Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No. 1-RSI International?

Thinking about getting one of these. I am thinking 30-06 or 308, but I leaning towards the 308 becuase I have been told the '06 will lose more velocity (due to the short barrel) than the 308. I do not know if this theory can be substansiated though. What are realistic velocities with the 30-06 and 308 with 150/ 165/ 180 grainers. My biggest concern is accuracy. What have you guys experienced with good handloads in these guns? Thank you.

Go to Hodgdon's website and check the data for those cartridges as handguns. The test barrels were 15" IIRC. That will give you a realistic lower bound on what to expect, since you'll have more barrel than that working in your favor.

Unless you are considering having a No.1 custom barreled to .308, then you are stuck with the .30-06. Ruger does not chamber the No.1 RSI in .308.
I have a .30-06 RSI that has performed well; nothing I have ever shot with it seemed to notice that the velocity may have been off a bit, that is deer and hogs! Mine shoots the 150 grain cheap Federals very well.
It makes for an extremely short and handy rifle.

A No.1 RSI would be great in a couple of tight deer stands I sit. I would probably top it with a Leupold 6x36 I have, if I didn't go ahead and get a new VX-3 1.5-5x20. The far edge shots for those stands would be well inside 150 yards too, so I'd load some 150 grain bullets to approximate 300 Savage ballistics. Mild yet power to spare.

I already have a 2x7 Compact Leupold for it.....

I wouldn't choose that scope.

Why not?

The variable power compacts and ultralights have shorter and more critical eye relief characteristics than typical Leupolds. This is particularly bad for the No.1 because of the positioning of the scope rings on the quarter rib.

For example I've used 2.5-8x36 and 3-9x40 Leupolds on a No.1 and they need to sit about as far back as the rear scope ring will allow, and they have much better eye relief than the variable compacts.

The extension rings for Rugers add weight and are butt-ugly to boot, so for me they would spoil the whole look of the trim RSI.

I see....

Have you tried it on a No.1 without extension rings? If it works for you I'm not going to say you're imagining things.

I have over 30 #1s. The high power mag and Varmint calibered #1s all have variables with lots of high number Xs. The normal deer-use #1Bs mostly have 6X fixed Leupolds because of the late evening light advantage.

The svelter models -- #1As, RSI etc. -- all have Leupoled 2-7 VX I and IIs as do even quite a few of my 1Bs. They work fine w/o extension rings.

In fact, I regard the VX II 2-7 as a fine, flexible, default scope choice for anything but a cross canyon, or small target/long range, #1.

Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how you 'fit' facory stocks...

1B

But 1B, are your 2-7s the compacts the original poster mentioned?

I'm quite familiar with the regular 2-7x33 and that's a fine scope with good eye relief.

m

1B;

Do you use low or medium rings for a 1A with a leupold 2X7??

OOPS! Missed the compact description. I do not own one of those. Apologies to all.

Most of my #1s use the medium rings issued with them or extension rings that do not come in low. Somewhere around here I do have a couple pairs of low Ruger rings to try out, but have never gotten around to it. I have put Burris rails and low Warne QR rings on several used rifles that came with no rings and they work nicely.

1B

I have had a RSI # 1 in 30-06 for 5 + years now, it's a nice light easy to carry around Rifle and I never had a complaint about the accuracy. It will put 5 shots ( my handloads ) just under 1.5 inches at 100 yds. shooting a shot about every 45 seconds. With Rem 180 Gr. factory loads it will stay just a bit under 2 inches for 5 shots at 100 yds., yes the barrel does get warm but it still holds this accuracy. All it has that is not factory is a trigger up grade. I'm using an old Weaver K-3 Scope on it in low Ruger rings, all this group shooting is of course off a bench. I never had a problem with eye relief or the way it's set up, have no problem hitting orange clay birds offhand at 200 yds. that's a good enough 200 yd. hunting rifle for me.
Ruger # 1 Guy