Ruger no 1 extending throat

Northern Amateur

Northern Amateur

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Purchased a Ruger no 1 in 45-70 and I'd like to shoot the same cartridges in this and my Marlins. However I understand the Ruger throat is minimal resulting in a number of bullets not fitting accordingly. I hear some folks are extending the throat a tad. Any recommendations on a competent gunsmith in Ontario (prefer GTA) who can perform this work? Yes Google is my friend but I am hoping some of you can recommend someone you have had good experience(s) with.

Cheers, NA
 
Good questions and yes, none of my reloads that I shoot out of my Marlins will chamber in the Ruger. Research tells me it's a common issue with Ruger no 1 throats being narrow. It's the bullet shape. That being said, some factory loads will not fit either, generally the fat ones!!
 
I will also ask if anyone has performed this work themselves? Where did you purchase your reamer? Rentals? Seems this job is much more common than I thought and not really that difficult. The throat on a number of rifles cut to SAAMI specifications will not accept flatter shaped bullets or some of the longer ones. I've read Winchester 1886, some Marlins, Ruger No 1's are cut with almost no throat. Again, suitable for a lot of bullet shapes perhaps but not all.
I owned a Winchester 1886 45-70 (new Miruko). Very nice rifle however it would not chamber reloads that chambered just fine in my Marlin. 300gr factory loads were no problem. I sold it as it was not getting used and frankly too pretty to be lugging around the woods with.
I purchased the Ruger in hopes of using it on load development and hunting of course, as I like to cast my own bullets.

Any information, experiences and/or suggestions on decent gunsmiths please advise.

cheers,
 
You might want to evaluate what bullets that you are reloading? Although same diameter and often overlapping weights, a bullet made to fit a 458 Win Mag likely will not chamber properly into a 45-70 - throat slope and shape are very different. If a rifle is sold as being made to SAAMI standard, then any SAAMI compliant ammo should fit and work. Handloaders can create problems by not following the documents??
 
Potashminer said:
You might want to evaluate what bullets that you are reloading? Although same diameter and often overlapping weights, a bullet made to fit a 458 Win Mag likely will not chamber properly into a 45-70 - throat slope and shape are very different. If a rifle is sold as being made to SAAMI standard, then any SAAMI compliant ammo should fit and work. Handloaders can create problems by not following the documents??
Click to expand...

Thanks and I agree. The problem is the molds I use are intended for 45-70. The bullets also fit my other two 45-70's and a friends, no issue. They don't fit in the Ruger nor my previous 1886. Research tells me this is a common issue especially with Ruger no 1's where the fix is to either limit your bullet choice to those that fit or have the throat opened up. With the minimal amount of reaming required I am leaning towards opening up the throat but prefer a gunsmith do it.

cheers,
 
Tread carefully on the "do myself" thought - I had loaned a chambering reamer to an fellow - he went way past where he intended, on just a couple of turns - I suspect would be even more "dainty" to ream out just a throat. Not saying it can not be done - just approach that as a very "light touch" kind of thing - there is an old saw about "measure twice, but only cut once" - or something like that...
 
New mold
Different bullet seating depth

My waste your time changing the throat first .
I would try a ladder test with a
shorter C.O.A.L.
Gun smithing isnt cheat on a ruger falling block.
Fixing a bubba chamber is even more costly...lol. my0.02cents
 
To properly lengthen a throat, the barrel should be removed and set up in a lathe. I might be able to do it without removing the barrel but I would probably have to build fixtures to do so. I might also be able to rig up a stop and do it by hand. If I can do it, I'm sure anyone can.
 
I've lengthened the throats on a few pistol barrels. The cost of the reamer is less than the cost of sending it to a smith.
It must be done very carefully, removing a whisker at a time.

Another option is to use the NOE bullet nose die which can taper the nose of the bullet to fit your throat, however this would lose your ammo interchangeability
unless you do all your bullets with it.
 
Thanks folks. Reading more on this issue and it seems older Ruger had extended, or shall I say, more reasonable throats in the rifles. New ones have almost no throat at all. Haven't figured out why they would do that. Seems to me having a throat (1, 2 or 3 degrees) is more practicable. Anyway there's no rush. I'll keep researching local gunsmiths. Cheers,
 
It's funny, I remember a time when Ruger throats were long (great for handloading) and there were complaints then. My 1991 Tang 77 has a longer throat and it's perfect for heavier projectiles or seating out lighter bullets and increasing case capacity.
 
What is the great importance about using the same reload in both rifles?
Both rifles accept factory loads... so you are making 'non standard' sized ammo if they fit only one rifle... is it the throat or neck diameter that is "tight"?
To make reloads that will work in both rifles is best done by chambering both rifles with the same chambering reamer that is custom made for your ammo.
 
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The Kurgan said:
It's funny, I remember a time when Ruger throats were long (great for handloading) and there were complaints then. My 1991 Tang 77 has a longer throat and it's perfect for heavier projectiles or seating out lighter bullets and increasing case capacity.
Click to expand...

I have seen factory Ruger rifles with chambers so large a neck sizing die worked for full length sizing and the longest bullets had to be seated only 1/8 of an inch into the neck... and still had to jump to the rifling.
 
guntech said:
I have seen factory Ruger rifles with chambers so large a neck sizing die worked for full length sizing and the longest bullets had to be seated only 1/8 of an inch into the neck... and still had to jump to the rifling.
Click to expand...

My old M77V in 6mm has a very long throat. I seat the bullets as far as I can to still use the magazine. Still no where near the lands. I can hit them with some old 107gr round nose. But not with anything with a point.
 
guntech said:
What is the great importance about using the same reload in both rifles?
Both rifles accept factory loads... so you are making 'non standard' sized ammo if they fit only one rifle... is it the throat or neck diameter that is "tight"?
To make reloads that will work in both rifles is best done by chambering both rifles with the same chambering reamer that is custom made for your ammo.
Click to expand...

Personal choice really. Just like to be able to shoot the same reloads out of all my 45-70's.
I did some more checking the other night using an empty case and various bullets I have on hand. Speer 400gr jsp, 2.4" col. Lee bullet molds 500 and 405gr bullets, same. Hornady 500gr interlock, dgs and interbond, 2.7" col. I was very surprised with the Hornady as those were designed for 458 WM et al while the Lee bullet mold and Speer would be more commonly used in 45-70 I would think. Anyway, no decision made yet and no hurry as mentioned. Just curious again if anyone has a competent smith recommendation and if anyone else has experienced this.

Cheers and thanks for the response.
 
My mid 2000's production 45-70 No.1-S had short throat got it lengthened a bit to increase case capacity not too pricey required < 2hrs shop time.
 
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