawkeye. The trigger is a major improvement.

i am quite happy with my .338 win mag , and would like to get a wood and blue hawkey in 7mag soon...tj3006

I have an M77 SS (all weather) Hawkeye in 358 cal. It is my first Ruger and I'm quite happy with it. I'm still working up loads (for deer and elk) and will be hitting the range again tomorrow. With Hornady custom factory loads in 200gr SP's I've shot MOA at 100 yards. Haven't shot longer and won't until I find the best load. I'd buy another Hawkeye without hesitation.

I have one in .280.I took it out of the box ran a few patches through and put the first three shots into a 1/4" group at 100yds.That was with Feds 150gr GS load.It's the most accurate gun I've ever witnessed in person.

Mine is a 35 Whelen, First thing I did when I got it home was swap it into a Boyds JRS and bedded the tang and recoil lug. 250 gr Hornady Interloks with IMR 4064 puts up some rather respectible groups of 1.5"

I bought a hawkeye 358 with a wood stock second hand. The barrel had been cut off and target crowned. Also the trigger had been worked on.

The first time I shot it at 25 yards to sight it in I thought my second and third shot had gone off the target. I pointed at a second target and got the same results as each shot was going into the same hole.

This was with the hornaday 200 grain load. Wonderful stuff and cheaper than the winchester stuff. Got a case from Cheaper than dirt.