Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Ruger #1 scope recommendation

Im meeting a guy tomorrow tomorrow to buy a 1-A and want to get a new scope to go with it. I have no experience with the #1 and after some research found that there are potential eye-relief issues.

I would like a 6X fixed power and have a $400 budget...a 4X with a "straight" tube would be cool too. Not 100% opposed to a variable but would prefer a fixed.

If y'all could recommend some Brands/models that would work with the standard rings I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Mike

You might get someone with a Leuopld 2x7 mounted on their 1A to let you try it. Just be sure the scope is mounted as far to the rear as the rings allow.

That scope is about perfect in size and eye relief for 1As.

The 6Xs, in my view, are a bit too long heavy for the 1A but are just about perfect for the 1Bs which I collect.

1B

I like the Leupold M-8 4X or the no-longer-made Weaver 2.5X on my #1-As (and #1-S, heavy calibers).

Thats what I thought before I bought a no 1 but I did mount a 9 cm eye relief scope (swaro Z4 with a 56 mm objective, for late/night hunting purpose) which I am able to shoulder (as well on the right and on the left if necessary) and fire, no problem, it's accurate and comfortable. Most of the Leupold have longer eye relief than this one.

Now I tend to think those ruger are ugly with a scope and (in my hunting conditions) useless without one

On my 1A .303 I have a Leupold 4x and on my 1A 7x57 I have a Leupold 6x36. I find I have to crawl the stock just a little with the 4x but it is only a very tiny amount. Out in the bush I find I don't even notice it when shooting at game. The 6x36 is just about perfect for me.

I'm definitely not a gun writer, but... Cartridge would be a consideration for me. My No.1 experience is limited (and frustrating). The .45-70 S-C was pretty simple to scope. I have a couple of older 3X scopes in perfect condition - Weaver and Leupold. The M8 Leupold is slated for a reticle change to German #1 for this rifle.

An AH .25-06, has been really frustrating. I want a few more X's on this one. I have low standard and medium extension rings for it. I have a fairly short neck and am a little age stiff. Your mileage may vary, but here is what I have tried and the results:
4X vintage Lyman All-American. Plenty long and will do.
3X as above. Works
2.5 Leupold does not cut it with the lows.
3.5-10 Leupold AO, does not work for me even with the extension rings. (Shorter between the bells)
3.5-10 Leupold (non-AO) works to about 7-8X without crawling the stock.

Depending on scope quality, physical abilities, et cetera, things that you might look at: Leatherwood says they have a 5" ER scope. Bushnell trophy claims 5". Nikon marketed an Omega with 5", and has repackaged that product as a shotgun scope. Problem is parallax setting and the reticle is set for slugs. The omega was available with a regular plex. The 6X Leupold FX-3 is rated at 4.43" and the FX-2 is rated at 3.9". Their 4x is rated at 4".

None of the 5" scopes I have referenced are top of the line models, but I am tempted to try either the Leatherwood or Bushnell. Someone mentioned a Bushnell 6500 with really long ER, I just have not found it yet.

Good luck in your search, jack

Any problems will vary from person to person, as neck length and shoulder width have a big effect on how easily anybody can see through a particular scope.

I've had a bunch of No. 1's over the years and most of the big game rifles have had Leupolds on them, of various sorts. For real trouble-free mounting one of the older 4x28 M8's works very well, but I haven't had any problem with variables from the 1.75-6x to the 3.5-10x's.

Right now I only have three Ruger single-shots:

No. 1B .22 Hornet with a 3-9x Burris Fullfield II.
No. 1AH .25-06 with a 6x36 Leupold FX-II.
No. 3 .30-40 Krag with a 3x20 Leupold.

By the way, the 6x36 only weighs 10 ounces, so does NOT weigh more than the 2-7x Leupold variable.

6x36 Leupold, new FX-II starts at $300. If you use low rings you might have to reverse the rear sight.

MD is right. I'm kind of built like a 5'10" fireplug. Broad shoulders, bull neck, and thick chest. I also have trouble buying a suit. The scope fit may go along with that.

An acquaintance with an splendid reputation with No. 1 rifles, has a 2.5-8 on his AH and is happy with it. He is not a small man. Just doesn't work for me.

My original reply should have said the 2.5-8 Leupold did not work, not the 2.5 which was not tried. Also, I located the 6500. It is something like a 1.5-8 with a stated 6" ER! Jack

I have a Leupold M8-6x on my custom #1- scope looks like it was made for this rifle.

I've got a Leupold 6x36 on my 1-A. It fits like it was made for the gun.

The way I'm built makes it difficult for me to get scopes back far enough and the Ruger No. 1 is more difficult for me than bolt rifles. I've settled on straight tube low power variables with an offset rear ring for No. 1's which works great for me. With a $400 budget, the VX3 1.5-5 would be my choice.

Thanks guys. Sounds like the Leupold 6x will work and that is the primary one I was considering.

Spent much of the day driving around Houston looking for one...not many fixed power scopes on the shelf...need rings too and couldn't find them either.

If any of you fellows have a scope or rings you would part with I am in the market.

Thanks again.

Here's a Leupold VX-2 2-7x33 in low Burris rings on my Ruger #1A rebarreled with a 24" Shilen 1-9 in 257 Roberts; the scope is perfect for this rifle.

The M-8 4x is an excellent scope for a #1. It's a bit longer than most current scopes so fits well and looks a bit retro so looks right too. Pricing is usually good one used ones too.

The M8-4X is perfect on a #1 for eye relief. It's actually long enough to have length left over and does not have to be mounted as far back as it will go. In flat shooting calibers though, I find myself wont for more Xs on shots past 200 yards.

There is no right way for all as our physical dimensions vary quite a bit.

I have found that to avoid stock creep on my #1s, the ocular bell rear edge should ride just over the front of the safety in the forward, fire, position.

With dual extension rings some scopes can match that standard.

With custom quarter ribs that come back over the receiver ring, many more scopes fit nicely.

With standard Ruger rings, I get by best with Leupold 6xs and 2x7s -- with a little creep. Whatever the scope, I want near 4" of eye relief built-in at the lowest setting.

1B

Several years back I got an okay deal on a 1B in .308. The original owner had the Nikon version of the Hubble telescope on it. First thing I did was take that off and put a Leupie 1.5-5 on it. It works perfectly for that rifle and makes a nicely balanced rig to look at and carry.

Unertl or Lyman Super Targetspot

Did the OP state what caliber? Are all the 1A's chambered for short range calibers, thus all the 4X-6X power suggestions.

On say a 7mm mag, .270, wouldn't you want more power? Maybe it's just me? Hell I got an 8-32X56 on my 7mmWSM.

I love the 1B. One of these days I'll buy one, when I stumble accross one. Nice wood, nice caliber...never know.