New Ruger Air Hawk

[Lochlainn]

Hey Folks,

Well I went to Sports Authority today to see if they had any airguns... I had never thought to check there but it dawned on me that they might have some so I figured I might as well have a look seeing it is right down the road from where I work. I hadn't been in there in well over a year or two and to my surprise they had a whole new gun section complete with shotguns, rifles, ammo, targets, gun bags and.....air guns! They had a few daisy's, a Big Cat, a Crosman Quest and a Ruger Air Hawk that was on sale for $109! Well I couldn't help but take a look at the Ruger because I have heard that it is a clone of the RWS 34.

They had three in stock and I asked if I could open up the boxes and see each one. The gentleman at first looked slightly perturbed but I thanked him for humoring me and he seemed appreciative that I thanked him. Se we started talking a bit about his job there and this and that and I told him about how I had had some problems with Chinese air guns. The quality control coming out of the factories seems quite horrible at times and it seems like you are rolling the dice to see if you get a good one. Well sure enough the first one I examined had the rear sight mounted a slight cant to the right. I pointed that out and he simply stated he knew nothing about guns. The second one I looked at had perfectly aligned sights and the dovetail grooves were nice and centered...no cant to one side like a lot of the Crosman guns I returned. But one of the screws that held the trigger guard onto the stock was a bit stripped out and that bugged me.. The third and final one that I examined had the rear sight mounted at a cant as well so I didn't want that one either. The best one of the bunch was the second one with the stripped out screw. So I told him that I really wanted the second one but I was wondering if he could swap one of the screws from one of the other ones to the second one. At first he said he couldn't and also didn't have a screw driver. But I kinda nudged him a bit and said "hmm really ? you don't have a philips head kicking around somewhere ?". He thought about it for a second and said, "you know, let me just go check somewhere really quickly" and he ended up coming back with a slightly small philips head screw driver...too small to really tighten up the screw. He took out the screw from the third one and put it loosely in the second one after removing the stripped screw. I told him I could tighten it up at home so he could just leave it loose.

And that's how I ended up buying a new Ruger Air Hawk. I went in to look for a Crosman 1377 pistol and came out with the Air Hawk lol. Couldn't resist at $109. I saw they were selling the refurb ones at airgunsdaily for 70 bucks but I kinda was nervous about getting a lemon and not being able to return it. I kinda have OCD when it comes to little details.They drive me nuts and I find I need to buy it from a place that I can return it if something is amiss.

My first impression of the gun is that it looks like it is made better than my Storm XT. The stock is gorgeous and has a really nice finish. The bluing is a little off, but not a deal breaker. The first barrel break felt pretty good although I could tell the pivot bolt was loose. The barrel could swing freely and would not stay where you put it. The spring and cocking cycle felt nice and smooth though. The first shot dieseled and sounded like a .22. Was hoping no one would call the cops lol.

After shooting a couple of shots into a bucket of sand I took it inside and took the stock off. I wiped the excess oil off and applied some moly to a few spots that move and a few drops of spring cylinder oil on the spring. I went to tighten the pivot bolt and sure enough it was loose but the large screw driver that I had was too thick and I had to go out and look for one. I couldn't find a proper screw driver so I ended up buying one at sears and using a mill file to create a custom tool just for that pivot bolt. Got home and tightened it right up. Reassembled and put loctite on the stock screws (after degreasing the screws). Ran some patches with goo gone using some grass trimmer line through the barrel and cleaned out all of the factory oil.

Took it outside and fired a few shots. Barrel now stays where I put it and cocking cycle feels really smooth and solid. Brought it back inside and degreased the dovetail rail then mounted the stock rings and scope. I figured I'd give the stock rings and scope a shot and see how they do. I suspect that the scope will slide because there was no sticky tape inside the rings...just smooth metal. I put a pencil line right behind the rear ring to keep an eye on slippage. But I really like the recoil stop piece that is mounted at the rear of the rail. Very nice feature. I will probably end up putting a Leapers one piece mount and scope on it at some point.  It's been pouring all day so I didn't get chance to shoot it outside (other than a few test shots in the shed). Just as well though...will give the loctite some time to cure.

Any Ruger Air Hawk owners here ? How do you like the rife ? How do the stock rings and scope hold up ?

Here are some pictures of the new rifle.. Sorry for the poor quality pics..took them with my phone-







Here is a picture of the new Air Hawk next to the Storm XT

[bart the fart]

wise choice bro, with a little break in that ruger might just become your favorite shooter. i have the "black"hawk, same gun with a synth stock. if i'm gonna shoot ALL day thats my pic, and i have tooo many AGs(if there is such a thing) and i shoot her 3-4 times a week. just be careful of that front site,if you LOOK at it hard it'll break. i broke mine and took rear site off and mounted a bug buster 3-9x32 with an offset mount ,,,anyways enjoy that shooter with time i think your storm will get neglected lol, cheers bart

[Lochlainn]

Thanks for the reply Bart How is your Black Hawk in the accuracy department ? Any idea what kind of groups I might expect to get at 20 yards ?

[shaft]

have the blackhawk, airhawk, storm, and quest. (all .177) to me the rugers are much better guns and very accurate. they like the $2.00 destroyers from walmart.

[bart the fart]

well with the stock scope-rings (and locktite!lol) great groups at 20 yards! mine loves rws superdomes. and alot of POP! i shoot threw bottle caps. mine is synth, super light wieght.i would change out the forearm bolts with hex head 10-32 flat head bolts from ace hardware. and if you mess with the trigger easy does it,1-8 of a turn at a time see where you are at then repeat,any questions PM and let me know, i've had mine 1 1-2 years she's a real sweety, cheers bart

[pindog2000]

Very wise choice I have a blackhawk tuned and camoed. Aka "remy"

[VINNY]

Congrats! Enjoy the new addition to your collection. They are good looking airguns, I would like to have one..

[mikeiniowa]

get some auto rubbing compound and go over it until the stock starts to shine then go over it with polishing compound a few times, will turn out like glass if done right. To improve the trigger a second adjustment screw can be added, lightens the release point and will make for a more adjustable trigger.

[Alan]

Great info from mikeiniowa.....found the post below from back in Jan-2010 on the "two screw mod."
I may do the "two screw mod" to a friends Air Hawk.  It's a solid shooter.
Thanks!

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/index.php?action=printpage;topic=15594.0


Title: RE: Two screw mod?
Post by: mikeiniowa on January 27, 2010, 11:45:33 PM
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When you remove the trigger look on what would be the top when it's installed, you will see a small cross bar. I use a Dremel toll and cut off wheel to cut the bar in the middle and push the two halves out with a flat screwdriver. Use a punch and put a dimple in line with the holes in the side and the middle of the trigger. I use a 4-40 machine screw but others use other sizes, drill and tap a vertical hole there and install an approx. 1 inch long screw and stop nut, make sure the nut is small enough that it doesn't get in the way of the factory screw. Run the screw in until it's just past where the top of the bar was and start adjusting until you get the right length of pull and second stage let off. No need to shorten any of the springs in the group just adjust until the second atage lets off at the weight you want. Polish the ends of both screws lightly...

[Atchman2]

If you get a wild hair, SEND it to MikeinIowa.  He got mine so smooth and the trigger perfect. 

[timegoat]

Congrats Lochlainn! Guess yer no longer in the market for the Pro-Compact? I don't own an airhawk myself, but I've heard plenty of good things about them.

Follow the advice the guys here give ya! They've walked me though everything I've done to my 34s with great results.

- Mark

p.s. Good call taking a look at them before laying out the $$!

[Lochlainn]

Thanks for the advice guys   Well I just got back in from shooting it and I am going to need to get a better mount setup. The scope just kept slipping back in the rings. I would get some decent groups (for a gun that is still smoking and being broken in) then it would open way up in a shot gun pattern. It slipped all the way back to the turret and couldn't slip anymore. The recoil impact on the turret through it WAY off...like 3-5 inches at 20 yards. I will probably put a one piece leapers mount on and a leapers scope like I have on my Storm XT...I am half tempted to just take the mount and scope off of the Storm and put it on the Ruger. Seems like a nicer gun...a bit heavier though. I do have a 11mm dovetail to weaver adapter that I bought and a set of weaver rings that came with the Leapers that is on the Storm. And I also have the Centerpoint 4x32 scope and rings that came with the Storm that I could play with. I think I might try the ruger scope in the weaver rings on top of the weaver adapter..See how that works out... I could also put the Centerpoint on with that same setup. Which do you think is a better scope...the 4x32 that came with the Ruger or the Centerpoint 4x32 that came with the Storm ? I have a feeling that are made in the same factory though lol. They have identical click adjusters. I might just break down and buy another one piece mount and another Leapers but I have kind of been spending a lot of money on toys lately so I think I need to cool it for a bit

Oh and Timegoat. I would like to get a Pro Compact at some point but I don't think it's in the cards at the moment. Have to pay down some bills first

[bart the fart]

you are right about the scopes, i have a pile of them ruger centerpoint and a bunch of beemans lol!they are what they are....blahhhh! one piece accushots for value and cheapness is the best way to go! i had a leapers 3-9x40 on my hawk for awhile then it went on my mendoza then on my ect. ect. when i buy a scope its musical chairs til i know its right...in any scoping take your time and use blue locktite and double check everything twice ,crosshair vert and horiz,then make sure not to fiddle with if for 24 hours. do your homework on pricing a scope you can get some smoking deals if you wait then pounce!....hows your trigger acting? i love mine now but out of the box it took some work,cheers bart

[Lochlainn]

you are right about the scopes, i have a pile of them ruger centerpoint and a bunch of beemans lol!they are what they are....blahhhh! one piece accushots for value and cheapness is the best way to go! i had a leapers 3-9x40 on my hawk for awhile then it went on my mendoza then on my ect. ect. when i buy a scope its musical chairs til i know its right...in any scoping take your time and use blue locktite and double check everything twice ,crosshair vert and horiz,then make sure not to fiddle with if for 24 hours. do your homework on pricing a scope you can get some smoking deals if you wait then pounce!....hows your trigger acting? i love mine now but out of the box it took some work,cheers bart

The trigger feels OK..feels better than my Storm with a GRT-III in it at the moment (although I think I can get the GRT-III to feel better with some more tweaking). I need to shorten the first stage a bit and the second stage is pretty heavy at the moment. Pretty predictable but fairly heavy. Did yours lighten up a bit after it wore in ? Or did you mod it ?

[bart the fart]

no mods, although they are out there. i just sat down one day and said to myself"today i will screw around with the trigger til its right." Took maybe half an hour then it was were i wanted it.remember easy does it,tighten it 1-8 of a turn shoot 3 shots and see where shes at....

[timegoat]

Just curious, is the Air Hawk trigger adjustment the same as the Diana 34 as well? I do 1/4 turns counterclockwise till the second stage goes bye bye then work my way back with 1/8 turns clockwise till I get it to that point where it's as short as possible but still predictable.

When stage 2 is really short you can sometimes find that it disappears for some shots. Can be a real surprise when it happens.

- Mark

[Lochlainn]

Well I just remounted the scope with a UTG weaver adapter and some nice Leapers weaver rings and added some Loctite to secure everything. Hopefully I will be able to get some decent groups tomorrow. The sticky tape inside the weaver rings should help a lot. My only concern is that the weaver adapter is made of aluminum so hopefully the recoil from the Air Hawk won't ruin the adapter. Time will tell I guess. There seems to be a lot less recoil than my Storm though so hopefully everything will work out. Here is a picture of the new stock scope in the new rings on the adapter. The cheap stock rings are at the bottom of the picture.



I'll add a nicer scope at some point. Hopefully I can get the stock scope to work for a little while though. I like the Ruger emblem on the stock scope. A nice added detail.

Oh and Timegoat...don't quote me on this but I think the adjustment screw only shortens the travel on the first stage. I think the only way you can adjust the second stage is to do that 2nd screw mod which I don't think I am mechanically adept enough at this point to attempt. So hopefully with the first stage shortened a bit and with a little time to wear in the second stage it will be decent. Time will tell I guess.

[1377x]

congrats
that"s a nice looking rig
one may follow me home one day

[pindog2000]

I had a choice betwwen the ruger blackhawk or airhawk,I chose the synth over wood cause its lighter. Another reason I opted for a bugbuster scope less wieght.