Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Got the Number 1 itch

Never new the safety blocked the hammer! Next time I pull the stock, I’ll check it out.

yes that is very true , > also Federal Cartridge ammo company uses Ruger # 1 actions to pressure test loads , load development and have for many years this is one of the strongest actions in the world.

If you want a smallbore for varmints, consider instead one of the Miroku 1885 Low Walls, either an older Browning or one of the newer Winchesters. The name on the rifle varies, as does the quality of the wood, but they seem to be consistantly accurate, and the Low Walls are a bit lighter than typical Rugers. I bought a .22 Hornet about 2000 and it’s still here and ain’t going anywhere until I do. .223s are pretty common, .243s less so but out there, along with a very few .22/250s I believe.

Worth a look.

I have No. 1's in 7x57, 30-06, 300 H&H, 9.3x74, 375 H&H and 450-400 NE. The 30-06 and 375 H&H are exceptional (1/2 - 3/4 MOA consistently). The rest are acceptable at 1 - 1.5 MOA. All are factory original with no tinkering. I'm getting to the point in life when it's time to cut back and 'thin the herd', but the 30-06 and 375 H&H will stay to the end.

Penicillin clears up the #1 itch in most cases

I have had 3 of the. All 45-70. All.shot well well. Recoil was heavy.
Like you I still get the urge for one. Next time in 30-06. For the time being it is on hold unless I can sell my Remington 673.

i have been looking a little for a 7mm-08 , 7 x 57 or a 280 in a Ruger#1 - 1B to hunt with ? So ya i have the itch again too ! Pete53

280 ackley imp.! It was Fred Huntington’s favorite cartridge. That’s the way I am heading. Killed about 5 deer with 30-06 and too much meat damage using 165 grains.

Scratch that itch. They can be found for cheap. ha ha..

As someone who owns four Ruger #1's & four 1885's, I would recommend avoiding the #1 itch. It can be addictive. I generally don't shoot 1" but that has more to do with my level of skill than the quality of the rifle. I can put deer in the freezer but I'm not going to win any target shooting contests. My continued success with these rifles is based mainly on the moderate ~150 meter shots I usually take in the southeastern woods.

As you probably know, the Ruger #1 was chambered in lots of calibers. Based on your criteria, good choices might be the 6mm Remington, 243 Winchester, the 25-06 you mentioned, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts (rarely inexpensive) & an assortment of 6.5's. Some people have had good luck hunting deer with smaller rounds like the 22-250 & the 223 but personally I favor larger calibers. The smallest #1 I have is a 6.5x55 SE in a 1A model which I really like a lot.

The 25-06 you were considering is often found in the B or V models or even the KB model in stainless with a laminate stock. If you can locate one in an AH variant, then that could be a really nice lightweight option. As someone mentioned, Browning made the B-78 in 25-06 as well but all of the ones I've seen have a right-hand buttstock with a cheek weld so just be aware of this if that makes a difference. Good luck with your search.

My 25" barreled factory 1A 280 AI just feels right and shoots the factory Nosler 140 AB well. There were 200 made and I believe I know where one may still exist NIB.

EdM,
They are all gone!
CLN

LOL

I saw EdM's post and thought to myself..."there is probably one at Cowhouse Creek"!

Guess not!

I will have a Ruger no1 in 280 ai when I finish other projects. I have the gun, a few barrels , reamer , dies and brass. I have a book somewhere , where Gun writer Jim Carmichael restocks the Ruger no1 with cheek piece. Have not looked at it in 15 years but that’s ok. I have the book. Alan

Yup, they’re not known for accuracy. I’ve owned five of them, one would shoot 1” groups on a good day. The other four, not even close.

This is what I'm talking about. You have the majority of the guys saying this, then you have other few members saying they shoot lights out. Who to believe? Especially if one were interested in buying one, or had the #1 itch???

Like I've posted before, I have always admired them from afar. Have seen some that would not shoot worth a can of beans. Never did want to take the plunge, until one fell into my lap dirt cheap.

BSA1917 said, "This is what I'm talking about. You have the majority of the guys saying this, then you have other few members saying they shoot lights out. Who to believe? Especially if one were interested in buying one, or had the #1 itch???"

I guess you could compare it like that "box of chocolates". You never know what you're gonna get.

Seriously though, I have a small collection of Ruger #1s ranging from .22 Hornet to .416 Rigby. I'd ben on the hunt for one ever since they first came out in what, 1965? I didn't even see one to look at until 1975, a "B" model in 30-06. I was hoping for the "S" version and I really liked the look.

On accuracy, there's your, "box of chocolates." You pays your money and you takes your chance. Seriously though, I've been able to make most of mine shoot with reasonably decent hunting accuracy. I hunt with mine, or at least did until a bad car wreck. I long ago came to the conclusion that my rifle were made to hunt. I don't need .25" groups to put a deer or elk in the freezer. So, for the most part if the gun is a consistent 1.5" or less I'm reasonably happy. As things go, probably half my #1s shoot at one inch with some much less. There's two, possibly even a third that does not meet my standards. Two run about 2.0 to 2.5" which while still usable does not trip my trigger. No matter. One of these days I'll get into them and fix the problem.

I'd say that in some ways, buying a Ruger #1 in whatever chambering and expecting one inch or less is like playing poker and expecting a royal flush. Well, maybe not that bad.

Interesting thing, but not what you're looking for. I have four Ruger #1s, a "B" and three in the "S" configuration, all chambered to the .300 Win. Mag. Three are older red pads, two from 1976 and one black pad. Every one of them will do .75" or better with a max load of a now long discontinued powder

If you go the Ruger #1 route, be sure to waterproof the wood. Outside they water tight but there is nothing on the internal side of the wood. That goes for the M77s as well.

The 25-06 in the #1B is very pleasant to shoot. I found one that looked a bit rough like maybe rode hard and put away wet. I always run at least one box of factory ammo through a new to me gun and this one grouped like a serious target gun. I've left it be and looked for another donor. Found another 25-06 B and the damn thing has some of the prettiest wood I've ever seen on a #1 and has to work hard to do 2.0" You just never know until you shoot it. Then comes the fun of finding out what may make it do what you want.
PJ

Ditto - apply cortisone cream until the itch goes away.

HiWall, LoWall, Dakota #10, T/C ProHunter

Once the itch appears it spreads quickly like a flesh eating disease. I was first bitten about 5 years ago when I used a #1 as a platform for a custom build. That spread into a dozen single shots and 3 more custom projects. It’s not just Rugers either I’ve branched out into Winchester High Wall, Dakota M10 and added 2 Browning 1885’s in the last month or so, a Low Wall 243 and a High Wall 25/06.
I have failed the 12 step program in glorious fashion 😁