Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact Rifles / Carbines
The new line of Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact Rifles are very very cool. They are 16.5″ carbines chambered in the intermediate .223 Rem, 7.62×39mm and 6.8mm SPC cartridges as well as the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum, .243 Win. 7mm-08, .308 Win. and .260 Rem.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact 6.8mm SPC.
They feature a shorter stock and proportionately shortened forends and buttstocks. This shortened forend makes the rifle look longer than it is in the above photo. The intermediate caliber rifles weight 5 3/4 lbs.
I think these will be big sellers, especially the models chambered in intermediate cartridge where the short barrel will not have a significant impact on performance.
From the press release:
These 16-1/2 inch barreled rifles have an overall length of 35-1/2 inches, making them ideal hunting rifles for rugged terrain and heavy brush. The Hawkeye Compact rifles are available in a Hawkeye Matte Blued with an American walnut stock or the Hawkeye Matte Stainless model with a black laminate stock. The slim American walnut stock offers wrap-around cut checkering on the forearm and more rounded contours on the bottom of the stock and top of the pistol grips.
The Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact rifles are offered in eight short action calibers, including .300 RCM, 7.62X39 and 6.8SPC. The walnut and blued models weigh approximately 5.75 pounds, while their laminate and stainless counterparts average 6.25 pounds each. Magazine capacity is 4 rounds.
The M77 Hawkeye Compact rifles feature the smooth and crisp Ruger LC6™ trigger, Mauser-type controlled feeding and a powerful claw extractor. A 3-position safety, hammer forged steel barrels and Ruger patented scope rings (provided at no charge) that install on the integral mounts and never shoot loose are also standard fare on all Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifles. The steel floorplate, bearing the distinctive Ruger logo, provides easy unloading and eliminates accidental “dumping” of ammunition.
I may check that out in 7.62×39mm.
It would make a nice hunting rifle
i have been looking for a decent bolt action in 762 39 so this looks like it. affordable ammo as well. plus i love that round! way more power than a 223 right and a decent platform for shooting this round accurately, which has been a big goal of mine. the ak just doesnt have it.
I just ordered one of these from my local gun shop. My question is -If you mount the average 3×9 scope, will you have enough eye relief? or are you limited to only compact scopes? If somebody can advise I would appreciate it. Thanks.
I was at a gunshop this afternoon and saw the new Ruger catalog and saw the 6.8 SPC and 7.62×39. Dealer was not able to get either.
I will buy both. I will also buy the new Browning X-Bolt Micro Hunter in 308 and 7mm WSM.
I also plan on picking up a Hi-Point Carbine in the new 45 acp caliber. Ruger also has a new stainless synthetic 77/44 coming out mid year. I will get that also.
I had the 7.62 and 77/44 Rugers in the past and loved them. Ruger also is making the Hawkeye in 6.5 Creedmoor.
I would like to see Ruger or Browning make their compact and micro guns in 6.5 Grendel.
I see this as the best alternative to the CZ 527 carbine which is my favorite bolt action. But it is avail in only x39 and .223. This Ruger in 6.8 would be dandy. BTW, a large scope doesn’t look good on the cz carbine and I doubt it would look good either. I figure if I need more than 4x a rifle with longer barrel might be better too, but I seldom need more than 4x. The Burris short mag 4x is good at only 8 inches and 8oz. I have a Weaver 4x shotgun scope on my cz carbine. The cz comes with superb iron sights.
I think for the caliber 7.62×39mm, they may be better off with the stainless, synthetic stock (the skeletonized boat oar) of old.
I have looked at the Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact, and it looks to be the same as the Ruger M77 Frontier, but without the forward scope mount rib.
Im a little confused about something.
The frontier warns not to reciever mount a scope due to the shortened leinght of pull, however its the only way to mount a scope on the Compact.
They both have the same leinght of pull.
Can you explain this. ITS WIERD. But on a positive note.
My Ruger frontier, is deadly accurate.
Would someone please explain why it is alright to mount a Scope on the Reciever of the M77 Hawkeye Compact, but not the Frontier?
They have the same leingth of Pull?
Rick, the frontier is a scout-style rifle. The scout design philosophy calls for a scope far forward.
Got the M77 Hawkeye Compact matte stainless in .308 about two months ago. Mounted with a 4X Nikon Prostaff this is fast becoming my favorite rifle to tote with me everywhere. My M77 7×57 is getting far less use these days. Now the only problem is finding enough reloading components to work up my best loads. So far I’ve been very pleased using BL-C(2), no surprise there, and Win 748.
FWIW: This isn’t the first time that Ruger made a Model 77 in 7.62×39mm. Back around the early 1990s, they cranked out a batch with those nasty synthetic stocks they were flogging at the time.
Is the ruger barrel .310/11 or .308? I own a AIA B10 carbine which is great but way to heavy. Ruger has just released these rifles down under last month.
I’ve been looking for one of these Hawkeye compacts in 6.8 SPC for the past month or so. I was unaware that the Hawkeye chambered in 6.8 SPC
was available in stainless. Just as soon as I can find one I’m buying it. It will make a perfect addition to my AR in 6.8.
For everyone interested in the Hawkeye chambered in 7.62X39, do a little research before buying. Sure, 7.62X39 ammo is cheap, but it’s becoming more and more expensive. The military surplus stuff is not much less than .223/5.56 surplus. And of course with just about anything that is cheap, quality is secondary. Ballistically the 7.62X39 is extremely similar to the 30/30 Winchester. I deem both rounds as ‘pumpkin lobbers’.
The 6.8 SPC, in my opinion, is the intermediate cartridge of intermediate cartridges. With a 16″ barreled AR, it will drive a 110 gr Hornady V Max @ 2600fps from the muzzle. With a 200 yard zero, I’m 2 inches high at 100 yards, and 9 inches low at 300 yards. The kinetic energy of the 6.8 SPC is mind blowing for such a small cartridge, 1,000 ft/lbs @ 300 yards. The down side , of course, is availabilty and cost of ammo.