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Ruger no. 1 Opinions?

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ds92

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Does anybody own a ruger no 1? what do you think of it? what are we talking in terms of accuracy, longevity, quality, etc? I'm considering buying one and longevity and accuracy are my primary concerns. The falling block action is rather attractive, and i'll use it for hunting primarily. Any experiences/information is greatly appreciated!!

DS :)
 
i wish the 45-70 came with a full stock, the actions supposed to be uber-rugged, dont be afraid to try some hot handloads
 
I think the Ruger No. 1 is a piece of No. 2.
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Thank you for that informative post, since you elaborated so much perhaps we could sticky this thread for future reference. I know some of my posts have been not so serious, so I will give you the benefit of the duke of doubt.

A beautiful gun. Solid as a rock. And you have the ability to have a 26" barrel without the added weight. If I could afford one, I'd get one, but, in the back of my mind, I still want a repeater. I still have the "follow up" shot mentality.
 
I love the #1 in the 1A and 1H configuration. Maybe the most beautiful production rifle ever made. Some have a tendency to string the shots vertically but there is an easy fix for this. None of mine do it and all are good for 1.5" groups at 100 yards and that'll get the job done.

My #1s:

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I have a 45-70 that is a magnificent shooter, but then I have never put a factory round or a jacketed bullet thru it. It is short, light and very handy, I will not scope it because that would destroy the way it handles, besides I never shoot at small targets past 300 yds anyway.
 
One of the strongest actions ever made. Fine rifle. My great great grand kids will own my #1 in .30-06.

T2E
 
I currently have 5, from 22 Hornet to 458 Win Mag. The only thing I can say is that I wish that that they had scaled action sizes. The Hornet is on the same action as the 458, talk about overengineering. and weight.
 
I have two (.243 and .30-06)...well, the .243 has been claimed by my wife, but I get to borrow it for coyotes.

I sent them out to be rebarreled and have an "accuracy job". This consists of free-floating the barrel, bedding the forearm to the spring hanger and receiver, and polishing trigger for a crisp 3# pull.

While they were being reworked, I decided to restock them with full width "1B" style forends, in laminate, and finish all the metal with black Gunkote.

I like the ruggedness and simplicity of the action, but I didn't like the accuracy. The ones we had were doing 2 MOA. That's acceptable to Ruger, but I didn't think it was good enough.

The #1 will never be as accurate as a high end bolt-action. However, they can be rebuilt to acceptable accuracy. 1 MOA is typical, and sometimes this 'smith can turn out some that are better.

In summary? Ruger #1's can be a good rifle, but accuracy can vary. You might have to put some time and money into it if you are unlucky and get one that "doesn't shoot".

I figure I'll have well over double the original cost into each rifle by the time I'm finished. Still a little cheaper than a Dakota... :)
 
I really enjoyed my 300wby Ruger no1, rock solid with wonderful handling charsitics. Accuracy was on par with 90% of the hunting rifles I've ever owned and I'm delighted to report that it was one of the most finely made and finished firearms I've had the pleasure of owning.


I think the Ruger No. 1 is a piece of No. 2.
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So what caliber was your No1 chambered in
sets out a big steaming bowl of troll bait mixed with antifreeze:evil:
 
I love the look and feel of them. I bought one for an alaskan grizzly hunt a few years ago in 375 H&H. Gun, muzzle break, trigger job, pachmeyer decelerator installed, I was into it well over a grand. Best group I ever shot was just over 3 inches at 100 after trying 9 different ammo types. I realize a gun for this use does not have to be sniper rifle accurate, but that was not doing it for me. My buddy had a winchester 70 in the same caliber, which I proceded to shoot 1.25" groups with. Sold the ruger, bought the same model 70. No mods, not even a muzzle break, and my very first group was 1.5". Tried several different loads and found the remington factory load with the 300grain swift A-frame would group right around an inch. I realize this is not a statistical sample but I really wanted to kill a bear with that single shot ruger, however I just could not justify going on a trip like that with a 3 inch rifle.
 
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Usually any accuracy issues with a No1 can be solved with forend work. Sometimes as simple a placing a folded over piece of electrical tape underneath the bbl where it meets the forend
 
I've never had one.

The underlever looks and feels all wrong, and the gun has a poor reputation for accuracy. As it has no appeal to me other than as a workaday game or target shooter, that sort of nixes it.
 
Along these lines...licorice is a crappy flavor because I don't like how it tastes.
 
If you get a good one they are tack drivers. My dad had one that just wouldn't shoot worth a darn.

But I have seen them that would shoot some amazing groups
 
Appearance is totally subjective and if you don't care for the looks of any part of the #1 so be it. Most shooters find them very attractive.

The accuracy question, as I mentioned, is that they will usually stay with most run of the mill bolt action hunting rifles but some string the shots vertically due to the fore-end hanging system putting pressure somewhere. This is an easy fix, as noted sometimes a simple shim will cure the problem.

But His Grace (that's the proper way to address a duke... as Your Grace) was perhaps a bit harsh in his pronouncement on a rifle he admits he has never owned.
 
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My sole Ruger #1 at this time is a .416 Rigby. That's because I am a rifle nut of the finest sort.

This rifle lives on a diet of cast bullets, and my hunting load (always subject to change and experimentation) is a cast softpoint weighing 370 grains at a speed of 2050 fps.

Last summer (2008) I fired a TEN-round 100-yard group with this load that measured 7/8", or sub-minute-of-angle. The rounds had been loaded in 2005. I believe it's safe to say that the accuracy of this #1 is amply adequate, and I truly do enjoy the classic lines and handling of these fine single-shots.

I've had several #1 rifles over the years, but sold them due to wanting different CHAMBERINGS, not because of shortcomings in the rifles. I firmly believe this is Ruger's greatest creation, and the longevity and breadth of the #1 line indicates that I'm not alone in my appreciation. I "need" a few more!
 
i couldn't pick a ruger #1 out of a lineup, but I know an anti-gun traitor when I see one.



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taliv said:
i couldn't pick a ruger #1 out of a lineup, but I know an anti-gun traitor when I see one.
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Isn't he still dead :rolleyes:

You know the Axis alliance attacked us in a most cowardly manner in 1941 much much worse than anything Bill Ruger did.

Own anything made in Japan Italy or Germany?

Yeah I thought so,

I expect these kind of useless thoughtless comments from someone like "Duke of Doubt" but from a 6k plus poster tsk tsk tsk
 
I've had either seven or eight #1s. Two have been phenomenally accurate, all but one of the others has been easily in the 2MOA class (or better), and one will be getting some forend work this Spring. As long as I don't have to carry them real far or over rough ground - I love 'em. :)

:cool:
 
I have two, one in .458 Winchester and the other is a 25-06. The .458 shoots just over an inch three shot groups @ 100 yards and the 25-06 will shoot smaller than dime sized 3 shot groups @ 100. I hand load for both, the 25-06 NEVER shot under an inch with factory stuff, but with reloads it'll shuck the corn right off of the cobb! I've have friends that have had No.1's that didn't shoot that well and others that were tac drivers. If you hand load for one sooner or later you'll find a combination that works.

J.B.
 
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