Building on the success of its magnum version, Ruger expands the Hawkeye Long-Range Target line to include popular 6.5mm chamberings.
How the Long-Range Target goes the distance:
- 5R rifle limits bullet deformity.
- Heavy barrel for added stiffness.
- Heft stock for added platform rigidity.
- Creep-free two-stage trigger.
- Lower M-LOK rail for bipod addition.
- Available in .300 Win. Mag., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC.
Long-range shooting is a wave that continues to defy cresting. Each month, there’s a new shooting iron tricked out with the latest and greatest technology that makes punching the bull in the eye at a country mile all the more likely. Similar to many companies, Ruger has been front and center in this shooting revolution and continues to up the ante.
While best known for its relatively affordable chassis Precision Rifle line, the company branched out early this year. Taking aim at competitive shooters, Ruger launched the Hawkeye Long-Range Target at the start of 2018, to great fanfare. And the company has been quick to capitalize off the interest generated from the .300 Win. Mag., with the introduction of two additional calibers recently. If you know a thing or two about recent trends in long-range shooting you already know where this is going — 6.5mm.
A fairly logical move, Ruger has introduced the Long-Range Target in 6.5 Creedmore and 6.5 PRC, which should bolster interest in the fairly decked out rifle. Not only are the calibers popular — especially the ubiquitous Creedmoor — they also take full advantage of the platform's accuracy potential. Furthermore, while the .300 Win. Mag. is an excellent precision-shooting option, it delivers a bit more than a love tap each time the trigger is pulled. In turn, the early iteration of this Hawkeye simply wasn't for everybody.
More Long-Range Shooting Resources:
- Exterior Ballistics Explained
- Ballistics Basics: Initial Bullet Speed
- Which Focal Plane Is Right For You?
- Holding Or Dialing For Drop And Windage?
- Mils vs. MOA: Which Is The Best Long-Range Language?
Outside of chambering, the new Long-Range Target rifles boast the same features as their predecessor. Among the more eye-catching aspects is the Hawkeye’s 5R rifling in its heavy barrel. Tapered lands arranged to oppose a groove instead of another land, the configuration is meant to cause less bullet deformation, thus preserve a projectile’s ballistic integrity. Additionally, it has a dandy stock, made to milk the most shot-to-shot accuracy possible. Stiff laminate, the two-tone stock is a fully adjustable target pattern complete with a straight grip that facilitates complete control over the rifle. Usually an unheralded aspect, the stock is also hefty, kicking up the rifle’s overall weight to 11 pounds. In the magnum chamberings this does a number on recoil, and overall makes for a solid shooting platform. On the downside, this does make it a bit heavy for field use, unless you're a glutton for punishment.
Other notables included on the long-range target include a creep-free two-stage trigger, Mauser-type claw extractor, 20 MOA Picatinny rail for optics, flush-fit lower M-LOK rail and QD attach points. The rifles are compatible with AI-style detachable box magazines, the 6.5 Creedmoor ships with a 10-round mag and the PRC a 3 round.
Like any long-range option, Ruger isn’t giving the Hawkeye away, but with an MSRP of $1,279 it is competitive with this end of the market. And with the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC in the Long-Range Target family, the line will likely get more shooters considering putting a Hawkeye in the safe — even if they aren’t match shooters.
Hawkeye Long-Range Target Specs:
Calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC
Stock: Speckled Black/Brown Laminate
Sights: None
Barrel Length: 26″
Material: Alloy Steel
Thread Pattern: 5/8″-24
Twist: 1:8″ RH
Capacity: 10 rounds in 6.5 Creedmoor; 3 rounds in 6.5 PRC
Finish: Matte Black
Weight: 11 lbs.
Overall Length: 47″ – 48.50″
Length of Pull: 13″ – 14.50″
Grooves: 5
Suggested Retail: $1,279.00
For more information on the Hawkeye Long-Range Target, please visit: www.ruger.com.
Next Step: Get your FREE Printable Target Pack
Enhance your shooting precision with our 62 MOA Targets, perfect for rifles and handguns. Crafted in collaboration with Storm Tactical for accuracy and versatility.
Subscribe to the Gun Digest email newsletter and get your downloadable target pack sent straight to your inbox. Stay updated with the latest firearms info in the industry.
