Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact Question

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marksman13

marksman13

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I recently picked up a pair of Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compacts. One is a used, but not abused 7mm-08 and the other is an unfired 308. I had planned on my daughter hunting with one and putting a different stock on the other that has a more adequate length of pull for me. My question is, have any of you swapped stocks on the compact models? Pretty sure the short action is a short action no matter whether on a compact or full sized M77 Hawkeye, so I don’t think I’ll have an issue there. What I’m more concerned about is the barrel channel. I’d like to buy an H-S Precision drop-in stock, but I feel like that skinny profiled barrel may look pretty goofy in that standard barrel channel. I could probably forgive that as long as the action fits.

Option 2 is to sell both of them and buy myself another rifle and let my daughter keep shooting the ARs she is already accustomed to. The LOP on the current stocks is just entirely too short for my gorilla arms. These rifles seems to be bringing a premium on Gunbroker, so maybe that’s my best bet.

Thoughts? Anybody have pictures of a Compact in a standard stock?
 
I suppose I would not be inclined to drop a lot of money on the new stock unless the rifle is uncanny accurate, and therefore worth its salt. I would recommend a tang safety original M77.
 
I will say that a 7mm-08 Hawkeye kicks like a mule on crack. I can shoot my '03 Springfields all day and still be grinning afterwards. After 10 rounds through the lightweight Ruger, I was dreading the next shot. I cant imagine a girl enjoying one, even if she is a stout lass and experienced shooter.

I also found the trigger heavy and creepy. Not a fan so I say sell.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
I will say that a 7mm-08 Hawkeye kicks like a mule on crack. I can shoot my '03 Springfields all day and still be grinning afterwards. After 10 rounds through the lightweight Ruger, I was dreading the next shot. I cant imagine a girl enjoying one, even if she is a stout lass and experienced shooter.

I also found the trigger heavy and creepy. Not a fan so I say sell.
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I was afraid that recoil might be a bit much for her, but honestly, I did not find it to be bad at all. Might be because I shot it directly after shooting my No. 1 in 300 Win Mag and a Rem 700 in 257 Weatherby, but neither of those is just terrible. Perceived recoil for me at 6’4” and 270 lbs is a bit different than it will be for her at 5’ and 90 lbs though. She’s already a little sensitive about recoil too. I really wanted that 308 to work out as a lightweight hunting rifle for me. We’ll see.
 
mshootnit said:
I suppose I would not be inclined to drop a lot of money on the new stock unless the rifle is uncanny accurate, and therefore worth its salt. I would recommend a tang safety original M77.
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I’ve got a MKII in 6.5x55. Had a tang safety in 7x57, but it was an absolute DOG at the range. 3-5 MOA rifle with every ammo I tried. Sold it to a collector who didn’t care how it shot. I know the Ruger x57s have notoriously long throats. The only real appeal these Compacts had to me was their light weight and handiness. I’ve got plenty of hunting rifles to choose from.
 
marksman13 said:
I was afraid that recoil might be a bit much for her, but honestly, I did not find it to be bad at all. Might be because I shot it directly after shooting my No. 1 in 300 Win Mag and a Rem 700 in 257 Weatherby, but neither of those is just terrible. Perceived recoil for me at 6’4” and 270 lbs is a bit different than it will be for her at 5’ and 90 lbs though. She’s already a little sensitive about recoil too. I really wanted that 308 to work out as a lightweight hunting rifle for me. We’ll see.
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Just got my son one of the 308 Hawkeye compacts, and at 10 years old and 100 lbs he didn't mind full power 308 ammo. I shot it too, and was amazed at how reasonable the recoil was for a hunting gun. Wouldn't want to make the kids shoot it from the bench, but for a deer blaster it was fine for him. Maybe try some reduced recoil ammo for your daughter if you decide to keep them.
 
Short action Hawkeyes are short action Hawkeyes.

Don’t be bothered by a sliver of extra daylight around the barrel. Frankly, you’ll still need to open the throat of the barrel channel a bit to offer proper clearance around even the Compact contour barrel.
 
Varminterror said:
Short action Hawkeyes are short action Hawkeyes.

Don’t be bothered by a sliver of extra daylight around the barrel. Frankly, you’ll still need to open the throat of the barrel channel a bit to offer proper clearance around even the Compact contour barrel.
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Exactly what I needed to know on the stocks. I assumed that was right, but we all know what happens when we assume. Thanks for the tip on opening up the barrel channel.
 
120gr bullet at 2800 is a pleasant enough round to shoot. My 7-08 weights 7.25lbs otd, and can get a little rowdy with 140s at 2850-2900, but 120s are very comfortable.
I've shot a fair number of Hawkeyes, and the only one I found really unpleasant was my 300WM launching 208s. I found that one quite unpleasant......A pad might not be a bad idea as well.


aaaaanyway, If your NOT enamored to the 77s, then you can usually flip them for a decent price.....still tho Id shoot them a bit and see how they do, you might be surprised.
 
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LoonWulf said:
120gr bullet at 2800 is a pleasant enough round to shoot. My 7-08 weights 7.25lbs otd, and can get a little rowdy with 140s at 2850-2900, but 120s are very comfortable.
I've shot a fair number of Hawkeyes, and the only one I found really unpleasant was my 300WM launching 208s. I found that one quite unpleasant......Add might not be a bad idea as well.


aaaaanyway, If your NOT enamored to the 77s, then you can usually flip them for a decent price.....still tho Id shoot them a bit and see how they do, you might be surprised.
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Yeah. I guess I should say that when I shot this Compact in 7mm-08, I was running the only ammo I can find at the time which is 120 gr Remington hollow points. I could see where it would be less pleasant to shoot with a stouter load. I’m thinking hard about selling off a few rifles I rarely shoot to find a Springfield 2020 Waypoint in 308. We’ll see. My mind changes with the wind.
 
I'd keep them as is or sell and move in another direction. I like 7-08 and 308, and I like the Ruger Hawkeye, although the Compact versions aren't my favorites. The B&C stock is a decent mid-level stock for the money. But they are a thick, chunky stock that works best on bigger, full size rifles. I don't even like them on most full size hunting rifles. On a heavier target/tactical type rifle I think they are ideal.

I think it will not only look goofy, but will balance poorly on a Compact. It's not just the barrel channel gap. The factory stock is in balance and proportional to the rest of the rifle. They are also going to be a LOT heavier than the factory stock which doesn't really fit with a Compact rifle.

If you buy somewhere with a generous return policy you could always order a B&C stock for it and give it a try. If you like the look and feel then keep it. If not return it for a refund.
 
jmr40 said:
I'd keep them as is or sell and move in another direction. I like 7-08 and 308, and I like the Ruger Hawkeye, although the Compact versions aren't my favorites. The B&C stock is a decent mid-level stock for the money. But they are a thick, chunky stock that works best on bigger, full size rifles. I don't even like them on most full size hunting rifles. On a heavier target/tactical type rifle I think they are ideal.

I think it will not only look goofy, but will balance poorly on a Compact. It's not just the barrel channel gap. The factory stock is in balance and proportional to the rest of the rifle. They are also going to be a LOT heavier than the factory stock which doesn't really fit with a Compact rifle.

If you buy somewhere with a generous return policy you could always order a B&C stock for it and give it a try. If you like the look and feel then keep it. If not return it for a refund.
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I really don’t think the HS Precision stock is going to be any heavier and will probably be lighter than the factory laminate stock. That’s the attraction for me. Well, that and the fact that it is longer than the factory stock…
 
I put a Hogue overmolded stock on my 308 Frontier. Booked really stupid with about two inches of barrel sticking out of the stock. Took it off and added a couple spacers under the original butt plate.
 
My International in 308 is a Tang safety.
I’m not familiar enough with Ruger’s. Yet I know I sure do like that little 18.5” carbine Manlicher with the 2.5-8 Leupold on it. Great gun, with or without scope on it.


marksman13 said:
This one is a MK II. Ruger has built International models for years. I believe there are even some tang safety Internationals out there.
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highlander 5 said:
Are the barrels threaded 8f so a brake or a compensator might help in the recoil dept.
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Na. Barrel taper is too light to thread in a common 5/8-24 thread pattern on .30 calls. I’m not all that concerned about recoil. I actually think I’ve stumbled upon a solution. A Limbsaver recoil pad may give me enough additional stock length while also reducing recoil. I’m going to try going that route first.
 
@marksman13, I think you'll thank yourself in the future keeping those. The way that gun manufacturing is going, I think these older style actions M70, M77, Mauser, etc are going to become more and more desirable as the companies move towards cheaper to manufacture actions to maintain profitability.
 
marksman13 said:
This one is a MK II. Ruger has built International models for years. I believe there are even some tang safety Internationals out there.
Click to expand...
Yup…there’a red pad and a tang safety on this M-77 RSI .243. Which may be a caliber option if the OP’s junior shooter finds 7mm-08 recoil too stiff.

5A27E460-3CDF-4715-8A7D-9E01C12FE9D7.jpeg BA47F83B-E2D0-4E0B-AD52-41835FA88551.jpeg 56EAAC64-E7FC-44CD-9D7D-E171E9E6B44C.jpeg

Stay safe.
 
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