The Ruger Hawkeye Predator Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor: Precision, Durability, and Performance for the Discerning Hunter

For serious hunters and precision shooting enthusiasts, selecting the right firearm is paramount. The Ruger Hawkeye Predator, specifically the model 47108 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, stands out as a highly specialized and robust bolt-action rifle engineered for exceptional accuracy and reliability in demanding conditions. Designed with varmint and predator hunting in mind, this full-size rifle offers a blend of classic aesthetics, modern engineering, and practical features that make it a formidable tool in the field.

What makes the Ruger Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor an ideal choice for hunters seeking a dependable and accurate rifle? This comprehensive guide will explore its core features, design philosophy, and the practical benefits it delivers to users, helping you understand why it's consistently recommended for those who demand precision and performance.

Unpacking the Ruger Hawkeye Predator Design Philosophy

Ruger's Hawkeye series is renowned for its strength, reliability, and precision. The Predator variant takes these foundational principles and refines them for specific hunting applications, primarily varmint and predator control, but also excelling in medium-game hunting and long-range target shooting. The design emphasizes consistency, shot after shot, in varying environmental conditions, making it a go-to for hunters who frequently face diverse terrains and weather.

The Power of the 6.5 Creedmoor Caliber

At the heart of this particular Hawkeye Predator (model 47108) is the ever-popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. Introduced in 2007, the 6.5 Creedmoor has rapidly become a favorite for both competition shooters and hunters due to its exceptional ballistic performance. It offers:

• Flat Trajectory: The 6.5 Creedmoor is known for its relatively flat trajectory, which simplifies aiming at varying distances and reduces the need for extensive holdovers.
• Reduced Recoil: Compared to larger calibers often used for similar applications, the 6.5 Creedmoor produces manageable recoil, allowing for quicker follow-up shots and more comfortable extended shooting sessions. This is particularly beneficial for high-volume varmint hunting.
• High Ballistic Coefficient (BC) Bullets: The cartridge is optimized to utilize long, sleek bullets with high BCs, meaning they retain energy and resist wind drift effectively, crucial for accuracy at longer ranges.
• Versatility: While excelling in varmint and predator applications, the 6.5 Creedmoor is also highly effective for deer and other medium-sized game, making the Hawkeye Predator a versatile rifle for a range of hunting pursuits.

This combination of attributes makes the 6.5 Creedmoor a smart choice for a rifle built for precision, offering an excellent balance of power, accuracy, and shooter comfort.

Distinguishing Features for Superior Performance

The Ruger Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor (UPC 736676471089) boasts a suite of features meticulously designed to enhance its performance and user experience:

Robust and Reliable Metalwork: Matte Stainless Steel

One of the most striking and practical aspects of the Hawkeye Predator is its matte stainless steel barrel and receiver. This finish and material choice offer significant advantages for a hunting rifle:

• Exceptional Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel is inherently resistant to rust and corrosion, making it ideal for use in wet, humid, or otherwise challenging outdoor environments. Hunters often operate in conditions where traditional blued steel would quickly show signs of wear and rust, but the stainless finish on this rifle provides peace of mind and reduces maintenance requirements.
• Reduced Glare: The matte finish prevents reflections that could spook game or give away a hunter's position, a critical detail for successful predator hunting.
• Durability and Longevity: Both the barrel and receiver are crafted from high-quality stainless steel, ensuring the rifle's structural integrity and accuracy over countless shots and years of field use.

The receiver itself is a heat-treated alloy, providing additional strength and rigidity, which is fundamental to the rifle's inherent accuracy.

The Iconic Green Mountain Laminate Stock

The rifle's distinctive green and brown laminate stock is not just aesthetically pleasing; it's a testament to Ruger's commitment to functionality and ergonomics.

• Stability and Accuracy: Laminate stocks are known for their exceptional stability. Unlike solid wood, laminate wood is less prone to warping or shifting with changes in temperature and humidity, which can negatively impact accuracy. This stability helps maintain the rifle's precise zero, shot after shot.
• Durability: The laminated construction, typically involving multiple layers of wood impregnated with resin, results in a stock that is incredibly durable and resistant to dings, scratches, and the rigors of field use.
• Effective Recoil Pad: The stock is fitted with an effective recoil pad, significantly mitigating felt recoil from the 6.5 Creedmoor. This enhances shooter comfort, allowing for longer practice sessions and more confident shot placement in high-pressure hunting situations.
• Ergonomics: The stock is designed to provide a comfortable and secure grip, promoting consistent shooting posture and control. Its fixed design ensures a stable platform for precision.

Precision Trigger Control: The Two-Stage Adjustable Trigger

A rifle's trigger is often considered the most critical interface between the shooter and the firearm's accuracy potential. The Ruger Hawkeye Predator features a two-stage adjustable trigger, a hallmark of precision rifles.

• Enhanced Precision: A two-stage trigger allows the shooter to take up a certain amount of initial slack (the first stage) before encountering the crisp, predictable break of the second stage. This enables finer control over the shot, reducing anticipation and allowing for more precise aim.
• Customization: The adjustable nature of the trigger means shooters can fine-tune it to their personal preference for pull weight, further optimizing their shooting experience.
• Safety: While offering precision, the trigger system is also designed with safety in mind, ensuring a controlled and deliberate discharge.

Integral Scope Mounts and Included Rings

Ruger has long been praised for its innovative integral scope mounting system. The Hawkeye Predator's solid-steel receiver features scope mounts machined directly into its surface.

• Unparalleled Rigidity and Durability: By integrating the mounts directly into the receiver, Ruger eliminates the potential for movement or misalignment that can occur with separate bases. This creates an incredibly stable and robust platform for mounting optics.
• Consistent Zero Retention: This solid connection between the rifle and the scope ensures that once sighted in, the scope maintains its zero, even under harsh recoil or during rough handling in the field. This is crucial for long-range precision.
• Convenience: The rifle comes with scope rings included, a significant added value that simplifies the process of attaching your preferred optic and getting the rifle ready for the range or field.

Hammer-Forged Steel Barrel

The 24-inch barrel of the Ruger Hawkeye Predator is hammer-forged from steel. This manufacturing process is highly regarded in the firearms industry for producing barrels of exceptional quality:

• Superior Accuracy: Hammer forging creates a barrel with very precise rifling and a uniform bore, which are critical for consistent bullet flight and inherent accuracy.
• Increased Durability and Longevity: The process hardens the steel, making the barrel more resistant to wear and tear from repeated firing, ensuring a long service life.
• Optimal Twist Rate: With a 1:8" RH twist rate and 6 grooves, the barrel is perfectly optimized to stabilize the longer, heavier bullets commonly used in 6.5 Creedmoor, ensuring maximum accuracy at extended ranges.

Hinged, Solid-Steel Floorplate Magazine

The rifle incorporates a traditional hinged, solid-steel floorplate magazine, offering a capacity of 4+1 rounds (4 in the magazine, 1 in the chamber).

• Reliable Feeding: This classic design is known for its robust construction and dependable feeding of cartridges.
• Easy Unloading: The hinged floorplate allows for safe and convenient unloading of the rifle without having to cycle each round through the action.
• Traditional Aesthetics: It contributes to the rifle's timeless appeal and classic hunting rifle feel.

Three-Position Safety

Safety is paramount, and the Hawkeye Predator's three-position safety provides secure and intuitive operation:

• Full Safe: Locks the bolt and the trigger, providing maximum security.
• Load/Unload Safe: Locks the trigger but allows the bolt to be cycled, enabling safe loading or unloading of the rifle's chamber without disengaging the primary safety.
• Fire: Allows the rifle to be fired.

This design gives the shooter complete control over the rifle's status, enhancing safety during handling, transport, and in the field.

Who is the Ruger Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor For?

The Ruger Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor (Model 47108, UPC 736676471089) is an excellent choice for several categories of shooters and hunters:

• Dedicated Varmint and Predator Hunters: This rifle is purpose-built for these applications, offering the precision and speed needed for small, fast-moving targets at varying distances. The 6.5 Creedmoor's flat trajectory and excellent terminal performance on these animals are ideal.
• Long-Range Target Shooters: With its hammer-forged barrel, integral scope mounts, and two-stage trigger, this rifle offers the inherent accuracy demanded by long-range enthusiasts looking to hone their skills.
• Medium Game Hunters: While optimized for smaller game, the 6.5 Creedmoor is also highly effective for ethical harvesting of deer and similar-sized animals, making this rifle a versatile choice for mixed-bag hunts.
• Hunters Prioritizing Durability and All-Weather Performance: The matte stainless steel construction makes it exceptionally resistant to the elements, perfect for hunters who don't let adverse weather deter their pursuits.
• Those Seeking a "Buy Once, Cry Once" Rifle: This is a high-quality firearm built to last, providing reliable performance for decades to come, representing a significant investment that pays dividends in accuracy and durability.

Why Choose the Ruger Hawkeye Predator? Benefits for the User

Beyond its technical specifications, the Ruger Hawkeye Predator delivers tangible benefits that translate into successful hunts and satisfying shooting experiences:

• Enhanced Ethical Hunting: The inherent accuracy of this rifle, combined with the precision of the 6.5 Creedmoor, allows hunters to place shots precisely, ensuring quick, humane, and ethical harvests.
• Confidence in Any Weather: The stainless steel construction means you can take this rifle into the wettest or most humid environments without excessive worry about corrosion, allowing you to focus on the hunt.
• Reduced Shooter Fatigue: The effective recoil pad and manageable recoil of the 6.5 Creedmoor mean you can spend more time at the range practicing, and experience less fatigue during extended hunting trips.
• Easy Optics Integration: The integral scope mounts and included rings simplify the process of mounting a scope, getting you ready for action faster and with greater confidence in your optic's stability.
• A Rifle Built to Last: Ruger's reputation for rugged, dependable firearms is embodied in the Hawkeye Predator. Its robust construction ensures it will be a reliable companion for years of demanding use.
• Superb Value: Considering its premium features, all-weather capability, and legendary Ruger reliability, the Hawkeye Predator offers exceptional value for a precision hunting rifle.

Common Questions About the Ruger Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor

Q: Is the 6.5 Creedmoor effective for deer hunting?
A: Yes, absolutely. While gaining popularity for long-range target shooting and varmint/predator control, the 6.5 Creedmoor, with appropriate bullet selection, is highly effective and widely used for deer, antelope, and other medium-sized game. Its excellent ballistic coefficients ensure good energy retention at typical hunting distances.

Q: How accurate is the Ruger Hawkeye Predator out of the box?
A: The Ruger Hawkeye Predator is known for its excellent out-of-the-box accuracy. With its hammer-forged barrel, consistent two-stage trigger, and rigid integral scope mounting system, it is often capable of sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) groups with quality ammunition, meaning it can consistently place shots within a 1-inch circle at 100 yards.

Q: What kind of maintenance does the matte stainless steel finish require?
A: While highly resistant to corrosion, matte stainless steel still benefits from regular cleaning and light oiling, especially after exposure to moisture or corrosive elements. However, it requires significantly less vigilant care than traditional blued carbon steel. A simple wipe-down after use and proper storage are typically sufficient.

Q: Can I adjust the trigger pull weight myself?
A: The two-stage trigger on the Ruger Hawkeye Predator is adjustable. However, for safety and optimal performance, it's always recommended to have any trigger adjustments performed by a qualified gunsmith if you are unfamiliar with the process.

Q: Does this rifle come with iron sights?
A: No, the Ruger Hawkeye Predator (UPC 736676471089) does not come with iron sights. It is designed to be used with an optical sight, which is why it features integral scope mounts and includes scope rings.

Q: Is the laminate stock heavy?
A: Laminate stocks are generally denser and thus slightly heavier than synthetic stocks, but they offer superior rigidity and resistance to environmental changes compared to solid wood. The Ruger Hawkeye Predator weighs 8.10 lbs, a very manageable weight for a full-size hunting rifle designed for stability and precision.

Concluding Thoughts: A Hunter's Dependable Partner

The Ruger Hawkeye Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor (model 47108) embodies Ruger's commitment to building rugged, reliable, and highly accurate firearms. From its weather-resistant matte stainless steel construction and stable laminate stock to its precision two-stage trigger and robust integral scope mounts, every feature is thoughtfully integrated to enhance the shooter's capabilities in the field. It's a rifle that inspires confidence, whether you're targeting elusive predators at long range or ensuring an ethical harvest of medium game. For hunters and shooters seeking a long-term investment in precision and performance, this Ruger Hawkeye Predator is an outstanding choice.

This exceptional firearm, along with a wide array of other quality hunting and shooting equipment, is available for purchase at DEGuns. Trust DEGuns for your firearm needs, where expert advice and a comprehensive selection ensure you find the perfect tool for your next adventure.

Ruger Hawkeye Predator 6.5 Creedmoor (Model 47108) Specifications

Feature	Description
Brand	Ruger
Series	Predator
Model	Hawkeye
Caliber	6.5 Creedmoor
Capacity	4+1 (4 Rounds Max)
Action	Bolt
Barrel Length	24"
Twist Rate	1:8" RH (Right Hand)
Grooves	6
Barrel Material	Stainless Steel
Barrel Finish	Matte Stainless
Receiver Material	Stainless Steel
Receiver Finish	Matte Stainless
Receiver Feature	Integral Scope Mounts
Stock Material	Laminate
Stock Finish	Green Mountain
Stock Description	Fixed
Trigger	Two-Stage
Safety	Three-Position
Overall Length (OAL)	44"
Length of Pull	13.50"
Weight	8.10 lbs
Sights	None (Optics Ready)
Includes	Scope Rings / Swivel Studs
Application	Field / Hunting
Hand	Right Hand
Size	Full Size
UPC	736676471089
MPN/SKU	47108