Ruger Number 1 Connundrum...

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marksman13

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Let me start off by making it clear that I have zero real “need” for a new rifle. I have multiple hunting rifles in multiple chamberings that will kill anything I’m going to encounter in North America. This is simply a “want” born from pure nostalgia. There’s no need to rationalize why I should pick a different rifle. I’ve got all the bases covered for any hunting I’ll partake in.

Here’s the thing, my dad died in 2013. One rifle he always wanted, and one of the last things we talked about as he was dying in the hospital was a Ruger No. 1 RSI. Dad loved those full-length Mannlicher stocks. Problem is, he never could justify ponying up that big Ruger No. 1 price tag. We never had much money growing up and a thousand dollar single shot was just a pill he couldn’t swallow.

I’ve never had much interest at all in bolt action or single shot hunting rifles. Black rifles have always been my thing. I like ARs and have hunted pigs and deer with them for years. For some reason, that all changed last year when Mom died. I have recently found myself feeling more and more nostalgic. With the first anniversary of Mom’s death and rifle season for deer rapidly approaching, I just want a Ruger No. 1 to hunt with some this year.

The question is what cartridge to go with. I’ve got a 270 Win, 30-06, 308, 6.5x55, 7mm-08 and 280 Rem, along with several AR cartridges. I don’t want or need any of the big, magnum chamberings. This rifle is going to see some deer and pig hunts, maybe pronghorn, maybe elk. That’s about it. I realize that I can kill anything I just mentioned with the rifles I just mentioned and I know that the smartest thing to do is stick with a round I already have on hand.

I’m leaning towards an RSI model in 308, but I’m not married to that idea. I’m not even married to the idea of the RSI model. As much as Dad loved those rifles, I’m not sure how I feel about that 20” barrel on anything other than the 308 or 30-06. If the Ruger No. 1 was legal to hunt with during Mississippi’s primitive weapon seasons, I’d go with a 35 Whelen and never look back. That said, I still think I could do much worse than a 35 Whelen for hunting the game I’ve mentioned. What’s out there that I’m not thinking about with fairly mild recoil and plenty of factory ammo available? Anybody have personal experience with a No. 1 in 35 Whelen? Anybody have a No. 1 and hate it? Thanks in advance.
 
The first Ruger No. 1 I ever saw was in .223 remington, used by my uncle on the only prairie dog hunts I've been on when I was only 12 years old. I never got to shoot it, I was "stuck" with a Winchester 9422 on those hunts, but the No. 1 was such a nice looking rifle and made such an impression on me I have kept my eyes open since.
Couple that with my desire for a .375 H&H, and when I saw an auction listing a few years ago for a LNIB No. 1 tropical in .375 H&H for $640, under $700 after shipping and the transfer fee, It was a no brainer. It satisfied two itches and a nostalgic memory.
Love that gun. I could sell my other hunting rifles and still feel like I've got all my bases covered for whatever game I choose from antelope to elk. It is a joy to shoot, hold, and look at.
You may not want a tropical or a .375, but those No. 1's are a beautiful rifle and mine shoots great. You don't have to spend $1k if you are patient and keep your eyes open. Mine was less expensive than most mid range hunting rifles or decent AR's.

I also had to get a 9422 based on that week spent with my uncle in Montana.
 
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The first Ruger No. 1 I ever saw was in .223 remington, used by my uncle on the only prairie dog hunts I've been on when I was only 12 years old. I never got to shoot it, I was "stuck" with a Winchester 9422 on those hunts, but the No. 1 was such a nice looking rifle and made such an impression on me I have kept my eyes open since.
Couple that with my desire for a .375 H&H, and when I saw an auction listing a few years ago for a LNIB No. 1 tropical in .375 H&H for $640, under $700 after shipping and the transfer fee, and was a no brainer. It satisfied two itches and a nostalgic memory.
Love that gun. I could sell my other hunting rifles and still feel like I've got all my bases covered for whatever game I choose from antelope to elk.
You may not want a tropical or a .375, but those No. 1's are a beautiful rifle and mine shoots great. You don't have to spend $1k if you are patient and keep your eyes open. Mine was less expensive than most mid range hunting rifles or decent AR's.

I also had to get a 9422 based on that week spent with my uncle in Montana.

What’s accuracy like out of your 375 H&H? I’ve heard that No. 1s are notoriously hot or miss in that department. I’ve also heard this was mostly an issue in older rifles.
 
What’s accuracy like out of your 375 H&H? I’ve heard that No. 1s are notoriously hot or miss in that department. I’ve also heard this was mostly an issue in older rifles.

Off a bench without bags elbows on the bench, and a $100 extra scope I had sitting around its a 2 1/2" @ 100yd gun with "best guess" handloads. Mind you thats with blemished bullets bought off midway, cheapest brass I could find, and whatever appropriate powder I had at the time just to have something to shoot out of it, no load development whatsoever. I literally just threw some rounds together for a range day. I fully expect with time, bags, and some load development I can halve that easily.
 
And honestly, that would be pretty acceptable for me frommthis rifle. I won’t normally be satisfied until I’m at least approaching MOA with a three shot group, but this rifle does not have to meet those standards.
 
I am much happier with my Ruger #1 in 30-06

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than my Ruger #1 in 35 Whelen:

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And it all comes down to accuracy and recoil.

My 30-06 is an accurate rifle once I became a better shot, I found that what I thought was an inaccurate rifle, the problem was all due to me. I purchased the thing in the mid 1980's but the 35 Whelen is a more recent acquisition. I also found my rifle likes fast moving 150 grain bullets:Also, you ought to listen to the factory, and use the factory bedding, instead of putting in some tension screw because some inprint gunwriter recommended doing that. These guys, they don't know as much about bedding a Ruger #1 as does the factory!

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Not actually bad.

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Currently the three shot group is accepted as the Gold Standard for accuracy and consistency, and that is due primarily to in print gunwriters. These guys are given a flat fee and they are not interested in spending a lot of time and money shooting bullets down range. Every month you read article after article with three shot groups. So it must be the accuracy standard, right? because all the big names are doing that. Three shots barely proves anything, you have to get the round count up to show that you have an accurate load and rifle. These small shot groups you see on the web, all they are proving is the Texas Sharpshooter fallacy and that within any ten shot group, there are three smaller three shot groups. And an extra round for good luck .

There are a whole bunch of three shot groups in these targets. All you have to do, is shoot enough three shot groups, toss out the bad ones, and use the clusters to claim how great your load, rifle, and marksmanship abilities are.

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I do it all the time. ;)

There is an excellent article at the end of the Oct 2014 Shooting Sports USA on group size and accuracy: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nra/ssusa_201410/ This foundational article was written by small bore prone competitors who wanted to shoot perfect scores. In small bore prone a Match is a 40 shot event of two twenty shot targets. The typical 1600 round Smallbore bore prone tournament is 160 rounds fired for record, divided up into four 40 round Matches. Therefore the referenced article assumes that a 40 round group is the baseline.

As anyone can see in table six, at least at 100 yards, a five shot group is 59% of the size of a 40 shot group, a 10 shot 74%, and a twenty shot 88%. A three shot group as a measure of accuracy and consistency is beneath contempt.

This is a three shot group, not bad

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and this a five shot group, not bad but things are opening up

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and if you shoot enough rounds, you will get one that you will regret!

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Consistency is hard, which is why I am only showing a five shot group at 600 yards!

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I do not have any groups to show for my 35 Whelen, I am still working at it. But one thing that makes small groups hard in this rifle is the recoil. It has a lightweight 22" barrel and it really, really kicks off the bench. Ruger is currently making a 24 inch version, and if it has the heavier barrel, that would be less punishing to shoot. Velocity wise, my 22 inch Ruger is only a little bit slower than my 24 inch Dumoulin Mauser rifle.

Code:
  Ruger #1 22" Barrel

200 Federal Fusion  RNSPFB  54.0 gr IMR 3031 wtd  lot 5-27-2015 Mixed Commercial cases, Fed210S OAL 3.050" greased bullets & cases

11-Oct-18 T =  71 °F  

Ave Vel = 2515  
Std Dev = 32  
ES = 105  
High = 2572  
Low = 2467  
N = 12   

200 Federal Fusion  RNSPFB  55.0 gr IMR 3031 wtd  lot 5-27-2015 Mixed Commercial cases, Fed210S OAL 3.050" greased bullets & cases

9 Feb  2018  T =  60 °F 

Ave Vel = 2584    
Std Dev = 15   
ES = 30   
High = 2597    
Low = 2567    
N = 3   

200 Federal Fusion  RNSPFB  58.0 grs IMR 4064 wtd lot E89AU22 (1989) LC62 annealed  cases, Fed 210S OAL 3.150" greased bullets & cases

3 Dec  2018  T =  50 °F 
 
Ave Vel = 2450    
Std Dev = 14    
ES = 28    
High = 2463     
Low = 2435     
N = 3   

 too dark for chrono to register

220 Speer SPFB  55.0 gr IMR 3031 wtd  lot 8-11-2014 Mixed military cases, Fed210S OAL 3.30" greased bullets & cases

9 Feb 2018  T =  60 °F 

Ave Vel = 2546    
Std Dev = 26  
ES = 70  
High = 2578  
Low = 2508  
N = 5   
 

220 Speer SPFB  55.0 gr IMR 3031 wtd  lot 8-11-2014 R-P cases, Fed210S OAL 3.30"  greased bullets and cases

15 Jan 2018  T =  48 °F 

Ave Vel = 2621   
Std Dev = 35  
ES = 89  
High = 2663  
Low = 2574  
N = 6   

220 Speer SPFB   57.0 grs N140 wtd  lot 00199  mixed cases Fed210S OAL 3.30"
15 Jan 2018  T =  48 °F 

Ave Vel = 2485   
Std Dev = 29  
ES = 76  
High = 2519  
Low = 2443  
N = 8   

Dumoulin Mauser 24" 1:14" twist ER Shaw barrel, light varmit contour

200 Federal Fusion  RNSPFB  53.0 grs IMR3031 wtd Commerical cases, Fed 210S OAL 3.050" to cannulure  greased bullets & cases

23 Feb  2018  T =  75 °F 

Ave Vel = 2511   
Std Dev = 50  
ES = 173  
High = 2565  
Low = 2392  
N = 10   

200 Federal Fusion  RNSPFB  55.0 gr IMR 3031 wtd  lot 5-27-2015 Mixed Commercial cases, Fed210S OAL 3.050"  greased bullets & cases

9 Feb  2018  T =  60 °F 

Ave Vel = 2639   
Std Dev = 16  
ES = 60  
High = 2671  
Low = 2611  
N = 10   

220 Speer SPFB  55.0 gr IMR 3031 wtd  lot 8-11-2014 Mixed Military cases, Fed210S OAL 3.30" greased cases & bullets

9 Feb 2018  T =  60 °F 

Ave Vel = 2623   
Std Dev = 25  
ES = 74  
High = 2668  
Low = 2594  
N = 10   

one sticky bolt life w blown primer & case head flow into extractor groove

I think the 35 Whelen is an excellent round, and I would be much happier if I could shoot ten rounds groups into a small hole, but the recoil of a 200 grain, 220 grain, or a 250 grain bullet, going at 2500 fps really knocks me out of position and causes a huge flinch! Based on this post by @35 Whelen, The Perfect Elk Rifle this cartridge will really hammer big game animals. Elk easily get to 700 pounds.

I did fire one Ruger #1 in 458 Win Mag. I shot it kneeling. The first shot was a surprise, the second was extremely painful. That was decades ago and I still remember how much it hurt. I don't recommend massively recoiling lightweight rifles. They hurt too much. I think the Ruger #1 is an excellent rifle in 30-06. The current 24 inch version in 35 Whelen, the extra weight probably helps, but I am not going to be running down to the LGS until I shoot more rounds down the tube of my 22" version. The round, however, is excellent.
 
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6.5x55 in a No.1 RSI for four very good reasons

  1. Mere possession will end any and all internet firearms arguments. As in "Do stop. I own a Ruger No. 1 RSI in 6.5x55". To be followed by awed silence and eventual groveling by your vanquished foes
  2. You can shoot moose with it. I wouldn't. But inevitably in any discussion of the 6.5x55, someone will note that the Swedes shoot [their much smaller] moose with it.
  3. It will get you laid. Seriously. All you have to do is casually mention it to the bar tender and most of the women within hearing distance (at least the hot ones) will be all over you.
  4. If you are of the monogamous ilk, it will end all marital discord. And get you laid. Say, for example, you come home late, mid-week, stinking of booze and cheap perfume, with a lipstick smudge on your collar. SWMBO is waiting at the door, with the frying pan, and the phone on speed dial to her divorce attorney of choice. All you have to do is say, "Sorry I'm late darling, but I thought we could get the Ruger No. 1 RSI in 6.5x55 out for a little cleaning before bed". Voila! She's putty in your hand.
 
I don't have one, but they look cool. At the moment, I think they produce the RSI in .257 Roberts, but slightly older production .308 and 6.5x55 can still be found for sale new. For deer, pig and pronghorn, any of those would be practical. Lipsey's made this video with Lee Newton, a Ruger No. 1 guy:



He really sells the 1AH with a 24" barrel. In production, Ruger is selling the 6.5 Creedmoor and 250 Savage in that configuration. The 24" Whelen has a medium-weight barrel.

Another neat option currently in production is the .30-30. With the No.1, you can use low-drag .308 bullets and you're not limited to traditional lever-action pressures either -- the No.1 receiver is famously strong. The limit becomes the .30-30 case's powder capacity. I wouldn't expect .30-06 performance from it, but it would certainly allow the .30-30 to be hot-rodded to "11." It would be good for deer, pig, pronghorn, black bear, maybe Elk. I guess the thing about a rifle that's really good for the biggest Elk is that there's a tradeoff for things like whitetails and pronghorn. I suppose there's also a tradeoff between a pig gun and one ideal for pronghorn. I mean, for pronghorn, a No. 1 B in .243, or even .257 Weatherby would be ideal, but for hogs, probably something that throws a heavier bullet and there's no compelling need for the heavyweight 28" barrel for pigs. So I suppose it depends on what you'll do most with it.
 
get a set of extended rings for your # 1 and look at the scope your going to use so you can get the proper eye releife. my #1 in 35 whelen.
 

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How about a 45-70? I love mine. It will shoot 1.5" groups at 60 yards all day long. You can load it up to near .458 velocities, or down to trap door springfield velocities. A great round for plinking with the low velocity rounds. It is not a long range cartridge, although it can be with proper ranging.
 
I like the idea of 30-06. From 125-220gr it'll do anything that needs done with less recoil than the 35 Whelen. Plus you don't have the negatives of a Long Action since it's a single shot. Rimmed cartridges work well with them typically. Plus it's a classic cartridge in a classic action. Seems like a happy marriage to me.

I'm also a big fan of full length stocks, I'm trying you figure out how best to go about putting one on my Sporterized Mauser 30-06 to class it up a bit.
 
My Dad had a #1 Sporter in .30-06. With the handloads he worked up for it, a very accurate rifle. This was his "I want to get a deer with one-shot" phase. (I just used my 742 and 870 for that, many times) It had a tad more recoil than the 700 in '06 he had then, but not bad.
But in his fashion, that phase passed, and the #1 went down the road. I was about 18-19 at the time and couldn't afford to buy it from him.
 
The stocks in the rifle shown in the vid are a hell of a lot nicer than any new production #1's I've seen in recent years. Every new one I've looked at is noway near as well finished, metal and wood, as earlier generation #1's. Bill Ruger would be disgusted by what they have done with his pet.
 
I have a Ruger No. 1 in .270 Win from the early 80’s that was handed down from my father. I really like it. It’s pretty much my most used deer rifle.

Obligatory picture.
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You could do a lot worse than getting a No. 1 in .270 Win or 6.5 Swede.

I’d like an RSI, but like your dad I couldn’t justify the price tag. Especially since I have this one.
 
.243 and that’s that. If nostalgia turns to a meaningful relationship, and guessing you’re a piece down the road from spring chicken, then you’ll want a cartridge you can spend a lot of time with.

It’s a do-all up to whitetail easily that your shoulder will thank you for.
 
About a decade back I bought a used No1B in 270 Winchester just because the price was within reach and I wanted a No1 rifle. It sat in the gunsafe a lot because when it comes to .270 I prefer my Husqvarna Mauser sporter, so in 2017 I decided to have the action refinished (Armoloy) to remove some light pitting and rebarreled to a more 'fun' cartridge. Eventually I chose a Pac-Nor 32-40 barrel, no regrets. I later picked up a second Ruger single shot with a No3 action in 45-70 that's still all-factory except for the sights.

Nice rifles -- no help for your situation, since I'd imagine you'd want a scope and more horsepower for your purposes, but included here just for fellowship.

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the ruger # 3 with # 1 wood looks like and acts like a different animal.
 

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Mine, in .270 Win., with a Leupold 1-4X. The empties in the turtle shell are the deer I've taken with it.

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I experimented with downloading to reduce recoil, found out that it likes a 110 gr. Hornady V-Max over H4895. Ballistically close to a 6,8 SPC. I took two deer with this load last year. Target was 100 yards:

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I like the self-discipline that a single-shot imposes. I still get excited when I see deer in the woods. Knowing that I have one shot keeps me focused. When I no longer get excited, I will quit hunting.
 
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Mine, with a Leupold 1-4X. The empties in the turtle shell are the deer I've taken with it.

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I experimented with downloading to reduce recoil, found out that it likes a 110 gr. Hornady V-Max over H4895. Ballistically close to a 6,8 SPC. I took two deer with this load last year. Target was 100 yards:

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I like the self-discipline that a single-shot imposes. I still get excited when I see deer in the woods. Knowing that I have one shot keeps me focused. When I no longer get excited, I will quit hunting.

J-Bar: great pictures, post, but what's the cartridge?
 
Sorry, didn’t realize the omission. Edited.

.270 Winchester.

You are really downloading the cartridge. Every chronographed that load? And, what lead to this? When the 270 Win came out in the 1920's, one selling point was that it was faster than the 30-06 and thus, flatter shooting.
 
I have a buddy with No. 1 in 7 Mag that is an absolute tack driver. I’m talking .5 MOA all day and twice on Sunday. I’ve owned two, one in .338 and another in .45-70. Neither were fit to be a proper tomato stake accuracy wise. If you’ve got an accurate one don’t ever get rid of it!
 
Since I first laid eyes on Ruger's #1 I've felt they were a varmint hunter's delight.. Which is why I've tended to accumulate them in varmint calibers like: Bottom to top in first pic: .218 Bee, .222 Rem, .223 Rem. In other pic are .22/250 Rem, .220 Swift and 6mm Rem... DSC_0015.JPG DSC_0025.JPG
 
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