So what DO we do with these lovely little Farky-esque Rugers in such lovely chamberings as .450-400? For heaven's sake, they must be just the ticket for something, if not for DG.
(Trying to work up an excuse here ...)

Take them hunting.

Bill,

Take it out for Roosevelt elk, or black bear in your home state. It would make a great pig rifle, too.

If you head to Africa, it's perfectly adequate for any plains game you encounter.

George

quote:

Bill,

Take it out for Roosevelt elk, or black bear in your home state. It would make a great pig rifle, too.

If you head to Africa, it's perfectly adequate for any plains game you encounter.

Or DG for that matter (450/400 3" that is).

I am planning to take mine to Fl this spring for Gators and Pigs. Yea a bit much but it is fun to shoot. Some day it will fly to the great land for Elephant. Maybe this year for Croc or Hippo.

Jagter: You'll be the classiest gator hunter in Florida if you're packing a .450-400.

You could use it for a 600 conversion

I would go shoot Cape Buffalo, elephant and Lion with it..With a little practice you can load it very quickly...

I don't recommend a single shot for DG for everyone, but if your a good shot and can handle a single shot I see no reason not to..

I have ordered one of Butch Searcys lovely little single shots in .375 H&H, and I will probably end up shooting some buffalo with it before its all said and done, maybe this year...

I use to hunt a great deal with a#1 in 25-06 but had Claus Weiling engraved it and it is now a safe queen, so I am getting back in the swing of using a single shot. With a bit of practice one can reload them damn fast so I figured something like pigs or gators would be good practice. Of course it is all about shot placement and getting to know ones equipment is all important.

Best 'excuse' I can think of...

bpesteve, Tell us about your rifle and did your PH have any objections to you using a No.1 ? My concern about the No.1 is the empty case not clearing the safety. Have any of you found a cost effective way to correct this other than filing off the front of the safety. My 416 No. 1 will shoot 1" groups with Remington ammo with the 400 grain A-Frame bullets.

My friend Has one and it is a 375 H&H. He has a problem with Some shells ejecting.

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
My friend Has one and it is a 375 H&H. He has a problem with Some shells ejecting.

What's his problem? Most often the safety gets in the way of the empty shell & bounces it back into the chamber. All he needs to do is remove about 3/32" from the front of the tang safety & it should be 100%. One of my fav. rifles.

Concur with Fred. My #1 (currently in 7mmMag) would probably be a safe queen to other owners because Frank Hendricks (now dead) engraved and satin nickeled the receiver. This rifle will soon be a .395/.400 Nitro Express...and, yes, I do take it hunting in Colorado on a regular basis.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
My friend Has one and it is a 375 H&H. He has a problem with Some shells ejecting.

What's his problem? Most often the safety gets in the way of the empty shell & bounces it back into the chamber. All he needs to do is remove about 3/32" from the front of the tang safety & it should be 100%. One of my fav. rifles.

The ejector spring is adjustable... that is an easier first thing to try than grinding the safety catch.

Dan

I number of years ago I was having trouble with ejected brass on my rebarreled No.1 .450/400 catching on the forward edge of the safety button. I had a gunsmith lower the profile and inset it into the tang. While he had the rifle apart, I had him color case harden the action. It now works as good as it looks!

The No.1 in that picture is a bog-standard ('cept for the big squooshy recoil pad) 1-H in .375 H&H. No objections from my PH, but bring your brown pants if it's your first buff like this one was for me.

Braved the crappy weather today, and took the No. 1 450/400 to the range. First chance I've had to shoot it since I picked it up. Was a little short for me, so I used a Sims Limbsaver slip-on pad to lengthen it about 3/4" and it fits perfect now. Will sort that out later.

Tweaked the open sights a tad, and it was right on with the Hornady 400 SP. Two inch groups off sticks at 50 yards, which I thought was great considering the wind. Not uncomfortable at all with a jacket on; more of a nice push to let you know what it can do. With two in a wrist band, I could reload it quickly, and really didn't seem to have a problem hitting the safety.

Brought it home, and put a nice matte finish Leupold 2.5X on it. Will try to get back out next weekend to sight in with scope.

AK Hunter: I once had a Ruger .416 rebarelled to .450-400 by Chick Donelly of Siskiyou Barrel Works here in Southern Oregon. It ended up going to somebody in Alaska maybe 8 or 9 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by JC375:
bpesteve, Tell us about your rifle and did your PH have any objections to you using a No.1 ? My concern about the No.1 is the empty case not clearing the safety. Have any of you found a cost effective way to correct this other than filing off the front of the safety. My 416 No. 1 will shoot 1" groups with Remington ammo with the 400 grain A-Frame bullets.

I,ve had 3 #1s and the only way I could find was shortening and beveling the front of the slide ..Works and I prefer the look ......I really screwed up and sold my last one to a friend ....It,s kind of a double slide any way ,,

AK,
pictures please....

I just tilt the rifle to the right (I'm right handed) as I work the lever. Then I leave it tilted as I drop a new cartridge into the chamber which helps clear the scope objective bell.
The empty brass falls right at your feet and for me it's pretty darn quick.

YMMV

I've seen Rick execute this maneuver. As cool as he is, and as well as he shoots ... he just might be able to get away with the Ruger #1 as a DGR.

If I remember correctly, he took a Blue Wildebeast with his .405 Win #1 as I watched. Sure worked. (Which was a good thing as I don't remember the PH carrying a rifle at the time.)

I wish I had a Ruger 450-400-3", I'd be shooting buffalo with it and happy as a pig in s--t....

Think about how nice it would be to pack that light, handy, iron sighted, rifle around in the bush all day in those hot temps. Sounds good to this old curmudgeon as those little perks keep me going.

Don't know where Ruger got it's numbers for weight, but was certainly expecting more than I got. It was weighed on a very accurate scale and I am ecstatic with my new No. 1. All put together, it weighs exactly 9 pounds with the standard Ruger high rings, a Leupold 2.5X scope and Butler Creek neopreme sling. Very comfortable!!!!!!!!!! Watch out Spring bear.