Ruger M77 Hawkeye Sporter

So I just bought my first hunting rifle. I picked up the Ruger M77 Hawkeye Sporter in the 7mm RM. Well, I didn't pick it up yet. I got it off of GunBroker and should get it next week. Anyways, does anyone have any input on this rifle? I did a lot of checking on different rifle caliber ballistics and the 7mm RM fit what I was looking for which was a nice flat round with a good amount of power.

I'm also starting to research scopes. I just came across the scope thread but have yet to read it.

 

7mm RM is a good round. I shoot a 7mm WSM which is shorter so the receiver on my Browning A-Bolt Stinaless Stalker (with BOSS) is lighter.
My hunting buddy has a Remington Model 700 in 7mmRM and I shot it before I decided on mine. My only complaint is that 7mmRM is sold just about everywhere whereas 7mmWSM is harder to come by, so in hindsight sometimes I wish I had 7mmRM. I stocked up and subscribe to one-shot-one-kill sniper mentality with deer and pigs so 75 rounds will last a while.

Don't skimp on optics, especially if you do much hunting at dawn and dusk (doesn't everyone!). I have a Leupold Gold Ring 3X10X50mm. They have a lifetime warranty and can damn near see in the dark because they are so efficient at gathering light. You get what you pay for.

Of course the opposite theory is that a hunting rifle will get mud and dirt on it so who cares as long as it does the job. Each to his own.

 

its gonna kick like a sumbitch. but its a good rifle

 

You won't be disappointed with a Ruger.

 

Funny you should mention the Leupold. I was actually looking at the Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40 in silver to be exact. I've read that Leupold has legendary customer service as well as a high quality product. I think the silver would look pretty sick with the SS too. 3 things that I'm not sure about are:

• Do I really need the 4.5-14? It seems like a good range to me. Would I really need to go less?
• 40mm vs 50mm. It'd be nice to have a lower profile objective lens but is it a lot easier to see out of a 50?
• The reticle. There's a lot of styles to choose from. Is the good ol duplex good enough?

I've got a lot of reading to do.

 

Good choice!

I own a Ruger M77 also and absolutely love it. The craftsmanship on these guns is top notch IMO. Mine is chambered in .22-250.


Heres some crappy cell phone pics of mine.

 

Sweet rifle.

 

i had an older ruger m77 7mm rem. mag.................awesome long range shot...loud as hell. sold it for $300 drinkin money......still kickin myself. damn good gun....bolt was smooth as hell!

 

The Ruger M77 is a nice rifle. Make sure you choose a scope that fits your needs. Sounds like you know what you need.

IMO, the recoil isn't that bad. Next to my M44 Mosin Nagant. Now THAT thing kicks.

 

$300!?

Damn, Will.. I'll PM you my phone number for the next time you feel like giving stuff away.

 

I have a couple 91/30 Nagants. I'm not sure if they kick as much as the shorter M44s but they definitely kick. IMO they're not too bad though so if the M77 7mm RM is less than or equal to those I'll be ok. I just have to make sure not to dot my eye.

 

LoL. Yeah, it hurts to get hit by the scope

I believe my M44 kicked harder than my friends 91/30. He thought it did too.

 

yeah man......i know.

 

I shot a Leupold 4.5X15 last weekend at the range next to a 3X10. Both were 50mm. I could definitley tell a difference at 100yds on a quarter sized bullseye, but that was with an excellent rest and sandbags in broad daylight. I am no optics expert but a guy at work who is explained to me the physics of your eye. With the pupil diameter being ~5mm in low light conditions, a 3X10 50mm scope will gather as much light as you can physically shine on your eye, whereas a 15 power scope will not add to the low light visibility.

Read this for the explanation and equation.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/optics/opticpupil_061907/

It basically says at some point you are wasting your money when it comes to magnification power for low light conditions given a certain objective diameter. That being said, in bright sunlight it won't matter. I always see pigs walking to my blind in the morning and I can't quite make them out until a look through my scope, then they are toast (or bacon I guess).

You cannot go wrong with Leupold. I'd rather skimp on the gun than optics, and since you have a nice rifle you know what to do....

 

just get a night vision scope for night time hunting. its a grand or two but its worth it