Hello all, Last week I was in the national big box outdoor store, while in the "Gun Library" I spied a Ruger Hawkeye single shot handgun. I didn't know all the much about them but knew they were fairly rare. I left it in the store as I wanted to do some research before making a mistake and I was purchasing a Winchester model 52 bench small bore rifle that is in outstanding shape. Research and 2 more trips back to take a look. When I left Saturday it left with me. Even ended up getting 10% off the listed price. From what I learned the price was very good.

Overall it is in good shape with some honest ware. No other scope holes other than the factory ones. It has had a scope mounted at some point. I figured I wouldn't get another chance to own a firearm this scarce. And at a pretty decent price

I am pretty pleased. Now I need some reloading dies.

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Good grab. I never see them for sale locally.

Sweet !
I've never run across one either .

I did not know there was such a bird.

I don't understand why they made a single shot
that looks like a SA revolver though.

Weird looking but cool.
Congrats !!

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Nice snag! I've never even seen one - I'm not sure what I would do with one, but I know I would snap one up if given the chance.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

when I was stationed in CO I had a buddy that was Ruger crazy. if they made it, he bought one or two. he had the .256 and the .30 carbine Blackhawk. wear ear plugs, ear muffs and duct tape when you shoot it. it is the loudest handgun ever made. congrats on your buy. give us a range report. lee

It should be illegal to sell that gun, and it's .30 Carbine companion, w/o mil spec ear plugs! Enjoy! Ed.

I don't have a Ruger 256 but I do have a Ruger 30 Carbine Blackhawk. Ditto what Ed said. I bought mine at a gun show 20+ years ago, acquired a box of Winchester 30 Carb. ammo and went straight to an indoor range the same day. I went to my assigned lane and proceeded to fire away. The blast, noise and concussion caused nearby shooters to pack up and leave. I apologized to the range owner; he forgave me since I was a regular.

A Desert Eagle 50AE indoors is worse!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

The last time I saw one offered for sale it was still in production. I drooled over that and a M53 before talking myself out of both. One of those absolutely useless but unique things you can help but buy.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

It's a Hawkeye, correct?

Edit: I see it is now. I've never seen one in person unless I browsed over it mistakenly.

It is an interesting oddity. I've seen a few for sale including one at my local gun store about 6 months ago. The current prices on them do not tempt me but then the design never made sense to me. I'm not alone in that view which is what made it a collectors' item. Today's dog on the market becomes the next generation's collector prize.

A friend has had a .256 Marlin lever action for decades. I forget its model name. The model was only made in .256 and .30 Carbine. There was a scaled down rimfire, at least in appearance. Since you have the Hawkeye the matching Marlin would be a good companion. My guess is the Marlin would be affordable.

Try a .357 Maximum sometime.
A hard hitting cartridge for Wild Boar we used on our
Tennessee handgun hunts. Mine was in a 10" Contender,
but Ruger did make a revolver for this cartridge.
Recoil was very manageable but LOUD !!!


Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

I have them both but haven't shot them in ages. Gotta dig them out; I handloaded ammo for them. I bought the Ruger 357 Max intending to have John Linebaugh build a 500 Linebaugh Max out of it. Chickened out when I began to realize how brutal the recoil would be. Eventually I bought the S&W 460 and 500 Magnums.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

I've seen two owned by the same person. You did good.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Hope you have the same luck finding brass. Scoped they're super accurate.
I shot one in an early IHMSA match w/ factory ammo- lots of hits but left a lot of targets standing!
You'll be the only one on the range with one anyway (1 of 3250).

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Good shooting.

I bought a Hawkeye new and scoped it, also had Rem Fireball
221 at same time. Shot a lot of groundhogs with both. Over
the years have had several Fireballs (used) but was never willing
to pay the prices they wanted for Hawkeyes. Kept the dies all
these years in case I get another. Cases are no problem, formed
from 357. When I had Hawkeye I had every Cal Blackhawk, in
all barrel lengths & SBHs. I will give the 30 carbine the title over
256 for ear splitter.

I'm familiar with the Ruger, original Hawkeye; never owned or shot one, but I always thought if it had been in a more favorable caliber selection it may have sold well.

I used to get tired of lugging a heavy barrel 22.250 a couple miles through the orchard to the bean field to take a couple shots at Mr Whistle -pig.
Farmer's varmint hunting permission card was for NO vehicles.

I also thought it would have been a simple matter to make the Hawkeye a two shot. Maybe even two different,(entirely different), calibers.

Of course there were other arms makers filling both those "slots".

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wanna do right-- not right now

I am glad someone grabbed that gun! I saw it in the GL a little over a week ago and actually turned around to go back in to buy it but decided that with a couple of custom revolvers already headed my way that week I better pass. It was a great price for sure. I have owned a couple and both went to collectors but I have a buddy who shoots one of his regularly and it is a screamer!

We had one come through the store where I worked in the late Eighties: sold pretty much instantly. Since then I've read enough about the neat things that I wished I'd paid more attention to it at the time - ah, but I was young and foolish. Congratulations on a nifty buy - have a great time with it!

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Now go make God proud...

Great gun to own, and indeed hard to find one today. Brass should be no problem - it's essentially a necked-down .357 magnum, and can be formed fairly easily from that case.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

That is a neat gun. It looks like Ruger's attempt to make what Colt calls their 'Camp Perry' SA target gun.

Yep, I was going to say that myself. I had a Hawkeye and Contender in that caliber. Brass is very easily formed from 357 cases, just go slow with the sizing die and your good. Use a starting load for the first rounds, or a Trail Boss load and then run whatever from there.

For those of you wishing it had been made in other chamberings, according to Dougan's book, two were made in .221 Rem. and the Jet was considered.

Also in that same time frame, when Gun World's Dan Cotterman came up with the .22 Super Jet, they supposedly put a one of those together on a Hawkeye, but IIRC, the results were never published, at least in Gun World.

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Good shooting.

There once were some youths in eastern Montana. One of them lived on his fathers farm and owned a Blackhawk in 30 carbine and drove a van. Another youth was visiting one night and as was the custom at the time, it was decided that some of the fresh venison down in the corn field should be prepared for eating. Down to the corn field. Bang and into the van for trip to the hoist. During the short trip venison proves to be exceedingly rare inside the van. Farm boy cooks venison some more with 30 carbine inside the van. I am not the farm boy, but I do have hearing aids.

Oh, yea. The Hawkeye. Neat gun and an unusual concept for sure.

Thanks for the comments and the Hawkeye stories. Looking forward to getting some ammo and taking it to the range.

Why not?!?!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821