Indulge me...Ruger no 1 thoughts.

[Certus]

The romance of the #1 is pretty simple to explain. The shorter action length allows a full length barrel to carry like a carbine, thus they are the optimal stalking rifle.

The other thing about them is they were sold at a loss or break-even by Bill Ruger for nearly half a century because he liked falling blocks. When you drop $2k on one, you're getting a lot better made rifle than any other modern rifle at the same pricepoint.

The last thing about them is that they have upward potential and 99% of rifles do not. Meaning? If you buy a carbon fiber wiz-bang and start throwing accessories and upgrades all over it, its not worth a damned thing more than it was originally. But a Ruger #1? I've seen many embellished #1s cross the $10,000 threshold because the canvas can endure additional embellishment. (engraving, custom stocks, custom sights, custom barrels, custom chambers, etc, etc.)

If you have the budget, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Dakota Model 10 is a superior rifle, but they start used at around $6000 and a #1 Ruger hovers around $2000. The quality differential is reflected in the price, both excellent at their prevailing prices.

Heck H&H built a 500/465 on a No1, they must be ok

 

[Tam Dl]

At the risk of being ostracized on AH, I’m here to help! Lol. Having been shot at, charged and enlisted to hcatch a few poachers in Africa, I would no more take a Ruger #1 to Africa than a BB gun. There, I said it! Flame away!!

The problem with that theory is that if it were sound, one would only carry semi auto rifles after African Game (because the point is so valid they would be widely legal). Or levers (in the few appropriate calibers), or things like the Blaser. Maybe doubles, though that tends to fall off in practicality when the game that is being played is against poachers. Of course one can make a stand on the fact that the No 1 is just that much slower...

The reality is most outsiders can't hunt DG without a professional, who might prefer the person whom they are there to assist, to take one very careful shot, and then by agreement, the pro takes over if it is a fail. That could be varied if the first shot is at a lion fully concealed behind a bush at 100 yards, as in one story I read. LOL

What about two No 1s and a gun bearer. Get things back to an earlier time.

Obviously what follows are very light loads. But it shows how fast a lever can be (and it never need run dry). And also you will notice how fast he shoots a shotgun while loading it only one round at a time (designed to level the playing field between levers, pumps, and doubles in the shotgun section).

So how slow is a Ruger No 1, if the person shooting it actually gets some training time in? Smooth is fast.

I would prefer some serious leather for the cartridges, high belt position. Further to reach but a lot more ergo and reliable than some of the stretch options on wrists and butts I have seen. This wouldn't be my choice of approach, but it shows keep the gun on the shoulder, and find the simplest mode of operation, in this case for a single shot shotgun.

"I need to know how to run the gun I've got"

 

[Hooked Now]

All this has done is convinced me that at some point I should own a No1. Maybe not as my prime DG gun, and maybe in a caliber that violates one of my rules, but some nice .30/7mm family with pretty wood and case hardening might be just the ticket. Once I get all of my safaris, taxidermy and plane tickets paid for of course. I do greatly appreciate all that everyone shared and your pictures. There was a serious lack of limerick, but I'll excuse the oversight.

Had a good practice session with the .375 bolt gun off sticks yesterday. That'll just have to do for now.