.375 Ruger Hawkeye

[Doug in Alaska]

First off, I'm not really a new guy as I belonged to this forum years ago. Just haven't been around lately and had to re-register. I recently inherited a .375 Ruger Hawkeye. I assume it is an 'African' but it isn't marked as one. It has a 23" barrel and beautiful walnut stock. The forward sling stud is mounted in the stock with no barrel band. The rifle has never been fired and has a 3X9 Leupold scope, marked as NRA 'Benefactor'. Just would like to get some info on the rifle. Is the 'African' and 'Alaskan' marked with such on the receiver? Serial number is: 710-26XXX. Hoping one of you Ruger experts can help me out.
Thanks,
Doug

 

[mattsbox99]

Ruger has never marked the model number or name (ex. sporter, African, VT, S) on rifles that I am aware of.

 

[Doug in Alaska]

Ruger has never marked the model number or name (ex. sporter, African, VT, S) on rifles that I am aware of.

Thanks much for the info! I really appreciate your help with this, couldn't figure out which rifle I have. This is one really beautiful rifle and I will kill a big bear with it this spring!

 

[txpitdog]

If it's walnut with the 23" barrel, it is the African model. You may want to do some searching for info on the stock splitting at the tang, as this has been a problem for some in the past. Some folks get theirs bedded just to reduce/eliminate the risk.

Regarding the accuracy and performance of the rifle itself, I think you are going to be very happy with that rifle. Enjoy!

 

[Doug in Alaska]

Thanks for the info on stock splitting. I'll take it to my smith on Friday and have him take a look. I'm going to have him put a Decelerator pad on it anyway. May order a HS stock for it, haven't decided yet.

 

[Titleist]

I am one of the folks that had a split stock on my African. I don't think you will have any problem if you bed the recoil lug so that you have a very tiny amount of room between the rear of the tang and the stock. On my split stock the rear of the tang touched the wood, and I did not bed the recoil lug before shooting it. The wood in the recoil lug recess compressed a bit and allowed the action to settle to the point that the tang acted like a wedge.
Ruger sent me a nice new stock, but I put it in the closet and bought a HS Precision stock with an aluminum bedding block for hunting. I like the rifle, and the .375 Ruger cartridge.