Thread: Ruger No 1 thoughts...

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.