I was in a Boise Gun Shop the other day and got my hands on one of the new Ruger 77 Hawkeye African model..

Wow, Ruger got it right this time..The have cut off all the extra wood, and its lean and mean, added a barrel band front sight with a 3/32 Ivory bead (plastic Ivory), a barrel band swivel, an adjustable shallow V rear sight on an island..Mine is a .338 Win. but it comes in a varity of calibers including the 9.3x62, 375 Ruger and some other calibers..

It is the nicest factory rifle to come out in my lifetime, comparable to the pre 64 Win. IMO, well real close anyway..

I intend to get myself a 375 Ruger in this gun. My only complaint is and its just a personal complaint is it does not have that 8.5" forearm the English guns have, but I can fix that.

I sighted in the irons out in my back yard and it shoots very well indeed, I will lower the comb a bit as it got my cheek, but its great with a scope. I can shoot a scope just fine with a low comb but not visa versa.

Anyway, for what its worth, I am super pleased and I am not a factory gun enthusiest as a rule.

quote:

IMO, well real close anyway..

I was worried there for a minute.

Think the newer version is ready to go right out of the box? Have they improved the stock cracking issue?

I do agree Ray. Lot of value for the money. I have a Hawkeye 375 Ruger - perfect feed and function and 1 moa accuracy with everything I have put through it..

Ray: Just heard they added 9.3 X 62 while researching the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Good news!

I have both Alaskan models (375 and 416), my son bought the african in 375 because he wanted blue/wood and it is a GREAT rifle. Fit and finish is perfect, sub moa with factory hornady and all for about $700 delivered. Could not ask for anything more!

Ray sounds like somebody got it right for a change is right! I bet CZ and company are back peddling with a price like $700 dollars ..... W0W

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Originally posted by RPW:
Think the newer version is ready to go right out of the box?

NO.. and neither is the CZ, the Remington 798, the winchester, or the weatehrby. Only a FOOL would trust his life on a DGR "right out of the box" ..

quote:

Originally posted by RPW:
Have they improved the stock cracking issue?

niether has CZ, weatherby, or winchester .. BED THE THING.. takes 2 hours of work.. or 200 bucks to pay someone to do it.

I did no mean ready to go hunting, more along the lines of ready to shoot without cracks. You say bed the cz but I have owned 3 458 lott cz's with crossbolts and have not had a single issue. I own an alaskan presently but am thinking of picking up an african to add to the collection. Just curious. Thanks.

quote:

The new Ruger

I sure hope they have improved it over the old Ruger!

this is good news!

Rich

If I was going to buy a new rifle today, I would go with the Ruger Hawkeye African, in 9.3 x62. From what I have seen of them, and I gotten to shoot one in 375 Ruger a little while ago. Ruger got it right. A very good rifle for the money!

The construction looks good on the smaller Hawkeye calibers and the reports seem quite positive. I have an African in 375 Ruger arriving tomorrow. Dies and brass a few days later. I'm Looking forward to trying it out.

I'd like to see a better recoil pad and a longer safety lever (probably just my personal preference), and see it in more dangerous game rounds.

I am a great admirer of all things Ruger (although I can live without the shotguns), and of the late Bill Ruger.

That said, might want to take a very careful look at the newest iteration (FN, South Carolina) of the Win M70. Marvelous.

Can't miss with either one.

Good Hunting.

Agree with 100% with Ray's positive comments. I bought an African in 375 Ruger on special from CDNN a couple of months ago for $650 IIRC in the now discontinued matte finish. Had not been able to handle one in person before buying, but read good things. It is beautifully trim, handles superbly and handsome in a purely functional sort of way. Love the sights and forearm checkering in the hand.

Alas, the rifle was tearing the hell up out of brass and failing to feed reliably from the mag. It was still doing it after I carefully polished the ramp; close inspection of the feed rails seemed to suggest some problems there. I was nervous that they wouldn't honor warranty repair work due to it not being 100% as it had left the factory, but my fears were unfounded. Ruger paid for shipping from my local shop and after having it in their possession for about 3 weeks informed me that they were going to be replacing the rifle. Unfortunately the matte finish (which I preferred) is not being manufactured any longer so I will be receiving the same rifle in their "satin blue" by the end of this month. I asked if I could have them send me the new 9.3x62 in lieu of the 375 Ruger which they agreed to do, but after a day changed my mind and told them I'd stick with the 375. I'm usually wary of new cartridges, but have 2 boxes of factory ammo, some 375 bullets and like the package 'on paper'.

I'm excited to get such a light weight rifle in 375 that I don't have to worry about banging around. Assuming this one checks out, I'll likely stick with my original plan of having it bedded, an extra crossbolt installed, and perhaps lopping the bbl down to 21" to take advantage of the souped up ballistics and make it even more trim. If I shorten the barrel, I'll probably add a NECG fold over foresight and have the whole thing Cerakoted. I agree too w/ Charles that I'd like to see a bigger, more positive wing safety but that would have to be a one-off as I don't think anyone is making such a thing. . .

satin can be had for about 8 bucks ..
500degree manifold paint... I do it to my hard use guns.. heat the metal, after degreasing, and spray point.

I bought one of the first that came to our shores. It had the sling stud on the forearm and the bolt had a sharp edge on the lower front radius.
This sharp edge sort of "bite" into the second cartridge and prodused a jam ever so often.

The bolt was fixed at the main importer here in Norway, and while I was at it I had my smith add a second cross bolt, ebony blind plugs, an ebony tip, Decellerator pad, barrel band and bedding.

He also added an oil finish on the stock for a fair price.

Today this is a light, accurate, functional and hard hitting rifle which I like very much.

It has seen its first trip to Africa (Namibia)and will be used on moose hunting this fall here at home.

If the swivel bothers you look at the Terminal Bullet Performance thread next door. Rip puts the swivel on the tip of the forearm,(where i like it).

Covers both probs nothing on barrel and nothing to bite the hand.

SSR

SSR, Thank you for your response. I like that idea. I moved the question to a separate thread called 375 Ruger African - Barrel Band to make it more visable.
Cliff

Dont thank me Rip put it out for all to find, hes got the "copyright" glory far as I am concerned.

SSR

I like my .338 African so well that you can bet I'm going to get a 9.3x62 and a maybe even a .375 Ruger, but only if they have the barrel band swivel. That is the only swivel I want on any gun..I no longer use a sling to shoot with and the barrel band, especially the African only allows the barrel to extend about to my head with slung barrel up..but that's a moot question with me on big bores, I don't use a sling, but it sure looks African!