Ruger Hawkeye African Part I

07/13/2020

The sight or mention of the word “Swede” triggers many reaction, even for us unwoke… folk; professional wrestler Phil Olafsson as the Swedish Angel in Mighty Joe Young, the cynical squire in Bergman’s Seventh Seal and Svenska Biogas’s yeoman research into the extraction of methane from slaughterhouse rendered cow utters. However, my favorite Swede by a long shot is the 6.5x55mm Swede.

The 6.5x55mm cartridge made its debut in the both the Swedish Model 1894 Mauser Carbine and the Norwegian Model 1894 Krag–Jørgensen rifle1). The cartridge remained in service with these countries well into the 1990s, chambered in a variety of military firearms.

As with most military bolt action rifles that were produced in substantial numbers, surplus firearms and inexpensive ammunition sold into the civilian market brought primarily Mauser design rifles and the 6.5x55mm cartridge into popular use world wide for hunting and competitive shooting applications.

In civilian form, the 6.5x55mm cartridge in CIP homologation carries the nomenclature 6,5×55 SE as of 1984 with a Ptmax of 3800 BAR, approximately 55.000 PSI. In 1993, SAAMI standardized the 6.5x55mm as the 6.5×55 Swedish with a MAP of 51,000 PSI.

The popularity of the 6.5×55 Swedish has been cyclical, typically following the supply levels of imported military surplus material. However, Ruger has been an early and persistent supporter of the cartridge as evidenced by the subject Hawkeye African.

Reloading brass is generally available from five manufacturers, which is actually a significant number. There are one hundred twenty three component bullets for handloaders in bullet weights from 90 grains to 160 grains in thirty one weight increments. Seven manufacturers combine to offer fifty nine sets of standard and competition die sets, which is substantial.

Notes and observations

The barrel length selection is a good one. Most non-magnum 6.5 cartridges like the 260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC are supplied with 22″ barrels, even though their test barrel length spec is 24″. The 6.5×55 Swedish Hawkeye African has a 24″ which benefits the cartridge’s performance measurably as it would benefit the others noted. The 8″ twist is currently traditional for 6.5mm non-magnum rifles which helps accuracy with VLD and other long nosed heavy bullets.

This model is listed on the Ruger site as 7 Lbs 8 Oz and actual weight is very close at 7 Lbs 6 Oz. The Ruger Hawkeye African’s form is that of a hunting rifle. No bulbous forearm, no wide midsection, no protruding cheek piece or Monty Carlo comb. It is made to be carried in the field rather than parked on a shooting bench. It seems, too often, features appropriate for a bench shot rifle make their way into sporting rifles that get dragged through the woods where they serve no purpose.

The barrel banded sling swivel is a nice touch and it properly positions a carry or shooting sling. The cross bolt is functional and backs up the already beefy action recoil lug. Checkering is sharp, patterns are clean and placed as functional gripping surfaces rather than places mostly for aesthetics. The black ebony tip is of the types I’ve had to install, or have installed, for more than a few dollars and solely for decoration; nice touch.

The Ruger LC6 trigger is a good one. It is non-adjustable, but light enough and clean enough so that adjustment isn’t necessary. Bill Ruger’s interest in heraldry is expressed on the hinged floorplate as Ruger’s Eagle logo. The floorplate release is handy, but out of the way of fingers reaching for the trigger. The little square of silver tape is on every Ruger and promptly removed by less lazy writers.

Where the big magnum Ruger Africans have an Express rear sight, shallow V notch and are adjustable only for windage with a 50 yd preset for elevation, this model has a rear sight that is adjustable for windage and elevation and it flips down out of the way when a scope is mounted. The front sight is ramped and fitted with a brass bead. They are perfectly functional as a primary sighting system for most east coast, woodland hunters.

The three position safety allows” full forward fire position, mid safety on position – bolt can be cycled and full after safety on position – bolt locked, The Ruger scope mount system is scalloped on the side to allow supplied Ruger rings to be clamped to the receiver and a radiused top cut that accepts a locking tab extending from the base of the ring. They system is very secure. This model has a blackened bolt handle on a stainless bolt and is is the only one in the Hawkeye lineup with this combination. Looks good.

Joe, grabs twenty seven pounds of smokeless powder, two hundred pounds of bullets… brass and primers and attempts to make handload fondue.

1). Mauser Military Rifles of the World – Ball