Hawkeye Pistol 2331

[Tenpoint]

In 27 years of looking, I've never seen a Hawkeye Pistol at a local gunshow. Last weekend there were two; one looked like it had been through trench warfare and the other, a pristine beauty with the back of the cylinder caked in oxidized grease. I took the old girl home with me.

Now, I been admiring her all week and my mind is starting to wander... should I shoot her? I have a Leopold pistol scope laying around, only need a base and some ammo.

As for the base, one with the Ruger scallops would be nice, I could then use modern Ruger rings (any machinist out there?) A Retro Mod Ruger pistol?

Ammo can be found on the web (any recs here much appreciated).

Or should I swap the old girl for a shooter with a scope, rings and base already attached?

What kind of accuracy (100M/yds) can one expect from an old Hawkeye?

[O M CRAZY]

Weather or not you should shoot it depends on the condition of the gun. If it's a 98 or 99% gun you may wish to keep it in that condition. But if you use reasonable care you can shoot it without doing any harm. I have one that I shoot and they are a hoot! But the ammo is expensive, about $50.00 per box. The gun is very accurate, it shoots better than I can. The last time I was out with it I was popping small balloons (4" to 6") between 35 and 50 yards consistently.

As I mentioned you can shoot it without hurting it's value if you use reasonable care not to scratch or dent it. The important thing is to enjoy your new Ruger!

O M CRAZY

[JAYDAWG]

Tenpoint,

I agree with O M Crazy, unless it's unfired go shoot it! I don't know about you, but I have a few safe queens, so I like to shoot as many as possible.
I got my Hawkeye last fall and so far I have only found ONE round to buy at a gun show!! I have yet to shoot it and am waiting to find more ammo. I would guess about a 96- 97% gun & like O M said if I'm careful I will not hurt the value by shooting it.
Mine is # 3127 made in 1964 just like me!
Like I said in another post, I think the Hawkeye is one of the coolest guns Ruger made and it is the reason I got into the collecting side of Ruger to go with along with my hoarding/amassing/stockpiling/addict side

Cheers,
JAY

[Tenpoint]

I’m wondering that if we could get a commitment from a bunch of Hawkeye owners to purchase, say 10,000 rounds, perhaps we could get one of these small boutique ammo producers to run a batch for less than $80 a box. Maybe a ROCS Limited Production run?

[Tenpoint]

I’ve also been checking out Hawkeye scope base options. I’d like to find a machinist who might be able to put a curve on the bottom of a modern Ruger scalloped base to match the Hawkeye barrel contour, enabling me to use modern Ruger rings.

This would allow me to leave the rear sight intact and on the gun.

I just gotta believe that with modern bullets and scope this could be a very accurate and deadly little package for varmints up to and including coyote.

[flattop44]

If you reload I believe you can make .256 Win Mag ammo by necking down .357 Mag brass. A friend of mine used to make his own that way and pretty cheap. Just need the correct dies and find the right bullets.
Bill

[Brass Frame]

Tenpoint: How many boxes of factory loaded ammo do you need for your Hawkeye? I i will sell you some as I have sold my Marlin companion rifle in .256 Winchester Magnum and seldom shoot my Ruger Hawkeye anymore. Send me a PM for further questions.
Brass Frame/Lee E

[Tenpoint]

PM just sent to you. Thanks!

[JAYDAWG]

Hi Lee,
If Tenpoint does not buy you out I also would be interested in a box or two for my Hawkeye!

Thanks,
JAY

[Tenpoint]

Lee, Did you get my PM?
It seems to be stuck In my outbox.
I’ll take whatever you want to get rid of.
Thanks.