Hawkeye - new satin blue versus matte blue

[Woodsloafer]

Has anyone handled any of the Hawkeyes with the new satin blue finish? If so, is it much better than the matte finish, less likely to get "marked" up, etc.? Thanks for any info/opinions.

 

[6mmsl]

It is tough- I have both and hunted with both. The new finishes seem to hold up well of course they are not as pretty as the old blued rifles of the past.

Hawkeyes have other advantages over MK11-trigger,slimmer stocks,steel floor plates. Personal preference really I like both - my blued MK11's probably are my favorites. I hunt now mostly with my Hawkeyes though.

 

[Silent Sam]

First I've heard of a new Hawkeye satin finish. I have exactly one Hawkeye and it is synthetic/stainless. I won't buy another and never even considered a matte blue model, nor will I. The only advantage I see to the Hawkeye is the steel bottom metal.

 

[6mmsl]

Mine Hawkeyes are the matte blue/ matte stainless I am unaware of any newer finishes than these.

What is the satin blue finish?

 

[Woodsloafer]

All of the previous "matte blue" Hawkeyes are now listed as "satin blue". Here are some examples:

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeStandard/models.html

There was some discussion of the new "satin blue" finish on one of the Shot Show blogs, but I am wondering if there really is an improvement in the finish.

 

[6mmsl]

Well they all say NEW so I guess it is a new finish. I have not seen it but will be looking.

 

[rangerbob]

Most of the distributors have last year's Hawkeyes marked down to make way for the new Satin finished models. I haven't examined one of the new ones yet, but I'm thinking a higher polish before matte finishing. Bob! :?

 

[rugerjunkie]

I'm thinking a higher polish before matte finishing. Bob! :?

I'd bet you are right. All Ruger is doing there is still polishing a turd! I still won't buy one unless they go back to a blued finish. Till then there are plenty of older ones available in 95%-LNIB condition. The ONLY improvement in the Hawkeye line is the trigger and that is an easy fix in the MkII.

Jeff

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I chuckled when the hawkeyes came out. Ruger claims a new and improved gun when all they did was find a way to make them cheaper and sell them for more money.

 

[rangerbob]

I have 5 Hawkeyes, only because they are in calibers other manufactuers don't make often. Mine are in 264 Win Mag, 35 Whelen, 338 Federal, and 2 in 358 Winchester, one of which I rechambered to 35-284. All of these are now discontinued. I've been a M70 man since 1969. Bob! :)

 

[rugerjunkie]

I would like some of the Hawkeye calibers but not the gun itself. I have a stainless MkII in 264. I am building a MkII in a Whelen. And I will probably rebarrel one for a 358 Win. and/or a 358 Norma after the Whelen is done. The projects just have to wait till I find a donor rifle that is cheap enough to make it worthwile and has the type of stock I am looking for. My Whelen build is off of a stainless 270 that I am into for under $300. Add the cost of a rebarrel to that , although it is more than a new rifle , it won't be too bad considering it will be exactly what I want.

 

[dfletcher]

I chuckled when the hawkeyes came out. Ruger claims a new and improved gun when all they did was find a way to make them cheaper and sell them for more money.

At least for my buying habits, Ruger's new "matte" finish is the best thing that ever happened - for CZ. :shock:

 

[6mmsl]

I will bet it looks more like the 77/22 which to me looks like satin blued. It certainly looks different then my MK11's even though they both are described as blued.

The Hawkeye is not as sharp as the MK11 but functionally they have been flawless for me. They just seem to be more of field rifle and they just seem easier to care for when in and out of the weather.

 

[TheDude]

Im with you dfletcher. I really do not like the current trend of matte blueing. It not only looks like a$$ it rusts alot quicker than polished rifles.
I left a dozen or so rifles in a safe I stored at my dads several years ago. I checked on them after a year and found two rifles with lots of rust on them, both were Remingtons with matte blue. All my polished blue and stainless rifles were fine. I will never buy another matte blue rifle again.

 

[SteveRuger]

I am one whose liking the new finish on the Hawkeye's! Maybe it is just it looks finished now to me?

 

[6mmsl]

Remington matte blue does rust in my opinion the Ruger has NOT proven to do so yet.

 

[rugerdczr]

I have the new Hawkeye satin and the Finish is just like the Markll Finish a High Gloss Blued.

 

[6mmsl]

I have the new Hawkeye satin and the Finish is just like the Markll Finish a High Gloss Blued.

What does the bolt look like? Pics? How about the floor plate?

Wonder if the stainless will change?

 

[rugerdczr]

Will take some pictures in the morning

 

[6mmsl]

I will look for it- Thanks

 

[TheDude]

I have one blue MKII and several Hawkeyes in stainless. I absolutely do not like the newer matte finish rifles from any manufacturer, blued or stainless. I've found the blued version to be more prone to rust and both have rougher actions.
I have not had a chance to handle any so called new finish, but suspect more of the same. We shall see.

Josh