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Is there much of a market for Ruger No. 1's in .243 Winchester among hunters who will actually take them into the field?

My guess, as a non-hunter, is that if a hunter was taking a No. 1 into the field, especially in a relatively short barreled version like the RSI, he or she would rather something with a bit more oomph.

What say the Forum?

My question is motivated because my rifle habit consists of buying rifles, keeping and shooting them for a while, and then selling them to make room for the next toy. As such, I like to get rifles that hunters actually use. That way I have a better chance of being able to sell them for close to what I paid.

A Ruger No. 1 in .243 would be fun to shoot because of the low recoil and relatively low price of the ammo, but I think a No. 1 in 7 mm, .270 or .30-06 would be more mainstream.

Last edited by Bushmaster1313; 01/09/13.
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If I had a Ruger 1A in 243. I would hunt the hell out of it. If purchasing new though I would probably buy a larger caliber.

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There was a time that the 243 1B was fairly available on the resale market and at very good prices as they were not much sought after. I used several as donors for bigger bore projects. I kept my 6mm Rem 1B intact as I prefer it over the 243.

243s in 1A or RSI cofiguation woud make a good kid's or small framed woman's deer/varmint rifles. And it is legal for deer in states that ban the 22 calibers.

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I've used a stock 1-A in .243 for years, big game (deer and hogs) and varmints, mainly ground squirrels, coyotes, and jackrabbits. It'll kill any deer dead, dead within reasonable ranges, meaning the distance YOU can make a clean high shoulder, neck, or head shot. For me that's about 150 yards, although I killed a nice muley in the Snake River breaks years ago at more like 200 (hard to "pace" distance when it's almost vertical!). And I DON'T shoot at animals that are running; don't do that with a .358, either. I use 95-100 grain bullets, mainly Nosler. Heavier caliber 1-As kick some. A .243 doesn't, so you can shoot it a lot and get VERY friendly with it shooting paper, squirrels and other varmints before big game hunting season.

My 1-A fits me perfectly without modification. I'm 5' 10" 200#, and have, as my gunsmith puts it, "ape hanger arms." He means "long."

1-Bs shoot fine, but I never saw the advantage of the long barrel and extra weight in a .243, especially one that's gonna be carried a lot. On a long day's "glass and stalk," a 1-A is just right. Put a compact 2x7 on it and you're set.


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I'd love a No. 1 in 243

I hunt primarily in South Texas and The Florida Panhandle so...A 243 is plenty of gun for what I need.


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I had one that I had bought for my daughter but the stock was too long for her. I hunted with it for deer.


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I can't believe that this is even a thread here! How many hunters do you figure head out into the field each year with a .243? If it didn't work well, do you think they'd be toting one?

I have No. 1's in a variety of calibers, but tend to use the lesser calibers MORE. 243's, 6.5x55, 250 Savage are always my go tos. I've never had a deer complain from the receiving end of any of them. Bigger than deer sized critters though, and I probably would drop the 243 or the Savage. I'd have no qualms tackling a Moose (and they do regularly in Scandanavia) with my 6.5x55.

I hunt my .243 RSI regularly for another reason as well. It shoots like a dream, is short so I don't dump snow down my back walking in thick stuff, and fits in the tree stand beautifully. Some of the larger rifles can be awkward up there. I also have a .243 Blaser Stutzen, but that one only comes out on the nice days due to nice wood.

If you're talking deer the 243 is a mighty fine cartridge if you ask me.

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I just remembered that an African PH who frequented our Safari Club banquets told me that he and his family regularly use .243s for culling animals -- plains game -- on their huge property in SA.

That is not to say that if you showed up in his camp with a .243 for a trohopy hunt he wouldn't be highly unhappy with your choice. The difference is that he and his brood can shoot and the cull animals, while no dinks, are not as beefy as the trophy critters.

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Originally Posted by digger44
If I had a Ruger 1A in 243. I would hunt the hell out of it.


Yep. One is on my short list, coyotes through antelope and whitetail.



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I had a No. 1 in .243. A 200th year model. It weighed 9.25# with a 6x scope. The stock dimensions are the same as any other No. 1 of the same model. I would think that any small framed person or a young hunter would have the same issues(good and bad)with it as he would with any larger caliber.

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I agree that the .270's, 7mm's, .308's and .30/06's are "more mainstream" for hunters, but as a RSI owner (in 7x57), I didn't choose a RSI and it's caliber especially for hunting, but rather for the RSI's "looks" and handiness in the woods.

Of course, I chose the 7x57mm because that caliber "screams" to be chambered in a Mannlicher-style stock... regardless of barrel length.

A RSI in .243 would make a nice antelope & deer rifle, but it's a bit short on power for elk or the larger types (caribou & moose).

The RSI's short, 20-inch barrel isn't THAT much of a velocity-loser as one might think. My hunting load for my little RSI in 7x57 is 50.0 grains of Hodgdon's H4350 behind a 140 grain Sierra, flat-based Pro-Hunter bullet sparked by a standard Winchester large rifle primer in Remington cartridge cases... and it gives me right around 2800 fps (chronographed) outta that short little barrel... more than "adequate" for antelope and even the largest mule deer under 300 yards which is further than I prefer to take a shot.

My "hunting range limit" is 250 yards so that I can insure humane kills... and I prefer even shorter ranges if I can get 'em.

I think there's a whole bunch of deer hunters out there who would 'most likely love to have a Ruger #1 International (aka "RSI") in .243, a cartridge which will kill deer like the Hammer-of-Thor with reasonable bullet placement.


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I would say no. Deer, particularly white tail are the most commonly hunted game animal in NA. A 243 can handle that task with aplomb. My buddy runs a Rem M700ADL 30-06 and I run a Ruger No.1 RSI. Same load out of each gun across the chrony and my RSI runs about 50-75 fps faster with a 2" shorter barrel. Might have to do with how I broke in the barrel or maybe I just got lucky. I happen to like the RSI as to me it carries like a nice upland game double. It carries,swings and points nicer than any other rifle I've owned. Too petite or not adequate? far from it.


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Originally Posted by digger44
If I had a Ruger 1A in 243. I would hunt the hell out of it.


I have one and do hunt it hard. In fact it's my favorite rifle. Petite is down right offensive in this case...

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I love mine as well. Not a .243 but it is such a nice packing/still hunting rifle it about as perfect as one could find. Mine's a 30-06 and I run a reduced (2600 fps) 150 gr RN load out of it. It's about ideal for stalking white tails. I tried like hell to get it in 7X57 but couldn't find one so I settled for the 30-06 wink

Last edited by brinky72; 01/17/13.

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Go sit at the range for a few hours...most folks would be better off with a 243... Cuz they sure cant shoot much larger.....mild recoil, hits 1000 ft lbs out to 400... Fine round..

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I took the plunge:

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The cartridge works fine and has mild recoil, but I think I'd rather have a 6mm Rem, if I wanted a 6mm in a #1


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No, but most hunters aren't comfortable with single shots.

Last edited by 1minute; 07/17/13.

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Originally Posted by 1minute
No, but most hunters aren't comfortable with single shots.


translation: most hunters cannot shoot well or know how to hunt.

A well trained single shot operator can get off repeat accurate shots better than most Nimrods with a bolt action, as the former has 2 rounds "palmed" and can reload quickly, whereas the latter has probably never tried a rapid fire drill with his bolt gun.

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I stupidly sold a 1A 243.

I would not call it petite, but a pretty sweet carbine with a 22" barrel wink


Dave

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