Ruger No 1

W

William Suter

Well-known member
Well Black Friday got me. LOL, but it didn't have to be Black Friday when it comes to rifles. Local pawn shop had a No 1 in 243 on the rack. I just looked at it at a glance the other day but today I ask to handle it. Its an older red pad and all the metal has been coated in a burnt bronze. The wood isn't perfect but it isn't beat to crap either. Maybe an 8.5 +/- but pretty nice looking rifle all in all. It even has a decent trigger to that breaks at 2.5 pounds. As expected, out of 25 sets of rings, I have none for a Ruger and don't have a decent scope either so it may be a while before it gets shot. No hurry its not like I don't have a rifle or two to shoot.
 
Good luck with it. As I'm sure you are aware, the No1s are hit and miss in the accuracy department. I've had several and ended up selling all of them because I never could get them to shoot to suit me.

They are absolutely beautiful rifles, though.
 
1B? I had a No. 1B Varmint configuration .243 at one time. Had a Weaver T12 on top. Worked up a load with the old-style 87 gr. Hornady BTHP bullets. That was my favorite groundhog and long-range rifle for a time back in the day. A farmer acquaintance had several ponds that were overrun with turtles. He wanted them reduced. That 87 gr. hollowpoint will absolutely reduce a turtle to hundreds of pieces at impact. I'm sure the fish enjoyed eating the turtles instead of the other way around.
 
One other thing in case you didn't know ........ The Ruger bolt guns (M77, Hawkeye, etc) had to have two different height rings because of the slope of the receiver. The No1 rifles take the SAME SIZE rings front and rear.
 
Yes I'm aware of this. I had a set of rings that were for a 77. Man that scope looks weird, LOL. Must of had a 100+ MOA in it. Turned them around and it looked even worse. Guess I'll have to make a run to the store tomorrow or Monday and see what turns up. I hate ordering but may have to do that if I strike out in town. All the sets of rings I have and never the right ones. Go figure!

I know accuracy is hit and miss with the No 1 rifles as I've had a few. If it will shoot an inch I can live with it. Anything smaller and I'll do a happy dance.
 
Been reading on the No. 1 about making them accurate. Going to just work with hand loaded ammo first then try the tricks. I had to order rings as there were nothing I could use locally. I ordered a Burris scope while I was at it so its going to be a while before the Ruger makes its first range trip.
 
I had a number 1B in 300 Win Mag around 1980, it really like heavy bullets with 200gr SGK it's favorite and it killed with authority.
 
Always wanted a varmint model #1 mainly because of looks. The mixed reports on accuracy kept me from trying one.
 
AdamT said:
Always wanted a varmint model #1 mainly because of looks. The mixed reports on accuracy kept me from trying one.
Click to expand...

One of mine was a varmint model in 223. I never could get it under 1.5" no matter what I fed it. It's hit and miss. Some shoot lights out ... others don't.
 
I had the aforementioned 1B in .243 and I currently have a 1A in .30-06. Both of those rifles are older guns and both shot/shoot well when you hit upon the combination that suits them. But they are finicky rifles no doubt about it.
 
Another range trip with the No. 1 again today. While I never expected it to be a bench gun it is shooting better than I expected. With a disappointed group using H414 and an 80 Nosler, everything else is hovering 1 inch and under. Today I shot 70 grain BlitzKings and 80 grain Bergers. Three loads of the BK's were all right at an inch but the three loads of Bergers were all under an inch with two loads having two bullets in a single hole and one out. All loads today were with IMR 4895 and a CCI LRP. What is impressing me is the rifle is shooting groups, not patterns. I've had to tell myself this is a hunting rifle, not a target rifle and so far its holding up its end. So far its been the best shooting No.1 I've had. I had one in 6MM that was a beauty but never shot to good. I'm going to do a lot more testing and maybe some tuning but as it is right now I wouldn't have any issues taking it to the woods.
 
William,
Don't be surprised at how much you can shrink your groups with load development.
There's a powder / bullet combination your particular rifle likes and when you find it don't stray from it!!
Accuracy is what puts you in the X ring -not speed.

I've got 2 No.1 rifles I'm trying to find loads .
Good luck.
Semper Fidelis
Soup
 


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