RUGER HAWKEYE ALASKAN
Posted May 19, 2023
The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is a rifle designed to be rugged and dependable in the toughest hunting climates and conditions. It comes in several variants to suit different needs and levels of experience. In the following review, I take a look at each variant and evaluate its features and performance in detail.
First of all, let’s look at the design of the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan. The rifle features a stainless steel barreled action with a matte black finish. This makes the gun both durable and attractive, ensuring it can withstand harsh conditions and maintain its appearance over time. The barrel also features Ruger’s patent-free, cold hammer-forged process, which is designed to provide excellent accuracy and repeatability. This is complemented by Ruger’s “crisp” adjustable trigger, which provides a smooth and consistent pull.
The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is available in five distinct variants: Standard, Varminter, Alaskan, International, and Magnum. Standard and Varminter variants feature a medium-contour barrel and a black composite stock with a sporter-style buttstock. The Alaskan and International models feature a heavy-contour barrel and an olive green composite stock with a Monte Carlo style buttstock. Finally, the Magnum variant features a heavy-contour barrel and an olive green composite stock with a Monte Carlo-style buttstock, and a threaded muzzle. All variants feature an integral scope base, making it easy to mount and adjust your optics.
When it comes to performance, the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is a reliable and accurate rifle. The cold hammer-forged barrel and adjustable trigger provide excellent accuracy, while the durable construction ensures that it will stand up to the toughest conditions. There have also been reports of the rifle being relatively lightweight, with the Magnum variant weighing in just over eight pounds. This makes it easy to carry on a hunt, and makes it especially suitable for larger game animals.
The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan also offers some unique features not found on other rifles. For instance, the Standard and Varminter models come equipped with a patented rotary magazine, which provides for smooth and reliable feeding of cartridges. Additionally, the Magnum variant is available with Ruger’s FlexTech stock, which allows you to customize the rifle to your shooting style and needs.
Overall, the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is an excellent choice for experienced and novice hunters alike. The rifle offers a robust and reliable design, accurate performance, and a host of features that make it an attractive and practical choice for hunting in Alaska and beyond. If you’re looking for a reliable, practical, and attractive rifle that you can depend on in the harshest of conditions, the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is certainly worth consideration.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
-A Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is a great hunting rifle that is well suited for big and dangerous game.
-It has excellent accuracy at long distances due to its cold hammer-forged barrel.
-It is lightweight, making it easy to carry and maneuver in the wilderness.
-The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is compatible with both traditional and modern scope mounts.
-It can be easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance.
Cons:
-The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is an expensive rifle.
-It is too large for practical use in tight spaces, such as a tree stand.
-The stock is made of plastic, which some users may find less aesthetically pleasing than wood or metal stocks.
-The trigger pull in the Hawkeye Alaskan is not adjustable, which means shooter experience can vary.
Who Should Buy
People who should buy the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan are hunters who want a reliable rifle that can handle the extremes of the Alaskan wilderness. The rifle is best suited for short to mid-range shots and is ideal for hunting in harsh weather conditions.
People who shouldn't buy the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan are shooters who are looking for something easily customizable. The Alaskan is designed to be a rugged, no-nonsense rifle that can tackle whatever Mother Nature throws at it, but it does not offer the same kind of customizability as other models.
Comparisons
| Feature | Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan | Similar Product A | Similar Product B | Similar Product C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber | .375 Ruger | .350 Rem Mag | .30-06 Sprg | .338 Win Mag |
| Barrel Length | 20 in | 22 in | 24 in | |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Weight | 7.4 lbs | 7.4 lbs | 6.7 lbs | 7.4 lbs |
| Stock | Synthetic | Walnut | Synthetic | Synthetic |
| Rate of Twist | 10” | 12” | 12” |
Features / Specs
•Caliber: .375 Ruger
•Magazine Capacity: 3 Rounds
•Barrel Length: 20" Heavy-Contour
•Overall Length: 41.5"
•Overall Height: 7.75"
•Overall Width: 2.35"
•Weight: 7.2 lbs.
•Length of Pull: 13.75"
•Rear Sight: Adjustable V-notch
•Front Sight: Standing Blade Beed
•Metal Finish: Stainless Steel
•Stock Material: Hogue Overmolded Pistol Grip with Folding Stock
•Twist Rate: 1:12" RH
Popular Accessories
Rifle
- Scope: A quality scope is essential for making accurate shots with the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan Rifle. Popular scopes for this type of rifle include models from Leupold, Vortex, and Nikon.
- Bipods: Bipods provide a stable platform for more accuracy and maneuverability in the field. Popular choices for the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan include models from Harris, LSS, and Atlas.
- Ammo Magazines: When out hunting, it is important to have a high capacity magazine for quick reloads. The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan comes standard with one five round magazine, however, higher capacity magazines are available from well known brands like Magpul and Butler Creek.
- Slings: A high quality sling is a needed accessory for a hunting rifle. Popular slings for the Ruger Hawkeye include models from Viking Tactics and Slingshot Solutions.
- Cleaning Kits: Keeping your rifle clean will help ensure optimal performance for years to come. Popular cleaning kits for the Ruger Hawkeye include models from Otis and Pro-Shot.
Accuracy
The Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is lauded for its accuracy in both short-range and long-range shooting. The gun is highly accurate up to 100 yards, as a result of its chrome steel bore with precision rifling. In addition, the gun comes with factory-installed adjustable-length short, medium and long-range Target Lightweight barrels. This feature, paired with the accuracy-enhancing adjustable trigger, ensures that the user will obtain accurate and consistent results. The Hawkeye Alaskan is also equipped with a fully adjustable rear sight, as well as a fixed blade post front sight, making it even more accurate. In sum, it is easy to see why the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan is so revered for its accuracy.
