Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Customizing the No. 1

I like the No. 1 but have never bought one because the mix of calibers and barrel styles makes no sense to me.

I wondered how many owners have modified their rifles to fix what Ruger did not offer them? For example, putting a sights on the 1-B barrel, or cutting it off from 26 inches to 24, or rebarreling it with a 24-inch sporter barrel with sights?

Someday I will have a #1 with a hex barrel in 38-55

Lee24,

I had two done about 8 & 10 yrs.ago. What started out as a semi-custom, (& probably still is) , can run over $1500 real quick. If you just replace the trigger with a Kepplinger (there are less expensive ones) you are talking $225. Speed locking the hammer, Wolfe springs, new barrel, etc., can make the $1500 mark quickly. Some right out of the box, with no "custom items" shoot good also. It's like building any "project" rifle, to do all your "wish list" can put a dent in the wallet.

Once the bill of materials goes beyond $1,500, I would start looking at a used Dakota 10 or a new Blaser K-95.

I have considered buying a used No. 1 and putting on a 24-inch .257 Roberts barrel with nice sights. I would welcome any experiences in new barrels on the #1, costs, good smiths, etc.

Well being as how Ruger won't make one in the 500 S&W, I decided to make my own. Have had one done in 35 Whelen.

I have done two modifications to 2 #1s -- one a rechamber to 300 H&H mag, the other a rebarreled .338 -06, Both are full length 26" barrels as I see no reason in shortening an already very handy and well balanced package.

I am thinking next of having one made up into a Whelen with a full length stock. At the same time a buddy and I are lobbying Ruger to do a limited run.... A SS/laminate would make a hell of an Alaska rifle.

1B

Now that's something I want to see... I have seen lots of octagon barrels but I have NEVER seen a rifle with a hex barrel. I once discussed this with the custom rifle maker, Robert Snapp, according to him there is no such thing as a hex barreled rifle... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ...the9.3Guy

I put an Anschutz barrel in .308 win on a light sporter before that caliber was available, and added a Canjar single set trigger. the barrel is 24"
I worked for a guy that had 4 or 5 of them and he was rebarreling them them in stuff like 358STW, and big weord calibers like that!

Cat

I would like a 26" bbl 'tropical' configured #1 in 300H&H. capt david

What I don't understand is why Ruger seems to have dropped the #1S configuration, with the exception of the 45-70? I certainly couldn't have been a sales problem. I never even saw one in any of the gun stores here in Tucson, and we do have quite a few gun stores. The stores wouldn't even try and order one, saying they couldn't get them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I've only seen one example of the #1S at a gun show, and it came home with me, one fo the few times I didn't bother to haggle on the price. I collect and shoot #1s and of the various versions I have, that #1S makes the #1B feel like an unbalanced club, and the #1A like it's too muzzle light. No, it doesn't give .25" groups, more in the 1.25" range, but since when does a .300 Win. mag. really have to give varmint rifle accuracy?
Of course, as long as we're airing gripes one Ruger #1 rifles, I wonder when Ruger will ever get a clue that Ruger #1H rifles need a proper recoil pad rather than that hard rubber piece of garbage they now put on the rifles?
Paul B.

There were 67 of those .300 H&H #1S rifles built.....I just sold one, and, have owned a total of seven. Advertise, as they still exist. I still own one.....Frankly, I do not know if it is for sale. If it was, it would be quite expensive, as the last one was for the buyer, who says he is very pleased with his purchase. I also understand there were even fewer built in the #1B configuration, taking up the slack in the 100 barrel blanks ordered when the late Wammes organization was looking for a .22 Hornet(which Ruger built in the uncataloged #1A) and a .300 H&H, which was ultimately done by Winchester in a 24" Model 70.........Now you know the rest of a brief version of "the story"

I own a very customized #1, which was built by several well-known smiths and stockmakers and auctioned for the benefit of the ISDF.

This rifle is chambered for .280 RCBS Improved, which ballistically is identical to the .280 Ackley Improved, but with a 30 degree shoulder instead of the Ackley's 40 degree shoulder.

The barrel is Shilen, stock work by Al Linden, metalwork by Ray Viramontez.

Last year, I finally took it out of the gun case, mounted up a scope, and developed loads for it. As you might guess, it turned out to be a super shooter. I used it last fall to take a very nice bull elk.

To do all of the above from scratch would cost several thousand dollars. To just rebarrel or rechamber for what you want, however, can be done quite reasonably. The wildcat calibers, like the RCBS, are fun initially, and then turn into a chore. I don't think I would go that route, if I were to build a new #1.

1B -
You say that you find the 26-inch barrels handy and well-balanced. I was thinking of changing to a slimmer 26 or cutting the 1-B off to 24. I don't understand why Ruger does not build a 1-A sporter in 24-inches with iron sights on a traditional single-shot rifle.

The 1-B barrel seems too thick to me for iron sights, but I guess it is no different than my Model 70 .375 H&H, just 3 inches longer in barrel, same overall.

the first one was built by Greg Tannel and is a SS action I put a Lilja #4 barrel on it and had it chambered in 17 PPC. Had it engraved and a new high grade Claro stock is being fitted now. Currently I'am having a #4 microfluted Pac- Nor barrel installed on another this time in 20 LS (20BR-.195" short.) which is being built by Kevin Weaver

This one will get custom scope bases so I can do away with the quarter rib, and the factory stock on it is fairly nice.

In my opinion all #1's turn out to be a little too heavy, what we really need is a 7/8" scale action just like the #1.

Just my opinion.
Michael

I haven't done it yet, so it's still just an idea, but I WANT to take my #3 and barrel it with a Green Mtn. octagonal barrel with the little Sharps "tulip" at the receiver, and then stock it with a slender and discrete schnabble type forend and a ball-end semi-pistol grip, like you see on those nice old SxS double shotguns. Will wear American black walnut, and I vascilate between going with plain, straight grained wood and some nice crotch grain in the butt. Caliber would be .50/110 or .45 - 2 7/8. Starline makes .40/110 brass now, and Norma makes some great .45 basic cases in 2.9" length.

The .45 could use my .45 rifle bullet moulds, but .... well, it just ain't a "Big .50," and lives there a man with soul so dead that he DOESN'T really WANT a .50???? I doubt it. I'd shoot cast bullets exclusively, and there are moulds commonly available in anywhere from 340 gr. (nice plinker) to 650 or more. I figure the 340's at modest velocity would do for rabbit, while the 500's to 650's could do for pachyderms and buff if I ever get to Africa while they've still got shootable populations left. It would be iron sights only, with one being a tang sight, but I'd likely use a barrel sight, mostly. Maybe a 3-leaf with the wide, shallow "V" and a platinum line, like the REAL B'wanas like to use? The front sight would really need to have provision for interchangeable beads, and maybe I'd also have it removable so I could fit a spirit level hooded front with inserts. Butt would wear the absolute thickest, kick-killingest pad I could get because I KNOW that sooner or later ... OK, probably sooner ... I'd HAVE to see what a real "elephant load" did in it.

I'd NEVER put a barrel mounted sling on it, so I THINK (???) I'd go with one of the recessed sling swivels front & rear. Barrel would be either 28 or 30" long, and I'd do my best to get it to weigh @ 10 - 10.5 lbs. fully outfitted in hunting trim.

Now THAT would be a RIFLE, wouldn't it?

I prefer the #3 for customizing, the lever to me, looks much cleaner.
sorry for the banner- I never did take a decent shot of this one
if this is advertising, please pull it, no hard feelings. Just one of my favorite singles

I fell in love with the Ruger #1 back in 1991, couldn't find a #1s in my caliber choice so had to place a order to Ruger & wait, and wait... finally bought another Ruger #1b over the counter just to have a new rifle in time for the fall hunt. So I landed up with a Ruger #1b in 7mm Rem Mag, used it to harvest two Antelope Bucks, a Muley Buck & a Whitetail Buck before my Ruger #1s .338 Win Mag arived in time for my November Bull Moose hunt. Once I had my .338 Win Mag Ruger #1s, I had no further need for the 7mm Rem Mag Ruger #1b so I sold it at a bargin price to my friends son to be his first hunting rifle, he still has it & the Ruger #1b is his favorite as well..
My Ruger #1s is so perfectly balanced with the 26" barrel that its a joy to shoot & carry. It has been my main "go to" wepon since November of '91, I have other capable rifles in my arsenel that I have harvested plenty of game with, but my Ruger #1s will always be #1 in my books! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The scope I use is a Burris Compact 3-9x40.

I was Elk hunting late last October when this Whitetail Buck chose to present himself as an offering to the Ruger #1s, of course it only took one shot 228 yards free hand. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
--Ken

#1 B in .35 whelen, 22" SS Shilen with teflon for matte black, MPI stocks, moyer trigger, speed lock hammer, heavy spring, conetrol rings

#1A in 7x57, front sight and hood removed, MPI stocks, moyer trigger, speed lock hammer, heavy spring, warne rings

I am working on a No.1 at present. I changed the forend screw to a straight in configuration, and plan to rebarrel it to .450/400 3" in the near future. Barrel length of 28", band front sight, two leaf rear sight, new stock on an offhand W-R pattern is the plan.
Bandukwallah

Blackwater a #1 in 50-110 WILL BE my next custom/semi-custom rifle as soon as funds permit and i can convince the wify to let me do another custom. she doesnt mind my $200 dollar "old shooters" but she doesnt like me spending big bucks on a rifle. maybe ill just have to sell some of my others for funds for the #1.....................