Does anyone make synthetic stocks for my Ruger #1's?

Lee Six used to, I think, but he's gone.

I've seen a few synthetics of unknown origin on used No.1s, but never one I liked.

Not every change constitutes an improvement all the time.

That said - MPI's thumbhole fiberglass option might be worth a look...

http://www.mpistocks.com/thumbholeruger.htm

Bell & Carson makes an ungainly (IMO) set. The MPI is much nicer and more expensive.

But I still don't understand how anyone could think that a synthetic stock set is an "improvement" for a No. 1

That's like pulling the wire wheels off of ones XKE Jag and installing mag wheels.

I do almost all of my hunting with my pair of #1s. I had my then nearly new 300 WM on a Kobuk River float hunt. Absolutely brutal weather for many days, nothing was dry and I then decided on a synthetic stock.

I have 1 of the B&C stocks. It is OK, but I don't like it that much and am thinking of putting the wood back on this year. My complaint is that the wrist is really thick. I have made 6 1 shot kills on elk with it in a row, so I guess it works OK.

I might sell it...

The B&C stock is not a thing of beauty, but it's "function before form" for me as I actually take this rifle out into the coastal Alaska wilderness. I actually broke my 1B forend when I slipped on some ice and the rifle went flying.

The stock needs more drop on the comb and the butt needs to be a good 1.5" lower to fit me well, but I have serious neck issues.





I sprung the forend hanger, bedded the forearm and screw inlet area. I took several hours with the dremel to ensure that the forearm did not contact the receiver. These were the biggest improvements to accuracy.

And the screw insert in the butt were a complete joke. One was off center, and the other pulled out when the pad screw was tightened.

Understatement!



DMc

OK, here's my idea of improvement,soon to be finished....300H&H I am coping a Jeffery single-shop,rounded wood,no flared panels,checkering will start next week!

I have owned a handful of #1's over the years and short of getting into pretty wood cheap they really offered nothing over a proper bolt rifle (or lever gun in the case of my 45-70's) if hunting is the primary reason for owning said rifle.

Much is often made of a SS as being a purist's gun, who plans to make only one shot at game. But there are practical advantages, too. I will contend the #1 (or any other single shot) gives you the best chance at the best first shot out of a rifle.

1. shorter OAL for a given barrel length - or keep the OAL and have a longer barrel
2. Bullets can be any desired shape, without worrying about feeding out of a magazine, or setting off a chain fire in a tubular magazine
3. Bullet seating has more flexibility - no need to stay within mag lengths
4. Action strength can be an advantage, within safe load limits, of course.

The intangible issues of course, would be finding moderately priced rifles with spectacular wood, tuning for better accuracy, which brings its own satisfaction, and yes, collecting interesting variations.

I have overloaded a lot of guns to see what happens, and for failed case heads, the break action Handi rifle and the falling block Ruger #1 are head and shoulders above my bolt actions; M70, Rem700, Sav 110, 98 Mauser. The single shots are better in strength and in gas escapement. The rolling block, not so much.

They are also very quiet to load and reload, which can come in handy, especially if you should happen to m-m-miss.

Get caught in a really heavy rain storm some time and you will wish the stock was a synthetic. Ruger does a really pizzpoor job of sealing the interior of their stocks, be they #1's or M77's. In fact, the ones I have have no sealing whatsoever.
Prime example, I was doing an elk hunt out of John Day Oregon and got nailed by one hell of a rain storm. I heard that the John Day airport recorded 120 MPH winds but I guess I was on the right side of the mountain so no problem other than being totally soaked even with good rain gear. After the hunt we spent the night on a game preserve ranch in King's River Nevada and did a short pheasant hunt. During that hunt a coyote was running off with a pheasant and my rifle was the only one close at hand as I was hoping for a shot at a coyote. I got off three shots at hat yote and never touched it. There were four of us there and no one could see where my shots went. Rife was a Ruger #1B in .300 Win. Mag. BTW and when I got home here in Tucson, and getting a day off from work I took the gun to the range. THe bullets were hitting over the target frame and about six feet high from point of aim. To this day I wonder where in hell those bullets landed. On close inspection I found the wood had swelled up so much that I had difficuly removing it. I made sure everything was well oiled and put the wood out in my reloading shed. It gets quite hot in there especially in the summer and after several trys decided to put the wood on the rifle once a year until it shot as it should, that is if it ever got back to that level. It took that wood a bit over six years to thoroughly dry out to where it would shoot even close to where it had originally been sighted. I have a few Ruger M77s, all in synthetic stocks. I haven't found a synthetic that I like for the #1's and to replace the stocks would cost a young fortune as I collect them. I have 20 Ruger #1 rifles in various models and weather permitting I hunt them. If it looks like rain though, they stay home.
Paul B.

"Get caught in a really heavy rain storm some time and you will wish the stock was a synthetic."

It takes a little time, but all you need to do is seal the areas that the factory doesn't seal. I've never seen any modern factory wood stock, no matter what the action type, that was sealed on all of the inside surfaces. Just do it yourself, and go hunt! I've had my No.1's in plenty of rain here in Alaska, and have never had any issues. As a matter of fact, I've lived/hunted here going on 30 years, and there's not a single synthetic stocked long gun in my safe. I'm sure that a synthetic stock is the more practical choice for a wet environment, but I like wood, and don't mind putting forth the effort to use them in nasty conditions. JMHO.

Jeff

"Improving the #1"

"Does anyone make synthetic stocks for my Ruger #1's?"

Does it make me a #1 snob to observe that the opening question is completely off topic?

They do make stainless & laminated #1's as well

No, that hardly makes you a '#1 snob' - for only observing the obvious ...
I only have two Ruger #1 rifles, a RSI full stock, 243 Win. and a Medium Sporter, 300 Win. Mag.
Both treasures and favorite firearms.

My 'Improvement' post was intentional absurdity or just stupid -
But all the thoughtful and considerate responses, I find are humbly insightful and informative.

There is a lot of 'class' expressed here ... I hope some of it rubs off!