Is there much of a market for Ruger No. 1's in .243 Winchester among hunters who will actually take them into the field?

My guess, as a non-hunter, is that if a hunter was taking a No. 1 into the field, especially in a relatively short barreled version like the RSI, he or she would rather something with a bit more oomph.

What say the Forum?

My question is motivated because my rifle habit consists of buying rifles, keeping and shooting them for a while, and then selling them to make room for the next toy. As such, I like to get rifles that hunters actually use. That way I have a better chance of being able to sell them for close to what I paid.

A Ruger No. 1 in .243 would be fun to shoot because of the low recoil and relatively low price of the ammo, but I think a No. 1 in 7 mm, .270 or .30-06 would be more mainstream.

If I had a Ruger 1A in 243. I would hunt the hell out of it. If purchasing new though I would probably buy a larger caliber.

There was a time that the 243 1B was fairly available on the resale market and at very good prices as they were not much sought after. I used several as donors for bigger bore projects. I kept my 6mm Rem 1B intact as I prefer it over the 243.

243s in 1A or RSI cofiguation woud make a good kid's or small framed woman's deer/varmint rifles. And it is legal for deer in states that ban the 22 calibers.

1B

I've used a stock 1-A in .243 for years, big game (deer and hogs) and varmints, mainly ground squirrels, coyotes, and jackrabbits. It'll kill any deer dead, dead within reasonable ranges, meaning the distance YOU can make a clean high shoulder, neck, or head shot. For me that's about 150 yards, although I killed a nice muley in the Snake River breaks years ago at more like 200 (hard to "pace" distance when it's almost vertical!). And I DON'T shoot at animals that are running; don't do that with a .358, either. I use 95-100 grain bullets, mainly Nosler. Heavier caliber 1-As kick some. A .243 doesn't, so you can shoot it a lot and get VERY friendly with it shooting paper, squirrels and other varmints before big game hunting season.

My 1-A fits me perfectly without modification. I'm 5' 10" 200#, and have, as my gunsmith puts it, "ape hanger arms." He means "long."

1-Bs shoot fine, but I never saw the advantage of the long barrel and extra weight in a .243, especially one that's gonna be carried a lot. On a long day's "glass and stalk," a 1-A is just right. Put a compact 2x7 on it and you're set.

I'd love a No. 1 in 243

I hunt primarily in South Texas and The Florida Panhandle so...A 243 is plenty of gun for what I need.

I had one that I had bought for my daughter but the stock was too long for her. I hunted with it for deer.

I can't believe that this is even a thread here! How many hunters do you figure head out into the field each year with a .243? If it didn't work well, do you think they'd be toting one?

I have No. 1's in a variety of calibers, but tend to use the lesser calibers MORE. 243's, 6.5x55, 250 Savage are always my go tos. I've never had a deer complain from the receiving end of any of them. Bigger than deer sized critters though, and I probably would drop the 243 or the Savage. I'd have no qualms tackling a Moose (and they do regularly in Scandanavia) with my 6.5x55.

I hunt my .243 RSI regularly for another reason as well. It shoots like a dream, is short so I don't dump snow down my back walking in thick stuff, and fits in the tree stand beautifully. Some of the larger rifles can be awkward up there. I also have a .243 Blaser Stutzen, but that one only comes out on the nice days due to nice wood.

If you're talking deer the 243 is a mighty fine cartridge if you ask me.

DEAD...via 243 (on the spot too):

I just remembered that an African PH who frequented our Safari Club banquets told me that he and his family regularly use .243s for culling animals -- plains game -- on their huge property in SA.

That is not to say that if you showed up in his camp with a .243 for a trohopy hunt he wouldn't be highly unhappy with your choice. The difference is that he and his brood can shoot and the cull animals, while no dinks, are not as beefy as the trophy critters.

1B

Yep. One is on my short list, coyotes through antelope and whitetail.

I had a No. 1 in .243. A 200th year model. It weighed 9.25# with a 6x scope. The stock dimensions are the same as any other No. 1 of the same model. I would think that any small framed person or a young hunter would have the same issues(good and bad)with it as he would with any larger caliber.