I have decided on buying a Ruger #1A with a 22" barrel and am asking for input on caliber. The gun will be used mainly for deer, coyotes, & hogs (read mainly just for messing around with). What caliber would be your choice and why. Does the short 22" barrel affect certain calibers more than others. I already have a 7MM Rem Mag and will be getting a 30-06 in a M70. Seriously considering a 270 but is that too close to the 7Mag???

How about a #1S in 45-70? Classic cartridge, and you can load it to about any level you want in that gun.

Considering the falling block action makes the OAL length ~4" shorter then a bolt gun, I'd opt for a 26" barrel.

Since you've got the small bores pretty well handled, I'd look at the medium and large bores. I'm thinking 338 win mag or 375 H&H.

To me the long barreled #1's are heavy rifles. They may fine for a varminter or a long range hammer chambered for a magnum but for nice sweet falling block hunting rifle I like the 1A's and Internationals.

For the game you mentioned most of the chamberings would work. My favorite is the 30-06 Springfield.

It does not matter that you have another with the same chambering. Just carry the one you want.

My thoughts would be opposite of the previous replys, and not that I'm just trying to be different, but I always thought a #1 in 25/06 would be an ideal deer rifle and would be fantastic on coyotes and some of the smaller hogs as well.

BigBullet

With the barrel you are talking about the .257 Roberts will have all the punch you need and the recoil you'd want to handle.If you have the ability and confidence try a 9 twist .244. roger

quote:

---

Originally posted by bmpregler:
Seriously considering a 270

---

I think you are on the right track there. My favorite caliber. With the right bullet it can effectively kill anything up to and including Elk, yet shoots flat enough to be one of the best if not the best for smaller game. It's bullet size of 130 to 150 grain seems to be what the case capacity of the 30-06 was made for. Perfect selection. I shoot the 25-06, 264 win, 270, 280, 7 mag, 30-06, 300, and 338. Of these the 270 and 300 run neck and neck as favorites.

Oh, almost forgot, a 270 will shoot very well with a 22" barrel.

I've owned #1's in 30-06, 6mm Rem, 458 Lott & 223 Rem. The 1-B models (26" medium weight barrel) are heavy, especially when equiped with scopes, not particularly good for walking around. I liked my 1-A in 30-06 very well. For what you're talking about, I'd look at a 22" sporter barrel model (1-A or 1-AB) in 270, 7x57, 308 or 30-06.

Since I am not a .270 fan, I would go w/ the 7x57. Classic cart. in a classic rifle.

I have a No.1B in 7 Mag., and a 1A in 7X57mm. The 7X57 is pretty close to the 7 Mag., but the 1A is a lot lighter and ghandier a rifle to drag around in the mountains. I believe the .270 is closer to a 7 Mag. than the 7X57 is, but there aren't really a lot of very different cartridges currently available in the No. 1A, so your choices are pretty limited these days.

You only have two choices left considering your post, the 7x57 and the .270..

The .270 is the better cartridge of the two IMO, although I love the 7x57 and always have one around...

The .270 is simply a more powerful rifle than the 7x57 with just a tad more recoil..It shoots flatter and faster, and for all practical purposes is a 7MM caliber, and the equivelent of a 7mm-06 or 280 Rem. anyway you cut it. I think I still have some old Spear 170 gr. 270s and they sure were killers on elk..and someone used to make a 180 gr. .270s, but the 160 Nosler will do better than either of these on big animals like elk and kudu...even a good Eland gun.

I have both the 7x57 and .270 Ruger #1A rifles and either one would serve you well. The .270 might be a bit easier to find ammo for at Wallyworld, but my choice for the game choices you mentioned would be the 7x57. Once you start using Ruger #1s, you'll find they become quite addicting. That must be so as I now have 15 of them.
Paul B.