Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots # 1 International photos and opinions?

Anyone have any photos of their #1 International rifles? Opinions on performance and durability and accuracy of the #1 International models? Thanks.

I dote heavily on mine...



Accuracy with the 175 gr. FN factory loads hovers about 1.25" at 100, which for my hunting purposes is good enough for now. The handling is superb, and it is my favorite big-game rifle in-house right now.

VA, What caliber is your rifle in?

I'll bet its a 7X57!

Here's mine, also 7x57. Have owned 6 No.1's and none have had real "eye popping" wood on them. This one does 5 shots about 1 1/4" at 100 yards. On my to-do list is to replace the trigger, which I'm sure will greatly reduce group size. The trigger on this one is just horrid. Creep, overtravel, 6-7 pounds, gritty and inconsistent. Otherwise is an outstanding little rifle.

That is really nice wood on both the rifles shown!

7x57... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ok, I am going to buy one. Just now have to decide on caliber. Wish they made one in .308. Maybe get one in .243. No recoil at all with that caliber and will be good for coyotes, deer and goats. Put a Leupold 2.5 compact on it maybe.

Get the 7x57. It'll do everything that rifle can.

The 7x57 is well suited to the short barrel, whereas the other calibers (.270, .30-06, .243) lose a bit more than they can afford to and still make it worth it, and the muzzle blast increases a good bit.

IMHO, the 7x57 is where it's at with that rifle.

No. 1 International and the 1-A ... 7x57 must be the most popular caliber among people at the Campfire.

- TJM

Get the 7x57. Its been overlooked my many, (me included) for far too long. I've got one and looking to get another. Its a great caliber with common sense bullet weights and ballistics. If I wasn't a JOC and .270Win. freak I'd have the 7x57 and 30-06 as my two rifle battery. Two of each set up the same. Five #'s of H4350, some 140g Accubonds & Partitions for the "7" and 180g. Partitions & Accubonds for the '06. Yer all set!

7x57 is definatley under rated. I dont think there is a mammal on the planet that hasnt fallen because of one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'll also weigh in with the 7x57, I really like mine. In the picture above, the scope is a Leupold VX III 1.75-6x, but has since been changed to 1.5-5x Leupold VX III and I feel it is the perfect compliment to that rifle.

That's one of my favorite rounds, the 7 x 57. It's been around nearly 100 years, and still does the job.

I had one in M 77 Ruger, but, sadly, got rid of it. Wish I had it back!

Those No 1 Internationals are good looking rifles. They're hard to find used, too.

What is the recoil of the 7x57 compared to 30-06 and 270?

How is the availibilty of ammo in USA and internationally?

Recoil is a bit less than the '06 or 270, but the difference is hardly noticeable to me. It might be a bit different in the short barrel of the RSI though. I'd suspect the '06 case has a bit more muzzle blast than the x57.

Loaded ammunition should be fairly easy to find just about anywhere from the USA to Africa to Europe and Asia (where ammo is sold). Probably not as easy to find as 308 Win, 30-06 or 375 H&H, though.

It has fallen out of favor in the past few dozen years, well, probably since the introduction of the 7mm Rem Mag. Of the loaded ammo, I think Remington, Hornady, Winchester and Federal all have a few loads for it. If you reload, it can turn into a whole different ball game though. Great cartridge but most factory loads are way underloaded for a rifle as strong as the Ruger. The Hornady Light Magnum should have some punk to it, and I suspect the Federal does as well, but would bet the Winchester and Remington loads are still safe to shoot in the 92 and 96 Mausers as well as the Rolling Blocks.

Boy, life has been crazy, and I haven't been around in forever! Just saw this thread and had to post. Here's mine:



It's also a 7x57, and like Vanimrod's, it wears a vintage El Paso Weaver, a late-1940s K2.5 in this case, on low Leupold rings. I originally had a newer K2.5 on it, but the eye relief was too short. With this older one, eye relief is around 4.5 or 5 inches, and it works just great. Actually, I guess Vanimrod has influenced me a lot, since it was pictures of his rifle that made me want one, and his advice that made me seek out the old Weaver.

The wood really impressed me. I ordered it sight unseen, but lucked out by getting a pretty superb chunk of wood on a really beautiful rifle. Good wood does seem pretty common on these RSIs, though!

I think this little gun in 7x57 is just a perfect setup. Wouldn't trade it for anything!

Best Regards,
Liam

Check out the wood on that butt stock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what is the trajectory like with the 7x57 with the 20" barrel?

What is the weight of the rifle with the scope?

Trajectory on the 7x57 depends on the bullet and the velocity.

If you're shooting factory loads, figure about 100 fps slower than the advertised velocity due to the 4" less of barrel.

Mine likes the 175 gr. RNs, which don't shoot as flat as some of the other stuff out there, but THUMP on the receiving end and penetrate like crazy. They are plenty flat shooting enough for 200 yards, easily, and 250 with a top of back hold.

The RSIs with scope weigh more than you'll think, but the balance is superb.

The old El Paso Weaver K series scopes fit these rifles, fit and finish, as well as balance and performance, to a "T".

Liam, that is one very nice set-up! The wood grain makes me think that the buttstocks on our rifles might be related. What's the SN (xx out the last two digits)?

VA is right about the No. 1 RSI in 7x57's weight. While all will weigh a little differently because of wood variances, mine comes in at 7 lbs 1 ounce for the bare rifle. Add the Leupold 1.5-5x with Ruger Rings and it comes to 7lbs 12 ounces. A flyweight rifle it isn't. The balance is very good though.

These are fantasic little rifles, especially if you have some trigger work done.

That is good, I like a heavier rifle. I do not agree with this current trend towards lighter rifles and plastic. Give me walnut, blue steel, and heavy weights, and fixed sights.

Hey, VA,

SN is 134-152xx.

THanks!
Liam

Hey, VA,

The SN is 134-152xx ...

I'll chime in with everyone else: it isn't a featherweight, but the balance is perfect.

My trigger is very nice, actually, and it hasn't even been shot that much yet. I would guess it at around 3.5 pounds, maybe 4, but very crisp and no grit. I reminds me somewhat of a highly-tuned 1911 pistol (I'm primarily a handgunner ... this is currently my only centerfire rifle).

Regards,
Liam

SN# 133-200xx. Fairly close, IMHO.

Ditto on the trigger, too. Crisp, and about 4#, but nice. About like a good, combat tuned 1911.

Maybe this will give you an idea of the difference in recoil between the two rounds. I was sighting in a Ruger 77 in 7x57 with a stiff 150 gr. bullet handload. The fellow at the next bench was sighting in a Ruger 77 in 30-06 and was having problems. He asked my help in solving his problem. After checking all the screws for tightness, I fired a three shot group from his rifle. He was shooting 150 gr. factory ammo loads and based on my shoulder, the recoil from the 30-6 seemed to be about one-third greater. Granted, that's a subjective judgement, but that's how it felt to me. Same brand rifle, same weight bullet, similar weight scopes.
I have three rifles chambered to the 7x57, a Ruger #1A, a custom 98 Mauser on an FN action and a Winchester M70 Featherweight.
Ammo availability may probably be betetr in Europe and Africa than it is here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" /> It seems to suffer the vagaries of feast and famine based on the whims of the ammo maker's bean counters. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I can usually find some brass at gun shows and sometimes ammo. Winchester's 145 gr. Power Point has proven quite accurate in my rifles. More's the pity that Winchester discontinued their fine 175 gr. load. That big "blue nose" bullet was a killer on Black Bear in heavy cover. I still have two boxes left and no, they ain't for sale.
Seems like Winchester and Remington are only making ammo on a "seasonal" basis now. I've seen Federal brand on some dealer's shelves here locally, but no Winchester or Remington. It just may be in my area though. I believe Hornady mades a Light magnum version of the 7x57 with a 140 gr. bullet at decent velocity, but most factory loads are notoriously underloaded due to the weak Remington rolling blocks an 1893-95 Mausers that flooded the country years ago. In a modern action like my M70 or Ruger #1, I have no problem handloading 140 gr. bullets to 2800 FPS with damn good accuracy. (.375" for three shots, .55" for five shots. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />)
Paul B.

Ok, you all have me convinced. I am buying a #1 RSI in either .243 or 7x57 as soon as I get back to America!

[quote]That's one of my favorite rounds, the 7 x 57. It's been around nearly 100 years, and still does the job.

Actually, since 1892. Which makes it closer to 115 years, if you allow a little development time in the Mauser workshop. I had two 1-A's and a 1-RSI in 7x57, and, like everyone else who let them go, wish I still did.

My RSI would shoot under an inch consistently with 120 Nosler Solid bases bullets and a stiff charge of WW 760. The bullets worked well on pronghorns; never tried that load on anyting else.

Buy the 7x57 -- the .243 is a latecoming pretender by comparison <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Hey VA...how do you get your picture on your message like that?

Hope my buddy VA don't mind me answering for him ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

To get the pic in the body of the message, you have to have the image hosted somewhere. I have one of those free Geocities websites, and just load my images there, then copy the link. Then click the 'Image' option in the Instant UBB Code section, and paste your link in. Or, you can just type "[img] http://linktoyourpicture [/img]" (without the quotes, of course).

For example, to get this:


I ended up posting this text:


Hope that helps!

Liam

p.s. couldn't pass up the chance to post another pic of my baby ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Here's mine on the attached link. Hope it comes out. Oh, and by the way, it's a 7x57. My opinion of the rifle? Of all the #1s I have owned, this one is the most finicky. Is it one of my favorites? You bet!

These computers really mess with me sometimes. I'm sure I hit the wrong button, but not sure which one. I'll try again later...

AZ;

I PM'd you my e-mail address. Send me an e-mail with the pic as an attachment and I'll post it for you, if need be.

Thanks VA. It's on its way.

AZ Southpaw's #1 RSI... she's a beauty!



AZ; if you ever decide to sell that rifle, I want first dibs. The wood is fantastic and looks VERY much like the wood in the buttstock of mine. Am thinking one of those two would make a dandy 9.3x62 to go with the other in 7x57... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your help with the pix VA! I already owned a 1968 Ruger #1 in 30/06. The wood on that one is also very good and it fits me very nicely. This was to be my all-around single shot, so I was looking for an RSI in .243 for chasing javelina. Then this 7x57 came around and for factory wood, it really did it for me - the other side looks as good, and the front and back pieces match perfectly, so I bought it. Then I started to learn about the 7x57, and now I'm torn as to which rifle will serve what role in my tiny arsenal. Seems like they both will do a lot of the same things. As far as selling it, I own three rifles I will never get rid of, my first .22 from Santa, my first centerfire rifle my Mom paid for by selling crafts (when I was 14) and a left-handed .270 my wife gave me for our first anniversary (it will stay with me as long as she does anyway). The rest...I suppose if push came to shove and the price was right, one never knows...

PS...I think a 9.3 on the RSI platform would be one wicked, sneak up and pound 'em rig. If I had the nerve and money, I would actually move down and turn this 7x57 into a .257 Roberts.

Around 1992 I had a #1 International in .30-06, and took two deer in two years with it.
Beautiful wood on it, Just like the ones pictured!!!
Yet Another Rifle I kick myself for selling....
Add it to the list.......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Pics of pabucktail's #1 RSI. VERY nice!

Is that a 100yd group? Not bad for a 2 1/2X scope! I bet that 220 is a real thumper too. I've often contemplated a light, 20mm obj. lens scope (2.5 or 1-4) or even a NECG peep sight for my RSI, but it's hard for me to part with something semi-unique like the 1.75x6 I have on mine (pictured a couple posts up). Either way, your '06 is a nice rig!

Thanks AZ. Yep, that's at 100 yards. It's amazing what happens when I concentrate sometimes. That scope of yours got me thinking about watching ebay for them. I may get a 1-4 for it, but the 2.5 seems good for now!

Hey Pa...have a couple questions on that 2.5x, and sent you a PM...please check it out when you get a chance. Thanks.