Ruger #1 - 45-70

[stew71]

Dammit....the local shop has a used one in beautiful shape for $800. To make the decision more difficult, I actually have the funds to buy it.

But....I don't NEED it. I don't NEED another hunting rifle. Especially in another brush caliber.

I've told myself to save up for one of the new #1's chambered in 300 H&H or 303 British.

But on the other hand....

[Pitchy]

That is a tough one Stew71 would be a nice rifle.

[Rusty]

What about the days when they used to shoot .45-70's at 1000 yards?

BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT


and in the future don't come here and expect us to talk you out of it.

[2ndovc]

I've got one worse than that!

Passed up on the same gun at a show couple months ago. Tag was $550. Probably could have gotten it for $500.

Don't know what I was thinking!!

jb

[JReed]

If you already have a 45-70 I would say save the cash and get the .303brit. Either way you can't go wrong I am just a sucker for the ole Brit.

[Leverluver]

I had a beauty with gorgeous wood and I sold it. IMO, the thing was too light. With any load of significance, it kicked the snot out of me. And no I'm not a wimp. I was working with a 500 Nitro this weekend. The recoil pad was a joke and the stock did not fit me well. Of course, all of these things could have been rectified but my brother wanted it worse than I did so he has it now. I can see your plight though, as I said, it was a beauty.

[2X22]

me whispering.....

buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it
buy it

Thank me after you buy it....

[firefuzz]

I'd love to tell you to buy it but you can find good used one's on GunBroker for under $700 shipped almost all the time. I just bought an older model in .45-70 for $670 shipped and have another old model in .375 H&H in route now that I stole for $536 shipped. If you're not in a hurry you can pick up really nice ones in the larger calibers worth the money. Most of them haven't been shot that much either, especially in heavy mags.

Rob

[tdoor]

Dammit....the local shop has a used one in beautiful shape for $800. To make the decision more difficult, I actually have the funds to buy it.

But....I don't NEED it. I don't NEED another hunting rifle. Especially in another brush caliber.

I've told myself to save up for one of the new #1's chambered in 300 H&H or 303 British.

But on the other hand....

Yes, I know the feeling. In the 90's I succumbed and picked up a N01 in 45-70 (about $375 at the time). I was never able to get it to shoot lead well however. A major contributor (took me a while to figure out) to that was slight constriction of the bore under the forward sling mount which this particular configuration on No1 came with. I never put many jacketed rounds through it and traded it after a few years.
tdoor

[Mike D.]

Is there such thing as a "local shop' in Sacramento? All of the one's I have visited had their merchandise severely overpriced.

[stew71]

Is there such thing as a "local shop' in Sacramento? All of the one's I have visited had their merchandise severely overpriced.

Yeah...River City Gun Exchange. And yes, they do seem to be overpriced on some things. Other times they seemed pretty reasonable. Thankfully, I'm not in any hurry to buy so I may go the online route and save myself a few hundred bucks.

[Noah Zark]

Stew:

I never thought I'd get into a single shot but after buying a Pedersoli Sharps 1874 repro a number of years ago I sort of got hooked and kept an eye open for a reasonably-priced No 1 in 45-70.

Last year I found this one being taken for walk around a large show in PA, and we settled on $650:



It's an early production "Red Pad" No 1 and I added the All-American picket post scope to it. Old school cool, IMO.

The thing I like about the No.1 is that it can handle just about anything you stuff into it, including some 500+ grain cast boolits. The Ruger will put Lyman 525 gr Postell bullets driven by 12.5 gr of Unique into the same hole time and again, all day. The same rounds don't fit in a Marlin.

The No.1 has fast become a favorite of mine, and in February I invested in a second No. 1 in 6.5x55. But that's a different thread.

They are out there, just take your time and be patient.

Noah

[DarryH]

Save for the 300 H&H, you will never regret it !!!!!!!!!

Currently, I only own one MKI.
It is a full Mannlicher stocked gun in 30-06.
There are lots of calibers I like, but this is my number 1, main hunting gun.
Since I already own 8 other 30-06 guns, and load for them, it just
made sense to buy this in 30-06 too.
If another 7mm Mauser chambered gun showed up at the right price, it would be heck to say no.
I's also like one on 6.5x55 Swede.
And then a .222,
and then a 6mm,
and then a 22 Hornet...........
oops....the 45-70 isn't even on the list yet.
and then a 375 H&H,
and then a ......... hmmmmm........
yep.....now a 45-70.

I agree with the others, these show up for less than $800 all the time around here.

Good Shootin!!
DarryH

[6pt-sika]

We have 17 or 18 #1's in the house at the moment with the largest being a 416 REM MAG on a #1H that I gave my dad for Christmas in 2009 .

I do not however have a #1S in 45-70 , although I'd like one !

Did have a #1H in 458 WIN MAG not to long ago . But after two range trips that beast went down the Gunbroker road and I made $100 over what I paid for it !

Lets see , we have B in 22 Hornet , custom in 22-250AI , 1V in 220 Swift , 1B in 204 Ruger , 1B in 243 , 1B in 6mm , 1B in 257 Bob , 1B in 25-06 , 1B in 270 WIN , 1B in 270 Weatherby , 1B in 264 WIN MAG , 1B in 280/7mm Express REM , 1B in 7mm REM MAG , 1B in 300 WIN MAG , 1B in 300 Weatherby , 1B in 338 WIN MAG , 1H in 375 H&H MAG and a 416 REM MAG in a 1H .

I'd like to have a factory original 1B or 1V in 222 REM , a 1B in 6.5mm REM MAG , 1V in 22PPC , 1V in 6mm PPC , 1A in 7x57 and possibly special run 1A's in 6.5x55 and 35 Whelen .

Yeah I know I don't want much !

Incidently last season I took a pair of doe with the 264 , another with the 7mm and another with the 300 Weatherby !

[AJMD429]

We have 17 or 18 #1's in the house at the moment . . .

. . . we have B in 22 Hornet , custom in 22-250AI , 1V in 220 Swift , 1B in 204 Ruger , 1B in 243 , 1B in 6mm , 1B in 257 Bob , 1B in 25-06 , 1B in 270 WIN , 1B in 270 Weatherby , 1B in 264 WIN MAG , 1B in 280/7mm Express REM , 1B in 7mm REM MAG , 1B in 300 WIN MAG , 1B in 300 Weatherby , 1B in 338 WIN MAG , 1H in 375 H&H MAG and a 416 REM MAG in a 1H .

I'd like to have a factory original 1B or 1V in 222 REM , a 1B in 6.5mm REM MAG , 1V in 22PPC , 1V in 6mm PPC , 1A in 7x57 and possibly special run 1A's in 6.5x55 and 35 Whelen.

1. I'm surprised you haven't got a custom-made one in .444 Marlin

2. How accurate are your No.1's ? I'm thinking about selling/trading my 7mm Mag one for a large-bore one and instead getting a bolt-gun for 7mm, on the theory that the Ruger No.1 is not an accurate enough platform to serve as my only 7mm Mag, but would be better suited to a 'thumper' type round. In just shooting some factory loads, I've not got the impression that my No.1B is a tack-driver, although I've not 'worked up' any loads for it, or done any of the forend modifications you read about, because it just seemed simpler to get a Savage heavy-barreled bolt-action...

...or for that matter, to just admit that with a straight-taper Encore barrel in .280 Rem, I really have no real reason to even need a 7mm Rem Mag, whether in Ruger No.1, or Savage bolt-action, or whatever...

[6pt-sika]

[quote="AJMD429

1. I'm surprised you haven't got a custom-made one in .444 Marlin

2. How accurate are your No.1's ? I'm thinking about selling/trading my 7mm Mag one for a large-bore one and instead getting a bolt-gun for 7mm, on the theory that the Ruger No.1 is not an accurate enough platform to serve as my only 7mm Mag, but would be better suited to a 'thumper' type round. In just shooting some factory loads, I've not got the impression that my No.1B is a tack-driver, although I've not 'worked up' any loads for it, or done any of the forend modifications you read about, because it just seemed simpler to get a Savage heavy-barreled bolt-action...

...or for that matter, to just admit that with a straight-taper Encore barrel in .280 Rem, I really have no real reason to even need a 7mm Rem Mag, whether in Ruger No.1, or Savage bolt-action, or whatever...[/quote]

Well my 264 WIN MAG that I bought new last year before hunting season really likes the Hornady 129 SST with 58 grains of IMR4350 and a CCI200 !
The first group I shot with that load was in a ragged hole for a hair under .4" !
Now the fact that is was one of these "inaccurate" #1's is only part of it !
You see the ammo I used in that rifle had been loaded for another 264 I had just sold a nice Remington 700BDL Stainless Synthetic . And in the Remington the best that load would do was .75" !

All of the ones I have shoot well enough for hunting !

And by that I mean easily 1 1/2" at 100 yards and most will stay under an inch !

The 1V's shoot well enough for groundhogs although I think an out the box Remington 700VS with a little trigger adjustment will do better and do it in an easier fashion .

Shooting Ruger #1's has some similarities to shooting lever actions after having spent your earlier life with tuned bolt rifles . You soon learn everything is relative . While I know "some" #1's are tack drivers I don't think the percentage is as great as Remnigton 700's . But then I know quite a few more tricks to tweak a 700 then I do for a #1 !

As to a #1 in 444 , I've been thinking that one over for awhile !
Also been debating a rollingblock in 444 . But when I sit down and figure what either project will cost I realize I can get a brand spanking new H&R Handi Rifle in 444 for the cost of the barrel that would go on either of those ideas !

[6pt-sika]

How accurate are your No.1's ?

I have a friend that has a really nice Ruger #1 that was rebarreled by someone in Ohio I think with a stainless octago barrel for 22BR .

Anyway I was at the range one day and he had that rifle with him and wanted me to shoot it !

And of course I most certainly didn't mind shooting his ammo !

Anyway I shot a 5 shot group with that thing at 100 yards that was inside .3"
He hasn't shot a better group with it yet and no he wouldn't sell it to me

We also have a retired Korean/Vietnam era Marine that lives close by thats building a 223 WSSM on a Ruger #1 action ! He had PacNor do the barrel and he's doing the stock himself !
Oh he also had them do the same thing for a 17 Fireball !

Both these rifles have heavy fluted stainless barrels !

Between these two they've given me an inclanation to build one in a BR or PPC and quite possibly a 25 or 6.5mm WSSM !

[damienph]

As to a #1 in 444 , I've been thinking that one over for awhile !
Also been debating a rollingblock in 444 . But when I sit down and figure what either project will cost I realize I can get a brand spanking new H&R Handi Rifle in 444 for the cost of the barrel that would go on either of those ideas !

Numrich Arms made kits to convert Rolloing Blocks to 45-70 and 444; I think in the '70s. A good friend of mine has the 444, it is a good shooter. I've seen them listed occasionally on GunsAmerica type websites.

I doubt one could be bought for the price of a Handi-rifle though.