Is the muzzle brake detachable?

Yes it is. It comes with a section as long as the brake that is equal in weight which keeps same zero and with a short thread cover as well. I think it is a nice set up. See the Ruger
website and watch the videos and you will see how it looks and works.

Intresting, I like the short thread protector cover..

I have found with muzzle brakes that the POI didn't change with most of the guns I tested and those few that did were still close enough to be acceptable, usually shot a tad higher. I pretty much believe that to be another propagated rumor from some expert that probably had a bad one and decided all of them were the same....and, no doubt, it could change the POI on "some rifles", but I don't believe its the norm..I would recommend everyone test their paticular gun before condeming it.

Ray, How do you think the new Hawkeye will hold up to recoil in 375 Ruger ?

id love a left handed 416 ruger but i have a feeling im gonna have to buy a 375 ruger and rebarrel also good to hear the brake is removable i was woundering about that

Longrangehunter,

Welcome.

As a lefty, the easiest to acquire would be the 375 Ruger. Many of the pre-muzzle-brake production are still available on Gunbroker, etc., $800-$900 new, both 23" African and 20" Alaskan.

Montana Rifle will do a lefty 416 Ruger for you, but it will probably cost about the price of a Ruger and a rebarreling.

Both Ruger and Montana are 'controlled-feed' actions.

Clayman,
I had a .338 and a 9.3x62 in the early Ruger Hawkeye African models with the gloss blue and 23 inch barrels without the muzzle brake..I believe them to be the best bolt action production rifle since the pre 64 Win. model 70, and perhaps an even better rifle!! and thats damn high praise from a dyed in the wool Mauser and Win pre 64 groupie for many years...

The Hawkeye African, is slim trim, all the excess wood removed, real nice iron sights with a shallow V and 3/32 Ivory bead, intregal scope bases and on and on...it feeds beautifully and both of mine shot exceptionally well..If you have a gunsmith add levers to the Ruger Rings they will return to zero as well as any QD scope mounting system, just keep the levers at the same position all the time.

The addition of a muzzle brake is questionalbe but in todays society of gun nuts, it may be that the reduction of recoil is a selling point. I don't use them anymore, but if they have a thread protector then it suits me fine, as you can do your range work with ear protection, using the brake, and then hunt without the brake, so you have the best of both worlds there..At first I rebelled on the brake, but have had second thoughts..

Just a great gun for the money, and I assure you it will last a lifetime, the Ruger 77 action is incredibly strong and thats a given.......

I have seen a few of the original production models for sale recently. I think the pre-muzzle jewelry model is more to my taste. As time passes they will become harder to find in good condition.

CDNN has 20" Alaskan 375's or 416's for $699, Stainless Lam stock 23" 375's for $699, LEFT HAND 20" stainless lam stock for $699 and 23" blue/wood 375 africans for $699. No brakes on any of them. Great price for what is probably the last of these models.

My experience with the Ruger Africans is also very positive but my experience with the removable sissy slots is different from Ray's as every time I have tried removing or adding brakes the POI was far enough off, +2 or more inches at 100 yards, that I recommend sighting in the way you plan on hunting.
The 416 Ruger African that I used last year was no different as the POI with the brake removed and the adaptor added was 2 1/2" high and left and with the muzzle thread protector on it was 1 inch low.

CDNN is closing out their stock for $699. Great place to save a couple hundred $$$ if you are shopping.

$699 for a 375 Ruger or 416 Ruger. That price is great.

Better yet, it comes without the ear-blaster at the end of the barrel. Win, win. If we hadn't just adopted one into the family we would have picked up one of these. Very nice little bang-around guns, either African (23") or Alaskan (20").