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| one of us |
I allways thought the Ruger No1 etc to be wonderful looking and engineered rifles but never had one because I fairly frequently shoot more than one deer in a short space of time and because I like to reload for a potential follow up shot whilst keeping the scope more or less to my eye. Also when things go wrong for me as they do on occasion (who doesn't screw up every now and again) the last thing I feel I need is a manual loading operation requiring skill, a cool head and manual dexterity - I merely want to go rack, rack, bang - it's one less thing to worry about. So if push feeds are bad news (I'm not convinced) what about pinky feeds? | ||
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| Moderator |
1894, I have two #1s that shoot beautifully; a 1-B .243, and a 1-V .25-06. They are elegant rifles (for U.S. manufacture), and styled after the Farquharson. They are somewhat slower to reload than a bolt-action, and you will have to lower the gun to reload, but that is something you accept when hunting with a single shot. A #1 in .222 or .223 would be ideal for muntjac, Chinese water deer, roe deer, and lamped foxes. George ------------------ | |||
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| one of us |
1894. Regarding your question as to the speed of reloading a Ruger #1, no, they are slightly slower for aimed shots than a bolt action, but not by much. Matter of fact, they're not much slower than any other action for aimed fire. The key word here is "aimed". I have ten Ruger #1 rifles at this time, ranging from .223 Rem. to .375 H&H and 45-70. Granted, I can reload the .223 faster than the biggies, but that is more a matter of recoil than anything else. Regardless of action type, you must recover from recoil to deliver another "aimed" shot, right? One of the gun rags just had an article on speed with different actions. When it came to the single shot, they had the shooters take each round from a jacket pocket. Not the way to go. From a pocket, you have to fish around for the shell, make sure it's pointed in the right direction, stick it in the chamber, raise the rifle and fire. No wonder the "one-shooter" came out dead last. Your ammunition must be readily accessable, and oriented in the proper direction to start with. There are several ways you can do this. At the last minute, you can put a couple of rounds between the fingers of the left hand, assuming you're right handed. Or, as gun writer Jon Sundra does, have an elastic wrist band with a couple of rounds tucked in. Personally, I have two methods which I prefer. One is use one of those cartridge holders that come packed with Federal ammo. Place your ammo in every other hole, giving you five available rounds. It's easier to grab the next round if the shells are not too close together. The other is to get one of those elastic shell holders that fit on the buttstock. Again, load every other hole. Now here's where this get a litle complicated to try and describe, but it works and is quite easy with a little practice. After you fire the first shot, when you bring the rifle down to recharge the chamber, after you have dropped the breech block, slide your left hand back to the receiver and place the left thumb over the opening of the chamber. Take the cartridge from where ever you have decided works best for you with the right hand, and with the trigger finger extended along the shell bring it towards the chamber that is covered by the left thumb. You do not have to look at the chamber, your right hand will instinctively locate the left thumb. (In fact, you should keep your eyes on your game animal. It'll be hard to do this at first, but it comes with practice.) As you feel the tip of the round touch the thumb, move it (the thumb) out of the way and let the round drop into the chamber. (ammo MUST be full lenght sized for this to work. No neck sized brass, as the round must slip into the chamber aided only by gravity.)Close the breech as you raise the rifle for the next shot. I've been using Ruger #1 rifles since about 1973, and believe me, the system works. If you take a fired round, and a couple of dummy rounds, about 15 minutes of practice will show you just how easy it really is. About the only time I find using a single shot rifle a bit awkward is if the temperatures get down around freezing. It does get a bit tricky with numb fingers. FWIW. John Taylor, in his book AFRICAN RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES mentions the fact that every time he had to go after lions, he was armed with a "single loader". At least, that's what he said. I consider myself fairly well practiced with single shots, but I'm not too sure I'd relish taking on an African lion with one. Then again, who want to live forever? Seriously, if you can beg, borrow or otherwise get your hands on a Ruger #1, try it out and see if it won't work like I said. Paul B. | |||
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| <oldtimer> |
Haveing killed lots of deer with various rifle 95% of the time all you need is one shot. And most of the time a follow up shot with my ruger no. 1 was plenty fast enough. But then we are not talking about large bag limits here. Bur a few years back I shot 4 in a row with mine in less then 3 min. I don't think that I would like to to a charging buff or bear on with one. But if it was the only thing I had it would have to due. I always carried a couple extra in between the fingers of my left hand for the fastest reloads. | ||
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one of us |
Single shots as the Ruger N:r1 or german Kipplaufs - also double rifles and kombination guns - may be slower to load but you will have the advantage of reloading the gun quietly. Repeting guns tend to make some rattling sounds, that really disturb the game, more than the bang. Some years ago I had a scope mount failure, and shot beside a roe on the field. As I had a kombination gun I reloaded quietly, while the roe went on eating grass. Next shot also went beside and the roe moved some yards away, but continued feeding. I detached the scope as I realize something was wrong with it, and took him with the iron sights. With a repeter in that situation, I doubt I would have get him, as the procedure of putting a new round in the chamber is a bit noisy. Of course it would be a bit otherwise if you try to shoot some animals of a group, but I think the quiet handling of the gun is still a really considerable advantage. For stalking I prefer my drilling, as I can load it quietly when I see the game. I would have to carry a repeter with a cartridge in the chamber to be sure not to disturb the game. Fritz K. | |||
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one of us |
I have (2) #1's and have hunted them a bit. I likethe handling qualities of the shorter rfle & even w/ 26" bbls. I am shorter than the average bolt gun w/ a 22" bbl. Reloading any rifle but a semi-auto requires practice. I mad a (2) round shell holder w/ elastic loops that velcors around the middle of the rifle ubder the scope. The rounds are right where your trigger hand is & you pluck one out after you drop the falling block. It is very quick & I reload mechanically after the shot. It is really not an issue.Enjoy! | |||
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Moderator |
My first 22 was a Stevens Favorite (and yes I still have it) Like Oldtimer I carried a couple extra shells between the fingers of my left hand, or else carried one in my mouth between my teeth. Either way worked quite fast for getting a second or third shot in. Again, one of those things where just spending some time practicing (or better yet, using!) gets you quite proficient. | |||
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| one of us |
A question to you guys who have been using the No.1 for years. When looking at the No.1 in the gun shop, the scope mounting rail seems to be located quite a bit more forward than on a bolt rifle. What about the distance from the eye and to the rear en of the scope, will it not be rather long ? And will it not interfere with focusing and field of wiew ?? I have always been fond of that rifle, think it�s a real beauty and is concidering buying one for Red stag hunting in .30-06, .270 or 6,5 Swede That requiers a scope with good twiligth qualities, ie. a 4-10x50. How does the No.1 go along with such a scope ?? Regards Arild | |||
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| one of us |
I must be honest and say that I doubt it would work for me. The action of cycling a bolt is for me reflex, something I doubt I could ever achieve with a single shot. Am I right in thinking that single shots are not allowed by law for moose hunting in Sweden? | |||
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| Moderator |
Arild, Your observations are correct. Eye relief can be a problem with the forward mounting on the #1. There are a number of scopes available here with generous eye relief (most of the Leupolds) which address that problem. None of my Zeiss or Swarovski scopes have sufficient eye relief for the #1. 1894, George ------------------ | |||
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| <Ol' Sarge> |
I firmly believe a single shot is the best way to start out a youngster. The will learn to stalk first, then learn to shoot. On further thought, maybe if everyone would use a single shot they'd quit blasting away from across the canyons. If ya only got one, you'll make it count. ------------------ | ||
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| one of us |
quote: According to hunting laws single shots are allowed for moose and bear here in Sweden. The only regulation in that way is that you may not load a semi-automatic with more than five round for moose and only to for bear. So if you are on a moose hunt, and encounter a nice legal bear you must have a legal two-round magazine in the pocket... Fritz | |||
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| <Wildcat> |
Well, unless your doing alot of shooting you can get quite a few shots off a single shot in a short amount of time. it won't be as fast as a lever or semi but for a break action here it is: wear a wristband that will hold about 5 of your cartridge on your trigger hand, with minimal practice you can just open, pull, insert, close, shoot. ------------------ | ||
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| Moderator |
Wildcat, That works with a T/C, since you hold the pistol in your strong hand and load with the 'off' hand. With a rifle, the wristband should be worn on the 'off' hand, so that the trigger hand can operate the lever, strip a round, load it, close the lever, and move to the trigger. George ------------------ | |||
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| one of us |
The single shot is a natural phenomenon that all gun nuts go through at some stage in their life... They swear by them and sing phrases of grandeous feats in the 4 corners of the hunting world to the point of total idiosy, then fortunately they outgrow that phase of ill formed conclusions and go on to bigger and better things, but they never loose their appreciation of the fine workmanship that goes into most single shots..they just don't hunt with them anymore...I know, I did.. Why can't the spellcheck spell better than me, is it totally screwed up?? ------------------ | |||
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| one of us |
I have nothing against any type of action, but all I use is single shot equipment. My bow, My Muzzle loader, and my T/C Encore rifle. I have not found trouble getting second shot opportunites with any of these methods. I do question the guy that feel he needs a pump or semi-auto rifle, simply for the convienience of getting off the NEXT shot. Be a HUNTER, Be a MAN, and make the FIRST one COUNT!! I talked to a guy I know in a gun shop after last deer season. He was looking at semi-auto shotguns. His reasoning was that he missed a deer twice with his pump action, and if he had been using a auto he could have gotten off that all important 3rd shot. I have one word. IDIOT!!! Learn how to shoot! They were hunting with dogs so the deer were running flat out. Which brings me back to my first point - Be a HUNTER. But that is another thread. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Mark G (edited 08-25-2001).] | |||
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| <dartonvpr> |
As a single shot shooter, I have to say that, I've never "outgrown" the enjoyment I get from shooting a single shot. I believe it makes me a better shot, because I don't rely on that second or third shot. As for needing the second shot, I've only needed it once, and the deer was already hit, so was no rush to fire wildly. Although, I can't say that it took me any time to reload and was more than ready when I needed to make that shot. ------------------ | ||
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| <30 cal> |
I have a #1 in 7mm Stw and I have a 9 shot shell holder on the stock. Starting with one already in the chamber I can keep up with my buddies bolt .30-06. Once he empties out his magazine and has to load them one by one I can fire all 10 of them off much faster than he can. | ||
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