'New' Ruger No. 3 in .22 Hornet came home with me this week!

my ruger # 3 in 45-70 had been a shooter like this since new years ago, with nothing done to it other than finding the load it likes and that load is 50 grs of H-4198 and a 300 gr hornady bullet. i think i paid less than 400.00 for it. three shot group at 100 yards from a bench rest.
 

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Ruger did a few No.1s in .44 and .357 Magnum too.

Seller's market -- I paid about $600 for the 45-70 about 10 years ago, and $1K for this one. Most on Gunbroker are priced a bit north of that.

also 10 years ago #1 45/70 in perfect condition of Facebook

$650 for this one! came with a Minox scope (great camera company from old Germany) replace it with a modern scope!

FBD3496E-3F80-4BAE-8ABF-023A487BA3AA.jpeg
 
My avatar shows my #1 in 308 with a zeiss diavari 1.5x6 scope. I have a #3 in 223 rem which used to be my go to rfle but since I bought a win 94 that's the one that's been going out the door with me. ruger 3.jpg ruger no 3.jpg Just a couple of pics of them.
 
My father and I are infatuated with No. 1s but they are so damned expensive these days. I’d love to collect a few calibers but a 6.5x55 Swede is on top of our list. Naturally they’re one of the rarer calibers.
 
Damn it, Dave, you have made me a sinner again! I took one look at that nice little #3 and I was immediately guilty of one of the seven deadly sins... ENVY!!!

I have turned green...
well I would not worry about being envious... many of us are envious of that Les Baer of yours.....
 
I brought home my 'new' Ruger No.3 in .22 Hornet yesterday, and finished scoping and bore-sighting it this morning.

The rifle came with a set of Weaver bases mounted, which are basically useless since they aren't contoured and sized to match the No. 3's barrel taper. The rear base is OK and I suppose one could mount a red dot on it, but the front base is too low and runs seriously downhill -- even if you changed the contour, it would require a higher ring or a thick shim to work with the rear base.

View attachment 1125902

Earlier I had tried Ruger's factory bases and rings on my other No.3 in .45-70, but they exhibited their own set of frustrations. The front base required shimming which isn't such a big deal, but the two bases didn't line up very well with the bore, veering noticeably to the right of center. When I tried zeroing a Leupold 1-4x there wasn't enough windage adjustment to get on target.

For scoping the .22 Hornet I decided on a three-pronged approach. I bought a second set of Ruger bases, just in case the first set of bases were the problem rather than the barrel's mounting holes. As backup, I bought a set of Beuhler bases and rings for the No.3 off eBay. And after a lengthy websearch, I also found and bought a Picatinny rail base from EGW that appeared to be compatible with the No. 3:

https://www.egwguns.com/hd-ruger-no-1-varminter-picatinny...

The No.3 Hornet was on layaway for a month, so I did my initial experimentation on the 45-70. It appeared that the Beuhler mounts would work, but the rear sight dovetail interfered with the front base. I'd need to remove it and install a contoured slot blank to preserve aesthetics, so that approach went onto the back burner.

The EGW picrail proved to be a bit too long at both ends to install as-is, but that was an easy fix with a hacksaw and file. I ended up removing two slots from either end to achieve the desired length, and added a little spraypaint to disguise my handiwork. The rail fitted and installed nice and straight on the .45-70's barrel, but had a visible downward cant that I corrected by reusing the front shim I'd made for my first try with Ruger bases. Viola, the shimmed rail lined up just fine, and I was able to successfully mount and zero my Leupold 1-4X. This scope features enough eye relief to safely shoot with hard-kicking loads, should I choose to abuse myself in that manner.

View attachment 1125899 View attachment 1125900


Knowing that I had at least one working alternative, with the Hornet rifle I began with my newly-purchased set of Ruger bases. Using a pair of rings I had on hand from a No. 1 rifle, I was able to zero my Leupold 2-7x on this rifle. I had to shim the front base once again to get the elevation right, but no big deal.

View attachment 1125901

The Hornet has better wood than my 45-70, but otherwise the two could be twins. Note that I stuck a Marbles slot blank into the rear sight dovetail -- the folding notch sight was a very loose fit.

That base looks like it's a 20 MOA base on a long distance rig.

Dovetailing it on the flat of the barrel for target bases would eliminate the issue, but then you'd be limited in choice of scopes. It would look awesome, however!

I know some who is getting a #3 in .375 Win., I can't wait to see him shoot it....😏
 
FWIW ...

the .357 #1s were a CHP commemorative.
They did a lesser number without the rollmark on the receiver.
Fetch a good penny either one (but non rollmarked are more expensive).

The .44 magnum was a regular run, and looked a bit stumpy to me w the 20" bbl.
 
I brought home my 'new' Ruger No.3 in .22 Hornet yesterday, and finished scoping and bore-sighting it this morning.

The rifle came with a set of Weaver bases mounted, which are basically useless since they aren't contoured and sized to match the No. 3's barrel taper. The rear base is OK and I suppose one could mount a red dot on it, but the front base is too low and runs seriously downhill -- even if you changed the contour, it would require a higher ring or a thick shim to work with the rear base.

View attachment 1125902

Earlier I had tried Ruger's factory bases and rings on my other No.3 in .45-70, but they exhibited their own set of frustrations. The front base required shimming which isn't such a big deal, but the two bases didn't line up very well with the bore, veering noticeably to the right of center. When I tried zeroing a Leupold 1-4x there wasn't enough windage adjustment to get on target.

For scoping the .22 Hornet I decided on a three-pronged approach. I bought a second set of Ruger bases, just in case the first set of bases were the problem rather than the barrel's mounting holes. As backup, I bought a set of Beuhler bases and rings for the No.3 off eBay. And after a lengthy websearch, I also found and bought a Picatinny rail base from EGW that appeared to be compatible with the No. 3:

https://www.egwguns.com/hd-ruger-no-1-varminter-picatinny...

The No.3 Hornet was on layaway for a month, so I did my initial experimentation on the 45-70. It appeared that the Beuhler mounts would work, but the rear sight dovetail interfered with the front base. I'd need to remove it and install a contoured slot blank to preserve aesthetics, so that approach went onto the back burner.

The EGW picrail proved to be a bit too long at both ends to install as-is, but that was an easy fix with a hacksaw and file. I ended up removing two slots from either end to achieve the desired length, and added a little spraypaint to disguise my handiwork. The rail fitted and installed nice and straight on the .45-70's barrel, but had a visible downward cant that I corrected by reusing the front shim I'd made for my first try with Ruger bases. Viola, the shimmed rail lined up just fine, and I was able to successfully mount and zero my Leupold 1-4X. This scope features enough eye relief to safely shoot with hard-kicking loads, should I choose to abuse myself in that manner.

View attachment 1125899 View attachment 1125900


Knowing that I had at least one working alternative, with the Hornet rifle I began with my newly-purchased set of Ruger bases. Using a pair of rings I had on hand from a No. 1 rifle, I was able to zero my Leupold 2-7x on this rifle. I had to shim the front base once again to get the elevation right, but no big deal.

View attachment 1125901

The Hornet has better wood than my 45-70, but otherwise the two could be twins. Note that I stuck a Marbles slot blank into the rear sight dovetail -- the folding notch sight was a very loose fit.
You Need the 30-40. ;)
 
Nice rifle with a nice cartridge.

I’d like to get a Ruger #3 someday but it has not been high in the priority list.

I have a Contender Carbine chambered in 22 Hornet. The Hornet is a sweet short range varmint cartridge.
 
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