Ruger #1’s

It is definitely a "rabbit hole."

The No.1-A (light sporter) is my favourite version, followed by the International and medium sporter. The recoil is about what you would expect from each clambering, the No.1 stock fits me well, so I don't experience harsh or undue felt recoil. I have a No.1-A in .35 Whelen and at the moment it is my favourite carry rifle, close to an M94 for feel in the hand... and very nice at the shoulder. It has proven to be very accurate with 200 RN's and a case full of Varget. I also have an RSI in .257 Robert's, and A's in 7X57 and .303 Brit, an "S" in .45/70 and H's in .405 Win & .450/400 Nitro Express 3". I have owned well over one hundred No.1's over the years, purchasing my first in college in 1979 or 1980. I have never had a truly inaccurate No.1, I keep reading about them online, but have never run across one. Some have been just hunting accurate, a few have been very accurate and a couple have been supremely accurate. I have been able to get every one that I worked with to shoot to 1.5 MOA with little effort, including the "A" models. My current A's were 1.5 MOA out of the box and with load tweaking I have gotten them down to MOA. The group pictured here, is with my new .405 Win @ 200 yards with 300 grain SP's.
 
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My buddy has an #1 Varmint version ( don't know what the actual model is ) in 25-06 with 26" heavy bbl.
It is a tack driver, I have wanting him to sell it to me as he never uses it but he won't.
Some day a Roberts will come my may.

David
 
I am also a fan.

I have only owned two. The first is a .300 H&H 1-S with a 26" barrel, bought new in 2012. I got this as an engagement gun before my wedding so I won't ever sell it. It is accurate, consistently under 1 MOA (would have to look at notes for averages, but I would guess around .7) with 200 grain ABs and H4831. It also has extremely nice wood. Prophet River stocked ~ 100 No. 1s at that time so I picked a really nice one.

I don't have any pictures as I can't seem to find the files on my computer and photobucket took my old ones. I should take some new ones soon.

I also bought a .450 NE 3 1/4" second hand. I no longer have this rifle, but sold it to a good buddy of mine who still owns it. It was too light for such a cartridge, being 7 lbs 10 oz. I built a lead filled tube for the stock hole and added 12 oz. I took a 500 grain TSX to 2450 fps with that rifle (No. 1 is a lot stronger than double rifles which load data for the NE is designed for). It was a fun rifle but not overly practical.

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I know it’s a minor quibble but I can’t stand the plastic grip cap Ruger uses on their wood stocked guns. Do all of the No.1’s have these? Was there a generation or model that didn’t? I’ve tried to overlook but it just bothers me to no end.

Patrick
 
I have its parent in a light sporter, a 30/06. Beautiful rifle to carry and pleasant to shoot. The 35 whelen will produce a bit more recoil but nothing the average shooter cant handle. If the whelen is your choice they also made it in a 24 inch med sporter.
 
GMC403 said:
So this is a rabbit hole in the Firearms world that I have yet to fall into..... but I’m getting mighty tempted.
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I went down the rabbit hole last year. While I don't plan on buying more #1s, I couldn't be more pleased with the Lipseys 275Rigby #1A that I did buy. (Thanks Prophet River :) )

They are a very nice combo of different features that distance them from the std. #1A including a 24" bbl, red pad and express rear sight. There are a couple negatives that should be added to this as well. The comb is too high for using the sights and The 1.5-5x20 (or similar) is about the only scope that will fit over the higher rear sight. These two issues were no issue to me as I don't want to use the iron sights and the 1.5-5 was the scope I planned on using anyways. Perfect scope for a 7x57 in this application.
 
Had a few, had an Ought Six that just would not group consistently but with enough fiddling it came out as a beauty of a rig. My .270 actually split the stock in front of the safety, weird for such a moderate recoiling rifle?? I've kind of moved on to the 1885's now, I do like the exposed hammer but have also pinched my finger on the 1885 between the trigger and lever under adrenaline in the field. A Trop safety I like myself on a #1.

The No #1 is certainly a platform that is always calling out to me...... Enjoy your venture, hope the mission creep stays reasonable!

Dirk
 
Damn that 257 Bob RSA at Prophet River looks sweet

I didn't really figure out how to Shoot my BiLs #1 Tropical...375H&H with 300gr bullets. I should borrow it again and give it another go. I think I was too stiff, leaning forward boxer stance but all tense...12" group at 25yds IIRC

9.3x62 or something like that would be sweet.
 
Square up to the big boomers insteaded of leaning into them. Try not to tense up, relax and let yourself absorb the hit.
 
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I own one in 9.3x74r. You can load that cartridge up in a # 1 wich I do. It is the equal of the 9.3x64 at the velocity I'm loading. Shoots a 250 gr ( .494 b.c.) AB at 2700fps and prints sub MOA groups, didn't need my 300 anymore, sold it. Go for it man, I doubt you'll regret it.
 
Owned a .280 in a 1A and a number 3 in .45-70.

The number 3 was a tack driver and really nice to carry - absolutely hated the 1A. The ergonomics - especially the no.1 lever just didn't work for me at all. It's completely subjective but I felt like the 1A was way too heavy and poorly balanced for what it was. Not trying to slag them - I have never found a Ruger single shot or bolt action that fit me right and felt good (have owned 2 single shots and 4 - 77 bolt actions). I want to like them but just never keep them if I get one.

Some guys love them - only way to tell is to get one and shoot it.
 
wilbar said:
Damn that 257 Bob RSA at Prophet River looks sweet

I didn't really figure out how to Shoot my BiLs #1 Tropical...375H&H with 300gr bullets. I should borrow it again and give it another go. I think I was too stiff, leaning forward boxer stance but all tense...12" group at 25yds IIRC

9.3x62 or something like that would be sweet.
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We had a 9.3x62 come in but its not listed yet. The 257 Bob is sweet!
 
SuperCub said:
I went down the rabbit hole last year. While I don't plan on buying more #1s, I couldn't be more pleased with the Lipseys 275Rigby #1A that I did buy. (Thanks Prophet River :) )

They are a very nice combo of different features that distance them from the std. #1A including a 24" bbl, red pad and express rear sight. There are a couple negatives that should be added to this as well. The comb is too high for using the sights and The 1.5-5x20 (or similar) is about the only scope that will fit over the higher rear sight. These two issues were no issue to me as I don't want to use the iron sights and the 1.5-5 was the scope I planned on using anyways. Perfect scope for a 7x57 in this application.
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I'd like to see pictures of that one. Sounds like a classy rig!

I had a nice Ruger No. 1 in 303. Too pretty for my hunting. Wish I would have kept it just the same.
 
I have owned four of them, a couple of #1A in 7x57, a custom #1S in .35 Whelen and a #1S in 45-70. All were well built, no function or fit or finish concerns. None of them fit me particuarly well, and the scope mounting system is a particular pain in the butt. Very few scopes have enough eye relief for the ring position required by the Ruger scope mount system. It is too far forward. The triggers were just OK, certainly not as good as a good adjustable bolt action trigger. The short barrel #1's suffer from an butt heavy imbalance and unsteady muzzle light feel. But many rifles with currently stylish short barrels suffer that design flaw. I'd personally prefer a 26" barrel on any #1. The action is so short it would be equivalent to a 22" barrel in a bolt action. For the money I think they are a good value if you can live with the fit, handling and scope mount issues.
 
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