Thread: Ruger No 1 thoughts...

I have always had a fascination with single shots and a soft spot for the Ruger No 1 as it bares resemblance to Frederick Courteney Selous' original Farquharson single shot rifle.



I think its pretty cool to go hunting with only one shot available (spare rounds on the belt of course) as it makes you more disciplined with stalking and shot placement.

My last one a Tropical No 1H shot very well at 100m and was a pussycat to shoot.



Have you had any experience with the Ruger No 1?

I'm like the look of the international with full Mannlicher stock...

Those are some big plovers!!!

not sure about the ruger but i like my single shot rifles got a couple of h&rs

I find the international out of balance in term of look. And it is definitely not the most accurate model of the range( had 7x57 for a while). I have a 6 mm rem 1B that needs a bit of tune up. The 405 winch would definitely be the most romantic of all! A friend of mine in France, had one in 7 mmremmag specially selected by Bill Ruger for him. Some of the most gorgeous wood I have ever seen on a factory rifle, an extremely accurate as well.

Love to own one but never quite got there! Of course a nice nitro Double Rifle is even better!

Yea mate I have one a #1, 300H&H, Craig Boddington special run, I think.
I really like it, taken a few deer and a black bear with it, its a tad heavy, but seen as its a safari, guess that's to be expected,
Have my eye on another, either a #1A or a RSI, med size cal, 7x57 or 6.5x55 would be perfect, I really like the fullstock,
I recon, the wood was better, on the older ones,
Heading back to Canada, once the fires are under control, in the town I was living in, cheaper there, new about $1500,
Wilsons sports in Wanganui has a few, been tempted to stop in a few times.
I like the discipline of only one shot, the compactness, shorter due to no action length, and the nostalgia of a time gone,
Plus quality walnut, and deep blued steel.
Hears mine in action, Northern Alberta, with a yearling whitetail for the table.

I've been a long time single shot fan and have owned several over the years. However I was sort of "ruined" at the start, the first falling block single shot I handled was a "flat-spring" High Wall. Once you have had one of these and cycled it a few times everything else is sort of coarse or crude in terms of feel - the constant tension on the lever is something magical.

I had a couple of Ruger's for a while, a No 1 in 243 and a No 3 in 22 Hornet, and was at one time greatly inspired by a magnificent custom job done on a number one by Nelson Gunsmith Dave Ward. However I could never get past the floppy lever when cocked, and the forend hanger (that can't be removed as it houses the mainspring).

Currently I have a Winchester 1885 repro low wall in 22K Hornet, its a nice enough rifle with a much nicer feel to it but the lock mechanism is full of small parts and springs, and I don't really think its durable enough (internally, action robustness/strength is fine) to be an all weathers hunting rifle for NZ. I do have an original 1885 flat spring Low Wall action stashed away, but they are only suitable for pistol cartridges really and I've never found a cambering in that type that does it for me.

tentman, I had a low wall, octangal barrel, in 6mm Remington, for a while, it shot 90gr and less very well, once I decided to sell down, and relocate to Back to NZ, it got culled, sometime I think I should have kept it, but too late now,
I have a sharps replica, in 22 hornet, that might make it back yet,
I haven't noticed any floppiness in my #1, and have striped it as well, but its a mission to reassemble.
I had a hard look, at the luxus single shots, very nice, but a tad heavy,
At least one New Zealand rifle maker, making high end single shots, they were very nice and expensive as all hell.

Originally Posted by southernman

tentman, I had a low wall, octangal barrel, in 6mm Remington, for a while, it shot 90gr and less very well, once I decided to sell down, and relocate to Back to NZ, it got culled, sometime I think I should have kept it, but too late now,
I have a sharps replica, in 22 hornet, that might make it back yet,
I haven't noticed any floppiness in my #1, and have striped it as well, but its a mission to reassemble.
I had a hard look, at the luxus single shots, very nice, but a tad heavy,
At least one New Zealand rifle maker, making high end single shots, they were very nice and expensive as all hell.

Soroka I beleive, about $18k USD.

Nice. Love that H&H. I have also seen the Lyman Sharps your referring to, they look very nice.

I'm not sure about the 20" bbl on the 6.5x55 but figure 120's and faster burning powder will work just fine for deer to 300m.

I have seen what is on offer at Wilsons. But the 257 Bob would not perform that great in such a short barrel. A .243 would be about perfect I think.

The ultimate would be a Blaser K95...

F.

I have had a play with one in 270win with an 18" barrel, what a savage fire-breathing beast it was too!

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I have had a play with one in 270win with an 18" barrel, what a savage fire-breathing beast it was too!

Accurate?

The one in 303 I had the pleasure of using was very accurate. Beautiful to look at, brilliant to shoot and a dream to carry. Anyone know where there is another one.....?

Nearly bought a 303 one price scared me off, should have hardened up. Flanged cases are the only "proper" food for falling block and double rifles imo.

Would love one in 375H&H

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRy5z_k7tGc

Originally Posted by timattalon

The one in 303 I had the pleasure of using was very accurate. Beautiful to look at, brilliant to shoot and a dream to carry. Anyone know where there is another one.....?

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

Nearly bought a 303 one price scared me off, should have hardened up. Flanged cases are the only "proper" food for falling block and double rifles imo.

Yeah I saw one in P Nth H&F, wish I had ponied up and bought it. Read a review on one once and they said they were long throated to the point that accuracy was a bit of an issue...