Winchester 1885 vs Ruger No. 1

MiG25

MiG25

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Any opinions on the Winchester 1885 vs the Ruger No. 1?

I've grown quite fond of the Ruger, but the new ones have now leapfrogged the 1885 in price and the 1885 is also available in rimfire. Although the cresent butt on some of the 1885's doesn't appeal at all.

Thanks.
 
I really like the old Browning 1885 Low Wall. They are lightweight and very handy. I also like the 28” barreled version High Wall which was available in some fine chamberings. For heavier stuff the Ruger works better for me. I had a No.1 Tropical in .375 H&H that handled very well.
 
MiG25 said:
Any opinions on the Winchester 1885 vs the Ruger No. 1?

I've grown quite fond of the Ruger, but the new ones have now leapfrogged the 1885 in price and the 1885 is also available in rimfire. Although the cresent butt on some of the 1885's doesn't appeal at all.

Thanks.
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1885 hands down.

Excellent trigger, better balance.

I didn't like the crescent butt on my 38/55 1885, so I swapped a shotgun butt from a BPCR.
 
Ruger No.1 hands down.

Better balance, handling, lengths, you don't have to swap the buttstock, more configurations, more chamberings, excellent iron sights, satin wood, better accuracy on average (IME) and all foibles are easily remedied (Trop or bobbed safety, and trigger tune, although rarely necessary) I have had many of each, and also a whack of B-78's... only the No.1's remain.
 
I've not owned either, but I've handled both the 1885 and Ruger #1. Both are nice rifles and the Ruger remains in production so it may be more available. There are more of them in the US and to bring one over in a caliber of choice would require export and import paper work to be completed.
 
Have owned both - vastly prefer the hi-wall. The good thing about them both is that they don't drop in value like a typical bolt action might. I prefer the highwall simply because it balances and handles better offhand for me (even though the no.1 and 3 was nicer to carry and quicker to swing - shorter overall and lighter). Something about a nice beefy octagon barrel just suits me right.

As for accuracy, caliber selection, and everything else people argue about - it seemed like a wash to me (both shot well - so I kept what "felt" better). Try them both!
 
I have a couple of Miroku/Winchester low walls and a #1 in rimfire and/or pistol calibres only. I haven't shot them enough to be able to comment about accuracy. I think the fit and finish of the low walls is better than the #1. The block and lever of the #1 also has more play/slop than the low wall (which don't have any at all).

Handling wise, my low walls are slimmer / lighter than the #1, which is chunkier... Never owned a high wall. I think the 1885's don't look right with a scope, so I'd err towards tang sights for them, and a scope for the #1. I do prefer a rubber butt over crescent.

I don't know how easy the #1 is to disassemble/assemble, but the Miroku 1885's aren't easy to put back together from what I've read.

Overall I'm leaning towards the 1885.
 
I prefer the Ruger, despite wanting to like the Winchester more on account of the name and history. It’s as you would expect for an action developed over half a century more recently, the more refined offering. I prefer the British / Farquharson style, the stainless available in the No.1. It boils down to if you like an external hammer, Winchester, if you want a more refined with a much improved stock design (or stainless, or a .303, 7x57, .218 Bee etc etc) Ruger.
 
I've got both. I have a 45-70 in the 1885 which is just about perfect...traditional styling but modern strength. I bought a #1H in 458 Win, mostly because I wanted a single shot 45-70 and I couldn't find one...until a week after I bought the 458! I guess I'm not patient enough. But the #1 has an entirely different sort of traditional styling that I love too. But where the #1 pulls ahead when you start thinking about a 22-250 or a 280 Remington...they don't belong in an 1885.

So there you go...different rifles for different reasons.
 
I like 'em both.

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