Ruger #1/3 Why so much?

ben hunchak said:
I agree that they are more exp. to produce, more steel, more fitting, they are the least expensive of the quality single shots.
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The Ruger #1 (or #3) is the closest thing to (affordable) traditional British single-shots available today. The OP included a link to a nice Farquharson rifle: so far as cost is concerned, perhaps the OP should take a quick look through Google as to the cost of a Farquharson on the current market... Ruger #1 rifles are cheap by comparison. As to accuracy, I have a factory stock #1 RSI in .270 Winchester that will shoot remarkable 100 yard groups with handloads.

There is a certain ethos in using a single shot falling block. Even trudging through the brush and coulees in western Canada in 2011 can bring a little camaraderie with the likes of Selous, Baker, Bell, and the great hunters of the Victorian era. For me (and I speak only for myself) an NEF single shot just doesn't give the same feeling :)
 
sgt.rock said:
its not that I don't like them. I think they are really nice looking rifles. I just don't understand how a gun with (I think) 4 moving parts can cost so much. Maybe there is much more to gun making than I know , which is why I am asking. I like the longer barrel d/t no action. But, for $1200 +/- I figured I could be justified in asking. Its not like they all have exhibition grade walnut on them or what have you. I own single shots, but I want to know why they are worth 4 of my single shots?
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This almost reads like a joke! A cheap break action single shot has nothing in common with a No.1 except round capacity. You should take any opportunity you get to run a milling machine, and then look at the No.1 action again. Falling blocks are not easy actions to build, a bolt action is a piece of cake in comparison, that's why the Ruger No.1's competitors aren't $300 H&Rs but rather $4,000-$20,000 Dakotas, Hagns, and so forth. They are a bargain, not expensive. Plus you get quality wood (some of mine exceptionally so), excellent styling and lines that's every bit as sharp looking as its far more expensive competitors (albeit with looser fit and finish- but it's $1,100 not $11,000).
 
Ardent said:
This almost reads like a joke! A cheap break action single shot has nothing in common with a No.1 except round capacity. You should take any opportunity you get to run a milling machine, and then look at the No.1 action again. Falling blocks are not easy actions to build, a bolt action is a piece of cake in comparison, that's why the Ruger No.1's competitors aren't $300 H&Rs but rather $4,000-$20,000 Dakotas, Hagns, and so forth. They are a bargain, not expensive. Plus you get quality wood (some of mine exceptionally so), excellent styling and lines that's every bit as sharp looking as its far more expensive competitors (albeit with looser fit and finish- but it's $1,100 not $11,000).
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Thanks Ardent, this is actually the post I was waiting for. A real explanation of why they cost so much. I didn't know milling was such an expensive thing. I was thinking that Ruger just investment cast the action the same as the
77's. Anyhow, now thats thats all cleared up. On to something else. Cheers
 
In my opinion,closer comp. to the Ruger is the various modern copies of the Sharps and Highwalls, although the Ruger action is rated for much higher pressures, a gem among rocks.
 
Ardent said:
You should take any opportunity you get to run a milling machine, and then look at the No.1 action again. Falling blocks are not easy actions to build, a bolt action is a piece of cake in comparison, that's why the Ruger No.1's competitors aren't $300 H&Rs but rather $4,000-$20,000 Dakotas, Hagns, and so forth. They are a bargain, not expensive.
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There are Machinists in my family as well is I have shop time under my belt so I'd suggest looking at machine shops that don't just build crappy wood stoves.
It's not the rocket science you think it is with the systems available today.

Also guns in Europe cost what they do becouse the of the market and what people are willing to pay. As hunting in Europe is mostly a rich mans game to begin with, hence the prices of the guns and gear.
 
Glad you're such an expert Calum, post some pics of your millwork, then I'll post some of mine and we'll then complete our #### measuring contest. It doesn't change the fact making a No.1 investment casting into a functioning gun requires broaching, and a good bit of fine tolerance machining- it ain't your H&R.
 
Ardent said:
Glad you're such an expert Calum, post some pics of your millwork, then I'll post some of mine and we'll then complete our #### measuring contest. It doesn't change the fact making a No.1 investment casting into a functioning gun requires broaching, and a good bit of fine tolerance machining- it ain't your H&R.
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I never claimed to be an expert. :rolleyes:

But I have handed various pieces and parts and diagrams to actual experts over the years (out of curiosity) and the resounding info I have recived has led me to my conclusions on the subject.

I bet these rifles could be made in an afgan hut with hand files...not pretty but it could be done. :D
 
I used to marvel at the price of "just a single shot" Ruger #1 until I dissasembed my father's #1T in .375 H&H and found it was much more complex and crafted with much more precision than I had suspected. And nice wood helps. They really are more of a piece of quality workmanship than most bolt actions. They are also incredibly robust and can take crazy abuse, in my experience.

I have to admit that I can feel for the OP's original position, though. I'm also one of those that just naturally finds it hard to get my head around the idea that a single shot anything should cost more than a repeater.
 
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Northman999 said:
I used to marvel at the price of "just a single shot" Ruger #1 until I dissasembed my father's #1T in .375 H&H and found it was much more complex and crafted with much more precision than I had suspected. And nice wood helps. They really are more of a piece of quality workmanship than most bolt actions. They are also incredibly robust and can take crazy abuse, in my experience.

I have to admit that I can feel for the OP's original position, though. I'm also one of those that just naturally finds it hard to get my head around the idea that a single shot anything should cost more than a repeater.
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Hey....I'm in that club too!
There's some valid reasons explained here......perhaps next time I see one, I won't shake my head at the price tag......:redface:
 
Tharjoe said:
The Ruger #1 (or #3) is the closest thing to (affordable) traditional British single-shots available today. The OP included a link to a nice Farquharson rifle: so far as cost is concerned, perhaps the OP should take a quick look through Google as to the cost of a Farquharson on the current market... Ruger #1 rifles are cheap by comparison. As to accuracy, I have a factory stock #1 RSI in .270 Winchester that will shoot remarkable 100 yard groups with handloads.

There is a certain ethos in using a single shot falling block. Even trudging through the brush and coulees in western Canada in 2011 can bring a little camaraderie with the likes of Selous, Baker, Bell, and the great hunters of the Victorian era. For me (and I speak only for myself) an NEF single shot just doesn't give the same feeling :)
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Just caught this post, well done, enjoyed it.
 
rottenfuher said:
I would say your paying for the name,simple as that.
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Because "Ruger" is such an exclusive name in firearms? Ruger is well known for robust, well designed firearms sold at value prices, largely achieved through the use of investment casting. What other manufacturer do you think could equal a No.1 in terms of quality, design and finish for less?
 
Ruger No 1 and 3's are a bargain. Beautiful rifles with a well-made, solid feel and fit/finish.

If anything, Ruger should up their attention to detail and charge $100 more!
 
No.1's are so darn purdy and so easy to fall in love with! we have over 20 of them at this time, and still looking for more! nope, none are for sale! ;)
 
Because of the general quality of the whole assembly and the awesome reloading action. I mean, have you tried shooting a #1 compared to a cheap Rossi ?
 
There's something incredibly satisfying about dropping that block and watching the empty case shoot out straight back just as the lever makes full stroke, like a howitzer breech. The breech block in the No.1 also isn't finish machined, it's precision ground after initial machining, that's why they're able to be so smooth and have that finish on the sides of the breech block. They require way, way more money in tooling to make than a Rossi or H&R, and more time.

Just bought a new one from Prophet River actually yesterday.
 
Ardent said:
There's something incredibly satisfying about dropping that block and watching the empty case shoot out straight back just as the lever makes full stroke, like a howitzer breech. The breech block in the No.1 also isn't finish machined, it's precision ground after initial machining, that's why they're able to be so smooth and have that finish on the sides of the breech block. They require way, way more money in tooling to make than a Rossi or H&R, and more time.

Just bought a new one from Prophet River actually yesterday.
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Pics??????? I sure do like the look of #1's, I just could never understand why they cost so much. I do now.
 
I believe the Ruger #1 is priced so high for several reasons. The first and foremost is probably because they're selling. Other things I have noticed about the gun is the ability to load your ammo hot, the receiver is built like a tank. The fit and finish are nice, and the accuracy isn't bad. Those falling block action guns I believe take more time to build than a bolt gun, and are even less prone to issues, not that bolt guns are exactly problematic to begin with (except Rem770).

I was surprised to see Ruger put a model out in .303b, but then it became clear to me that that's the crowd the rifle is aimed at - specialty buyers.

I'd buy one but I have so many guns I haven't even shot yet it's time to slow down for a year or so. I'm actually going to start getting rid of some of them haha
 
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