Anyone shoot a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Rifle?

[Rule3]

I am looking around for a 223 Rem Heavy barrel bolt rifle. A guy at the range has the above rifle. Looks to be really nice.

I also like the CZ 527 and several of the Savage rifles as long as they have a 1:9 twist.

Anyone with first hand knowledge of the Ruger or these others? I could ask over on the Ruger forums but that's like asking if we like Smiths.

Thanks

[Farmer17]

I love the old Ruger bolt guns with the modified Mauser action, and I had an old .270 with the sliding tang safety and I wished they still used that instead of the "swinging barn door safety". The new Hawkeyes look pretty good and they are supposed to have a better trigger, but some that I handled had kind of a crude looking finish on the bolt and bolt handle. Kinda reminds me of a galvanized fence post.

[dmar]

I have a Ruger Model 77 MKII in 7mm Rem Mag. Very nice rifle, and great accuracy. I had the trigger tuned, and it is a very nice package (just ask that Elk hanging on my wall...). The action/feed is very smooth, strong extractor, and I really like the 3 position safety.

I actually like the Hawkeye a lot, and I believe Ruger upgraded their triggers with the intro of the Hawkeye. The Hawkeyes I've seen have had nice wood (with wraparound checkering on the forearm), and are overall very nice quality rifles. They also have a matte bluing, which some prefer in a hunting rifle, but I do like the beautiful deep blue, and stainless bolt on my Model 77.

As for heavy barrel Rugers in .223, I've got a Number 1 in that configuration, and it's one of my favorite rifles. I get very good accuracy from it...

I don't think you could go wrong with either of the 3 rifles that you are looking at (the CZs and Savage also have good reps for accuracy...), but if I had to choose one, the Ruger would be my first choice.

[David LaPell]

I had one in a .257 Roberts, and the only reason I sold that gun was because I needed the money and that was how I could get it. It was fantastically accurate right out of the box. Mine had the short barrel and I put a Leopold 2-7 vari-xII scope on it. Wonderful trigger too.

[Rule3]

The one the guy had at the range had the two stage adjustable target trigger. I tied it a few dry fires and it was real nice. Nice heavy, free floated barrel.