Please don't think I'm trying to cause a fuss. This is a question asked in ignorance.

I've only seen one Ruger #1 carried into the deer woods. It was also the only time I saw a deer hunter wear a strap-on recoil pad. I forget the chambering.

Very few Ruger #1's ever show up around Cincinnati. I've seen a couple at the range over the years. I have a buddy who has one that's been in the closet for 40 years. However, he's a retired gun editor and an old friend of Bill Ruger, so I can't say he even counts. I'm sure whatever it is, it has a low serial # and has a whopping good story attached to it.

From what I can gather, Ruger #1's are something you either get or you don't. I don't know if it's a recessive gene or early training or what. From what I gather, they're not known for excessive accuracy. They cost about twice what a normal bolt gun costs and they don't have any magazine. However, those who own them seem to love them.

I'm asking this from a fellow who's in his 60th year and still hasn't gotten the joke. What's up with the Ruger #1? Why do they cost so much? Why do I want one?

I have been shooting my Ruger No.1S in 45-70 since 1993. Yes the cost was about twice as much as a good bolt gun. Why did I buy it? It just appeals to me. I can't really say why. I always admired this rifle and also have a strong interest in the 45-70 Gov. So to me that rifle and caliber are just about perfect. I'm not saying it is the best choice for every body but for me it has always been a very enjoyable set up. Some guns(and calibers) just appeal to certain shooters. Why do some shooters still shoot lever guns with iron sights? Why do people still shoot single action Colt revolvers? Why not just get a Glock 17? As for hunting, I hunt with my No.1 every other year rotating back and forth between that rifle and my 30-06. As far as cost goes I do not know. You would have to talk to the manufacturers. We all have that certain type of firearm that seems to call out to us. That's part of the fun.

It takes a certain degree of confidence for folks to go out with a single shot. Mine have done well on deer, elk, and pronghorn. One factor I like is their simplicity.

Own and use several bolt actions as well. Typically, I just put a round in the chamber and get with it.

Now I have to explain my desire for No. 1 in 22LR to Cookie. She wants another camera though that will cost about twice what the rifle will run.

Why a Ruger No. 1? Hell if I know - guess I just really like single shots... but then again - why not a Ruger No. 1? I've never felt handicapped in the field, nor have I ever felt like a poser.

This 375 H&H IS known for excessive accuracy



No cherry picking - all at 100 yds with 4x magnification and will do it "all day long" (or until my shoulder gives out )






When I really feel like a "poser", I prefer a Ballard with blackpowder...

If you have to ask all those questions, stick to bolt guns. Obviously, only fools and posers buy No. 1's.

I don't think it's all that obvious. There are a lot of folks on here I respect, and quite a few own #1's. I also wouldn't say that owning a #1 is foolish in and of itself. I'm just trying to understand.

As to the poser comment, I just couldn't see bringing out a rifle that required a recoil pad for a whitetail deer. It was obvious to me this fellow was just trying to show off. Deer are not all that hard to kill.

I own one #1 in 9.3X74R and it's every bit as accurate as the 375 shown above. In fact my best groups are about 1/2 of what his 375 is doing. It has become one of my favorite hunting rifles and I have killed a bunch of game with it.
I had a 270 years ago that was also a super good shooter. 5/8 to 3/4 was what I could expect.

I had two #1s in 243, one shot about 1-1/4"consistently but the other shot about 4". Sometimes it would shoot 2.5" but you could not bank on it. I was going to re-barrel it but a friend wanted it for a project gun so I sold it to him cheap. Both of my 243s were made in the 70s

So #1s can be hot or cold as far as how they shoot. I do not hear the complaints of inaccuracy today that I used to hear 25-35 years ago. The older ones had Wilson barrels in them, and the quality was all over the place. Some very good and some very bad. Later they used Green Mountain blanks with FAR better results, and I am told now they use barrels of their own making, also quite good.

I worked on a 22-250 for a friend in a neighboring town and he thought it was a lemon, but we found it was just finicky as to what loads it likes. I tried a few different powders and charge weights and it came right in. So that one seemed inaccurate at first, but it really was not. With the right load it shoots about 3/4"

Call me a fool and a poser I reckon............

I was sitting at the base of very large tree, monitoring a trail, camoed head to toe, probably snoring, something woke me up, opened my eyes and he was staring at me, leaned forward, elbows to knees, crosshairs under his nose.............. bang flop!

Yep, they don't shoot worth chitt either.....................

.275 Rigby Improved......... no extra recoil pad though.

There! I went and edited the original post as a sign of my complete and utter repentance. I guess you had to have been there. I didn't think that fellow was a poser because he carried a #1. He WAS a poser, and he just happened to have a #1. I forget also what it was chambered in. It was probably not all THAT big a shoulder buster. The point was he felt he needed a recoil pad. However, now the reference is deleted. I apologize to anyone who thought I meant that Ruger #1 owners were posers. It was not my intention.

Well, I don't see many in the woods either, but I tote one almost every year and make meat with it pretty much every year, I think that keeps me out of the poser class, but I might be a bit of an elitist.

The rifles carry well and come to the shoulder easily, at least for me. Also in spite of what you may hear most are plenty accurate for most hunting, especially the ones made in the last 20 years or so. Some are exceptional, hopefully DF will post his .277 O'Connor targets.

I don't know about the guy with a recoil pad, maybe he was shooting a 300 magnum or bigger? I've only used 7x57, .243, .257 Bob, .223 and .22 Hornet, no recoil problems there.



And besides, there is a lot of cool factor:

I want one. I'm thinking 7mm-08. I'd like to hear what El_Numero_Uno thinks about this thread.

I have had four No. 1s and I still wish that I hadn't traded them all away. I have killed elk with No.1As in .338-06 and 9.3x74R, and whitetails and mule deer with RSIs in .243 and 7x57.

They are elegant rifles, easy to carry and everyone that I have had was acceptably accurate. Unfortunately, they came and went during a period of 18 or 19 years when I was trying a little bit of everything and not holding onto any rifles for very long.

However, I know where there is a very nice black pad 7x57 RSI that will be mine when the present owner gets tired of it.

There's a new 7-08 in the safe, if the wind cooperates I'll range test it in a couple of days. I expect greatness.

Good luck with your 7-08. As far as the expectation of greatness- many #1 owners have had the same expectations, only to have them dashed to earth by the reality of #1's. Some shoot out of the box, some don't , and some will require days, months, or years of fiddling and fussing with stocks, handloads, bullets, powders, etc. to get theirs to show acceptable accuracy. I happen to have one of the latter......

I didn't say out-of-the-box greatness

For me I have hunted with a Ruger no.1 now for over 20 years I may own plenty rifles,i guess I just like my custom #1 in 257 weatherby mag to hunt deer or antelope with. there is just something about these fine single shots that feel good and look so unique,heck I even had a custom picatinny rail put on top so I could use a nite force scope on this gun,the barrel is a bunx custom put on,gave my son the exact gun in a 257 w.mag too,my son in law I gave him a 7 mag no.1 he loves it,got no.1`s put away for all my grandkids too. it just such a nice safe gun to load and unload and all hunters need to make that first shot count. I also target shoot and hunt with a army sniper he too hunts only with a Ruger no.1. if your hand loader and like guns many switch to a Ruger no.1 just because I guess ,its just a classy type gun.my old friend and hunting partner new Bill Ruger well I got to hear a feel stories but sure wished I would have met Mr. Ruger wonder what ever happen to the 400 Bell Ruger no.1 John built Mr. Ruger ?

I currently have a #1A in 35 Whelen, one of the most accurate hunting rifles I own, like JGray's 375.
And a #1RSI in 6.5 x 55. Not Whelen accurate but certainly more than enough for an range I'll shot
while hunting. There have been others that I have lost interest in, not for inaccuracy, and parted
with.

I drew a Nelson Bighorn Sheep tag in Nevada in 1991. I had also recently reread Jack O'Connor's book, Sheep and Sheep hunting. In the chapter "Notes on the Sheep rifle", he devoted a few lines to the Ruger 1. He called it an excellent lazy man's sheep rifle.
So I had the tag, a nice Ruger 1 .270 and qualified as a lazy man, so I sallied forth after my first sheep!
Now my guide through non verbal communication let me know that he thought I was also not so bright to bring a single shot rifle after what many consider the most sought after creature in North America. We subsequently hunted many times together because on that sheep hunt I took a 170 pt. Beautiful ram with one shot from the single shot Ruger.
So why do I use a Ruger 1? Multiple answers are on the wall of my game room!

For Shaman; get you one and you will either "get it" or you won't. Only way to find out if you don't know. Anything we say won't make any difference.

I am a very slow learner. I have had four of them, all in 22 caliber cartridges. All had poor to marginal accuracy. I sold them all after spending lots on various accurizing efforts. I still think they are a cool looking gun, but will never own another.

I've had four of them over the years, down to one now, but I truly wish I'd kept the others. Each in it's way, was a very good rifle.

The 25-06 with the heavier varmint barrel, was one of the most accurate factory rifles I've ever used. It would put three 100 gr Sierra soft points into a .3" group, time after time. Silly me, I sold it!

Since 2009 the only one I have is a 375 H&H Tropical that shoots great! Very similar groups to those posted above. I've used it only to take 3 black bear, though I've carried it for elk. Just didn't get a shot when I was hunting elk with it. One bear was a bit over 300 yards, and a single shot killed it very quickly. Another was a bear wounded by another hunter. I followed it into the brush and killed it at 10 - 15 feet. That was pretty intense.

They carry easy. Come to the shoulder fast. Look pretty classy and are just a joy to shoot.







Oh, mine was purchased used. Before I put my paws on it, the rifle had gone to Africa with a well known gun-writer who took a wide variety of game with it. He liked it too.

Regards, Guy

Don't see too many guys using the 270 gr Speer BT, how does it perform on game? They obviously shoot well and must be decent if you are still using them.

Try a 250/3000 or a .257 Bob, Md deer aren't that big.

Maybe the "poser" you encountered had a "strap on" recoil pad because he had a screwed up shoulder? Might pay to get the whole story before jumping to conclusions. As for the why a No.1? In my case, cause I like them, and because I can. Never felt a need for a magazine. I'm quite confident that I can keep up with, or out do most folks shooting repeaters in the follow up shot department. On our first trip to Africa, I took my No.1 9.3x74R. After the first stalk(kudu) ended with a dead critter following a shot at a slow trotting bull, the PH left his rifle in the truck for the remainder of the hunt(except when we were in areas that had lions present). I just plain think they are great rifles.

Jeff

It's not just Number 1s for me; it's falling blocks. The Rugers are just the easiest ones to come by. I actually like the Winchester-pattern guns more. Have two of those.

I got in pretty early when my brother sold me his 4-digit 7mm RM with a 22" barrel, AH forend, and no sights back in the early 70s. Of course I sold it myself not long after. Never seen another like it. Very nice, but kind of a bear to shoot in those bad old days when nobody wore hearing protection. Had a few since, but none stuck until the current one, a 1V .243 with a 1-7.7" twist. That one is pleasant to shoot and is throated long enough for the long bullets that are out there now. I don't have a lot of practical use for it, but like it pretty well, which might be enough to keep it around.

I can understand why they cost more than most bolt guns, but think $1800 is a bit much even so. I paid less than $900 for mine from Whittaker's. Any others I run into at a similar price might tempt me, especially 1As.

All I can say is, handle one, and shoot it if possible. You'll either get it or you won't.

Guy, is that an FXII or an M8 3x Leupy?

I don't hunt a lot with the 375 but have shot one cow elk with it and the 270 Speer. Jumped her out of her bed at 40 yds - head on shot in chest. She went from standing upright to 4 legs straight up in the air without taking a step. Never found an exit or the bullet - probably in the gut pile, but it didn't seem to be overly explosive as the rumors indicate. I don't shoot many Speer bullets but the gun counter manager at the LGS here swears by them.

I think the old red pad guns not the best at taming recoil.
Bud's 45-70 #1S was a beast (heavy bullets max'd).
Was fun but not the kind I'd tolerate 20 yrs down the road (now).

Not a believer in the "one shot" makes one shoot better. I always think it's "one shot" and put my best effort.
If the gun holds more and am unsure of what happened, I just give 'em my best again.

Doesn't matter what I shoot, I don't shoot "at" stuff. Never understood that mentality.
So maybe why the "single shot" has no allure.

The Ruger #1 is just a damn good lookin' rifle.
They have a different feel too.

Some like it, some don't.
Drug mine out this past season, even in horrible rain (p*ssed me off but hey, it's a deer rifle).

Nothing big enough to shoot.
Last yr I popped a small 8 with it and got a decent pic.

Bland wood but still way nicer than plastic stocked bolt rigs of wonderment.
If I'm gonna shoot little deer, might as well do it with a bit of style.

I'd like a 1A in .35 rem.............orig bought the RSI to rebarrel to that............but it shoots very well, proly just leave it "as is".
If we ever get groundhogs around...........a 1B with killer wood, in .243 win would be my chuck rig.
I went from a 660 rem in .222 to a #1B in .243 many moons ago and blasted a fair number of dirt piggies with it.
Got it used, and after a chunk of use from me............the poor thing started opening up groups.
It was a tackdriver before, and shot OK later, but had lost its charm.

I dunno if getting another would allow for a "one holer" or not, or if I got one with good wood..........how much $ I'd have to dump into it to have one like I used to have.
But then..............life is short, and if a wad of $ to have a good looking chucker is the price..............I think it worth paying.

Drive a beater truck and shoot a pretty rifle.

Always liked the looks and the way they operate. Finally got up the $$$ to get one. Started looking for a 308 about three years ago. There were two or three for sale then, but missed them. Took a year, but finally snagged one, from Cabelas of all places, for a little over a grand. Shoots 1 1/2" with nothing done to it. Two deer and a coyote last season. Two deer this season. Have toyed with getting a Jard trigger and doing a little work on it. But, it does fine now. Just like the way they look and feel.

You're probably right. I've always felt like I was on the outside looking when it came to a #1.

However, y'all have been helpful in one way. I had not previously understood the #1's capability for accuracy. My understanding was that it was hit or miss and mostly a miss. You've dispelled that myth for me.

Many thanks for the responses.

It's a matter of taste and how your stick floats. I own more single shots than bolt rifles and the only two semi-auto rifles I own are an M-1 carbine and an SKS. Someone said the #1 is an elegant looking rifle and, I agree, to my eye it is. It harkens back to the Farquharson on which it was apparently loosely modeled so there's that whole romance/history thing it has going for it. I've owned 4 and 3 were "accurate enough" for my needs. My first in 300 Win. Mag. was the least accurate. I never did figure out that rifle. The 22-250 shot bug holes, the 375 H&H was sub 1 inch. The only one I have now is in 450/400 just in case we have an elephant or cape buffalo invasion in our garden and I guess I'm not man enough to sit behind it and shoot sub 1 inch groups with full house loads. My reduced cast bullet load does shoot bug holes.

I have old German and British single shot rifles chambered in some obsolescent, mostly unheard of cartridges I much prefer to the #1 but, that's how my stick floats. I still wouldn't want to be without a big bore #1. As far as hunting with a single shot....I've killed a lot more deer and other critters with them than anything else if real muzzleloaders are included. In fairness, I use single shots more but, save one whitetail, I've never not taken home anything I've shot at. I own, shoot and hunt with them to please only me, no one else's opinion matters.

I'm sure you'll have one, in some caliber, at the pig hunt. If you don't mind, I'd like to shoot whatever you bring. I've never shot one before, but I think they're beautiful. I'm left handed and I use an Encore. I know there's left handed bolt actions, but then I'll have to learn how to operate it. I can reload the Encore in short order, so I should be able to handle reloading a #1 just as quick & easy. I'm not sure if you have anything you might want to sell, if so, please PM me. You could bring it to TX and save me from hauling a rifle down there. Also, I'm not sure about the 7mm-08 either. I spoke to you a little about this last year. We might have to sit down and have a beer and continue this discussion.

Yea, I have to use a slug barrel where I hunt in Poolesville. I'm thinking more in the lines of other critters like pigs. I need to pick some brains because I'm not sure what I'll ever hunt in the future. I'd love to get out west sometime to hunt, but right now I'm pretty tied down with work. Some day, I'd love to go after things like Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Moose, and possibly Elk. I don't think the 7-08 would be able to handle some of the bigger stuff. But then again, it might give me an excuse to by a second one.

That's an old M8 3x that I picked up used. I like it.

Guy

I have three friends who all hunt with Ruger #1's. I have one in 7X57, 6.5 Creedmore, 450-400, and a custom in 7MM-08. There great rifles and fun to shoot and to carry. Try one you'll like them.

Many thanks, I had one, probably will have to scout out another, they are on ebay often. The one I had didn't have quite enough for me, but I've since become resigned to offsets.

Just right on your .375 I'd say.

I must like the Ruger #1. I have 20 of them from .22 Hornet to .416 Rigby. probably 50 percent of the time I've used one or the other on a hunt and never felt handicapped. Haven't used one since 2008 as I used a repeater .270 on an antelope hunt in 2009 and the private ranch I've hunted elk on since then does not allow the use of single loaders.
All mine have the red pads so accuracy with some is fantastic and some, well to be nice not so good. Prime example, I have two rifles in 25-06, one simple gorgeous with fantastic wood, the other looks like it was rode hard and put away wet.
So far, the pretty one doesn't shoot worth chit. The beater is a .50" gun. Go figure. One I bought, a #1A in .270 was a dog I got into cheap. Guy said it would shoot and he was right. He'd free floated the barrel. I cut a piece from an expired credit card and placed it under the forearm at the tip and the gun now does MOA. The only oddball in my single shot collection is a Browning B78 in 30-06. Damn thing is a tack driver.
I'm guessing if I could only keep one of the Rugers it would be my #1S in .300 Win. Mag. It'll put three 200 gr. Speer Hot Cores into 3/8" at 100 yards day in and day out at almost 2900 FPS.
On a rapid reload, no problem. It doesn't take a lot of practice to do a fast reload. Some people use a belt hold, some a butt cuff, some a cuff on the forearm and some use a wrist cuff. Figure out which one works the best for you. I use a butt cuff but YMMV. One thing is for certain, you won't hold a couple of shell between your fingers very long on a really cold day. Just ask me how I know.
Paul B.

Here are pics of my two Ruger No. 1's- the 1-A is a .257 Roberts, the other is a custom build chambered for 7mm RCBS, but in which I just shoot factory Nosler ammo in .280 with 140 gr. Accubond bullets.

The custom rifle shoots the factory Nosler stuff with sub-MOA accuracy, and with this rifle I took the biggest bull elk of my life, a 7x7 monster.
After a couple of years of tweaking the .257 Roberts, I have finally got it to shoot inside an inch at 100 yd., but not without a lot of tweaking- several different bullet weights, several different powders, free floating and bedding with a Hicks device installed, adding a Jard trigger, etc. Turns out that the Barnes 80 gr. TTSX, and Hybrid 100V powder, are the secret ingredients for this rifle.

No. 1's are beautiful firearms, a lot of fun to shoot and hunt with, if you are willing to put up with their shortfalls.

Beautiful rifle right there. Wow!

That sounds impressive, thanks for the info.

I don't own a Ruger No 1, but I also don't judge other people's guns. I buy/own/use the guns I want to and don't feel the need to justify my choices to anyone else, and I'd guess everyone else has the same rights in the matter.

Another point for the Ruger #1 is the fact that the safety locks not only the trigger, but also has a striker block. Worth having.

I love the feel of these guns, especially the 26” barreled #1S.

I'd always wanted a No. 1, but never came across the right one at the right time....made up my mind to buy one (a .45-70) at the LGS once, but when I got there it was gone. Finally, had a 1-B in .308 waved under my nose at a good price and bought it. Took off the Hubble scope on it, replaced it with a 1 1/2 - 5 VX3, wouldn't shoot worth a schitt....3 moa. Spent an afternoon playing around, relieving the forend in front of the receiver with some sandpaper wrapped around a 12 gauge shell, did a couple other things, don't remember what. Got it shooting right around 1 moa easily. I like it....I've killed some deer with it. .308 wouldn't have been my first choice in calibers for a No. 1 but I'm okay with it now.

Bingo, but not a universally accepted concept around here. I do try to give honest opinions when asked though, and the reasons for them.

General discussions, OTOH, are a free-fire zone!

I think the title "why a Ruger #1" invites the response: "If you have to ask, you won't understand the answer".

30 years ago in the first few years of hunting I saw someone carrying a gun that did not have a bolt handle.... it might have been a No 1, I don't know for sure. Other than that, I have never seen a No1 in the woods/mountains/desert that wasn't mine. They just are not as popular....

They are more expensive, harder to get accurate, don't hold quite as many rounds in the magazine compared to a bolt or AR-15....

but they sure look nice!!!!! there's just something cool about them!

even the one's that aren't accurate (several of mine) will hold "minute of elk"

My reaction time is not fast enough for a follow up shot on a animal regardless of gun... usually by the time I recover from recoil and bring the scope back on, the animal is in on the ground out of sight. Well this one trotted a bit.... then fell over.



Here in AZ we don't get drawn every year and when we do, we spend a lot of time walking around or sitting and glassing..... so we might as well have a really nice looking cool rifle slung over the shoulder or resting in the lap while waiting.... right?

My favorite 2 rifles are pretty much the opposite extremes of the shooting sports... the No1 and the AR15.

shoot good!

Poole

Why a Ruger#1? I think Bill has it figured out. This is my second one. Paid way too much for this last one because I regretted getting rid of the first one. Mine have both had a habit of point of impact shifting around in addition to grouping problems. Lots of info out there on the why's of this and I'm working on this one. If you take the forearm off that hanger invites a lot of criticism. The triggers are, well, poor in comparison to others. In spite of that I still like to carry and shoot it. I guess that's why.

Another plus for single-shots in general is that they're a pleasure to work with at the range, and the loading bench. My loads for both my Hornet and .243 wouldn't fit in the magazines of conventional repeaters and sit just off the lands. They "hang" well for offhand shooting, and I don't have to chase brass.

OAL for rimmed rounds is set via the plunk method.

they just scream classy when you see one. I love all three of mine and would love more. Buy one and see. If you don't like it, its not hard to sell one usually

Flexible cartridge OAL is a definite plus Pappy.

There is quite a collection of chambering choices out there. Some you would not find in a bolt action or semi-auto.

Also, they are a gorgeous rifle, and as a lefty, the ambidextrous configuration is a blessing.

As a few have already said, the accuracy can be fantastic. So far, I have only had one #1 (out of 6) that would not achieve MOA or better.

I have a #1B in 30-06, it's just a classy and beautiful gun! I had to float and bed my forend, but after that it shoots .5 MOA.

Master metalsmith Ron Lampert built rifles primarily on bolt actions, but had a lot of respect for the workmanship and engineering of Ruger No.1 rifles. On more than one occasion he told me everyone's gun safe should have at least one No. 1 in it. I have had a few of them over the years but the current one is special because of the previous owner. It is a varmint model in .220 Swift with outstanding wood on it. And on top of that it is also very accurate.

Haven’t read it all, but why not? Probably the sexiest mass produced rifle ever...

That is sort of my feeling as well. I have a #1 in .220 Swift, but lean more towards the 1885. I can't justify the originals, but several Brownings have taken up residence in the safe over the years. From Hornet to .45-70 there is just something about them that appeals to me.

Jerry