Yes, no, maybe...

by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 10:52 (3499 days ago) @ Josh Maloley
edited by Hoot, Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 11:00

Josh, I went and pulled them out to compare and measure in order to have some data which will be followed by purely subjective comments.

Hawkeye, .358 Winchester, 3-9 Burris FullField II, short action, synthetic, matte stainless
8.25#, 22" barrel, 41.75" OAL

M-77 Mk II, .350 Remington Magnum, Leupold 2-7 VX-I, short action, synthetic, polished stainless
8.25#, 22" barrel, 42.00" OAL

M-77, tang safety, .25-06 heavy barrel, Leupold 4x M8, long action, walnut and bued
8.90#, 24" barrel 44.62" OAL

M-77, tang safety, ..338 Winchester Magnum, 3-9 Burris Fullfield II, long action, walnut and blued
8.55#, 24" barrel 44.62" OAL

Here's the subjective bit...
The polished stainless is, of course, better polished than the matte but it is not as highly polished as the blued rifles. It's more of a satin finish. I do not see anything objectionable on any of them, finish-wise.

There is no appreciable difference in internal polishing between the four. Bolts cycle more or less the same with maybe, just maybe, the two walnut and blued versions being smoother...through use?

The two synthetic stocks appear to be identical but I did not try to swap them. The bolts will fit and cycle with about the same feel in either action.

The Hawkeye has the best of the stock triggers. The .25 sports a Timney so that's not a fair comparison. The .338 is next but it's an older, adjustable model. The Mark II comes in last but I have to note none of them are bad. The Mk II has a bit more creep. Sorry, I do not have a trigger scale for hard data.

If there is something specific you'd like me to address, holler back and I'll do my best.

Edited to add: Sorry, I never addressed the core question. I would put them as equals in overall quality. The choice would boil down to caliber, availability, individual prejudice (e.g., wood vs. synthetic) and the quality of any one rifle, as all companies lay an egg now and then.