Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger #1's - Please Bring Me Up to Date!

Fellow Gun Enthusiasts: I have been chasing guns this spring and have recently been in four states doing so.
I have heard some RUMORS regarding the discontinuation of Ruger #1's completely!
In my recent quests I have been mostly looking for bolt action Varmint Rifles.
But at two seperate gunshops I have heard that the Sturm Ruger Corporation is planning on discontinuing the Ruger #1's altogether.
Many months ago I heard that Ruger was discontinuing the #1-B and a smarty pants or two derided me for inquiring about same on this forum.
I am NOW really worried that these great guns may be vanishing from our scene?
I also, just last week, came across a gunshop that was opening up a brand new (just ordered from a wholesaler and just received!) Ruger #1-V in 220 Swift!
This Rifle is a 26" heavy barrel blued model with walnut stock.
I was interested until I heard the price - $1,200.00.
The proprietor of the gunshop explained that this recently manufactured Rifle was just made from left over parts and had a pistol grip cap that was of the old style (Ruger gold emblem eagle style).
If anyone could shed any light or opinions on my worries about Ruger #1's or this new in the box Ruger #1-V in 220 Swift please do so.
Thanks in advance.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I remember the last time this topic came up, and of course, just like an a-hole, everyone has an opinion, so many came on to give their versions of what they think.

I myself stood in the Wanenmacher Tulsa Arms Gun Show first part of April, and had this discussion, among others, with Lee Newton, (El numero uno) here on the fire.

I said I have noticed the shear number of Ruger No.1's that are getting shipped from Ruger like .25-06 AH's, lots of .375 H&H's, many rifles with Circassian stocks, Boddington wood, all sorts of oddities. To me, in my opinion, it seems like they are using up parts to make as many complete rifles to ship as possible. That tells me the end is near.

Lee, if I remember correctly, a guy who has followed these rifles since their inception, has spent time with the Ruger family, said that you just never know what Ruger will do, and he did not take these strange offerings from the factory as any sign of impending doom.

Lee is defintely more of an expect than I, but my money says the Ruger No.1 is a short timer.

Just my opinion.

Mitch

Perhaps Ruger sees a combination of a poorer economy and market saturation on the horizon.

I expect it's sales driven, and in the black rifle age, most shooters want black rifles. In business, you only survive when you make what people want, and sell it for more than your cost.

Ruger's too sophisticated to not know what it costs to make a run of a given model. If you called them up today and wanted a 1B in .257 Weatherby, with circassian wood, I expect they'd say, "no problem, minimum order XXX at $$$$". It's then up to a distributor to place the order, and try to sell them.

I heard the same rumor last fall -- A Ruger official telling a distributor that the Number One was toast -- but did not post about it til I checked out the 'news' with a few guys I trust, including Lee. I got no confirmation then and the story has not progressed much as of now.

In fact though, there is little real difference between the current situation and complete cancellation. The dribble of new #1s coming onto the market, MSRPs now approaching $1500 with zero innovations or fixes of long known issues, and the limited style and caliber options on offer already carry a persistent odor of "deadman walking".

1B

I would believe that the Ruger No.1 will be in the lineup next year(2015) in the same limited caliber format. I would expect some interesting Exclusives from Lipsey's this year.
Two things do cause me concern; 1) the increasing MSRP, and 2) the pitifully plain wood I have seen on ALL the last two-three months production.
Some people just like to start rumors based on pure speculation; not fact.
ENU

I think I saw a hint of walnut figure on a 1A .222...a year ago at the NRA show

I don't really need a 6.5-284, but a 1A in .222 might be interesting. But I only buy 'em with good wood. And I'd pay more for better wood

Wonder what Ruger's distributor minimum would be? And I also wonder would they be willing to do a 24hr Campfire limited edition group buy? Of course getting 100-250 guys to agree on caliber & configuration might be a headache.

AR15.com did that a few years ago, and I'm curious if it could work with Ruger

I like the idea of a 24HCF #1. But like Tex, I think that getting agreement on a cartridge could be problematic.

Steve

I have observed this discussion before and I do not believe you can get 100 people to agree on any one specific Ruger No.1- and put up the $$ to get it done!
I am curious about how many might be interested in a 26 Nosler in a BH-that is, a 26" medium weight barrel, Alex Henry forearm, barrel band and no sights.
ENU

Tex,

You couldn't get 10 guys on here to agree on a specific chambering, let alone 100... Or a specific configuration, either.

Speaking strictly for myself, I'd likely buy any chambering or configuration that I don't already have. Especially if it were a 24hcf exclusive, But I'm not holding my breath.

GH

You got me curious about the 26 Nosler - which I had heard of, but not studied:



I was thinking more of the .257 or .270 Roy, but that one is an interesting point...and you might get Nosler's interest to promote it, which might get Ruger's interest...

Fellow Gun Enthusiasts: Thank you all for your input and opinions.
My first Ruger #1 had serial number 1,300 on it and I have been an afficiando ever since that early purchase.
I certainly hope the #1 stays in Rugers line-up but hearing about its demise from two different proprietors in two different states in a month got me worried.
It would be a sad day if it should ever come to pass that the Ruger #1 stops being manufactured.
Maybe I had better go back and make a move on that Ruger #1-V in 220 Swift - it had "fair" wood, maybe pleasing would be a better description. Certainly not of the quality that the early #1's had. In fact the owner of the gunshop where this Rifle is was told by the wholesaler that indeed it had been made up from left over parts!?!?
Thanks again all.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Local Gun Shop here in Alberta, received last week # 1V in 6.5x284 , #1H in .375 H&H, and a #1S in 45.70 , all with the plainest wood I've seen in years .
Check out ProphetRiver.com for pics.

Flyer

Flyer01: Thank you for that additional.
The Ruger #1-V in 220 Swift that I saw and am interested in had wood that was above plain in description, to me anyways.
That #1-V in 6.5x284 would probably be a good LONG term investement? If not just a cool Rifle to have and shoot.
I am headed to your link to check them out.
Thanks
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I would settle for a nice 1A in .223 twisted tight. Jack

Local shop got a 222 (now discontinued) in a while back. Stock was very, very plain. Not worth the $1500 (out the door) he was asking. But then again, a #1 in 222 will probably not decrease in value as time goes on. 10-12 years ago the same shop had a new stainless laminate in 257 Roberts that I passed on, it was a shade under $600. Hindsight is always 20/20.

That's what I'd like. Or a similar 1S.

Craigster: I am no Ruger #1 expert - I just like them.
But if I recall correctly from years past the Ruger #1's in caliber 222 Remington were amongst the rarest of calibers in the model?
MANY years ago I had a chance to buy one of these but balked at the price (a pittance by todays standards!) back then.
Wish now (of course) that I had made a deal on it somehow.
Maybe even at $1,500.00 that would be a relatively sound investment for that 222?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

There are at least 5 of them on GB right now for as little as $1100.

Ruger 1A in 222 Remington was one of Ruger's releases for 2013.

The one I have has fairly plain blonde coloured wood, it is however checkered with the same pattern as they used on the Boddington series. Suggests that at least some were made up using leftover stocks.

Flyer

I'm seeing tons of these "blond" stocks which look to me to be Circassian with little to no of the dark steaking that we like to see. I have seen Boddington checkering and normal checkering. Again, it looks like Ruger is using up wood that they didn't use during the Boddington days. Take it for what you want, but it seems to me to be cleaning up.

I also pick up a new #1AH in 25.06 rather blonde but conventional checkering and passed on 270 WBY and 300 WBY with plain wood .

Would like a 1A in .280, may have to settle for plain wood.

Flyer

I'd cast a vote for the 284 Win.

I missed out on the original run of 12 back in the 60's........

Guess i'll just have to rebarrel another One.

The No. 1 turns 50 in two years......year and half.

The first guy who told me he "knew" the Ruger No. 1 was definitely discontinued was a semi-famous gunsmith, and he told me that in 1986.

It probably will happen someday, just like the Savage 99 eventually ending. Part of the problem is that eventually rifles like the 99 and No. 1 start competing with themselves: There are enough already on the market to fill the demand.

I would be a sad day, indeed, if Ruger Corp. decides to stop making the #1... and Bill Ruger would be turning over in agony in his grave if that would happen since the #1 was his "baby".

However, "Rule #1" in Corporate America is whether or not a product is "profitable" and sells well... and to he!! with nostalgia or tradition or the "uniqueness" of the product.

Corporate America's "focus" has always been and will always be "the-bottom-line"... and "p-r-o-f-i-t" is not a dirty, 6-letter word, it's the reason all of us do what we do whether you call it "profit", "salary" or "hourly wage".

Regardless... we know what the Ruger #1 is all about and why we care so very much about it's future. So get 'em while you can, gentlemen, and be happy Ruger is still makin' 'em... 'cause, sadly, nothing-"IS"-forever!


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Ruger's marketing of the product over 50 years also contributes to the demise in demand.

The big variations in its sales offerings have been dino-killer and goofy calibers and SS models. Advertising has dwindled to a near zero impact. No major targetted upgrades in the basic model over 50 years even as the customer base through the inet -- not the printed word -- becomes wiser to unfixed issues.

Demand is a two way street. It rises from below if encouraged from the source.

1B

1B: Okay - Lets say I take all of your post for gospel - EXCEPT, the "SS" models you claim are "dino-killers" and the "unfixed issues".
I have watched the SS #1-V models leave stores shelves "quickly" in recent years.
In fact I have bought three of them myself and consider them to be accurate and handsome Rifles.
Indeed they are "different" but I do not think they had anything to do with the "demise in demand".
The #1-V SS's are especially popular in the circles I run in.
By coincidence I was in a store today and picked up two "pricey" current gun magazines (rags!) neither of which I was willing to part with $5.00+ for.
There, featured on BOTH magazines covers, were pictures of Ruger #1's - and inside said magazines were articles on Ruger #1's.
The last short paragraph of one of the magazine articles stated the Ruger #1 was Bill Rugers "favorite Ruger Rifle".
I did not know that.
IF... there are "unfixed issues" with the MANY Ruger #1's I have owned in the past and those many that I still own, then I have NEVER personally been troubled by said issues!
Long live the Ruger #1
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy,

IF the SS models were such a success, why does Ruger no longer make any? Most of the recent ones were non-catalogue items made for distributors on a prepaid basis.

The gun rag attention to NO 1s that you cite were not in paid adverts by Ruger that reflect a strong corporate commitment to the line. When is the last time you saw an actual paid ad by Ruger for the No 1s?

Unfixed issues I would cite include -- but are not restricted to

- wafer "recoil pads" on hard kicking models

- triggers that often are set too heavy and are non adjustable w/o special expertise. The effort to do so, even if successful, by the way voids your warranty.

- barrel bedding that is often off center and subject to shifts with humidity changes, w/o further tweaking.

All these issues are fixed on the Ruger American at @ 1/3 the the MSRP of NIB No 1s.

I also say long live the No 1! They are flexible, rugged, and highly useful platforms for making superb hunting tools with un matched balance in the hands and aesthetics. The NIBs however are still an expensive crap shoot.

Regards,
1B

1B: I appreciate your observations even though I do not agree with all of them.
Are YOU saying that retail gunstores shelves are full of UNSOLD Ruger #1's with laminated stocks?
NO... I contend those shelves are NOT full of said Rifles - I shop throughout the west and many of the shops I frequent I do so on a routine basis.
The Ruger #1's with laminated stocks simply SELL!
I am not saying they sell instantly but they DO sell!
I could not even GUESS why Ruger quit making the models with laminated stocks.
Can YOU explain why they quit making their most popular model of #1 the #1-B?
I have not been victimized by a swelling or shifting forend to date on any of the many #1's I have owned and do own.
I have been victimized on several occassions in the past with barrel bedding troubles on brands of Rifles made by Weatherby, Sako, Winchester, Kimber, Remington and Browning though.
I did buy and then somewhat quickly re-sell a Ruger #1-B in 7mm Remington Magnum that "kicked" viciously with my favored 160 grain Nosler Partition handloads - that #1-B needed a more effective recoil pad and I refused to consider a muzzlebrake so down the road it went.
The heaviest recoiling Ruger #1 I own these days is in caliber 6mm Remington.
So that observation of yours I think I agree with.
By the way I read your other post regarding the "non-cancellation" of Ruger #1's - I hope you are correct there as well.
But I reiterate that I have now heard from two different gunshop proprietors that they have been told by distributors that Ruger is using up old in stock parts for #1 "clean-up" sales, and the conjecture from there is that Ruger #1's are in danger of going out of production.
I hope those gunshop dudes are wrong as I do so enjoy the #1's.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I do remember when the SS/Laminate No.1's first came out.

I looked at my bother and stated, Ruger No.1 guys, who go for single-shot walnut/blue I would not think are the same guys who go for SS/laminate rifles.

I remember them selling for $600 to $700 when all of the other models were routinely were selling for $800 on up. In essence you could not give them away! Now the SS/laminate rifles are commanding $1200 on up. Whoda thunk!!

An opinion, just like an a-hole, everyone has one, but it still looks like cleaning up the stuff laying around to me, near the end.

Freedumb1: Perhaps the disparity in price ($100.00 to $200.00) like you illustrated between the laminated and the solid wood stocked #1's was due to production costs?
I don't know - I do know the stainless heavy barreled SS #1's sell readily on the used Rifle market.
And that may be caused by "collector" incentive induced by rarity as opposed to a Hunter/shooter wanting the "advantage" of a stainless laminated Rifle?
The Ruger #1-V (not a stainlees laminate Rifle) in 220 Swift is still for sale at my local gun shop.
It gets much attention but no takers at $1,150.00 as yet.
I am not qualified to disagree with your "clean up and near the end" contention but again I do hope that is NOT the case.
Long live the Ruger #1.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

well, to the title of the thread, here's something I posted on 4/29:

calibers now up at Ruger's website:

1A - .280 Rem
1S - 9.3x62 (first time in the #1, IIRC)
1V - da Swuft
1H - .450/.400 Nitro Express 3"
1RSI - .257 Bob
distributor exclusive, Lipsey's .45-70 26" Circassian

no #1B

MSRP - $1399.00

so it ain't done died yet...

But I might yet have to harass Ruger about the 26 Nosler...

The Ruger #1-V in 220 Swift that I originally posted about is still available in my local gunshop.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy: Dang tourists!
One of them came through town saw the Rifle in question (Ruger #1-V N.I.B.) fell for it and BOUGHT the danged thing this week!
Good for him.
He who hesitates has lost.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

"I have not been victimized by a swelling or shifting forend to date on any of the many #1's I have owned and do own."

Well, I have 20 various versions of the Ruger #1 and not a single one of them has the internal non-finish portion of the stock sealed againse moisture. I now consider them fair weather rifles.
What made me look into the problem is I took my #1B in .300 Win. Mag. on an elk hunt in Oregon. This was way back when I was back in the early 1980's. While nearing the top of the mountain I got caught in one hell of a rain storm. The wind was such the it literally ripped my rain coat off. Down in the valley at the John Day airport they recorded wind gusts tp 120 MPH.
Probably because I was sheltered by trees I didn't get buffeted worse that I did. Even worse, none of us saw one legal elk on that trip.
On the way home we stopped at a ranch near the Oregon boerder on the Nevada side to hunt a few pheasants. WE'd just got out of the truck when we spotted a coyote running off with a pheasant. I three shots off and none of us saw where the bullets hit and Mr. Yote had a nice meal.
After I got home, I took that .300 Mag. to the range and it was shooting at least two feet over the target backer. That's when I removed the forearm and saw the wood was not sealed. Without making thei sad story any sadder, all I will add is it took almost four years for that stock and forearm to dry out enough that the rifle would shoot to point of aim. I did remove the wood, front and back and stored it in my reloading shed/workshop. Every once in a while I'd put it on the barreled action, run to the range and try three shots. Every time after that when I acquired another #1, off would come the wood and once more, the stock and forearm were not sealed.
So, if you have not had any problems of the type you mention, good luck. Me? If it looks like rain, mine will stay home.
Paul B.

I learned that lesson long ago in a similar type monsoon, only with a 270win Ruger 77 TS. Mine took years to dry out. Back in those days I did all my hunting with the same rifle, only CF I had.

Now when it's looking like rain the Stainless Syn rifles come out to play.

AJD