Ruger #1 (black butt pad) or Winchester (miroku) 1885....which one?
- Thread starter elKrusto
- Start date
I have both rifles, a Browning 1885 in .270 Win and a Ruger #1 in 7x57. Both are nice to carry and very accurate.
The 1885 locks up like a bank vault and is as smooth as glass while the #1 has a bit more play in the action.
On a more practical note the 1885 can be carried "de-cocked" with the hammer down with a round in the chamber while the #1 relies on it's trigger-locking safety. The Ruger however is quicker to take off safe as the ocular lens on a scope can make it difficult to #### the hammer on the 1885 especially with gloves on.
The 1885 locks up like a bank vault and is as smooth as glass while the #1 has a bit more play in the action.
On a more practical note the 1885 can be carried "de-cocked" with the hammer down with a round in the chamber while the #1 relies on it's trigger-locking safety. The Ruger however is quicker to take off safe as the ocular lens on a scope can make it difficult to #### the hammer on the 1885 especially with gloves on.
Had a few #1's, found the Miroku 1885 always shot better out of the box of the ones I've had. Was just looking at Win site over the shot show to see if they had any specials this year on them, have one with fancier wood, and low walls in a 6.5 IIRC, all round 24" bbl, no 28"octagon. Didn't much like the price on them, 2400+ US. Ruger isn't any cheaper. All this has sure inflated the prices on used ones too. I called Win in Cda and US a couple of months back to check on extractors for 1885, it was like talking to the wall. Never got a response from Cda on an e-mail about bbls either, even called while rep was at Prophet River at a show there, and never got a response. Fortunately, I shud have one for 22-250 stashed away somewhere, and the one in the gun is a long one for 223, so, it can be modified if I can't figure out where the other one is.
I like the handling on the 1885 w/28" bbl, it swings nice, it's heavy enough on the bench to be comfortable to shoot in 300H&H too. My one beef with the newer Win version over the Browning is the wood, it's not nearly what Browning put on them. The trigger on my Win does seem a bit better than the Browning though.
I like the handling on the 1885 w/28" bbl, it swings nice, it's heavy enough on the bench to be comfortable to shoot in 300H&H too. My one beef with the newer Win version over the Browning is the wood, it's not nearly what Browning put on them. The trigger on my Win does seem a bit better than the Browning though.
The #1-A has a very different feel than the 1885s I've handled. Lighter and not near as front heavy. Both are great, I would go with whichever one you like the aesthetics more. The exposed hammer on the 1885 is a love or hate type thing, if you're used to levers it could be a nice feature.
I've had numerous examples of both guns over the years. The two designs are completely different in feel, balance, handling...they're both falling block single shots and yet IMHO they couldn't be more distinct from one another. I've pared down my gun collection drastically lately, and have kept one of each. I love using them; both of them are the kind of gun that I look for an excuse to use. And after decades of playing with both of them...I still can't decide which I prefer!
Ruger #1's are big heavy rifles; they look sleek but compared to most Euro single shot hunters they are pigs; battle axes rather than fencing foils. For me, their stocks are well suited for scope use; I can't comfortably use their iron sights. They fit me fairly poorly and transmit recoil to me worse than almost any other rifle style. If it sounds like I don't like them, well, I don't in a lot of ways...but I still think they are about the most gorgeous standard-production rifles made and the one I have is among the last guns I will ever sell. I read a lot about how these rifles tend to have accuracy problems; I've never experienced that. All mine have been good to excellent shooters, with only a few needing some minor tweaks or extensive load development.
1885's may or may not weigh less than #1's, but for whatever reason they feel lighter, at least to me. Different versions of the 1885 design can be had from several makers, with different stock styles that can be suited for open sights, aperture sights or optics. I prefer them with iron sights, specifically hunting-oriented aperture sights, but I've had a couple that were scoped and worked very well. In particular, a Winchester Safari version in .375H&H, wearing a scope, is one of the dozen or so rifles out of many I've owned that I most regret trading away. As stated above, the ability to decock the hammer manually is nice. An 1885 is, to me, much more recoil-friendly than a #1 in the same chambering...even when it's got a hard buttplate rather than a soft recoil pad.
Guys asking which bolt-action rifle to buy are often recommended to handle several different models to see which feels right to them. IMHO, the difference between a #1 and a 1885 is vastly greater than between a couple of different bolt guns. More than ever, handling and comparing these two before deciding which to buy is a really, really good idea.
Ruger #1's are big heavy rifles; they look sleek but compared to most Euro single shot hunters they are pigs; battle axes rather than fencing foils. For me, their stocks are well suited for scope use; I can't comfortably use their iron sights. They fit me fairly poorly and transmit recoil to me worse than almost any other rifle style. If it sounds like I don't like them, well, I don't in a lot of ways...but I still think they are about the most gorgeous standard-production rifles made and the one I have is among the last guns I will ever sell. I read a lot about how these rifles tend to have accuracy problems; I've never experienced that. All mine have been good to excellent shooters, with only a few needing some minor tweaks or extensive load development.
1885's may or may not weigh less than #1's, but for whatever reason they feel lighter, at least to me. Different versions of the 1885 design can be had from several makers, with different stock styles that can be suited for open sights, aperture sights or optics. I prefer them with iron sights, specifically hunting-oriented aperture sights, but I've had a couple that were scoped and worked very well. In particular, a Winchester Safari version in .375H&H, wearing a scope, is one of the dozen or so rifles out of many I've owned that I most regret trading away. As stated above, the ability to decock the hammer manually is nice. An 1885 is, to me, much more recoil-friendly than a #1 in the same chambering...even when it's got a hard buttplate rather than a soft recoil pad.
Guys asking which bolt-action rifle to buy are often recommended to handle several different models to see which feels right to them. IMHO, the difference between a #1 and a 1885 is vastly greater than between a couple of different bolt guns. More than ever, handling and comparing these two before deciding which to buy is a really, really good idea.
It' honestly a toss up.
I have owned more than 15 #1's over the years and probably 10 1885/B78's in everything for original Highwalls in 3855 to #1's in 45/70 and everything g in between.
I can tell you that the #1 is far easier to disassemble and resemble than the 1885 and especially the B78.
The hammers on the 1885's can be a pain to operate with a scope.
The #1 is harder to get eye relief correctly than the 1885's.
For a tang sight it's the 1885 over both the B78 and the #1/3 rifles .
Personally for me, at the end of the day it's the Ruger .
Cat
I have owned more than 15 #1's over the years and probably 10 1885/B78's in everything for original Highwalls in 3855 to #1's in 45/70 and everything g in between.
I can tell you that the #1 is far easier to disassemble and resemble than the 1885 and especially the B78.
The hammers on the 1885's can be a pain to operate with a scope.
The #1 is harder to get eye relief correctly than the 1885's.
For a tang sight it's the 1885 over both the B78 and the #1/3 rifles .
Personally for me, at the end of the day it's the Ruger .
Cat
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BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I've got a #1H in 458 WM and an 1885 in 45-70. I like them both.
My shoulder hurts and my teeth hurt and my head hurts just reading ng you own a No.1 in 458 WM....
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
My shoulder hurts anyway...might as well have the 458!
To be fair, I bought it back in the day when what I really wanted was an 1885 in 45-70. A couple of weeks after I bought the 458...bingo...there's an 1885 just like I wanted in the old classified paper in Williams Lake.
I owned a No. 1 in 450 Nitro Express 3 1/4" - I got a 500 grain TSX to 2450 fps (the 450 NE has a massive powder capacity that the No. 1 can use to it's potential). Ruger had a medium profile barrel on that model for some reason, it was a Boddington special edition, not a tropical with the thick barrel. It only weighed 7.6 lbs. Punch those numbers into a recoil calculator. I ended up putting a lead tube into the buttstock and scoping it for no reason other than to help add weight. I also loaded it back down to double rifle velocities.
My head is about to explode, lol....
My experience was with a 338 WM and 225 grn slugs with a semi soft recoil pad that figuratively sent me into concussion protocol.
Anyways, I am good to 300 WM and 180 grn .
Tight Groups,
Rob
