Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No.1 in 357....

Wondering why Ruger chambered several pistol cartridges in recent 20” barreled No.1 rifles, and didn’t include the 357 Magnum (or Maximum?). The run of California Highway Patrol 357’s have been sought after unless I’m mistaken and high prices reflect that.
They made these and maybe I’m missing some?:

44 Rem Mag
460 S&W
475 Linebaugh,
.... but no 357’s?!

I have a 44 and a 475. I briefly thought about buying a 444 Marlin reamer as I handled the 44..... but wisely backed off that idea. The 444 would be cool in a 22”+ heavier barrel No.1, don’t you think?

I wanted a non roll marked CHP to ream to 35 rem but they be a bit on the high side.

And im looking more to stainless anymore

Oops double post

Allen; I have flirted with building a #1 in .444 Marlin for more than 30 yrs. But finally acquired a H&R handi-Rifle bbl in .444. Figured that would scratch my itch. (But so far, it hasn't...) I purchased a #3 in .45/70 expressly for the purpose of converting it to .444, but I just couldn't flip the switch, and it became something else. At this point, I think I'd be better off building a .44 Mag or perhaps a .445 Super Mag. (As that is legal for hunting in certain restricted areas in my state. ) As I recently entered into my eighth decade on this planet, there is not much reason for building any new rifles. As I'll never use all the rifles I have now. - GH

You could run a 444 reamer into a 44 20” No.1 and forget to ad a third ‘4’ to the roll mark! 😁
Actually I think the 20” No.1 44 Mag barrels are a bit light for the 444, but might be the cat’s meow for some hunters.
BTW I’m there with you, entering 8th decade and letting a few acquisitions go on to others.

Alan: I always wanted to rechamber a Ruger #3 in .44 Mag to .444 Marlin. But the 1~38" twist kind of put me off... I always thought the .444 would be a natural for 300 gr. bullets. But not sure if the 1~38" twist would stablize them. Do you know the twist in the Recent production #1's in .44 Mag?

By the way, I will soon have a #1 in .357 Mag. Thought about making it a Maximum, but I think I'll leave it for a plinker type fun gun. Altho' my buddy has taken 4 deer with a Marlin 1894-C and complete pass thru with Speer 158 soft point. (Not H.P.)

I’ve read that it’s faster, 20 something twist.

**** Let’s put this to rest. Just got my Ruger No.1 44 Rem Mag 20” barrel out, did the tight patch test: a bullet makes one nice even turn in the 20” barrel, so 1:20”.

The Olathe Gun Shop in Kansas had a used one (.357 mag, non-CHP) on their rack this afternoon.

What would it take to own it? ($$)

Didn't even look at the price. Saw that it was labeled as ".357 Mag", looked at the barrel/chamber markings to confirm it was a ".357 Mag", put it back. Noticed it had a red pad. They had about 8 or 10 No. 1's in the rack and I just gave a quick glance over, because "Hey! A rack of No. 1's!"

I would say for the same reason they did not load 32 mag, 32 s&w special, 45 acp or 22LR. All are good honest fun to shoot. These 3 are all useful and powerful hunting rounds, right out of the box. And the first 2 can handle fun factory loads in addition to serious hunting ammo.

My friend wounded a deer with a 357mag. Tracked it down with dogs the next day. Found it dead. Good solid hit about 1/4 inch below the spine. Any other caliber if would have been dead on the spot or at the least down for a finish shot. He read all this crap on the web and left his 7mm-08 at home to play games with a marginal gun. I believe he sold that 357.

I’m wondering what might be worth ‘doing’ to my Henry Single Shot in 357. I was thinking it would be fun shooting up the 38 Spl ammo hiding around here. Maybe a suppressor and back yard pest gun?

Alan, thanks for taking the effort to ascertain that fact. Greatly appreciated. - GH

That likely would be the best way to approach this dilemma. Chambering out a $450 sig shot to .357 max would make much more sense than destroying a $1500-$2000 collectors item... I might have to give this some serious thought, myself... One could also do the same to a .44 Mag. to .445 SuperMag... (And I already have brass for that...) - GH

[

I had to get up from my recliner and walk ALL THE WAY to my safe!😳😆
Even harder was finding the right jag for the .429” bore.... LOL !
(I was gettin’ curious about the twist myself! 😆)

I never could understand why Marlin stuck with the 1:38” twist. Ruger is one of the first to start making 1:20” twist bores, Browning may have as well in their model 1892 (?) 44 Mag bores. I remember the Ruger 77/44 using a twenty something twist in 44 Mag.

I quite agree with you. I always thought the .444 Marlin would be a natural with 300 gr. bullets. Never could understand why they were always loaded with pistol bullets.

I had a Win 94 trapper .44 mag with a 1-38" twist. It stabilized the 300 grain Speer unicor flat point and the 300 grain XTP JHP just fine. 50 yard groups around 3/4ths of an inch were the norm for both. I've read statements that the 1-38" twist won't handle them but you sure couldn't tell that by my rifle.

Tom

I have a #3 in 44 mag and it thrives on HSM 44 mag Bear loads, 305 gr lead.
I also have an Encore w/444 Katahdin barrel sitting on a synthetic pro hunter stock with all of the grip inserts being pink. It's affectionately call "the Ultimate Sissy Gun" at the deer camp. My two itches have been scratched. Both are great brush guns and are good in pop up ground blinds with the short action/barrel combination.