Ruger has a protracted historical past of constructing rugged, dependable firearms that mix conventional craftsmanship with sensible innovation. From the timeless M77 sequence to at this time’s precision-oriented rifles, Ruger delivers instruments hunters and marksmen can depend upon within the discipline. Once they teamed with FTW Ranch in Texas, residence to the SAAM capturing and looking programs, to create a purpose-built rifle, I took discover.
FTW Ranch is thought for world-class instruction and terrain that checks each shooter and tools. A rifle developed alongside instructors who educate in that terrain made good sense. The result’s the Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter, a rifle born within the hills and canyons the place it would truly be used. Chambered in .308 Winchester, it guarantees reliability, accuracy, and flexibility for hunters who want greater than a reputation on the barrel.
I’ve attended a number of programs at FTW Ranch. The drive up the dusty highway, the lengthy view of the Hill Nation, and the instructors’ deal with real-world software left an impression. A lot of these instructors have army or dangerous-game backgrounds, and their coaching emphasizes sensible efficiency beneath stress.
When Ruger introduced the FTW collaboration, I needed to see whether or not the rifle lived as much as the FTW identify. When the Hawkeye FTW Hunter in .308 Win arrived for evaluation, my first impression matched what I hoped for. This rifle appears like a instrument constructed for laborious use. It balances effectively within the fingers, and the end provides a way of quiet confidence somewhat than flash.
The Hawkeye FTW Hunter relies on Ruger’s M77 controlled-round-feed motion, a system trusted by hunters and guides for many years. It makes use of a non-rotating Mauser-type extractor for optimistic feeding and a fixed-blade ejector for certain case ejection. These are particulars that matter when reliability is non-negotiable.
The .308 Winchester chambering balances recoil, vary, and ammunition availability. Ruger matches a 22-inch chilly hammer-forged stainless-steel barrel for sturdiness and constant accuracy. A 20 MOA Picatinny rail is secured with 4 #8-40 screws for rock-solid optic mounting and additional elevation for long-range work.
The inventory is an H-S Precision Professional-Sequence artificial with a full-length aluminum bedding block. FTW instructors helped form the inventory geometry, leading to a slimmer pistol grip for higher management in discipline positions and a cushty cheek weld for various capturing angles. The tan and black speckle end stands as much as brush, mud, and mud; circumstances anybody who hunts in Texas Hill Nation or western backcountry will acknowledge.
Different options embody Ruger’s LC6 set off, which breaks cleanly with minimal creep, and a three-position security that enables the shooter to lock the bolt or unload safely with the protection engaged. The inner journal holds 4 rounds and makes use of a hinged floorplate for fast unloading. Total weight is available in just below 8 kilos, making the rifle steady to shoot whereas nonetheless sensible to hold.
Taking the Hawkeye FTW Hunter to the vary and working sensible discipline drills bolstered why FTW’s affect issues. The rifle carried out in the identical situations FTW trains for: steep-angle photographs, kneeling positions, and fast transitions from supported to unsupported capturing.
The LC6 set off is crisp and predictable, which makes precision simple. The inventory geometry encourages a pure capturing place, whether or not susceptible or standing. The rifle’s steadiness helps it settle naturally onto targets, and recoil from the .308 Win is gentle sufficient for fast follow-up photographs.
Accuracy impressed. With high quality manufacturing facility ammunition I noticed constant teams round 1 MOA at 100 yards, and handloads tuned for the barrel tightened teams additional. The mix of chilly hammer-forged barrel, inflexible bedding, and predictable set off provides the Hawkeye FTW Hunter precision that rivals many higher-priced rifles.
Extra importantly, the rifle evokes confidence. Whether or not working drills on FTW’s long-range course or capturing from uneven terrain, it merely labored. The controlled-round-feed motion cycled easily, feeding cleanly even when labored quick or at odd angles. The stainless-steel elements shrugged off mud and light-weight rain with out problem.
This isn’t a featherweight mountain rifle, but it surely feels purpose-built for the form of looking many people do: spot-and-stalk deer, hogs, or western sport the place photographs fluctuate from 50 to 400 yards. It’s reliable, the form of rifle you possibly can take anyplace and belief to carry out.
The Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter is greater than a particular version with a emblem. It represents an actual collaboration between a revered rifle maker and a premier capturing faculty. Each function displays sensible expertise from instructors who prepare 1000’s of hunters, and it’s constructed by an organization that understands reliability.
When you worth real-world performance, sturdiness, and accuracy, the Hawkeye FTW Hunter deserves a tough look. It’s splendid for anybody who has attended or plans to attend a SAAM or FTW Ranch course, and it’s equally at residence within the deer woods of Michigan, the elk mountains of Colorado, or the comb nation of Texas.
To study extra and verify out there calibers and supplier stock, see Ruger’s official web site for full specs.
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