Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger no. 1 45-70

I'm considering buying one. The one I'm looking at has a red pad, nice wood and in excellent condition. My questions are is there any pros or cons to buying a older model vs a newer model? The seller is wanting 825.00 for it so is that a fair price? Oh I forgot it has been magnaported. Thanks in advance.

The price is a little higher than out where I live but with good wood it is okay. I have no opinion on the newer models but there is nothing wrong with the older models. Mine was made about 1982. Magna porting costs about $180. Sounds okay to me.

Not sure how much the porting will help, but I had a #1 in 45-70 and it was NOT a fun gun to shoot!
I am not recoil sensitive but this thing beat my shoulder to a bruised pulp.
After about 10 rounds down range I called it quits.
Eventually sold the gun.

I love mine. I think I paid around 9 for mine. They handle very well. If this is your first no 1 be careful because more will follow you home

Glad you like it.

Personally, I'd prefer an 1885 Winchester.....

Bought my No.1 45-70 back in 1993 and it is one of my favorite rifles and calibers. I have no complaints. I've heard the older ones have nicer wood than the newer models.
I'm not sure about the price but it does not seem terribly high since new ones are over 1K now.
Good luck on your decision.

I did have a no. 1 in 7mm mag at one time and even though the rifle seemed heavy to me it felt like it kicked harder than other rifles I have shot in that caliber. Not sure if it is the stock design or the lack of a functional recoil pad.

Don't let these guys scare you about recoil. I load 400gr Speer flat noses to 1950 and I usually don't start crying until the 15th round or so.

Top 'shroom 450grns

Bottom 500

Paper Patched, recovered from a damp sand berm, velocity around 1300fps IIRC!

These shot out of a Marlin 1895CB

you can take that 45/70 from mild to wild. I load 405 cast at about 1200 fps and I shoot them in all my 45/70's. Ive shot gongs at 300 with my sharps with the load. It doesn't have to be a shoulder breaker. They kill just fine with moderate loads. Been doing a fine job since 1873. A 45/70 1S handles like a sxs bird gun. I thought it couldn't get better until I picked up a 1A in 30-06 last week.

that`s a very fare price if that no.1 is in good shape 95% or higher.

The low Leupold rings that used to sit on Phonemans's rifle will be going up for sale in the next Box-o-Crap batch, likely by the weekend, if anyone is interested. Maybe a bit lighter than Rugers, and I'm pretty sure they're lower. Only two screws per ring, but held okay. Cheaper too, for those who've bought used guns that are missing the originals. 1", btw.

I may be a shade late to the party, but I friggin' love mine. May be my favorite rifle in the safe, not that I own any I don't like.
Light, fast pointing, stupid accurate for what it is.
Mines a black pad with fairly pedestrian wood, the nicest thing I can say about the "recoil pad" is that if you lean it up in a corner, the pad will keep it from sliding out on a hardwood floor.
Paper patched 270SAA's over 15 grains of Trail Boss are fun. Remington 405's over 50 grains of 3031 will get your attention (1750fps.).

It currently wears a Leupold M8 2.5x. Dim, but I think you could drive horseshoe nails with it and it'd retain zero.

Possibly my favorite rifle round. There's not a lot you can't do with a No1 so chambered. I feel the price is average. If the wood is nice, then that's a bonus. Load 300gr JHP's at moderate velocity, and you have a pleasant shooter. Load bigger as required . The 300gr JHP's are deadly on deer, and most No1s shoot very well. I have 3 of them, they're addictive.

I forgot to add that if you haven't tried Trail Boss powder, then you should. This powder gives great reduced loads for economy and fun. With 335gr cast bullets, it makes the 416 Rigby recoil like my 6.5 Swede.

Not sure what an “older model” is but they all come with short throats now. You can ream it out by hand. I don’t find the recoil objectionable but there are a lot of people on the internet that have a problem with the #1s and recoil. I have one in 500 Nitro 3”, it’s relatively light and doesn’t murder me. Change the recoil pad. They are great guns.

Correct on the throats. Mine is short (like, non-existent).
I do, however, think that this is part of what makes them great shooters. Every load is pretty well stuck into the lands.
Only bullet I've ran into issues with is a 350 grain Ranch Dog Mold, trimmed brass to crimp in the groove, shoulda just seated it deeper.
Hornady FTX's can give issues, but if I'm remembering right, Hornady brass is a tick shorter to keep OAL where it needs to be.
Lee 405HB and Remington 405 Jacketed have ran fine in mine.