New to gun buying - how do I go about acquiring something slightly rare?

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SteamSewnEmpire

SteamSewnEmpire

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I've been doing a fair amount of research, and have zeroed in on a Ruger no1 rsi international .308 - namely because I like single shots with falling blocks, prefer a Mannlicher Stock, and I want something in a .308 since the ammunition is so ubiquitous.

Unfortunately, I don't really know where to go from here... at all. The gun seems to be out of production, isn't listed on Cabela's 'gun bank,' and the few I can find have been used for like $1,900... which is more than I can justify paying for a used rifle that originally retailed at like 1.2-1.3k only 2-3 years ago. I'm patient, and am willing to wait on this to get the right weapon, but I have absolutely no idea where to go to watch for this gun, or how to buy when the time comes.

Can anyone steer me in the right (general) direction?

Thanks for your help and patience.
 
Scour gunbroker and armslist regularly and put in the leg work at local pawn shops and LGS's. One will eventually turn up....but when I want something specific and unusual, I accept the fact that I am either going to have to pay the market price or wait around, perhaps indefinitely for the right deal...it might never come. But the more you search the better your odds are of finding what you are after. Also, do what you are doing. Talk about it. You Never know who's neighbors cousins brother in law might be looking to unload exactly what you are after.
 
Everything is for sale if you are willing to pay for it. Finding one cheap might take a long time.

So you if you find a gun you like, go ahead and buy it and enjoy it, even if it costs a few bucks more. Life is short and you didn’t buy it as an investment anyway.
 
Before the Covid mess, I would have said go to the Tulsa Gun Show www.tulsaarmsshow.com. I haven't checked, but I would be fairly certain it's been cancelled.

Anyway, there are 4000+ tables, covering 11 acres. If something exists, it will be in Tulsa. When I decided I wanted an 870 in 28 ga, I went there and saw at least seven before I picked one out.

EDIT: It looks like they are planning to have it Nov. 14-15th, 2020.
 
Larry Ashcraft said:
Before the Covid mess, I would have said go to the Tulsa Gun Show www.tulsaarmsshow.com. I haven't checked, but I would be fairly certain it's been cancelled.

Anyway, there are 4000+ tables, covering 11 acres. If something exists, it will be in Tulsa. When I decided I wanted an 870 in 28 ga, I went there and saw at least seven before I picked one out.

EDIT: It looks like they are planning to have it Nov. 14-15th, 2020.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I think I'll have to wait until next year on that one. I'm at risk, so going to a large gathering is probably going to be more dangerous for me than most people. I'll put that in my pocket for 2021, though, definitely.

*Edit* It looks like it's bi-annual. Is the spring show as busy as the fall one? I'd like to think there will be a stupid vaccine by April :p.
 
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The RSIs in M77 and #1 have collector interest and as a result almost alway bring a premium.

Coincidentally, I’ve been trolling a local gun site for the same gun a year+ now and have yet to see one for sale.
 
Just going by my own experience, it will turn up with patience and persistent legwork. All my unicorns turned up eventually, and at a price I was willing to pay. Sometimes though, when actually faced with them, I found that I didn’t really want them anymore. The important thing is to have the money in hand when they do. ‘Cause it’ll probably happen when you’re not expecting it.
 
Frulk said:
The RSIs in M77 and #1 have collector interest and as a result almost alway bring a premium.

Coincidentally, I’ve been trolling a local gun site for the same gun a year+ now and have yet to see one for sale.
Click to expand...
I had heard that the #1s had been discontinued - is that true?
 
SteamSewnEmpire said:
I had heard that the #1s had been discontinued - is that true?
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No: https://ruger.com/products/no1/models.html

However, the RSI (Manlicher stock) is not currently in production, with the exception of the Lipsey's Distributor Exclusive .257 Roberts. It might return, though.

ETA: You could always get a Winchester 1885 in .243 Win. https://www.winchesterguns.com/prod...ent-products/model-1885-high-wall-hunter.html It doesn't have the Manlicher stock, but its MSRP is only $1600 compared to $2000 for the Ruger No.1 for new ones. The street price for the Winchester is generally about $1200 to $1400 NIB. Used probably in the $900 - $1100 range.
I have a Winchester 1885 Low Wall in .243 Winchester. It shoots about 1-1/2" at 100 yards with good factory ammo. I'll load for it to see what it is really capable of, and expect it will be around 1".
 
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Currently there are 6 new #1s for sale at TSS Warehouse. All are $1430. None are an RSI or 308’s.

They do list a wooden stocked M77 Hawkeye Hunter in .308 for $ 889 in satin stainless. Nice looking rifle

The only RSI they have is a stainless M77 in .223. I bought that same gun 4 months ago. It’s listed at $873.00
 
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When I read your post, my first thought was "Gunbroker." The next option is going to be making friends with your local shops and putting in a word that you're on the lookout for one. Believe it or not, many shops have a few people they remember or think of first when certain oddballs come up. I mean, I've worked part-time at a shop for years and every time I walked in to work I'd joke "Get any Colt 1903s this week?" It took 3 years but the one in my avatar eventually showed up.

Also, thinking it over, I've never seen a Ruger Number 1 RSI in any caliber come through while working there. I've seen exactly 1 Ruger 77 RSI, and that was a .30-06. I have seen maybe 6 of the CZ Full Stock models, 2 of which are now in my collection (452FS and 527FS), and I'm still kicking myself for not snagging the 550FS in .30-06.
 
@SteamSewnEmpire welcome to THR.

I'm not sure what state you live in, but most have a few gun shops that have large inventories Pekin Guns, Pekin IL. Moe's Hardware, Black River Falls WI, ext... these little shops have much more on hand than the chain stores. And lots of used guns!

A little drive to some shops or/and a few phone calls may help you find that gem.

The road trips can be fun! Good luck with your search!!!
 
Find all the gun auction sites, Rock Island all the way to GB, and keep monitoring them.

Find all the discussion groups that focus on this rifle or Ruger and frequent them. Post a Want to Buy and see what you get.
 
Gunbroker is my first thought. The gun stores around where I live just don't have that type of inventory depth. GB is where I have to go to get the cool older stuff. Not sure where you live, but large gun stores like Mackey's in Jamesville NC on the way to the outer banks, has a ton of used and unusual weapons. Like others suggested I would start calling these large gun stores that people have mentioned in this thread and let them know what you are looking for.
 
The single shot Browning is another similar rifle. I had one Ruger No. 1 in .243 and one Browning 78 in .22-250 with the octagon barrel. Sorry I sold both of them.

Bob
 
82825EAC-7B7E-4C74-9CAF-F3A71D32F685.png Here’s a thought, probably a bad one. If you decided to buy a TC Encore frame you could buy multiple barrels for it, put an unbelievable stock on it, and have multiple caliber barrels to just drop in for whatever your wanting to do with it. You could get your .308 pretty easily. And Encores can be as pretty or as ugly as you would like. Like this one...at http://www.highplainsgunstocks.com/forearm-styles.html
It’s got the look but if you want a #1 then it’s just not right. It does check the other boxes though... .308, Mannlicher stock, gorgeous
 
Welcome to THR.

Set your money aside so it's available when the opportunity arises. And when it does, jump. That's how I secured a very nice No.1 RSI in 7x57.
 
how do I go about acquiring something slightly rare?
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Slightly rare! That's almost like searching for a unicorn. But if it is what you want, it is what you want. Good advice above, just keep looking and waiting. One will eventually show up. I might be willing to compromise on a different chambering if everything else was what I wanted. The 6.5X55 shown above would be tempting.
 
This is not going to help you, but just as a side bar. A friend I went to grade school with, his father has a collection of around 35 Ruger #1's. A ton of different calibers but a few .308's iirc. If I bump into him at the store or something I'll ask him for ya lol. I think my LGShas been known to have one from time to time I'll keep an eye out for ya as he ships firearms frequently. I think the last #1 I saw in the shop was a .308 coincidentally
 
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