New Ruger No.1, scope questions

[cmdc]

I just got a No.1 International in 7x57. I was in a hurry to get it ready to shoot, so I got a Nikon Buckmaster scope to slap on it, because that was all the shop had. They mounted it for me, and it is so low and long that it interferes with loading the rifle. Is there any way to get more room between the scope and the breech? Higher ring mounts or shorter scope, or is that just the way it is? I can load it OK, but there's really not a lot of room there.

Also, the rifle, being pretty light sans scope, is a LOT heavier with that scope mounted. I have nothing against the Buckmaster, it is a pretty good scope for the price, I have one on another rifle, but it is 3-9x40 and I am also wondering if there would be a better combination for this rifle, which has a 20" bbl.

 

[oneounceload]

When I had my RSI in 243, I used a Burris compact fixed 6X scope - fit and worked well

The full length stock is pretty on those guns

 

[cmdc]

Thanks for the input, and yes, it is a beautiful rifle. The eye appeal of those full-length stocks is amazing.

 

[dmazur]

I have seen custom No. 1 stocks that have cheekpads, but most do fairly well with low-mounted scopes.

I can't confirm it, but I believe the R side of the falling block is cut away to facilitate loading. Drop the cartridge on the falling block with the case head just forward of the tang safety and use your R thumb to push it into the chamber. Unless you're wearing mittens, a thumb usually fits under the scope bell.

There are many techniques for unloading. The one I use is -

• safety on
• butt against R thigh
• "cup" action in R hand with palm under scope bell
• open action with L hand, catching cartridge in R hand

I'm sure someone will find fault with pointing the muzzle straight up, but with safety on and R hand away from the trigger, I don't have a problem with this.

Many No. 1 owners have trouble with eye relief. If you have a nice long scope tube and around 4" of eye relief, you probably will have a full sight picture without offset rings. Some of the "compact" scopes aren't as easy to adjust on a No. 1, which has a kind of forward mounting location due to the 1/4 rib location.

I have Zeiss 3-9X variables on two No. 1's. They replaced Leupold 3-9X, which had 1/2" less eye relief.

 

[CraigC]

I would suggest less glass on that little RSI. I had a Leupold 1.5-5x on the one I had in .270WCF. It was perfect.

 

[cmdc]

I like the less glass idea.

 

[Dr T]

I have a fixed power 4x by 40 mm (Burris Signature--unfortunately out of production) on my 30-06 RSI. However, the rib was out of alignment on my RSI and I had to use the Burris eccentric rings to get it sighted in. This was my second scope on the rifle. The first was a Leopold 2-7x compact. Nice package size, but with the out of alignment rib and factory rings, I couldn't get it to shoot well.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I got several NO. 1s, the ruger rings come in different heights, look in a Ruger catalog for the right rings. I have 40 and 50 objectives on mine, just use the right rings.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

just a few minutes ago I mounted a Leupold 6.5x20x40 on a No.1 varmint with medium rings. worked great.

 

[gamestalker]

A really great piece of glass and for the money too is a Leupold 3x9x40 hunter. I have Leupold on all my rifles, and one on my Red Hawk. I think they are about as good as it gets without having to spend a grand or more. The hunter series optic is just as crisp and clean as the VXIII's I have with the only difference being objective lens size and additional options of the higher priced Leupolds. But even the Hunter can use a Leupold filter and coincides with the TBR ballistic program and B&C estimates of the reticle options.

 

[cmdc]

I'm going to shoot the rifle tomorrow with the Buckmaster on it(can't wait), but I'm going to get some 30mm rings and mount a Leupold 2-7 VXR on it. I already have the scope on another rifle. The VXR has an illuminated reticle, and is a bit more compact.

 

[cmdc]

Ruger No.1 and scope update

I went to the range with my new No.1 in 7x57 with a 3-9x40 Buckmaster mounted on it, and we couldn't get it zeroed. Upon close examination of the scope, which ran out of right windage and was still not centered, we discovered that the Ruger-installed scope base was off-center. The scope was pointing to the right. Bummer. Back to Ruger. I'm sure they'll fix it, though.

 

[PCCUSNRET]

Sad, very sad. I have one of these guns in .270 and I just finished paying to have the barrel "accurized". Best it ever shot before was 6" groups. It now shoots 1" groups @100 yds, but why should we have to pay to have these guns worked on after spending so much on them? I will never buy another Ruger #1. No matter how great they look.

 

[cmdc]

Now ya tell me! LOL. Really not funny, though. I couldn't believe it when I looked at that base and saw how out of whack it was. On the bright side, I took my new Mini 14 to the range also with a Leupold AR scope on it, and it performed flawlessly. Much more accurate than some of the Minis I have read about.

 

[rbernie]

I have two Ruger No1's, and both currently wear Leupold FX 2.5x scout scopes mounted in Leupold's lowest rings. It's a superb setup; points well, gives perfect cheek weld, and doesn't interfere with the rifle's loading or carry.

Leupold's custom shop will make their 1.5x-5x in an intermediate eye relief format, and I fully intend to try that at some point.

 

[cmdc]

Thanks for the info. I definitely want to look into a more compact scope for it. When they fix the base issue...

 

[Dr T]

cmdc,

I fully understand your pain (see my post above). I decided that the Burris rings were a reasonable alternative to shipping the thing back to Ruger.

These are the type of ring I used (Burris used to make them with Ruger mounts, now it looks like they use a Ruger to Weaver adapter).

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-signature-pos-align-offset-insert-kits-individual-inserts.html.

Dr T

 

[68wj]

Different size rings pop up in the Trading Post occassionally too(shameless plug ). Unfortunately, that won't fix bad cuts on the receiver.

 

[SaxonPig]

Even with a long, low scope I find I can load my #1s without too much difficulty.

Notice the Leupold 1x4 and the Weaver K3 on my RSI and Tropical. The European look of these 20mm scopes appeals to me.

 

[cmdc]

Very nice collection, SaxonPig. I did realize while attempting to sight in my rifle, that it was not as difficult as I thought it would be to load it with the long scope on it. The rifle has very positive ejection of the spent round, and the cut-out on the right side of the receiver allows the loading of a round easily. I am left handed, and actually like the right-side cut-out better than if it was on the left. All-in-all, I really like the rifle. It handles and points very well.