Ruger no. 1 or Luxus model 11? UPDATE - Ruger in the works!

hifiwasabi

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To start with, I'm saving my nickels and dimes to be able to afford a new single shooter sometime in the new year, and Prophet River has a real nice selection of middle weight no. 1's and 11's that I've been drooling over. With the cost of no. 1's inching closer and closer to $1500 before taxes, how much difference is there in the $300 spread between the two? I've owned a 70's vintage Ruger, so I have a good point of reference. I do like the compactness of the Luxus, but I adored the action of the Ruger; can any owners of the Luxus (or people who have fondled both) pipe in with their opinion? If I'm going to spend the $1500, $1800 isn't much more of a stretch.
 
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I've owned several #1's, and they are good rifles, built very strong. But they just don't fit me very well. I have trouble getting the scope far enough back for a full field of view. The Luxus rifles look very nice, and the ones I've handled seemed well fitted and finished. they also offer interchangeable barrels. I'd buy one.
 
Prefer the Ruger No.1's myself, particularly the A/S/H versions (With Alexander Henry forearms) or the RSI version the scope mount issue is solved with a $40 offset ring in the rear mount position... see below;



 
If I had the dinero you were asking for your .308, Hoyt, I'd have been first to say it's mine. Since I'm still saving up, I may as well see what's out there for the $1-2000 market for single shots.

Yep... she was a beauty... it didn't take long for her to go to a new home... fickle chick! ;)
 
I'm another fan of the #1, specifically the Alexander-Henry-forearm models, and I've had quite a number over the years. I'm down to only one right now, a 26-inch barreled version in .300H&H. I find they work well for me, but I do have a neck like a giraffe and arms like a gibbon...I don't need the extended rings, as the scope sits right where I need it to be with the standard ones. I had a chance to play with and put a few rounds through the Luxus rifle last year (the standard model to which you're referring) and I could never own one myself. Not only is the break-action much less appealing to me than the falling-block of the Ruger, but the Luxus comes with a scope base that puts the rear ring so far back that there was no way to shoot the gun comfortably. The problem would be less serious for someone with a shorter neck, but most of the guys who were present at the time commented on how far back the scope sat on that gun. The deluxe version has a sort of quarter-rib arrangement similar to that of the Ruger, and the scope sits quite a bit further forward, but it's also about $1000 more expensive.

I'll also mention that both the Luxus (which I don't care for) and the Ruger (which I admire greatly) are more punishing to shoot in any given chambering than most of my other rifles. I have bolt guns in .375H&H as light as about 7.5 pounds, and find them quite shootable. The .375H&H Ruger #1 I had, though it was much heavier, pounded the snot out of me! The Luxus I shot was a .243, and it still seemed to bump me much harder than it should have. These are hunting rifles, so that probably isn't a huge concern, but it's worth keeping in mind.
 
Hmmm, the Haenel Jaeger 9 looks to be lefty friendly and comes in interesting caliber choices. Now if only Ruger would release their 2015 calibers I could make a decision. 6mm Rem, .308, 8x57 or 338 Federal would be sweeeet.
 
That Haenel does look good, for a break-action. :) I think it has much nicer lines than the Luxus. Only 5.5 pounds, takes down to about a 24-inch package (the only advantage of the break-action, IMHO, but it's a big one). That QR scope mount looks kind of porky for such a svelte rifle, but maybe it's not the only option for mounting optics.

Hard to find much info on the web about this one. Hopefully, you'll buy one and write up a detailed review!
 
The Luxus Mod. 11 and the Ruger #1 are two totally different rifles. I had a large collection of #1 rifles and sold them all. The were all super shooters. But I wanted a
257Wby # 1 . Non of my attempts bore fruit. I had one 243 with a barrel maker for a rebore for two years and finally picked it up, because I was sick and tired of waiting. So I ordered a custom Mod 11. With a case colored receiver and LW.scope mounts, and a L.W. 26" barrel. This barrel is super accurate. I mounted a Leupold 3-9 sope. This process toke a long time, but the final product was much to my liking. When I got the rifle I bought a box of 100gr Wby ammo. It toke only three shots at 100 yrds to sight it in at 1" high, and two shots to take two deer in two years. The rifle still shoots in the same spot as sighted in after two years. I still got 15 rounds left for 15 more deer. The action is as solid with a lock up like a vault. What do think about that?
To say I am happy with this rifle would be an understatement.



01-DSC_0743257Wby12-22-20144-16-43PM_zps6b2dc5a5.jpg


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Fred M.
 
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My imposed limit will be $2000, so that rules out the Dakota, Blaser and Merkel by a good margin, though I still peruse their websites and drool. I've heard rumors a few times now that Ruger is going to let the no. 1 die for the 2015 model year, but we'll have to see what happens at the Shot show in January.

From all the reviews of the model 11 that I've been able to come across, they all seem to describe a vault-like lock up, and wonderful accuracy, but it's good to hear a report from someone who isn't a magazine writer describe it. My only concern is with how difficult it might be to #### the hammer with the left hand, since I shoot left.
 
"The word in the street is that Ruger may suspend production of the No.1 lineup for 2015."


That rumor has been drummed up every year since 1967.
Maybe this is the year, or next, or the one after that.
 
"The word in the street is that Ruger may suspend production of the No.1 lineup for 2015."


That rumor has been drummed up every year since 1967.
Maybe this is the year, or next, or the one after that.

Except this year it is coming from Ruger sales reps to their major distributors...
 
Fred,

Your Luxus, did it come with scope rings when you bought it, or did you have to purchase them separately? I'm currently leaning towards the Haenel Jaeger 9 at this point, but having to pay $300 for scope rings and then a 30 mm scope on top of that seems somewhat cost prohibitive. I'm well aware that the Rugers come with factory rings, but if the Luxus comes with them, I may have to reconsider.
 
I ordered the rifle with light weight scope rings, don't know what make they are? My right thumb is weak due to an injury so I reach over to #### the hammer with my left hand. I shoot right handed no trouble at all. A left hand shooter could do the same thing with his right hand. The hammer spring is quite strong and short travel.
$2000 will not buy you a Custom Grade Mod 11. It would cost double that, now with our weak Can. $ it would even be more. Top notch quality does not come cheap. I have been offered $4000 for my rifle from two persons. I guess the exhibition Grade wood is maybe worth $2000 when completely finished. You can pick your wood from a wide selection of preshaped stocks. One more beautiful than the other. This is truly a custom firearm and nice to look at..

Fred M
 
How well do they extract rimless cartridges? Prophet River currently has a few base model 11's in 7-08 that have caught my eye, and if they come with rings, thats one less thing to worry about.

Whether they come with scope rings or not, I don't know, I simply ordered scope rings with the rifle. The 257 WBY is a belted case the extractor works flawless.
Your questions would be better directed to the dealer or the makers of the rifle. I don,t know anything about a stock or standard rifle? Obviously there must be a great deal of difference if it only costs $2000. If you worry about the cost of rings then you better look at a Ruger #1

Fred M.
 
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