600 Nitro Express Ruger #1

mopar guy

mopar guy

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I just got through Dangerous Game Rifles by Terry Wieland and got to thinking...

Can it be done? Is the diameter of the case too large such that a barrel won't work? How about a 700 NE? I don't know too much about these, is it a mere matter of fitting a new barrel and some extractor work? I searched the net and couldn't find any modified to cartridges with that diameter. Look at these guys below:

www. reedercustomguns.com/custom_rifles/number1.htm

They list modifications up to 505 Gibbs, 500NE and 500 Jeffery.

If you cut out the custom engraving, satin black finish, and integral muzzle break it should be what, a $800 to $1000 job? And where do you find barrels in such calibres? I don't think Montanna makes one with a .600 or .700 bore, but can you rebore them? How about Bevan King? Shilen, Douglas or Lothar Walther?

I'm sure Martini and Hagn could supply one, but they want $1600 for one with a rear island sight cut for their own action, I'm sure there'd be a premium to modify it for a Ruger #1...

Thanks,
Mopar Guy
 
I have been playing with big bore #1 projects for quite awhile. Up to the .500 NE or .50/140 case head size will go in with a minimum of action or block modification. A .577 NE case head can go in with a little action modification to allow the block to drop a little farther than normal. Some bevelling of the top of the block is required also. I have not seen anyone get a .600 NE with an unmodified rim into a Ruger #1 action yet. I don't doubt it could be done, but there is more than barreling it up and modifying and extractor to it. The .577 NE or even Super Snider on a #1 would be a great project.

As for barrels. Bevan King can do a .585" barrel for the various .577s. I have one here that he made and it's very nice. Though obviously they are quite heavy. Price was about $500 for 30". I don't know of anyone making the .625" barrels for the .600 rounds but I have one! It's on a modified P14 in .600 JDJ which is a .577 NE case blown out to .625". And it feeds two from the mag. That round would go into a #1 with a bit of action modification. SSK industries does this modification to your #1 or they'll sell you one.
Last year while making a .50 project on a #1. I wanted to find out how to modify the #1 action to fit the round without cutting the top off of the block. I couldn't find anyone that did it other than SSK and they weren't telling anyone how they did it. So, I played with it for quite awhile and figured out how to get it to work. So the block falls a little farther and you don't have to compromise the block to any degree. It is possible and if you are going to do it, send me a note and I'll try to explain it.
The various .500s are great on the #1, a .577 would be tight but fun. I am not so sure about a .600 with ease. It surely would not be a drop in kind of thing.
I am not too sure either where to get barrels beyond .577. Ron Smith told me he wouldn't make one beyond .50. And Bevan doesn't like to take a lot of orders now, so move fast if you want one. I don't have any ideas on locating a .625" barrel.
A few years ago one of the big German gun makers and I think it was Heym modified a stock M98 Mauser action to .600 NE. Just to show they could do it. They brought it to the SHOT show and left with 10 orders for them at $12,000 a piece. Anything is possible but big modifications cost big money.
It would be hard to get into a big bore much cheaper or easier than a big bore #1 conversion. Though in my experience you will be spending more like $2000-$2500 for your rifle.
 
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I will take your word for it although I do not recall seeing it!

btw, are you saying that you don't want to show off your 'big hammer'?:D
 
mopar guy said:
I just got through Dangerous Game Rifles by Terry Wieland and got to thinking...Mopar Guy
Click to expand...

Trouble with noisy bin divers in the back lane, eh? Well, this'll stop 'em all right:

600_nitro.jpg


And the 700 N.E....:eek: :eek: :eek: 1000grn/2000 fps/8900 Ft.lbs. You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din (although I'm not in traction.) BTW, has anyone heard of Mr. Feldstein lately?

Just yanking your chain, of course. If you end up with one of these, be sure you (or your widow) post pics of shooting it.

:) Stuart
 
Have you ever seen a standing bench for shooting the heavies? It makes it a lot easier when zeroing them in.
Here is a bad picture of my .600 JDJ with 940 grain solid. It's convenient when the cases are large enough to write all the load details on each one.
443423.JPG

471460.JPG
 
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Casull said:
...Here is a bad picture of my .600 JDJ with 940 grain solid. It's convenient when the cases are large enough to write all the load details on each one.
Click to expand...

Yowza! Interesting treatment of the original rear sight, too.
How come the "sales" tag? Surely not for sale?

:) Stuart
 
David,
I didn't do the stock, I bought it that way, but yes that is how it's done. I bought the whole thing built and I don't know who made it or what maker of barrel was used. The metal work on it is very impressive especially since it feeds these things from the mag, but the wood doesn't look that great. It's very functional and strong and has an enormous butt with a good huge pad on it. Not pretty but it works well. It still has the tag on the trigger I think and it's just got some basic info on it. I have never hunted it or anything, just gathered some moulds and made some bullets and so on. I have shot it only a little so far, but accuracy is promising. Recoil is really not that bad from it. It is a very heavy rifle though, I would put it at 14 lbs. or better. I was just working up loads, I am not sure where it will max out yet. It's a fun big bore so far that seems promising.
 
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