Ruger 1A? Are they worth the price/hassle?

buckhunter49

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So I'm thinking of picking up a Ruger 1A. I have my "sentimental" rifles, but I have a bunch lying around that I've never shot or don't have a lot of love for. So I'm considering selling off a few rifles and purchasing a Ruger 1A. I've always really liked them when I've handled them. I've read horror stories about accuracy etc. but I think that appears to be solved on the newer production models. Do you have to do a lot of messing around to get the new ones to shoot? Anyone regret purchasing one of these. I realize cold bore accuracy is the key with these things and they aren't necessarily a range gun but I'd love to hear peoples experiences with these guns.
Thanks
 
I have owned over a dozen 1A's over the years, a few number threes and a couple of the B's even a varmiter. I only had one that wouldn't group accurately enough for me. It was adequate for deer hunting but I knew that I could do better. The last one I bought was a 250 Savage from Clay at Propet River. Factory ammo is a bit hot but with handloads at 2750 fps three of five shots touch. I am not that great of a shot even. I had a Ruger no 1 B chambered in 6mm Rem that was probably the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. I should never have sold that one. That's my experience with the number one rifle fwiw. Jed
 
Do not know what you are expecting - not a "bench rest" rifle. I bought my first 1A about 2002 - read a few books / articles - basically only put a gob of epoxy at fore-arm tip - all the rest pretty much as bought - was a 7x57 - many 5 round groups with 150 Nosler and RL-19 between 1" and 1.5" - probably not very good for some, but just fine for me - took many white tails and mule deer with that rifle and load - many 3 deer zones in those days, and could get 2 mule deer draw tags for same week that two deer whitetail season was open - so could get a few deer. Not certain about today's going prices - I think a good part you pay for is for a "cool" factor, not so much for laser accuracy, or whatever. How I think - the ultimate "cool" one is the No. 1A roll stamped 275 Rigby, along with Hornady headstamped brass. Pretty "schnazzy" as far as I am concerned!!! If you are new to them, maybe look at them as "high maintenance" to get to perform. You might get surprised....

I had a Leupold M8-6X on it. Most falls when sighting it in to check scope - might turn a click or two. Inevitably, next fall, would turn it back those same click or two. I thought it was a good pairing. Found that it was almost a required practice to rest the front of receiver on sandbags - not the fore arm - or to hold fore arm with left hand and rest back of that hand against the front sand bags, not to make a "hand sandwich" by resting rifle on top of hand, on top of the sandbag rest.
 
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Do not know what you are expecting - not a "bench rest" rifle. I bought my first 1A about 2002 - read a few books / articles - basically only put a gob of epoxy at fore-arm tip - all the rest pretty much as bought - was a 7x57 - many 5 round groups with 150 Nosler and RL-19 between 1" and 1.5" - probably not very good for some, but just fine for me - took many white tails and mule deer with that rifle and load - many 3 deer zones in those days, and could get 2 mule deer draw tags for same week that two deer whitetail season was open - so could get a few deer. Not certain about today's going prices - I think a good part you pay for is for a "cool" factor, not so much for laser accuracy, or whatever. How I think - the ultimate "cool" one is the No. 1A roll stamped 275 Rigby, along with Hornady headstamped brass. Pretty "schnazzy" as far as I am concerned!!! If you are new to them, maybe look at them as "high maintenance" to get to perform. You might get surprised....

I had a Leupold M8-6X on it. Most falls when sighting it in to check scope - might turn a click or two. Inevitably, next fall, would turn it back those same click or two. I thought it was a good pairing. Found that it was almost a required practice to rest the front of receiver on sandbags - not the fore arm - or to hold fore arm with left hand and rest back of that hand against the front sand bags, not to make a "hand sandwich" by resting rifle on top of hand, on top of the sandbag rest.
Yes. I’m looking at this solely as a hunting rifle and not a precision long range rifle. 1” to 1.5” is more then acceptable for me. Especially when I rarely have needed a follow up shot. The cool factor is what has me interested. In my eyes I just like the rifle and that should be enough. I have stainless synthetic rifles for raining bad weather days but have always preferred wood/ blued configurations.
 
Yes. I’m looking at this solely as a hunting rifle and not a precision long range rifle. 1” to 1.5” is more then acceptable for me. Especially when I rarely have needed a follow up shot. The cool factor is what has me interested. In my eyes I just like the rifle and that should be enough. I have stainless synthetic rifles for raining bad weather days but have always preferred wood/ blued configurations.

The 1A is a super action, and with very little work you can really make most of the cartridges in them shoot very well.;)
Cat
 
The 1A is a super action, and with very little work you can really make most of the cartridges in them shoot very well.;)
Cat

That’s great to hear. I’m thinking of looking for one in 7-08 or 280 if I can find one. The one thing I’ve noticed is once people purchase 1 they usually purchase more lol
 
That’s great to hear. I’m thinking of looking for one in 7-08 or 280 if I can find one. The one thing I’ve noticed is once people purchase 1 they usually purchase more lol

I have owned more than 20 Rugers over the years, everything from factory cartridges to all out 1K F/O class match rifles, and all on the basic No.1 action
My latest is in 280 Remington and it is an absolute laser at 500 meters , but it is not in a 1A configuration, it is in a 1B
My main hunting rifle is a Ruger single shot in that has been modified to the point that the only factory piece on it is the action frame!!:p
Cat
 
One caution if buying a Ruger Number 1.
Start saving up for your second/third/fourth....
One of the very best North American designed rifles ever built IMHO.
 
I have worked with a lot of Number Ones over the years and never had any trouble getting them to shoot. I bought my first one, a 1A in 30/06, in 1971 and it was a very nice hunting rifle.
 
I believe these are now prohibited per the May 1st ban due to receiver 'capable of' > 10kJ.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/CSSA/PDF/2020-05-13-CSSA-Legal-Opinion-Capable-of-10K-Joules.pdf

But you'd have to be charged & a judge would have determine to know for sure.

Beautiful firearms.

What are you talking about????

Anyway, I had 3 now own 2, my first one and the one I sold was in 338 win mag sold it before moving up here 25 years ago! The 2 I have is a RSI in 30-06 and a no 1 S in 9.3x62, I didn’t fiddle with any of them and they shoot easy 1” at 100 with factory rounds and nothing fancy!! 3 things I wish would be different on the no1 would be a better trigger, adjustable or even better single set! Second the open sights, especially the rear sight would be nice to have something better and third would be to have that tang safety recessed in the thang.... all minor things really but it would be nice!!
Other than that I love that no1 and I would love to find one in 275 Rigby
 
The herd is up to 6 at this present time. 1RSI 7x57 ,1A-7x57, 1S 9.3x74, 1S-45-70, 1S 44 Mag and a 1B-220 Swift.
I'd like to say I'm done but somewhere out there is a .303 with my name on it.
 
I have owned and shot over 100 No.1's... they are excellent hunting rifles, all except two were very good right out of the box, one I worked on a bit to get it to shoot, the other I never could get it to group consistently enough for me to take it hunting. I think most of the bad accuracy rap comes from people online repeating what "they have heard." Some of them are incredibly accurate, some just consistently hunting accurate. I have three at the moment, two No.1-A's in 7X57 and .303 British and a No.1-S in .45/70... these rifles are all very accurate... but moreover they are wonderful carry rifles, with terrific balance and maneuverability and handling. They are also beautiful to my eye... not so much the B and V but the Alexander Henry A, S, H and the RSI.
 
What are you talking about????

If a rifle is capable of being converted to a cartridge of 375 H&H by swapping the barrel, then it is prohibited per May 1st OIC.

The words 'capable of' have a specific meaning given R. v. Hasselwander.

It is al there in the Burlew opinion.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/CSSA/PDF/2020-05-13-CSSA-Legal-Opinion-Capable-of-10K-Joules.pdf

R. v. Hasselwander:

https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1007/index.do

It's actually a slam dunk easy one if it were to be prosecuted.
 
If a rifle is capable of being converted to a cartridge of 375 H&H by swapping the barrel, then it is prohibited per May 1st OIC.

The words 'capable of' have a specific meaning given R. v. Hasselwander.

It is al there in the Burlew opinion.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/CSSA/PDF/2020-05-13-CSSA-Legal-Opinion-Capable-of-10K-Joules.pdf

R. v. Hasselwander:

https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1007/index.do

It's actually a slam dunk easy one if it were to be prosecuted.

Danged near any action can be converted to doo that - at least once!Laugh2
Cat
 
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