Indulge me...Ruger no 1 thoughts.

[Bandera]

What is about the No.1
Being left handed it provides a left hand friendly rifle.
They are a great looking rifle.
They are pretty much bulletproof.

Some of the smaller calibers do not group well, excluding the varmint models.
Pressure on the forearm, can really affect accuracy.

My current line up is a 7mm mag 1B with the grey laminated stock.
A 450-400NE Tropical
A 458 WN Tropical

Classic Sporting Arms has pretty good bit of info on the No.1

This may help with older model identification.
“1-A: This is the model called the Light Sporter. It has a 22" barrel with iron sights and an Alex Henry forend. Weight: about 7 1/4 lbs.

1-AB: This is also a Light Sporter , but has NO iron sights and a semi-beavertail forend. (Kind of a cross between the 1-A and the 1-B) These were made from 1981-'83 and disfontinued when the #1-RSI was introduced...

1-B: This model is called the Standard Sporter. It has a 26" clean barrel (No sights) Wieght: about 8 lbs.

1-S: This model is called the Medium Sporter . It has a 26" barrel with sights and Alex Henry fore-end. Chamberings Were : 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, and .45-70 Gov't... .45-70 has 22" barrel. (Recently the .338 RCM and some pistol chamberings were added with 22" barrels...)

1-RSI: This model is called the International model. It has a 20" barrel with full stock and sights. (.243 Win, 7x57, .270 Win, and .30-06)

1-H: This is Tropical rifle. It has a 24" Heavy bbl with sights. Calibers: .375 H&H and .405 Win. in a fairly heavy barrel. (Weight: Just over 9 lbs.) and .416 Rem, .416 Rigby, .404 Jeffery, .458 Win Mag, .400/.450 Nitro Exp., and .450 NE. w/ Very Heavy barrel (About 10 lbs.) (Also has Alex Henry for-end)

1-V: This is the Varmint Model. This has 24" heavy barrel with beavertail fore-end in .223, .22/250 .243, 6mm Rem, and .25-06. 26" heavy barrel in .220 Swift. (Back in the '70's, a few 1-V's were produced in .280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag, and .300 Win Mag... ) Ruger catalog lists the weight as 9 lbs, but I believe they are heavier than that. “

 

[odonata]

To add one more item to @Bandera's list above, the K designation indicates a stainless model.

 

[ftrovato]

They are addictive to own and shoot! This is my 45-70 in action and on the range. Just simply sexy.. like hunting with a beautiful woman but there is no talking! ;-)

 

[Hooked Now]

They are addictive to own and shoot! This is my 45-70 in action and on the range. Just simply sexy.. like hunting with a beautiful woman but there is no talking! ;-)View attachment 673489View attachment 673490

Wow. That rifle is something. The gold banding on the barrel end and the vintage Loopy are a nice touch.

 

[AZDAVE]

Over the years I have owned #1's in 7x57 to 500 NE. In the larger calibers with the factory stock recoil can be a bit sporty. I have a abnormally long LOP for someone my height so I have replaced most of my stocks with a shotgun style stock set I buy from tree bone carving. This changes the fit and recoil management on #1's. I currently have a 9.3x74 (Went with me to Namibia in 2021) and a 7x57.
With practice you can load a #1 very quickly but what I have found is that when hunting with a single shot I concentrate more on proper bullet placement without really thinking about it. It is to each his own kinda event. If I am planning on hunting with a single shot in Africa it is something I have talked about with the PH in detail and we both agree on the approach. 90% of the time I take one of the doubles. But have some great memories also of the 10% times.

 

[Odinsraven]

waiting on a 7x57 - the barrel of which is trashed - however - if it does not shoot well - thinking of a re-barrel to 333R Jeffery just for something completely different !

 

[Hooked Now]

What is about the No.1
Being left handed it provides a left hand friendly rifle.
They are a great looking rifle.
They are pretty much bulletproof.

Some of the smaller calibers do not group well, excluding the varmint models.
Pressure on the forearm, can really affect accuracy.

My current line up is a 7mm mag 1B with the grey laminated stock.
A 450-400NE Tropical
A 458 WN Tropical

Classic Sporting Arms has pretty good bit of info on the No.1

This may help with older model identification.
“1-A: This is the model called the Light Sporter. It has a 22" barrel with iron sights and an Alex Henry forend. Weight: about 7 1/4 lbs.

1-AB: This is also a Light Sporter , but has NO iron sights and a semi-beavertail forend. (Kind of a cross between the 1-A and the 1-B) These were made from 1981-'83 and disfontinued when the #1-RSI was introduced...

1-B: This model is called the Standard Sporter. It has a 26" clean barrel (No sights) Wieght: about 8 lbs.

1-S: This model is called the Medium Sporter . It has a 26" barrel with sights and Alex Henry fore-end. Chamberings Were : 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, and .45-70 Gov't... .45-70 has 22" barrel. (Recently the .338 RCM and some pistol chamberings were added with 22" barrels...)

1-RSI: This model is called the International model. It has a 20" barrel with full stock and sights. (.243 Win, 7x57, .270 Win, and .30-06)

1-H: This is Tropical rifle. It has a 24" Heavy bbl with sights. Calibers: .375 H&H and .405 Win. in a fairly heavy barrel. (Weight: Just over 9 lbs.) and .416 Rem, .416 Rigby, .404 Jeffery, .458 Win Mag, .400/.450 Nitro Exp., and .450 NE. w/ Very Heavy barrel (About 10 lbs.) (Also has Alex Henry for-end)

1-V: This is the Varmint Model. This has 24" heavy barrel with beavertail fore-end in .223, .22/250 .243, 6mm Rem, and .25-06. 26" heavy barrel in .220 Swift. (Back in the '70's, a few 1-V's were produced in .280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag, and .300 Win Mag... ) Ruger catalog lists the weight as 9 lbs, but I believe they are heavier than that. “

@Bandera

What is about the No.1
Being left handed it provides a left hand friendly rifle.
They are a great looking rifle.
They are pretty much bulletproof.

Some of the smaller calibers do not group well, excluding the varmint models.
Pressure on the forearm, can really affect accuracy.

My current line up is a 7mm mag 1B with the grey laminated stock.
A 450-400NE Tropical
A 458 WN Tropical

Classic Sporting Arms has pretty good bit of info on the No.1

This may help with older model identification.
“1-A: This is the model called the Light Sporter. It has a 22" barrel with iron sights and an Alex Henry forend. Weight: about 7 1/4 lbs.

1-AB: This is also a Light Sporter , but has NO iron sights and a semi-beavertail forend. (Kind of a cross between the 1-A and the 1-B) These were made from 1981-'83 and disfontinued when the #1-RSI was introduced...

1-B: This model is called the Standard Sporter. It has a 26" clean barrel (No sights) Wieght: about 8 lbs.

1-S: This model is called the Medium Sporter . It has a 26" barrel with sights and Alex Henry fore-end. Chamberings Were : 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, and .45-70 Gov't... .45-70 has 22" barrel. (Recently the .338 RCM and some pistol chamberings were added with 22" barrels...)

1-RSI: This model is called the International model. It has a 20" barrel with full stock and sights. (.243 Win, 7x57, .270 Win, and .30-06)

1-H: This is Tropical rifle. It has a 24" Heavy bbl with sights. Calibers: .375 H&H and .405 Win. in a fairly heavy barrel. (Weight: Just over 9 lbs.) and .416 Rem, .416 Rigby, .404 Jeffery, .458 Win Mag, .400/.450 Nitro Exp., and .450 NE. w/ Very Heavy barrel (About 10 lbs.) (Also has Alex Henry for-end)

1-V: This is the Varmint Model. This has 24" heavy barrel with beavertail fore-end in .223, .22/250 .243, 6mm Rem, and .25-06. 26" heavy barrel in .220 Swift. (Back in the '70's, a few 1-V's were produced in .280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag, and .300 Win Mag... ) Ruger catalog lists the weight as 9 lbs, but I believe they are heavier than that. “

@Bandera, first let me say how impressed I am that you face the world so bravely with your disability. You're so honest and forthright about it that I think you will help others as well. I know your fight probably feels hopeless and that the world isn't made for people like you so afflicted, but here you are, shouting for all to hear, "I AM LEFT-HANDED!!!".

 

[sgt_zim]

I bought a #1H Tropical in 375 H&H for the missus (we're both lefties). Including the scope, it's about 9.5# or so.

When she goes after nyati, I'll have my 404J plus whatever the PH is carrying. I'm not terribly concerned about her reloading speed.

It's no worse to shoot than my 9.3x62, especially the mild "introductory load" 270 gr Hornadys at a very modest 2300 fps, around 27 ft lbs of recoil. In fact, it's a few ounces heavier than my MRC 404 Jeffery Alaskan.

Unless the fit is just poor, it's hard for me to imagine the recoil of a 9 - 10# Ruger #1 being any worse than a magazine rifle of the same caliber and weight.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have owned about a dozen # 1,s over the years and have sold most of them at highly inflated prices. now i,m down to three #1,s and one #3. my #1 ,s are a 223 B, a 35 whelen S and a 45-70 S, my #3 is in 45-70. with the right loads they are fine shooters. as i,m comming up on my 82 year i,ll probely cash in owning these.

 

[cajunchefray]

Unless the fit is just poor, it's hard for me to imagine the recoil of a 9 - 10# Ruger #1 being any worse than a magazine rifle of the same caliber and weight.

The fit of the Ruger #1, for me at least, is critical in calibers above 375 H&H. My first Number 1 was in this caliber, fit me well (an older 131 series) and was pleasant to shot. I was hooked. I've since owned .30-06, .270 .35 Whelen, for the mid calibers.

Moving up, I owned a .416 Remington, that while stout in recoil, I shot well. A bit longer LOP (14 1/4). That rifle was incredibly accurate with just about any load.

When I bought a 450/400, recoil was just too much for me with 400 grain bullets, loaded to factory velocity. I think the LOP was too short.

If you want to move up to 40+ calibers, I suggest a .416 Remington, as many bullets available, brass is cheaper, lower powder charge than the .416 Rigby. The 416 Remington is not common but can be found searching patiently.

As for what is it about the Ruger Number 1 that is alluring:

-Once you have handled and shot one, the "feel" of the rifle is beautiful and svelte, like a first love. You know it is something special and won't forget

-The older 131 series, are very well fitted, the falling block mechanism is tight, smooth and speaks of proper hand fitting

-The Ruger is very compact, and handles well in tight quarters, like climbing up and in a deer stand

- All above speaks to the simplicity and utility of classic rifles used more than a century ago, and still very useful today

-

 

[Bonk]

I got bit hard by the Ruger #1 bug. I owned 8 or 9 at one time but I got rid of all of them. They’re wonderful rifles. A little finicky about accuracy but that’s usually easily correctable. The reason I sold mine is I never hunted with them. They were safe queens that I loved to handle and admire but they never got any practical use except for being range toys. They went down the road about the time I got interested in metric calibers. There’s only so much room in the safes and I’m not buying another safe!

I had #1’s in 30-06, 300H&H, 275 Rigby, 460 S&W, .223, 9.3x62 and 2 or 3 others I forget. It took me forever to find the 275 Rigby yet I still ended up selling it.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I shot my first buffalo with my Ruger No1 Tropical in 375H&H. It was fitted with a Leica Magnus 1-6.3x24i, a very nice set up. I wasn't concerned about the speed of the second shot, it was more using a single shot that appealed to me. It is just so correct. Now I use a double rifle for buffalo and that is pretty correct too!

 

[rookhawk]

Im certain this topic has been covered before but my search skills didn't yield a result.

I only recently bought a .375 H&H in a bolt action. Of course, because this sickness spreads quickly and it's symptoms are predictable, I'm already thinking about another rifle.

And the more I look at Ruger No 1's the more I am getting smitten. What has happened? Brief, lustful crush or is a Ruger No 1 a thoughtful add to the safe? Thinking .416 RM or either of the .458's. I know there are some die hard fans on here. Why do you love them? What makes them different for you? Any different technique to shooting that action? Thoughts, funny limericks and, of course, pictures and info are appreciated.

And what makes the Tropical version different?

Thanks all. You are mostly fine folks, but I fear you are all a bad influence.

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.

 

[ftrovato]

I shot my first buffalo with my Ruger No1 Tropical in 375H&H. It was fitted with a Leica Magnus 1-6.3x24i, a very nice set up. I wasn't concerned about the speed of the second shot, it was more using a single shot that appealed to me. It is just so correct. Now I use a double rifle for buffalo and that is pretty correct too!
View attachment 673564

Not that must have felt rewarding (to hunt buff with a single shot)!

 

[wildwilderness]

I have never owned one but this one would be really tempting in a classic chambering! Would be perfect from a deer stand

 

[Ontario Hunter]

No competition from me. I'm old enough to remember when Ruger brought them out. Was always a head scratcher for me. Didn't figure the No. 1 would last five years. But here we are more than fifty years later. Novelty sells. Best summarizes presidential elections these days.

 

[rookhawk]

waiting on a 7x57 - the barrel of which is trashed - however - if it does not shoot well - thinking of a re-barrel to 333R Jeffery just for something completely different !

While I'm not saying shot out barrels don't exist, I've never seen one. I'd give it a 30 day speciality cleaning regimen, I'd get a forend tensioner inside the forestock, and if there is any throat erosion I'd ream the throat a bit longer. Shoot heavy for caliber bullets in it.

If you do the above, I would be astounded if it isn't 1 MOA or better. Most terribly inaccurate #1s are due to the forend harmonics but there is a simple device you can inlet into the forend to provide consistent tension and harmonics. It turns 3MOA dogs into .75 MOA wonders.

The cure for inaccurate #1s: https://eabco.com/hicks-1-accurizer/

 

[rookhawk]

I shot my first buffalo with my Ruger No1 Tropical in 375H&H. It was fitted with a Leica Magnus 1-6.3x24i, a very nice set up. I wasn't concerned about the speed of the second shot, it was more using a single shot that appealed to me. It is just so correct. Now I use a double rifle for buffalo and that is pretty correct too!
View attachment 673564

Good job @Kevin Peacocke !. Knowing your love of falling blocks, when are you going to order a bespoke Parkwest 10 or a used Dakota 10? I'd think a 375 Flanged would be perfection for a Zimbabwean's needs and the supplies (other than brass) would be easy to come by in your nation.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Good job @Kevin Peacocke !. Knowing your love of falling blocks, when are you going to order a bespoke Parkwest 10 or a used Dakota 10? I'd think a 375 Flanged would be perfection for a Zimbabwean's needs and the supplies (other than brass) would be easy to come by in your nation.

Rook, I may get roasted for this, but I honestly prefer the lines of the No1 to the Model10. The thought of a 375 Flanged No1 is appealing. If that were to become a reality I would go to town on it, get a grade 9 stock, oxide colouring and a red recoil pad.

Or if I could find it this Holland and Holland No1. I have asked H&H if they know anything about it, but came up blank.

 

[rookhawk]

Rook, I may get roasted for this, but I honestly prefer the lines of the No1 to the Model10. The thought of a 375 Flanged No1 is appealing. If that were to become a reality I would go to town on it, get a grade 9 stock, oxide colouring and a red recoil pad.

Or if I could find it this Holland and Holland No1. I have asked H&H if they know anything about it, but came up blank. View attachment 673585

Weird. When H&H was desperate like the other best gun makers of London (1960-1990s) they made all manner of abominations, but more often than not its just a clean counterfeit.

In the 1980s Heym did make a few rifles on the #1 action and they are absolutely spectacular pieces. Redleg has one in fact and I've seen about a half dozen others.

The #1 is a beefier gun and it can handle tremendously large cartridges with modification up to or exceeding 500NE. The Dakota 10 is diminuitive and far more petite, better suited for the smallbores. (the latter tops out at 9.3x62/375FL/9.3x64)

I love them both, but the Dakota is far more refined with a dainty wrist and several pounds lighter. (average of 6.25lbs w/o scope)

There are also no investment castings on the Dakota 10, whereas the #1 has the cast safety and quarter rib that both create their own annoyances and are usually replaced if a custom #1 is being built.