Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No. 1-A .30-06, keep it or trade it away

Hi all, first post here after lurking for quite some time. I had the fortune several months ago of picking up a crazy deal on a Ruger No. 1A in .30-06 from an aquantances husbands estate. It's a beautiful early 70s gun with a period correct Redfield Widefield 3-9x. I've always wanted one of these works of art. The problem is that I don't hunt any big game, just varmint/ predator when I get the chance, which isn't often. Aside from punching .30 cal holes in paper, I'm not sure I have much use for the gun. I've heard of folks using 125 or even 110 grain loads on smaller critters, but I can't find any locally and I'm not set up the reload .30-06 yet. What's a guy to do, keep it and try to make it work, or trade it for another No. 1 in a more suitable caliber? Your opinions are appreciated.

A .30-06 is at home as a deer, bear & elk rifle.

I've popped varmints off and on with one, but there are much better cartridges for that purpose. If you're not going to hunt big game, why keep the big game rifle? I say trade it off for something you'll use for your varmint shooting.

Regards, Guy

My $.02
It certainly sounds like you need (and want) another rifle. That said, you'll get a lot more money for it by selling outright, especially if it's an early '70s gun as you say. These had Douglas barrels, a truly adjustable trigger and usually nicer wood that was fitted with more care.
Gunshops, which usually can't tell the difference between early (more desirable/collectible) No. 1s and one made yesterday, will only allow you a bare minimum on a trade.
Good luck - BTW, what you need is a 1V in 223

this thread is worthless without pitchers

seriously, a good number of people (me included) collect the early Rugers. I have a Liberty 1B that belonged to Dad. The wood is so-so, but it shoots very well, and hits some impressive velocities with its 26" barrel.

What serial number is it? You can x out the last two or three digits. We can tell you what year it was made, from Ruger's website.

The 1A in .30-06 is a pretty darn nice, all-around rifle.

Yep, pitchers is always good

I will do my best to get a few photos here soon. I appreciate all of the advice. The hard part is bringing myself to sell it. From the same estate I also managed to get a B78 in .25-06 and an old Wickliffe 76 Deluxe in .22-250 (as well as several other nice firearms) but as nice as those rifles are, and as perfect as the Wickliffe is for varmint hunting, it just isn't as nice as a Ruger No.1. It's also several pounds heavier. I guess I should just be happy with what I have, but then what fun would that be? I might have to become a Ruger No.1 or general falling block collector....

I thought you would have said

"Yep, pitchers is allas good"

Rich

http://s1360.photobucket.com/user/ffbigdawg/library/Ruger%20No%201A

I have no idea how to post pictures directly to the page, so let's try this. A few shots of the Ruger, and the Ruger with the Wickliffe and my Model 70 in 225 winchester.

Because the .30/06 is good for a great many types of hunting... and that you MAY someday wish to go hunting. Your .30/06 will serve you well on just about ANY "big game" other than the grizzly, Alaskan brown bear or polar bear...i.e., your .30/06 is a fine caliber for all the other big game animals in the New World given the best available bullet weight for the intended game and the highest-velocity cartridge which some cartridge manufacturers make available these days.

I've seen some "specialized" .30/06 cartridges having much higher muzzle velocities than the standard .30/06 cartridge making your .30/06 as powerful as the highly-regarded .300 H&H Magnum which has been and still are used for even the largest big game like grizzly bears and such.

You can use any of several 110 grain .30 caliber "varmint" bullets in your .30/06... or you could simply buy another rifle in a much less powerful, hard-kicking caliber like the .22/250 or even the smaller .223 or even a .222 which are all very accurate and have no real noticeable recoil.

Other choices could be any of a large number of .224 or .243 caliber varmint-type cartridges now available on today's market.

And even if you never wanna shoot a deer or any other big game, you would undoubted enjoy the camaraderie of a good deer camp.

At the very least, this is something to think about before you make ANY decision!


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

For serial number 130-410xx it would be 1977 mfg. See Ruger's chart here:

http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory/RI-No1.html

Didn't want to get too down-home folksy ;-)

Ok, NOT an early '70s gun. That colors things a little differently. By sometime in 1977, Ruger had gone to the 2-screw trigger, added the stupid warning on the barrel and switched to Wilson barrels with some having questionable QC.
Still a nice rifle. . . .for someone.

I have a No. 1V in 22-250 Rem I would be happy to trade . I have only shot it a few times but with good reloads with 50 gr. bullets It shoots under an inch. I have no luck putting pics on the net. I you have a smart phone send me a no. and I will send you a pic. 1-614-5605050

Thank you everyone for your replies. Being new to Ruger ownership with the exception of a 10/22, it's nice being able to learn from my peers here. Hopefully I can someday return the favor with some knowledge of my own.

Text message inbound ChuckK

Trust me, if you let any of those single shots go, you will forever regret it. Those are three of the best.

Get some managed recoil loads for the '06 and enjoy it until you really think it over, for maybe 10 years or so. When you get ready to start reloading, you can make your own, or you can get some good cast bullets and some 5744 or Trail Boss and have yourself a time. When you decide you want to start hunting, as you surely will, you will be very well fixed.

Thanks everyone for all of your replies and advice. I'm in the process of working out a trade for a 1V in .22-250 with ChuckK. I just can't see haning onto a gun I won't shoot. I have an old Safari Grade Browning in .30-06 if I ever decide to try big game. I'm really falling for these falling block rifles though, especially the styling of the Ruger. And since the likely hood of coming across another Wickliffe 76 Deluxe is unlikely, I think I may try to pickup a few more No.1s in calibers that I shoot or at least want to try. I saw a stainless laminate in .204 on gunbroker that caught my eye, maybe that one will be next. Thanks again for all of the input.

Soooo, if you wanted to sell, put a price on it. Or you could auction it off on this site. I think you'd get top dollar here,

Just something to think about. Ruger ain't making standard runs anymore, just limited editions for Lipsey's.
Paul B.

A Ruger parts rep told me last week that Lipsey's actually bought the line outright from Ruger. The phrase he used was "bought the patent".

Maybe we'll be seeing the Lipsey Number One, built by Ruger, soon.