Ruger M77 Hawkeye Alaskan
We dredged through piles of gear, racks of NIB guns and mounds of ammo to uncover the past year’s best products. Some were chosen for innovation, others for great value and others for simply being the best in class. In the end, we had to make some tough decisions. What follows are our picks for 2007’s best hunting gear.
Rifle of the Year
Ruger M77 Hawkeye Alaskan
Many believe William B. Ruger would be proud of his company’s
newest version of its venerable bolt-action rifle, the M77 Hawkeye.
Two versions of the Hawkeye, the African and Alaskan, entered the market
in 2007, but the Alaskan stands alone for features that hardcore hunters
appreciate. At the heart of the rifle is Ruger’s famous controlled-round
feed M77 MK II action and simple, three-position safety. A revamped,
light and crisp LC6 trigger remedies the old M77’s only flaw.
A Hogue overmolded stock makes the rifle almost stick to your hands
no matter the weather and is quiet. Its “Alaskan Black finish
weatherproofs the metal and reduces glare. The Hawkeye’s express
sights are meant to be used, but if you choose to mount an optic, the
receiver has integral scope bases. The new Hornady-designed .375
Ruger cartridge (for which the Hawkeye
was built) can handle any game on Earth. And you get all this for
less.
ruger-firearms.com
Ammo of the Year
Hornady’s .375 Ruger
The .375 H&H is a great round. But Hornady’s new .375 round is
better. Ballistically speaking, it drives a 270-grain bullet 2840 fps
compared to a 270-grain H&H load that averages 2660 fps. Two 300-grain
loads, a solid and a softpoint, also top comparable H&H loads.
In terms of cartridge design, the .375 Ruger eliminated the belt, and
the cartridge’s overall length is shorter, allowing it to fit in standard,
.30-06-length actions. Initial American Hunter tests on some of the
planet’s toughest beasts have confirmed what we thought about Hornady’s
.375 Ruger: It works well on game.
hornady.com
Optic of the Year
Steiner Peregrine XP
Optically, Steiner’s optics are right up there with the elite,
but its new Peregrine XP was designed with features and
ergonomics for
the hunter. With military roots, it’s plenty tough for the
average sportsman. Optics and durability notwithstanding, the XP
incorporates little things that set it apart in the field. Innovative
eyecups twist out, then combine with foldable, rubber eye “wings” that
shield the eyes from excess glare and wind. A “skeletonized,” exposed
barrel design and gel-filled thumb pads make the unit a joy to hold,
and an oversized focus wheel provides sure, fast adjustment. Then,
after you get a grip on the XP, take a look through it. You’ll
see.
steiner-binoculars.com
2008 Pioneers
Dick & Jim Cabela
From humble beginnings in a kitchen in 1961, the company that bears
Dick and Jim’s name has grown into “The World’s Foremost
Outfitter”
of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear and, in the process, has revolutionized
the outdoor equipment business. Today, from destination stores that
are a unique combination of purchase point, museum and education center
to 500-plus page catalogs, from its own high-quality outdoor gear to
e-commerce sites and the Outfitter Journal magazine and TV show, Cabela’s
has all angles covered. cabelas.com
Muzzleloader of the Year
CVA Electra
We don’t know if CVA’s Electra is a flash in the pan or
the wave of the future, but we do know it works as advertised and is
responsible for pushing the envelope of “modern-primitive design.
In the innovation category, CVA’s electronic ignition system,
called ARC, wins top prize. It has a quicker lock time than traditional
muzzleloaders, and its electronic trigger is searless. Will consumers
be leery of a 9-volt battery-powered rifle? That remains to be seen,
but lest we forget, we depend on batteries for nearly everything else.
Shooters still must load the rifle from its muzzle, and, therefore,
it is defined as a primitive firearm by most state game agencies. The
Electra is different—and
accurate—and that’s why we like it. cva.com
Shotgun of the Year
Benelli M2 Field 20-Gauge ComforTech
We believe the M2 ComforTech just might be the lightest-recoiling shotgun
on the market. Many believe its Intertia-Driven action is a superior
semi-auto shotgun design—it’s lightning-fast, clean and
ultra-reliable. The M2 is chambered for 3-inch mags. It comes with
five choke tubes and has an adjustable stock; therefore it is a shotgun
that can be used for any practical purpose, by nearly any shooter.
At 5.8 pounds, a quail hunter can carry it all day in one hand and
have four fast shots when the birds get up. Thanks to its ComforTech
stock, which reduces felt recoil considerably, a dove hunter can miss
all day, and the only thing bruised will be his or her ego. benelliusa.com
ATV of the Year
Yamaha Rhino 700 FI Auto 4x4
This side-by-side, utilitarian wonder is powered by a 660cc engine
adapted from the Grizzly 700 FI, the firm’s flagship 
quad.
Its powerplant delivers significantly more low-end torque than older
models and exceptionally smooth power due to fuel injection. And thanks
to a one-way sprag clutch—something
competitors don’t have—the Rhino’s Ultramatic transmission
prevents downhill freewheeling to produce the best engine braking in
the business. On-Command 4WD is push-button and effortless, and it’s
augmented with a locking front differential. Twin-piston hydraulic
disc brakes reside on all four corners, and a fully independent suspension
ensures at least one tire maintains contact with the ground at all
times. A standard 2-inch receiver that accepts the hitch off your pickup
is ready to tow up to 1,212 pounds, because all that performance needs
an outlet. yamaha-motor.com
Gear of the Year
Thermologic Clothing
Battery-powered socks have been around for years, but this new camouflage
outerwear, while the same in concept, is more advanced. Thermologic
clothing uses a garment-meandering strip of contained ink to deliver
heat to the body. The ink gets its heat from rechargeable batteries
stashed in hidden compartments. On/off/intensity is manipulated by
a remote control in the pocket. The garments are washable and dryer
safe. We know the body generates little heat while it sits motionless
for hours on a cold deer stand. With Thermologic, we found that you
can stay still and still stay warm.
thermologic.net
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