Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Just Couldn't Pass It Up... (No. 1)

A new (to me) No. 1 joined the stable today. I had been wanting one of these for awhile. Sometimes it does pay to wait. I paid less for this one than most plain vanilla No. 1's are selling for these days. It is unfired but won't remain so for long...

very nice.

cool!

Very nice,but ouch on the recoil.

In the words of Agent "J" DAMN!-Muddy

+1 on that. I don't think I would enjoy shooting it in a single shot rifle.

Purdy rifle... you lucky duck !~!~!

Wood looks a little proud in the third image, but that's the way Ruger puts them out. Likely a good buy and nice rifle, but not a cartridge I'm after.

After using a pre-'64 Model 70 in .338 Win. Mag. for over 40 years to hunt deer, elk, bear and Canadian moose, I can vouch for the power and one-shot-killing ability of the .338 Win. Magnum cartridge with a reasonably-placed shot.

However, as others have written in this thread, the recoil is, at best, "unpleasant" even in my relatively heavy Model 70 with a 26" barrel.

Even as a much younger man ((25-30 years old @ 215 lbs, I was never was "recoil-sensitive"), using my "hot" hand-loads (3,015 fps w/210 grain Nosler Partition), my "limit" shooting off the bench-rest was only 17 shots. After that, the rifle was "hurting" me even tho' the rifle, scope, leather sling and a full magazine weighted in at 10� lbs.

That said, I must admit that when shooting the big Winchester at game, no recoil was ever noticed.

Unfortunately, at least once a year, just prior to going hunting, I had to insure the rifle/scope combination had still maintained it's "zero"... a minimum of at least 10 shots annually IF everything was still "ok".

However, in today's market, there are some excellent items that help reduce "sensed recoil" that weren't available back in the 1960s and later on. I'd advise you to look into what you can get to help reduce that sharp blow to your shoulder, even with factory loads.

Jus' my 2�... and a friendly "word-to-the-wise"...


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

reminds me that I now have some 425's and 500's for my .475 Turnbull...

I've eyeballed those NRA .338s ever since I left my #1B go. Nice pick up! My #1 .338 was as consistently accurate as anything I've ever owned.

The full-sized #1-S versions are not as 'lively' as are the small/lighter S versions chambered in 9.3x74R and 45-70. I rather think this rifle ought to be a fun shooter if not a general plinking rifle.

I have one without all the engraving and it is my favorite. I put a 2.5-8 Vari-XIII on top and the balance its perfect. I've bagged numerous caribou with it. The recoil isn't all that bad. Now the 375 Ruger and the 416 Rigby, I'm using the stand up bench rest!

The H&H version of the 3/8 bore fits me well enough to be a relative pleasure to shoot - more better than the 9.3x74R IMO and E. (Though I do like the way the 9.3 carries and handles overall.)

I did not like the overall length of the 1-S in .338 and found myself carrying the 22-inch barreled 1-S in 9.3x74R instead. The .338 went on down the line.

that's one beautiful rifle, better used then rusting on the wall, congrats it'll build memories.

Very nice rifle.

I owned a .338 in a Ruger M77 and felt like it recoiled like a hammer!

I also found the .375 Ruger in the Medium Sporter a hurt machine.

My Medium Sporter 9.3X74R is not as bad.

Glad to see you are going to shoot it!! Guns were made to shoot!!

I notice that YOU didn't express any concern about the recoil, but if it turns out to be a problem, you might try some 160-180gr bullets over a starting load of H4895. Plenty of velocity, and ought to really hammer those little SC deer.

In August 2007 I was on vacation at Edisto Island and on a side trip to the mainland saw a bunch of guys standing beside the road in polos and khakis holding shotguns. At first I thought they might be detectives on a manhunt, but then I remembered; it's deer season!

It it still a deer-a-day for 90 days, or have they decided to really turn you guys loose?

Well, I've been known to deer hunt with .411 KDF and .404 Jeffery so I don't expect the "little" .338 to be much of an issue. I've got a bunch of factory loads that I've accumulated over the years ranging from various 200 gr loads up to some old 250 gr Silvertips that I'll likely use up first, but I may well load some lighter bullets at some point for some long range deer smiting.
Yes, our deer season in this part of the State runs August 15th - January 1st (although mine doesn't come in until Sept. 15). Some parts of the State still have no limit on bucks, whereas other parts have a 5 buck per season limit on bucks. Every hunter can purchase 4 doe tags to be used anytime after Sept. 15 and there are bunches of doe days. So yes, you can kill a sh*t-ton of deer here is you're so inclined.