Hunting with Ruger #1's

[Claybuster]

I hunted for several years with a #1A in .270 that was traded off when the clay target bug hit hard and my interest in rifle hunting declined.

I liked the rifle's compactness and handling but like most Rugers always felt it was a great design that was poorly executed. The barrel on mine was the worst for copper fouling of any rifle I've owned. The edges on the lever were sharp often resulting in a cut hand when practising fast reloading. The scope positioning required a long eye relief scope or extension rings. It was also a bit of a bugger to reassemble when taken apart for cleaning.

Mine was accurate enough. The first round from a cold barrel always went to the POA with the second within half an inch and the third an inch and a half high which was more than adequate for hunting.

But it's a classic looking rifle with a lot of style. Although I'm still not much of a rifle hunter I get the itch to own another one every time I see an #1S in .45-70.

 

[Republic of Alberta]

I have a International in 7x57. So far I have taken this buck, another small buck, one doe and one fawn with it and Hornady 154g interlocks. The gun actualy sits in the safe a lot unless I am going out to get meat and happen to grab it.

I cut LOP down to around 13" this is where the gun balanced properly and I was actually able to have the right distance to the scope. I also full length glass beaded the forend which helped some with the vertical stringing problem I had. I ended up dinging up the forend bad so I cut it down to a regular forend and the rifle started to shoot amazing groups. I also wrapped some spider wire fishing line around the lever catch on the trigger guard because it rattled all the time.


With the 20" bbl, short LOP and the regular forend this has become one compact little rifle. My off hand shooting with this gun is better than most of the other rifles I own.

 

[COREY]

I have a #1H Stainless in 375 H&H Mag; this is a photo of me sighting it (only one I have):

I shot a deer in the high in the neck with it; shot like that could have been done with a 22 and the knot in my shoulder from walking 5-8 kms a day for a week with it made me go back to my 30-06 the next season . I love the beast, but it is now my moose rifle and not my walking around rifle.