I have a Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter with a 28” octagonal barrel in .405 Winchester that I love. I think you’ll do well with that Ruger. I have four #1’s and really like hunting with all of them. Good luck with your hunt & post some photos if you can.
The 405 will work on any Game on any Continent, though with some Critters you may want a quicker 2nd shot! I have an 1885 also but made by Ballard Rifle, LLC in Cody Wyoming. They are now defunct.
Sharps thats one sweet rifle. I couldn't see well enough to use the iron sights however. I bought a High Wall action Model 1885 from a company in Montana but don't recall the name at the moment. Built a 38/55 on it.
GW you will love that rifle. I bought the blue/walnut (fencepost wood) version from a campfire member a couple of years ago. Topped it off with a Leopold VariXIII 2.5X8. It shoots great but I haven't seen a deer worth shooting when I've had it out
Sharps, that is one exquisite 1885! Have you ever weighed it?
Shew me thy ways, O LORD: teach me thy paths. "there are few better cartridges on Earth than the 7 x 57mm Mauser" "the .30 Springfield is light, accurate, penetrating, and has surprising stopping power"
First off, I should apologize to geedubya. It was not my intention to hijack his thread.
Secondly, thank you all for the comments. Ballard Rifle, LLC built some very high quality single shot rifles. I own 4 more of their 1885's and a few Ballard Rifles too.
The Highwall wears a 26 inch Winchester #3 weight barrel and weighs 9 lbs. 2 oz. empty on my Postal scale. Single-set trigger.
As a left handed shooter rifle that are equally usable by left handed persons have always appealed to me. A very long time ago I purchased my first deer rifle, a Savage 99C chambered in .308. The .405 Winchester cartridge has been an object of my interest since I was in my 20s. In 2001, at the ripe age of 43, I gave myself a law school graduation present - a Winchester (Miroku) Model 1895 in .405 Winchester. Since that time my .405 collection has expanded to include a takedown 1895 and a Ruger Number One Tropical rifle. I always thought the .405 would be an excellent African rifle with a 400 gr. bullet at 200 fps. I have added a custom aperature sight to my Number One, acquired some Woodleigh 400 gr. bullets in .412 diameter, and I am hoping for 2000 fps. Needless to say, I feel strongly that the Number One tropical rifle is an excellent platform - I have six in calibers ranging from .35 Whelen to .458 Lott. Here is a picture of my .405.
Someone had a box of .405s on GB a couple weeks ago - IIRC 67 loaded, reduced cast bullet handloads, and ~30 fired cases. The fired cases showed a few with funky backed out/pierced primers. The auction brought $430!
I've now got about 110 cases collected, both new and also some fired, so I think I am set to start loading for the Ruger