Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Well my new gun came in and I picked it up yesterday. It's the all weather model, Hawkeye matte stainless in 35 Whelen. My initial observation was that I like the polished finish on my 270WSM better. This looks more like Ruger's target gray. After pulling everything out of the box I decided I like it, the stainless finish is quite dark for stainless I was expecting something along the lines of the bead blast look. With the darker finish a black scope will look just as good as silver. Right now I have a silver Nikon Prostaff in 3x9x40 ( the one that I had on the 270WSM before upgrading to the VXII ). Fit and finish are quite good however the bolt throw is a little gritty which I expect will smooth out with use. My biggest concern was the LC6 trigger. I have to say Ruger finally got a non adjustable trigger right. It isn't a 2.5 lb trigger but it is a definite improvement. Trigger breaks consistantly at 3 lbs 12 oz, absolutely zero creep or take up and zero over travel. I don't think I will need to do anything with it. I'm hoping to get out to the range on Easter Sunday to zero the scope and break the barrel in. I'll let you all know the results of the first range session.

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Good luck. That sounds like a winning combination. I put a black lightweight Leupold on my wife's Hawkeye. It looks good.

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Well, I did get out to the range today but it was really windy, my target got blown over twice by the time I had three rounds down the pipe. I was shooting 200 gr Hornady interloks which were some of what I hadn't had the chance to shoot out of the 7600. Scope was boresighted and the target set at 50 yds. The three shots that I did get off before deciding that the target blowing over was a sign were 2" high 2" left 3 rounds inside of 1.5". From a such a small sampling I'd have to say that the prospects of this being a shooter is pretty darn good. Now I'm stuck on whether I want to get a better scope or not. I'm going to try getting out to the range again next Sunday.

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

They're real nice!Here's mine in .280 with Leupold VXIII 2.5-8.
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u...o7/PIC0002.jpg

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Well second range report. I finished sighting in with the handloads and as a final check with a group of five factory loaded Remington 200 gr psp's, 2" group with the factory loads. Now I get to start load development.

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Happyto hear some good reportsabout the Ruger Hawkeyes. I really like my M77 MKII All Weather and have taken a lot of deer with it.

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Good to hear. I may looking at getting one in a short action. Did you have to lap the rings ? ...

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Good question, the rings that I got with my 270WSM (not a hawkeye) had a terrible burr on the edge, the hawkeye rings were very clean, I gave them a scuff anyway. I guess there's no way to tell till you get them out of the package.

RE: Ruger M77 MKII Hawkeye
 

Thanks for the info. I had purchased a Ruger a couple years back and the rings had a terrible burr on them as you mentioned and without noticing it had marked the scope tube when mounted...