Tax refund came a week ago. Didn't stay in the bank account very long. :D

http://picsorban.com/upload/77hawkeyeleft.jpg

M77Mk2Hawkeye in .358 Win. Leupold Vx1 2x7x33 Scope

http://picsorban.com/upload/77hawkeyeright.jpg

:)

http://picsorban.com/upload/77hawk77mk2.jpg

Here it is next to my M77Mk2 in .25-06. If I didn't know better, i'd swear this rifle is almost a pound lighter than the deer rifle. I have a M77 Target rifle in 6mm PPC and it's a good 3lbs heavier than the Hawkeye.

I plan to use this rifle on AZ elk, as well as informal shooting for practice. The area where I normally hunt is fairly heavily wooded and shots are commonly 50-100 yards. Usually nothing more than 200. I have had a custom T/C in .358 for over 10 years and always kind of wanted one of these rifles. Since Ruger started making them again, I figured i'd better hurry up and get one before they quit.

Take care,

Matt

Looks very nice. Enjoy:D

I took this rifle to the range yesterday to get it sighted in on paper.

While I've shot more accurate rifles, I was amazed at the ballistics this little stubby round produces with such little fuel.

48.0 Grains of IMR 3031 behind a 200 grain Remington PSP bullet yielded an impressive 2729 FPS average. No pressure signs and the group was in the 2" area. That's 180 grain .30-06 ballistics. :)

Mind you, these weren't perfect conditions for printing tight groups. My 6mm PPC that will punch 5 rounds in .4- .5 (.28" best) all day only managed 3 1" groups yesterday because of the swirling wind.

I'm really happy with this rifle thus far. It's a lot of bang for the buck.

Matt

Looks to me you have about the perfect combination of caliber's. I just can't get over plastic guns! without wood they just don't seem like a real gun.

My Brother just got a Hawkeye in 3-06 and last year my Dad won a Mk2 stainless synthetic in 7mm WSM. He has no use for a 7mm mag. I have been encouraging him to trade it for a 308 win, 358 win or 30-06. Or better yet for 2 new Marlin 336's. But so far no luck.

I am infatuated with a 358 win but also don't really have a "need" for more than my Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. But I sure "want" one!

I'd swap the medium height rings for a set of low rings to bring the scope lower ... otherwise I have the same combination but in 350RemMag. Great rifles and the 358Win is a great chambering! I've got a 358Win in a rebarrelled M70 which may become a 358RCM later on. I just wish the ammunition manufacturers would spend some $$$ on R&D and give us a decent factory round with a premium pill. But then that's not an issue for a reloader.
Cheers...
Con

I'd swap the medium height rings for a set of low rings to bring the scope lower ... otherwise I have the same combination but in 350RemMag. Great rifles and the 358Win is a great chambering! I've got a 358Win in a rebarrelled M70 which may become a 358RCM later on. I just wish the ammunition manufacturers would spend some $$$ on R&D and give us a decent factory round with a premium pill. But then that's not an issue for a reloader.
Cheers...
Con

I fired some standard 225 grain Sierras into wet phone books a couple weeks ago. I was very impressed with the expansion characteristics of this bullet. They mushroomed perfectly and the one I weighed was 199 grains after firing.

My experience has taught me that in anything over .30", you don't really need premium bullets unless you have something that's traveling over 3000fps.

Thanks for the suggestion about the rings. I'll look into that. :)

Your return actually made it to the bank? I left the house to pick up three guns off of layaway, came home with four. Wifey was most definitely NOT amused. My BJ account is spent for a while!

All I did was pay some bills... dang...

Good looking guns, I've been stewing over this Remington 700 CDL Blued/fluted/walnut in .264 Win Mag for a long time now. Its that or try to find a Mk II in .350 Rem Mag