Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Opinions Ruger No.1A 308 Win

Thinking about getting myself another No.1 at present I have a No.1S 45-70 and a No.1H in 375H&H.

Thinking maybe a 308 Win but I can't seem to dig up any reviews, opinions or much of anything on No.1's in this caliber. Just wondering if anyone here has one and or any thoughts or opinions on these?

Only my own personal and often flawed opinion

but I'd be hard pressed to buy a 308 in a rifle where you
could also get 30-06 without any length or weight penalty...
unless of course there was some special consideration like
recoil - but if you have a h&h I doubt that'd be a concern

Buy it. Great round. Not nearly as many in .308 as in the '06
I've got a .243 1A with a shortened stock that is really nice. It's for my lefthanded grandson.

Thanks for the replys! Just not sure what I want? Cabin Fever set in and I get the wants! Just thinkin I don't see or hear about 1A's in 308 Win. and might like to have one just to have it.

There ya go!

I think the reason you haven't seen much on the .308 Winchester chambering in the No.1A is because after being in the original caliber lineup(1967-1969), this caliber was dropped for over 40 years! The 1A in .308 was just brought back last year and there does not seem to be many around. PM me and I can help you have one!

rws2 - I've had the same thought. The .308 Win sure is a nice cartridge. Easy recoil, very good accuracy and plenty of punch for most hunting.

That said, I'd probably grab one in .30-06 instead. Just because.

I wondered why I never heard much about 308's and now have the answer. Just flirting with the idea right now as moneys a little short. Always liked the 308 Win. as it did everything I wanted it to do.

Might have see how the money situation is in a few months. Right now just kinda window shopping!

ENU,

I did not realize that the .308 #1 was out of production so long and that those on the market are just from original or early runs.

I have a 1B -- of course -- and now I'll have to check out its serial # to see where it fits. I never paid that much attention when I bought it. Just a well preserved #1 in a great caliber. I'll let you know the serial #.

Any idea how many were made?

1B

1B,
Let me clarify: In the first years, the .308 Winchester was made in up to 10 different configurations! The most common was the 22" A barrel, beavertail forearm and no sights, what would be called an AB today. This was the 2nd in numbers of all non-prefix No.1's produced, following the 1B in .22-250.
All the other configurations of the .308 would be considered rare to extremely rare. The 22" A weight barrel is also found with Alex Henry forearm, and no sights; more of these are known than the "true" 1A; that is, the same with sights. Only a handful of these are known. John Amber test fired one, serial #110, in the 1968 Edition of Gun Digest. The rifle is pictured with the front sight hood, which it still has!
I guess to really muddy the waters, the 10 configurations of the non-prefix No.1 were the AB, ABS, AH, AHS, BB, BBS, BBB,BH, BHS, and BHB. Also, one example of a non-prefix 1V in .308 has been recently auctioned off by the Factory.
If you want to know more, go here:
http://www.classicsportingarms.com/?page_id=10
Just recently was the 1A in .308 was added back to the catalog. I do not believe it will last long. Therefore is my point, those that want one better get one now, as I do not expect this caliber/configuration to come around again!
Edited to address your point about your .308 1B; it was back in the catalog a couple of years ago, maybe also in stainless. Now gone! If you have had yours any length of time, it is likely a non-prefix!

ENU,

I just checked mine and it is a black pad, blued and wood, 1B with seral number 134-0485X! Obviously of much newer issue. It looks like Ruger may have released newer .308 1Bs in standard trappings too, but then again who knows how many?

Regards,
1B

How many is not to be known! They are not numerous in this later run! Probably less than a 1000.

I have ~ 13 .308 Rifles.

I have 4 Ruger #1s.

The .308 sucks next to a 7mmRemMag, and I would not convert any or buy any Ruger #1 rifles in .308.

Clarkm,

It all depends on where and what you hunt.

East of the Big Muddy, the .308 would kill just as well as the 7mm RM in 99% of the hunting done here. It is enuf gun for a whole hell of a lot of people and easier recoil-wise on lots of youngsters women hunters and the reooil-shy. A 1B in 308 carries like a 7mm mag but recoils way less.

Out West, the .308 might be marginal to dubious on griz and cross canyon trophy elk opportunities but it is plenty accurate way out there for speed goats and mulies.

Ruger though obviously agrees with youi as they made thousands of 7mm mags to every #1 308 produced.

1B

Clarkm,

It all depends on where and what you hunt.

East of the Big Muddy, the .308 would kill just as well as the 7mm RM in 99% of the hunting done here. It is enuf gun for a whole hell of a lot of people and easier recoil-wise on lots of youngsters women hunters and the reooil-shy. A 1B in 308 carries like a 7mm mag but recoils way less.

Out West, the .308 might be marginal to dubious on griz and cross canyon trophy elk opportunities but it is plenty accurate way out there for speed goats and mulies.

Ruger though obviously agrees with youi as they made thousands of 7mm mags to every #1 308 produced.

1B

I am hunting South of the Missouri and North of the Yellowstone.

I am trying to extend my sure thing kill range from 500 to 600 yards.

Maybe what is making it so hard is that I was never that good at 500 yards, and now trying to get good at 600 yards is taking a lot of effort.