Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots No1 .243

Gents ,
I'm getting a No1 in .243 later this month . The rifle has been shot very little . A friend passed away . I don't know much about it other than the fact he bought it new . I do know it has a Red Ruger pad and scope rings but that's about It .
My intended use is Coyotes, fox and groundhogs . I just bought some 55 grain Noslers Varmageddon pills . I know little about the .243 Winchester other than it's used for both Pedators and deer . I'm told it has a 1/10 twist so I'm guessing for deer I could go as heavy as 85/90 grains ? I don't know which powder the .243 likes etc . So any information anyone can pass on will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration .

Happy 245th Birthday to all my Marine Brothers .
And a Happy Veterans Day to All the Veterans .
Semper Fi
Soup



.

My old B cloverleafed w 75gr Speer or Hornady and 4895.

Bought used, throat eventually eroded.

I wouldn't run lighter than 70 gr in any .243.
Three 700s, a 600 and a Model 7 all liked 70gr Nosler BT on max charge of 4350.

My RSI liked the WW factory 100 and 95 gr stuff. Only shot one deer, w the 100gr and was not impressed. Got the Deer Season XP to try and nothing big enough to poke.
Been running a 35 rem since................why the hell Ruger never made one?

Think an A or RSI in that would be freakin' awesome.

Hookeye ,
Thank you for your reply .
I'm beginning to think this is a bad caliber in a No1. No one seems to offer any information .
Soup

IMHO a #1B in .243 is THE groundhog rifle to have.
Wouldnt mind an A for a light deer rifle.
But still think an A or RSI in a mild mannered thumper, like 35 rem.....to be the ideal timber whitetail rig..

I miss my old .243 B.
Smoked a lot of chucks. Shot great. Was one of my few rifle joys.

Might have to roll the dice on one, or have one built.
If my 280 doesn't shoot, proly rebarrel to .243.

Hookeye ,

I'm not knowledgeable of the different No1 models . How will I know if it's a 1B or a 1A or what ?
Thank you
Soup

Don’t lean too hard on it and the throat will last longer. Enjoy your friend’s rifle.

As much as it pains me to say it, I agree with Pappy.😉😁

Wise men frequently do😜.

Also wise guys.

I have taken a truck load of deer both mule deer and white tails along with antelope with a 243 and 100gr Nosler partitions. I have 7 Ruger #1's in calibers from 250 Savage to 450-400 NE. My varmint weight rifles will shoot 75gr ballistic tips into the same hole every time. In the two 243's I currently have both like 4350.
If you don't enjoy the rifle and caliber let me know cuz I's enjoy the heck out of it.
I have loaded my varmint rifle with 55gr bullets to a tad over 4000 FPS but they were very wind sensitive and quickly went back to the 75gr V-Max. You might find it a little hard on pelts if your intending to save them.

Hookeye I just got a 1A in 35 Rem. I'm getting her broke in using Hornady Super Performance ammo and have saved out enough for deer season which starts Sunday so I won't be developing a handload for it this season. I'm hoping to do a free range Bison hunt next year and I'll definitely take this and another #1 in either 405 Winchester or 450/400.

+1 on the 4350 and a 75 grain slug. I used Sierras HP and they were easy to get to shoot. A Ruger in 243 is a nice combination. The old red Pad guns usually have nice wood too.

Fellows ,

I need a scope for this No1 and I'm looking at a Leupold 3X i 4.5X14X40 CDS Side Focus ZL Duplex reticle 30mm tube . It's also available with a 50mm objective lens but i was thinking I'd have to go to pretty high rings with that big of a lens .
Anyone use this scope , what's the pros / cons ?

Thank you in advance for your time and help .
Happy Thanksgiving to all , have a safe and successful hunt .

Soup

I'd stick to the 3.5X10X40 it will work fine with the Ruger rings.

It's easy to tell them apart. The #1A is the light sporter with 22" barrel and the Alex Henry forearm. It's the one with the kind of funny look on the tip of the forearm. My favorite style BTW. The #1B has the full forearm and 26" Barrel. There is also the somewhat scarce #1AB which looks like the #1B but with 22" barrel. Then there is the #1S with 24" barrel and the Alex henry forearm, my favorite version of all the #1s. Standard cartridges have IIRC 24" barrels and magnums 26" barrels. The #1 RSI has the full Mannlicher style stock and 20" Barrel. The #1V looks like a #1B but with a 24" heavy barrel.

The odds are the .243 you are interested in is most likely an "A" or "B" with the off chance of it being a "V". My .243 #1 is the "A" model and it's shoots decently with the 100 gr. Hornady SP. I would use that load for deer or coyotes plus any other varmints I find as targets of opportunity. Bear in mind those rifles can be very finicky not only in what they're fed but in the way they're held on the bench. If you decide to get it, try different loads to see what it likes or shows a tendency toward what it likes. There are many tricks toward making them shoot better but first off, see how it shoots as is. It might surprise you.
Paul B.

Scope selection is a very subjective thing. What one hates, the other loves. Someone already mentioned this, but the rifle is likely a #1A, #1B or #1V. In my opinion, the scope you mentioned would throw off the balance of a #1A. That rifle is very short. It has a 22" barrel, but basically no action length. Me, I would carry a rifle like that in-hand or over the shoulder for deer, so would want a shorter and lighter scope (which would look better too). If you're going to sit and pop varmints, who cares about weight and balance I suppose.

If the rifle is a #1B or #1V, the scope you mentioned would be more fitting. Those rifles have 26" and 24" barrels respectively, but are still no longer than the standard 22" barreled bolt action rifle. That combo would be a 9 to 9 1/2lb set-up if not a tad more, but not a bad thing when laid over a daypack and popping groundhogs way out there.

Condolences to you for your friend.

I had a 4-16x50 on a .243 B. It worked well on everything, especially coyotes. It weighed about 9 1/2 pounds with the scope. I think I used high rings too but it was a while back.

I started using it just for deer and dropped the scope down to a fixed power 6x.

That’s what I finally settled on for my 1V. Plenty of tube length for the somewhat difficult No.1, and good ER. A good magnification range too. Despite the current trend of complaining about Leupys, that one worked perfectly while I had it. Probably should have kept it, but it was an extra, and the money came in handy at the time.

Guys,

Well I finally got the rifle.
From what PJGunner explained or should I say educated me as to the different models it’s a 1A . 22” barrel with 1” scope rings . It has a Ruger red recoil pad . Bad news is the first 3 digits of the serial number are
131 , so if what I’ve been reading on here and other sites is correct it has a poorly manufactured and farmed out barrel .
In spite of that and since I just bought 250 , 55 grain and 70 grain Nosler Varnagdedon heads , I’m going to load up and shoot .
Who knows .

PA boys good luck tomorrow. I’ll be in a tree stand in Lycoming County .
Be safe , have a good time .

Soup

Soup, your rifle is probably late 1977 to sometime in 1978. Mine is a 132 series which also has the Wilson barrels. Before you get too discouraged shoot the rifle and see what it does. Mine does not like the lighter weight bullets but does quite well with the 100 gr. Hornady SP. No use giving you the load as the powder used was discontinued about 11 years ago.

All my Ruger #1s except one are red pad guns which mean odds are they have the Wilson barrels. The black pad gun is a #1S in .300 Win. Mag. The black pad guns are reputed to have Ruger made barrels.

Try your loads with the light weight bullets. They might surprise you. If they don't work out go heavier. Years back before I ever got a #1, my coyote rifle was a Kodiak Mauser in .243. I kind of dual purposed that rifle using the 100 gr. Hornady for deer and coyote. Surprised me when it didn't mangle up the pelts real bad. Back in 77,78 and 79 pelts were bringing some very decent money.

One more thing, about those Wilson barrels. It doesn't take too much badmouthing about a problem like those barrels were all bad. Truth is, they're not all bad. Some shoot great right out of the box. Some need tinkering and frankly a few need to go back to Ruger to get squared away. Let's look at it this way, I have a few #1s and all but two shoot just fine. The two that don't I'll be tearing into to figure out what needs to be done. First will be some loads with 200 and 220 gr. bullets. Both rifle are 30-06 and have long throats. That might be an easy fix, if I'm luck. After that, who knows?

If you have problems, feel free to PM me with questions. I won't make any promises I'll have a solution but I'll try.
Paul B.

Guys,
I’m not sure about the scope selection yet .
I like the VX3i 4.5x14 x40 with the Side Focus CDS ZL , but it only comes in a 30mm tube . There’s already 1” rings on the rifle , may as well use them . So my second thought was to go with a VX3i. 3.5x10 x 1” but I can’t seem to fine one with side focus , cds, zl .
What’s your thoughts gents ?
Also I put the serial number of my 1A in a Ruger search and it said that it can’t give any information as the number is incorrect ??
Thank you u,
Soup

Folks ,
Just returned from a WT hunt in PA .
3 of us in camp and 2 scored , yes I’m odd man out this trip .
Perhaps I’ll be lucky next week down in Southern NJ .

I checked out the No1 when I got home and its got 1” rings for sure . As luck would have it I found an older Leupold 2x7x ?? , maybe 36 . Had it on my .308 Sako Finnwolf .
Clear as new , gloss finish with a few marks on tube . What the heck I mounted and bore sighted it . I’ve loaded up some Nosler 55 Varmagdedon Bullets , and I’m going to see how things go before I buy a new scope and rings . Rifle is in nice shape and no marks on the metal . Ran a patch down the bore with a little Rem Oil and it was clean and shinny . Oh yes although I did not use a scale on the trigger it’s really sweet . It could have been worked on or an aftermarket job .
I want this rifle to shoot,but I’ve got to keep in mind it’s a 131 prefix so the barrel may be from Jack Meoffs garage !!
I’ll just wait for a nice day after I get a buck , to take her to the range .

I’m open to all suggestions and information any of y’all want to pass along .

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Semper Fi,
Soup

PROBLEM ,
I mounted and bore sighted the scope . Looked great on 2X , when I went to 4x or 6x I lost my focus . I would have to climb way up on the stock to get clear focus . Does Ruger or Leupold or anyone make special rings to correct this issue or is it just me ?

I can use some help , to say the least . If I get a new scope it will be a 30mm tube . Pictures or info would be great .

Thank you in advance for your time help and consideration .

Soup

Have you tried adjusting the rear lens of the scope? You can turn this as it increases or reduces eye relief.

I’ve tried adjusting it but it didn’t make much difference.
Soup

You can get extension rings that will give you more eye relief. I have 7 #1 rifles and haven't had any problems with scope mounting. I just put a Vari X III 3.5X10X40 on a 300 H&H. Can you post a pic of what you have? Maybe that will help to see what your dealing with.

Soup. Another solution to your scope mounting issue is the Burris Ruger to Weaver adapter bases - part #410991. They attach to the rib and you can use any Weaver type ring of your choice. (I chose Burris Z rings.). No need for extension rings as the rear base extends back over the action - allowing for more latitude in positioning your scope. I did this one my son’s #1B .257 Roberts and it worked perfectly.
On my #1A 7x57, I have the Moulds bases that replace the rib and use Weaver type rings. They work great but I don’t believe they’re any longer available. So that’s not much help.🥴

I always have to mount scopes far back because of my eyes...heres my #1 with the extension mount...

Ingwe ,

This is what I need . Do you order them right from Ruger or aftermarket .
Since I'm going to put a Leupold 3.5x10X40 or a 4.5X14X40 , both which have 30mm tubes , I'll inquire now are these special rings available for 30MM tubes ?

I really appreciate all the help Campfire members have passed on to me . I feel like a sponge soaking up all the inside information .

Soup

Ruger makes 30mm rings.
Rings are sold individually.

I used one at the back for my Vari X II 3-9X.
My neck doesn't stretch like it used to.
Am not gonna torture myself.
Extension at rear was way more comfy

Check the link to Midway EdM posted or just go to their site..

You can buy them from the factory but not cheap. They are likely cheaper from BROWNELLS !

On a No. 1 B there are very few variable scopes that will set far enough back that you don't have to crawl the stock as the eye relief diminishes on higher power. I have tried both methods noted, the extended rings and the Weaver base that lets you set back. I put a 3-9x40 on mine and used Burris extended rings. It helped some but if I am wearing a heavy coat it is still not perfect. I finally just went with a 6x Leupold and it worked pretty well. I used it for coyotes and Whitetail.

95 gr. SST's for deer and coyotes with 4350 were great.

Gents ,
Called Ruger today and ordered 2 of the extended rings
Very nice person and knowledgeable. She told me the
Web site for my No1 manufacturing date wouldn’t work as its too
old . She looked it up for me and said about 1977 or 1978
I’m not lucky so I’ve more than likely got a poor barrel
Time will tell
I should have asked her if Ruger would rebarrel it ?

Thanks to all for your time and help
Soup

You don't know what ya got until you shoot it.
Even then, it might be picky on ammo.
Handloading usually helps a bunch.

Gents ,
The rings came earlier today , just finished mounting them and the scope. Made very little improvement . Perhaps this VXII 2X7 îjust isn’t right for a No1 . I’ve got a VX3 I. 3.5 X 10 X 40 on a SAKO Finnwolf
Maybe I’ll put it on the No1 and buy a 4.5X14 for the Finnwolf
Soup

TTT

"She looked it up for me and said about 1977 or 1978."

I told you so. Seriously, shoot it first with several different bullet weights and see what the rifle tells you about what it likes or not. Then we can look into what it might take to fix it so its shoot good. One hint right off the bat. shooting from the bench keep the forearm's position on the bags/rest as consistent as possible. Best way yo do that is have the bag as close to the receiver as possible. When I shoot mine I have the receiver hard up against the rest which feels a tad weird until you get used to it. Remember, Ruger's accuracy standard for the #1 is 2" at either 50 or 100 yards, I forget which. Two inches at 100 is adequate for deer though I prefer 1.5" as absolute max size group for big game.
So, shoot that rifle a bit and see what it will do. Then we can figure out what may or may not fix any problems.
Paul B.

W the vx1 2-7x and vx3 2.5-8x i would have needed an extension ring at each location.
Didnt care for the look.

Went w an older M8 4x of longer tube.
W one extension ring at rear location.

That on my RSI.

Same ring arrangement w Vari XII 3-9x on a B

I have 7 #1's ranging in caliber from 250 Savage to 450/400 NE and have either Leopold Vari V III 2.5X8 or 3,5X10 on all of them and have never needed extension rings.

I grew using a #1 w Vari X 3-9x AO
Shot chucks, off bipods or bags, damn near 9x all the time.
Was barely 5 ft tall in 9th grade. Reg rings.

Am 6 ft now.

And need extension ring.

Now i do have neck issues, and I aint hunting in just a T shirt......so yeah, gImme that ugly azz extension ring.

I aint the only sumbitch that uses em.

Vx3 2.5-8x or vx1 2-7x would have needed two ext rings on my RSI. Went w one and an M8 4x.

Id rather not use an ext ring, they aint pretty. But w neck issues and hunting w coats.....i need em.

Older scopes in T shirt, and no neck prob....didnt need em.

That’s some really pretty wood.

Somewhere I have some slides of the 22” AH 7mm RM my brother bought way back when, and later sold to me. 4-digit SerNo 53somethingsomething. That was a pretty one too. Kinda loud.

Thanks. It aint perfect. Was hunted before I got it.
18XX the serial number, so a '67
Taking it up north later this week for an antlerless hunt.

I purchased a pair of extension rings from Ruger , mounted them and added a Leupold 3.5X10X40 scope .
I can just about get by on 10X and really have to climb up on the stock .
Without a lot of sarcasm please , what am I doing wrong ???

Thank you .
Soup

Thats a great scope. As I have mentioned before I have half a dozen #1's in various calibers and have never needed extension rings. The higher the magnification the smaller field of view maybe thats why 10x isn't as user friendly as say 6x. Can you post a picture of the set up?

If its a newer vx3i then the new style turret body may be too thick to use the extension area afforded by such a ring.

The older style Vari X iii might have clearance to get body dang near to the ring vertical.

I know my Vari X ii 3-9x would go that far w a medium extension ring. Tube to turret body step on the old scopes is slight.

A Redfield Revolution 3-9x was thicker and would not.
Same for new Freedom series.

I used an extension ring on an RSI w an old M8 4x.
Needed it.
Neck doesnt work as well as it used to.
Long enough scope there, turret body was maybe 1/ 4" or so over the step.

The scope is all the way back to the adjustment . On 3.5X I've got a ton of eye relief . But as soon as you increase magnification you have to start climbing up on the butt stock . I was hoping to use this rifle for groundhogs , coyote and deer in PA so I need the magnification . Will buying another scope help? I've looked at the Swarovski scopes but I prefer Leupold .
Bill

Please post a pic.

Groundhog rigs IMHO mandate AO.
Think the 3.5-10x AO 40mm ended in the Vari X series somewhere.

You could go EGW mount if its a B model.and use weaver type rings.
Rear of base overhangs receiver.

Aint Number 1s fun?
If you really want to deal w the BS....get a Number 3

Gents ,
I spoke to Ruger and they wanted me to send them the rifle to check it out . The trigger is too sweet
for a factory or at least having had work so I took it out and shot it . Using both 55 gr Noslers with my load and factory 100 grainers it shoot very well . 5 shot groups of the 55s touched 100s were under 1"
" BUT " , I was only shooting from 25 yards . AND the groups were all 2 1/2 or 3" high , and I'm done gone with down adjustment . Leupold suggested a VX 5HD would have more than double the adjustability , so I ordered one from Optics and a set of 30mm rings but no-one has 30mm offset rings .
I think I getting further the " crick " >
It may be time for a little Jack in the Black !!! BUT I don't drink .
Have a nice weekend
Soup

Yes those Ruger extension rings are ugly and heavy. So I did something about it. RJ
Before

After

I have Leupold 30mm offset ring for #1

RJ, I like your modification a lot. You should patent it then send one to Ruger and collect royalties.
Much better looking.

El Paso steel tube Weavers or Unertls solve the eye relief problem since they were made before short action bolt guns so the tubes are longer.

450/400 4X Unertl Hawk, it could go back even more.

RJ, excellent modification on that extended ring. What tooling did you use ? Milling machine? Thanks.

I once had a 4 digit .243 1-A, at least I think that’s what it was, a light weight sporter.

Maybe that’s one I shouldn’t have traded.

DF

Gents ,
I received the 5HD on Thursday along with a new set of 30mm Ruger medium rings .
Ruger doesn't make 30mm offset rings . I'm in need of 30mm offset rings to fit my No1 . If anyone has them and would be interested in selling them please PM me or point me in the right direction where I can purchase them .
I did mount the new rings and you still have to climb up a little on 4X to 10X . The new 1" offset rings I purchased are available should anyone need them . I haven't bore sighted or shot the new scope yet but the glass is nice and clear .

Have a great weekend and please stay healthy .
Soup

Leupold makes an offset ring set ( one reg, one offset ) but they now have that &#$@! Logo on top of each &#$@! ring.

Too bad Burris doesnt do an offset w posiline.
Thatd be perfect.

I'm kind of late weighing in here, but I've always used a standard front and offset rear ring on No. 1's as others have mentioned. I also mostly use 1-4 or 1.5-5x20 scopes so I'm not fighting the objective bell interfering with the rib. As to your current issue with 30mm rings, I'm unaware of any 30mm offset rings for the No. 1. The only other option I am aware of would be to use the Ruger to Weaver adapter (from Burris) and 30mm Burris Z-rings. It makes for kind of a clunky set up, but should solve your issue.

Yeah, the Leupold one reg/ one extension set in high doesnt show up in 30mm anymore.

Leupold number 52310

I checked Leupolds web site and could not find those rings .

Has anyone tried the base E A Brown sells , allows you to use regullar rings ?
I appreciate the help and sincerely thank everyone .

Soup