Purchased a Hawkeye 338 RCM a few months ago for a trip to Alaska. Great rifle and great cartridge.
For the most part the trip to Alaska was a success. I say this only because the Hawkeye didn't make it back in one piece! On departure from our hunting area the pilot banked hard and the load in the back of the aircraft (Cessna 206) shifted hard. Hard enough to cause the rear doors to open! Of the gear that took a trip back to earth was my Hawkeye.
Pilot turned back and landed and we retrieved our fallen gear - Hawkeye included. The fall from the aircraft broke the stock (wood) at the wrist.
Upon returning home, I took the gun into my local 'smith and had it checked from 'stem to stern'. Other than the broken stock, everything appears fine.
Here's my dilemma . . . both the 'smith and I have called Ruger (NH Service Center) and asked to purchase a replacement wood stock, explaining the circumstances. And both of us have been told to send the gun in as the stock is a 'factory fit' part, not because of the fall. Why is it that for the Hawkeye I have to send it in? I've ordered replacement stocks for other M77s in the past without any issue or having to send the gun back. I'd consider an aftermarket composite, but no one seems to be offering one. The Bell & Carlson I looked at for a MK II S/A was no where near close to being correctly inletted for the Hawkeye.
My other question is, can the rear sight from either the 375 Alaskan or African be installed on the 338 RCM without additional drilling and tapping? I've looked at the 375 Ruger sights and much prefer them to the RCM sights.
For the most part the trip to Alaska was a success. I say this only because the Hawkeye didn't make it back in one piece! On departure from our hunting area the pilot banked hard and the load in the back of the aircraft (Cessna 206) shifted hard. Hard enough to cause the rear doors to open! Of the gear that took a trip back to earth was my Hawkeye.
Pilot turned back and landed and we retrieved our fallen gear - Hawkeye included. The fall from the aircraft broke the stock (wood) at the wrist.
Upon returning home, I took the gun into my local 'smith and had it checked from 'stem to stern'. Other than the broken stock, everything appears fine.
Here's my dilemma . . . both the 'smith and I have called Ruger (NH Service Center) and asked to purchase a replacement wood stock, explaining the circumstances. And both of us have been told to send the gun in as the stock is a 'factory fit' part, not because of the fall. Why is it that for the Hawkeye I have to send it in? I've ordered replacement stocks for other M77s in the past without any issue or having to send the gun back. I'd consider an aftermarket composite, but no one seems to be offering one. The Bell & Carlson I looked at for a MK II S/A was no where near close to being correctly inletted for the Hawkeye.
My other question is, can the rear sight from either the 375 Alaskan or African be installed on the 338 RCM without additional drilling and tapping? I've looked at the 375 Ruger sights and much prefer them to the RCM sights.