Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger #1 45 70 question

Besides being cool, what is this round good for?

I think it would make a good saddle gun but if I'm in grizzly country I dont know if I'd want a single shot.

There is one for sale at my local gun store and its been magna ported and its really clean. Is $750 fair?

First of all, there is not really a need for magnaporting on a 45-70 given the bore size and pressure levels it operates at.
Be that as it may. if loaded properly, it should handle anything on this continent and most things on the others.

Do you really think a bolt action is that much better than a single shot if you're dealing with a poorly hit grizzly bear? I don't know, but with practice, follow up shots with a #1 should be pretty quick.

IF you're in doubt, get a repeater. It's all about being confident in (and proficient with) what you're carrying.

I'd feel completely confident with my #3 in grizzly country. The round is good for everything that walks or swims.

I'd agree that porting should not be required unless one is stepping up to 500+ grain slugs. If one worried about followup, then perhaps a Marlin guide gun. I'd personally just make the first round count.

I've got an old .30 WCF that's a good saddle gun and I normally carry a .44 mag if I'm in country that has bear. I think that the 45 70 is cool but I'm not sure if it's practical for what I do.

Might be fun to thump a buffalo with one but I'm not sure I want to buy one just for that

More than anything, I was hoping somebody could give me a good reason to go buy it

go buy it, You can't take the money with you, might as well spend it.

Just cuz...isn't that a good enuf reason? How can you argue with something as sweet as THIS?!

Now, how about we talk about one of your mule deer hunts...

Todd

The 45-70, especially a #1, can be loaded up and down for any game you will ever hunt aside from elephant and those have fell to it. The porting was someones poor choice. As stated unless you're running 500's and with that being said if you do buy it have a smith check the throat as that may have been punched out to accommodate longer bullets.
With a #1 you can run 300's up to 2500+ or factory 405's lobbing out around 1400. I ran hard cast, wide meplat, 350 gr pile drivers around 2100 and they would penetrate stem to stern on most anything here in the US. On the other end of the spectrum I loaded 12grs of blue dot with a charge of bird shot capped with wax and gently roll crimped ever so slightly to take care of pesky squirrels. Don't think of a Ruger #1 as a handicap because you don't have an instant second round, look at it as an extremely strong, flexible and compact platform the serves the old 45-70 like no other.

All that needs is a peep. Unless of course the stock rear sight works properly and gets you on paper. Awesome character in the wood on that one. what vintage is it?

Truer words were never spoken. Go buy it!

If ya think ya need it, you already know ya want it, so go get it. Works for me.

Shortgrub

Yep, go get it. 45-70s and ruger no.1s are uber cool


maddog

Brinky,

That is a current production, Lipsey's No. 1-S-C. It's a 26", "C" weight barrel with Circasion walnut...

Todd

i hunt with a browning 1885 hw......by myself,one time 2 large grizzlys came out of some alders "below me @ 50yds" feeding and did not look up the mtn to see me....me and my single shot were feeling a mite lonely.........

Yeah, that's REALLY nice!

Why thank you very much! I think I'll keep her...

Todd

That is nice. 26" barrel in a 45-70? It would interesting to see how much you could get out of that......

Funny, Browning 1885's have a 28" barrel and I've never heard anyone worrying about what velocity one can get.

FWIW: I don't believe that there is enough difference to make a difference over 22"-24"...

GH