Good evening, SF, I'm here with curiosity again.

One of my friends at work has offered up a Ruger #1B in .270 Win. I don't need a .270 at all, but I kinda want this because I've got a bit of a Ruger loyalty and I've always heard that the #1 was a great rifle.

Knowing nothing much at all about the #1, I figured I should ask here -- what should I know about a #1? Who's got one, and what do you like/dislike about it?

Educate me please, gents and ladies.

I owned two. The first in 257 Roberts, not for any good reason other than that I thought then (and still do) that they were the coolest rifles ever. I traded it on a 200th year model in 270 Winchester with the most fantastic wood I’ve seen on a stock I could actually touch. The chambering was reminiscent of my first centerfire rifle, a Ruger model 77. I never shot the #1 much, though, because it wasn’t very accurate (precise), unlike the 77.

If I were starting over, I would find a place on the wall to hang the 270 and admire as a piece of art.

I have five of them:
204 Ruger
280 REM
30-06
275 Ruger
458 Lott

Not the most accurate of rifles, but some of the coolest. They seem to be getting scarcer and prices are steadily increasing… a lot!

If you decide you don’t want it, I’ll be in Roanoke this October.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
If I were starting over, I would find a place on the wall to hang the 270 and admire as a piece of art.

I've honestly been considering that.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:
If you decide you don’t want it, I’ll be in Roanoke this October.

Good to know. Give a shout!

A classic firearm.
Mine was in .30-06.
18 deer with 19 shots (missed with first shot one time).

Son wanted it (he shot his first deer with it) and now has it.

PC

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
what should I know about a #1?

It might be accurate, but most likely it won't be accurate.

If you have a Mini 14 and you're happy with its flyers, then a #1 will fit right in.

Definitely the coolest sporting rifle in the world. I've owned two but only have one now, the Liberty 1B in .270 in the back. Sold the 2506 1V.

I'd love to own a Ruger # 1 in 257 Weatherby. They really are the epitome of cool.

TS

They seem to be totally out of production now unfortunately. Somehow I thought Ruger was going to make limited runs each year in different calibers. Can anyone confirm that?

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
Sold the 2506 1V.

I am about to do the same. (though I've been saying that since October)

Still have my .243 Win, .475 Linebaugh and 450/400.

quote:

Originally posted by kaschi:
They seem to be totally out of production now unfortunately. Somehow I thought Ruger was going to make limited runs each year in different calibers. Can anyone confirm that?

At one point they were simply doing runs every year of whatever Lipsey's ordered. Maybe check over there to see if there's anything new?

I had one, the "Light Sporter" (22-inch barrel with a barrel-band-mounted front sling swivel and iron sights) in .30-06. Pretty to look at for sure, but I never got it truly sighted in with the scope I put on it - when shooting off a bench it beat my shoulder and arm numb. I don't know how people handle heavy-recoiling calibers like .30 magnums and up.

A neat thing about this and other single-shot rifles is that, lacking a reciprocating action, you can put a 26-inch barrel on it and impart more zoom to the bullet while being no longer than a 22-inch bolt, or a 22-inch and have it look and handle like a carbine.

I owned the cheapie version: A .223 Number 3. I was lucky. Mine was very accurate. How the fore end is mounted is the key to the designs accuracy. There were gunsmiths who could tune the gun to improve its accuracy, but I cant recall who they were. Or are now. I should have my butt kicked for selling my Number 3.

Many moons ago my brother had one in 300WM. Nice wood, and very accurate. It hurt (alot) to shoot as I recall.

Pretty damn cool. I've always thought it was a beautiful gun, but never seen one on the shelf in a caliber I would use.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:

quote:

Originally posted by kaschi:
They seem to be totally out of production now unfortunately. Somehow I thought Ruger was going to make limited runs each year in different calibers. Can anyone confirm that?

At one point they were simply doing runs every year of whatever Lipsey's ordered. Maybe check over there to see if there's anything new?

Lipsey's has 5 or 6 chamberings listed, and good ones, too, with a link to distributors. No idea of actual availability.

One of the many guns I've dreamed of owning. I'm not sure of all the different chamberings offered, but I think I'd prefer one in .30-06 or .308...but could be plenty happy with a .270, or others as well.

We have a forum member with a gorgeous .308.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I owned the cheapie version: A .223 Number 3. I was lucky. Mine was very accurate. How the fore end is mounted is the key to the designs accuracy. There were gunsmiths who could tune the gun to improve its accuracy, but I cant recall who they were. Or are now. I should have my butt kicked for selling my Number 3.

The very question I was about to ask, already answered. Thanks for that input.

I wonder if Ruger offers any accurizing services for the #1?

I've got one in .25-06 and it is my favorite rifle. It lives up to the No. 1's reputation for being finicky. With the Winchester factory 120gr. loads I can cover 3 shot groups with a dime. Better than I can do with hand loading so why bother? Buddy of mine moved overseas and gave me a case of factory Remington 90gr. ammo. It shoots an 8" pattern with those.

I had a 200th year #1H in 45/70 that was a cool gun. Open sights with beautiful wood. It was a thumper. I owned several others in .223, 30-06 and 22-250 but the 45/70 was my favorite.

They are often the exceptions to the phrase "only accurate rifles are interesting".