.375 Ruger Arrives in Kentucky: 4 days ago

31 December 2006, 02:43

Luckily Darrell Whittaker saved one for me. Four M77 Hawkeyes of the African model arrived and are all sold. The ammo arrives 3 days from now.

The bare naked lady rifle weighs 7.75 lbs, matte black and walnut.

23" barrel muzzle diameter is 0.668" exclusive of the barrel band front sight of course.

Trigger has no creep and breaks at about 5 lbs. Just a pound and a half of lawyer proofing to be adjusted away.

The walnut I got was excellently laid out for the grain flow through the grip and pretty enough, I have no complaints for the money.

The bare naked lady rifle balances on the hinge of the floor plate, and she is all steel, walnut and sex appeal. I have an HS Precision stock for her with full aluminum bedding block, for serious use.

We'll soon see how she shoots, and how the factory ammo chronographs.

31 December 2006, 02:47

Charles_Helm

No pictures?

I assume this one will stay a .375?

31 December 2006, 02:51

Well done RIP I would like to give an Alaskan model a go if they ever arrive in Australia.

31 December 2006, 02:53

RIP

Pictures? Later, if I feel like it.

PC,
I'll tell Ruger to send the Alaskans to Oz.

I doubt I would buy the Alaskan with 20" barrel, would rather rebarrel a 7mmRemMag stainless Ruger M77MkII, with the gunmetal gray finish.

But if I were doing that, it would have to be for a .395 Ruger to shoot GSC bullets.

Patience ...

31 December 2006, 02:54

Charles_Helm

I forgot to say congratulations on the new rifle!

31 December 2006, 03:02

vapodog

quote:
Four M77 Hawkeyes of the African model arrived and are all sold.

A horse that shits fast don't shit long.....

I hope this isn't true in this case

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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
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31 December 2006, 03:09

GeorgeS

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
The bare naked lady rifle weighs 7.75 lbs, matte black and walnut.

23" barrel muzzle diameter is 0.668" exclusive of the barrel band front sight of course.

Trigger has no creep and breaks at about 5 lbs.

Sounds like a quality rifle, a lot like my old Sako Hunter .375H&H.

George

31 December 2006, 03:09

GaryVA

Congradulations RIP on your new Hawkeye "African"! May you have much enjoyment with your bare naked lady!!

Question - Do you see anything different in the bedding of the stock over the previous mkIIs to strengthen it for the additional recoil? The mkIIs converted to 375H&H would destroy the factory wood stocks in short order and if this recoils as much, I'm curious how they overcome this w/ the African.

Thanks,
GVA

31 December 2006, 03:15

Snowwolfe

My hat is off to Ruger. Normally there is a serious time lapse when they announce something new and when they finally deliver on it.
This is probably the fastest I heard of them bring out a new item after announcing it.

31 December 2006, 03:29

Got me thinking RIP maybe the African model is truly what I desire...................23"barrel swings a little nicer less muzzle blast, no problems to add a Hogue if you really wanted one.

I reckon the Alaskan should have come wit ha McMillan stock in black and the same 23"barrel length with that nice coating they have. But beggers can't be choosers I suppose.

31 December 2006, 03:57

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by GeorgeS:

Sounds like a quality rifle, a lot like my old Sako Hunter .375H&H.
George

Thanks for the picture George.

However that one does not show the single visible crossbolt that the African has, same as on the RSM's.

GaryVA,
I will have to take a look at where action meets wood on the underside of the bare naked lady. Haven't done that yet. Her first Pap Smear.

31 December 2006, 04:17

GaryVA

Thank you RIP, please give us a report when you gently disrobe her stock

.

I'm truly envious, I wish I could afford both an "African" and an "Alaskan", but, I'm holding out for the latter.

Thanks Again,
GVA

31 December 2006, 05:44

ElCaballero

This thread is worthless without pictures. I want to see what they have actually shipped out to meet the public.

31 December 2006, 05:56

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
Pictures? Later, if I feel like it.
Patience ...

Quit yer whinin'.

31 December 2006, 06:01

ireload2

quote:
Originally posted by RIP:
Luckily Darrell Whittaker saved one for me. Four M77 Hawkeyes of the African model arrived and are all sold. The ammo arrives 3 days from now.

The bare naked lady rifle weighs 7.75 lbs, matte black and walnut.

23" barrel muzzle diameter is 0.668" exclusive of the barrel band front sight of course.

Trigger has no creep and breaks at about 5 lbs. Just a pound and a half of lawyer proofing to be adjusted away.

The walnut I got was excellently laid out for the grain flow through the grip and pretty enough, I have no complaints for the money.

The bare naked lady rifle balances on the hinge of the floor plate, and she is all steel, walnut and sex appeal. I have an HS Precision stock for her with full aluminum bedding block, for serious use.

We'll soon see how she shoots, and how the factory ammo chronographs.

You might consider pushing a .375 lead ball or cast bullet, or sinker through the bore to see if it has bore constrictions at the bands.

31 December 2006, 06:08

boom stick

congrats rip...

31 December 2006, 07:41

Canuck

I am TOTALLY jealous. I WANT ONE. I'll probably have to wait a year for them to show up in Canada!

31 December 2006, 07:43

Canuck

How's the availability of ammo?

Got any you can measure??

Canuck

31 December 2006, 09:26

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:27

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:27

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:29

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:30

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:30

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:30

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:31

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:32

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:32

RIP

31 December 2006, 09:34

Charles_Helm

Thanks for the pictures -- glad you finally put her clothes on for a few of them!

Looks very nice, but is the slot for the bolt handle a bit large? I do not have any Ruger bolt actions so I have no basis for comparison.

When do your dies show up!

31 December 2006, 09:35

Canuck

Very nice. Color me green.

Cheers,
Canuck

31 December 2006, 09:47

RIP

There ya go.
She is a lively lass.
Should be a pleasure to go on long walks with.
Since I am used to a 6.75# .375 H&H, this 7.75# bare naked lady should be quite pleasant in .375 Ruger.

Canuck,
The ammo arrives in a few days, supposedly.

GaryVA,
There seems to be nothing special about the bedding, just a standard M77 MarkII recoil lug on the action with 45 degree action screw, a single crossbolt ala RSM, and no glass bedding. I will shoot it a few times before bedding it.

I did not study the trigger.

The front action screw had a dab of blue Loctite and was pretty tough to break loose.

31 December 2006, 09:54

boom stick

a beauty fer shure

what if any mods will be done???

31 December 2006, 09:56

RIP

Boom stick,
Glass bed and lengthen the LOP with a slip-on Limb Saver. Lighten the trigger pull to 3.5 pounds. The rest of her is O.K. by me.

Let her wear the wood stock when we go to bed, and put her into an HS Precision that has the built-in aluminum "chastity block" when we travel together. Gotta take care of those things discretely, ya know.

31 December 2006, 09:58

boom stick

what, no kevlar stock for bad weather?...an all black rifle would be a beaute...black beauty to be exact.

anyway, cant wait to own one myself

31 December 2006, 09:58

gumboot458

Congratulations RIP ........Does it have any other reciol lug of any type??????Nice sight .... FINALLY.........What does it weigh ??? Thanks for the pics.............gb

31 December 2006, 10:04

boom stick

things "I" would do/wish list...

synthetic stock or wood upgrade
barrel band
jewel and pollish the bolt
lighten the trigger
slick up the action
shoot shoot shoot

thank you verrrrry much for posting

31 December 2006, 10:05

RIP

boomie, and gummy,
No secondary recoil lug on the barrel. The rest is above, if you'll read. Good night.

31 December 2006, 10:08

boom stick

quote:
The bare naked lady rifle balances on the hinge of the floor plate, and she is all steel, walnut and sex appeal. I have an HS Precision stock for her with full aluminum bedding block, for serious use.

oh sorry...went to fast to the pics

good night