I'm happy with my #1.

[thatguy]

I think the Ruger #1A1 is the most beautiful rifle made. But they often are not as accurate as one would prefer. Rifles like lever guns and breach-loaders (or is it breech?) with two-piece stocks usually don't shoot as well as the bolt guns and the Rugers sometimes have a tendency to vertically string the shots due to the forend hanging off the barrel and applying pressure on it.

So I tried my #1 Light Sporter today at 100 yards and I'm pretty happy with the way it shot. Bear in mind I am not a great marksman. This rifle is in 7X57 and I was using FN milsurp ammo dated 1970 loaded with 139 grain spitzer boat-tails. This ammo is fairly warm, clocking a consistent 2925 FPS. The scope is a Leupold VXII 3x9x40 set at 5X.

I fired several groups (the wind wasn't helping with strong gusts) and this was the best of the day. Not quite the magic 1" group, it meausures 1.25" and is very symmetrical with no sign of stringing as these guns like to do. The other groups weren't terrible, but all had one shot opening the group up to around 2-2.25" and I think the wind may have caused these fliers. I just need to bring the scope about 1" to the left and maybe .5" down and it should be about right.

Anyone else have a #1 working good for you?

My Group

 

[P95Carry]

I love mine - in 45-70. Fine rifles.

Have to say tho I have not yet by any means finished working up its ideal load. Temptation meant that I started quite high with a 405 atop a near max and all but compressed charge of 3031. However, that is tad brutal and so I shall when the 3031 finished up be trying to work up to a load with RL7 that is real accurate. Grouping right now is not that tight, in as much as I know it can do better.

Interested to know why you elected to go for the 7x57 cal?

 

[retiredsgt]

Ruger No.1's

I have several No.1's. All shoot at 1 moa or better.
I reload for all of mine. Sometimes it may take a little extra effort, but it is well worth it. This past Saturday, opening day here in the Old Dominion, using my No.1 A/B in 30-06, I took a nice six point. I was using a 150 gr. Hornady SP, that was shooting at 1 moa, or should I say mod(eer). At any rate, I now have some fresh venison in my freezer.
The only gun that looks as good as a No.1 is a Parker Double.......But that is probably another thread.
Gotta love those No1's.

 

[Gewehr98]

I've broken into the magic 1" groups with my .45-70 No.1B...

But, believe it or not, those groups came on top of FFg black powder, with a swaged 450gr bullet.

Still working on a good accuracy load w/smokeless, my 405gr cast loads on top of 2400 are showing promise.

I've come real close to selling this No.1B in the last few months, but...

 

[P95Carry]

Aha - the 45-70 guru has dropped in

I followed one of your other threads/posts Gewehr with great interest - and will try and keep in touch with any observations you may have re 2400 loads.

I resist BP loads simply to avoid the mess tho - IIRC from your previous comments it ain't that bad.

 

[Gewehr98]

Not a guru, but I'm really tickled with cast 405's and 2400.

I'll describe them as comfortable, without rattling your brainpan. (I don't have any fillings in my teef, otherwise I'd use that analogy)

I've also run jacketed 405's on top of 3031, and they're grouping about 1.5-2.0" at 100 yards for me. Part of the problem is my trigger, which is still at the factory pull weight. I need to figure out how to adjust those two allen screws that are in the trigger, or get a Moyers or Kiplinger replacement trigger.

The other part of my particular problem is a self-induced flinch. When I ran those Beartooth 405 gas-checked beasties at 2150fps, the flinch was tantamount to an anxiety attack. I was almost scared to pull the trigger between the 5th and 10th round. I knew there was a metric buttload of energy going downrange, but darned if I couldn't settle down and just concentrate on the trigger squeeze and keeping the crosshairs on target through the rock n' roll ride. The gun handles monster loads just fine, but I'm having second thoughts about going after dangerous game with those same monster loads in that rifle. I'm almost convinced I've hit a personal limit with respect to recoil and pain. So I'm throttling things back a bit, and refocusing.

The reason I'm considering selling the rifle is because I bought something that combines the .45-70 and classic falling-block action with my passion for other long-range centerfire rigs. Although I probably would have a hard time replacing that #1 later on, right now I'm working with the older cousin to the Ruger:



A friend has the same rifle, and is producing these kinds of groups:

 

[P95Carry]

Beaut' gun Gewehr - a ''Quiggly'' in fact yes? Lovely.

So I'm throttling things back a bit, and refocusing.

I too am working same route - Having explored near top end and finding the ''Newtonian'' response rather extreme will I think seek the high end mid load - if that makes sense LOL! let's say the 30,000 pressure region and in fact it'll probably turn out to be my hottish load in the BFR (41.5 of RL7 with the 405).

This could well be a 2400 load tho too - and if and when I get to finding the ideal for my gun will compare notes with you at some later date.

BTW - pity you have to consider selling that #1 tho - hey - go fly a few more contract trips to make some extra bucks!

 

[fisherman66]

I am told that some #1's benefit from forearm pressure (as opposed to free floating).

 

[thatguy]

P95Carry- When I was a youngster I had a Mauser 93 in 7X57 and I have always liked the caliber. The .284 bullets in the heavier weights have great sectional density and have a nice trajectory. I never felt the need for the extra velocity of the 7MM Magnums.

I tend to favor rifles in military calibers. I figure they are well-tested and usually there is cheap milsurp available for plinking.

 

[P95Carry]

Thx thatguy - makes sense - satisfies my curiosity

 

[critter]

I have a Ruger #1 in 45-70 that I love and it shoots REALLY well. It likes BIG bullets! In fact, just over a week ago, I took a really nice, heavy antlered 8-point whitetail with it at 90 yds. It did its job WELL.

Love the #1's! I have a friend who has one I lust after-in .338 Win Mag.