I've been infatuated with the #1 for many years. Looking to #1 owners to share their experiences. How well do they shoot? How well balanced are they?

I think I need one.

Check out the single shot rifle forum.

The Ruger #1 has always been a fav of mine. I just like the classie looks & feel. They are heavy, balance w/ the longer 26" bbl is quite good. I prefer the #1S version w/ sights, they just look right. Mine are both custom chambered but the 7remmag I used to have was always a MOA rifle w/ most loads. It still is, but it's a 7mm Dakota now.

Lovely appearance, Too heavy to carry all day, Not super repeatable, but in the field it gets the job done at reasonable ranges. roger

My hunting buddy had one in the varmint version in a 22-250 and ended up chasing accuracy all over with a fistfull of cash and not finding any success. It didn't ever get under 1.75 inches which would be ok for a hunting application but not for a 26" barrel in a varmint configuration for my buddy.

They look great but it seems like they need some tinkering in many cases to get them up to the expectations of the buyer.

I love them w/ all my heart, and have had several and probably have more. BUT you get good ones and bad ones. they are very prone to string groups 22-250 that would print a very nice 2.5 inch line horizontly every group every time. I also had a .416 Rigby that would no BS shoot cloverleaf groups all day long at 100 yds. I have had them in between. I loved that 22-250 and ried every trick in he book and bought a hicks accurizer for it but it would string no matter what.

I had a 22-250 is what its supposed to say above but couldn't edit?

I’ve owned 8 No. 1s over the last 34 years. These are the five I own now (and probably the last). The 7mm Remington is the oldest of the bunch and the third 7mm Remington I’ve owned. The target is pretty typical of what it does accuracy wise. I can always count on the first 3 shots, then barrel hot starts throwing 4 and 5 out of the group. Ruger No.1s are a single shot hunting rifle not a target rifle.

The most accurate rifle in the bunch is the 220 Swift, it will shoot quarter inch groups. Surprisingly the little RSI is pretty darn accurate, it’ll do sub-minute 3 shot groups but I worked with it for 2 years to get it there.

I love the three Rugers I currently own. Two were re-barreled and the third, a stainless laminated 1-V in .22-250, has had some bedding work. All are sub-moa now. You may get lucky and get an moa No.1 out of the box, but expect less accuracy - 2-3 moa is more probable. Not that 2 moa is bad, in spite of what you read here and in the gunzines, an average of 2 moa is pretty good for a factory rifle. Any rifle can shoot a few tiny groups, but so what? You can't count on that when the chips are down.

As stated, the No.1s are hunting rifles. They can be made into very accurate hunting rifles, but don't expect to match a comparable bolt gun. I'm not trying to scare you off - not at all - just giving you some reasonable expectations. Me, I'd feel unarmed without at least one Ruger No.1 in the safe....


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They sure are a pretty gun. That's as far as I'm going!

I have had 2 No1's, a 243 and a 45/70.

The 243 was very accurate, the wife killed antelope at 350 yards with it.

The 45/70 will put 3 shots on the face of a watch at 100 yards.

Both of mine had the Alex Henry forends which I really like the way they handle.

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Looking to #1 owners to share their experiences. How well do they shoot?

I had one in a varmint model....heavy barrel and 6mm Rem.....

Best accuracy I could get was a bit over 3" at 100 yards.....so I returned it to Ruger....

After returning it the third time I called and asked why it wasn't shooting better.....how they was testing it.....

Their remark.....It's warranted to shoot 1.5" at 50 yards.....I sold it!

It was the third long gun from Ruger in a row that was totally dissatisfying.....I won't own another one ever!!!!!

Their handguns however are among the best you can get.....at least that's my experience so far!

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Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Looking to #1 owners to share their experiences. How well do they shoot?

I had one in a varmint model....heavy barrel and 6mm Rem.....

Best accuracy I could get was a bit over 3" at 100 yards.....so I returned it to Ruger....

After returning it the third time I called and asked why it wasn't shooting better.....how they was testing it.....

Their remark.....It's warranted to shoot 1.5" at 50 yards.....I sold it!

It was the third long gun from Ruger in a row that was totally dissatisfying.....I won't own another one ever!!!!!

Their handguns however are among the best you can get.....at least that's my experience so far!

I bet you never owned a Thompson Center either.

If we all wanted to take the easy road, we’d all own Savage rifles.

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Originally posted by MickinColo:
I bet you never owned a Thompson Center either.

Yup....right on....But just might look at one some day!

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Originally posted by MickinColo:
If we all wanted to take the easy road, we’d all own Savage rifles.

There are no Weatherby rifles or Ruger rifles or Savage rifles in my house and all for the same reason.....where's that barfing emoticon when you need one?

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Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by MickinColo:
I bet you never owned a Thompson Center either.

Yup....right on....But just might look at one some day!

quote:

Originally posted by MickinColo:
If we all wanted to take the easy road, we’d all own Savage rifles.

There are no Weatherby rifles or Ruger rifles or Savage rifles in my house and all for the same reason.....where's that barfing emoticon when you need one?

A form over function guy, huh?

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where's that barfing emoticon when you need one?

LOL

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A form over function guy, huh?

The glory is in the struggle

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A form over function guy, huh?

not at all.....I've posted the disfunctional characteristics of everyone of these items.

Explain the Thompson Center for me....I've never had any experience with them and I am interested in a single shot in something like a .218 bee.

I see you found your barfing emoticon, pretty cool. LOL