The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Little help: Ruger #1 tropical - 375 H&HGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Hey men, A buddy is currently looking at a Ruger #1 (tropical) in 375 H&H. He mainly wants it for elk and possible black bear hunting. Do any of you have one of these and care to lend an opinion of how well you like/dislike it? It would be much appreciated. He's also considering the same rifle in 405 Win. Thanks, -eric " . . . a gun is better worn and with bloom off---So is a saddle---People too by God." -EH | ||
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The #1 is a truly classic sporting rifle and of excellent quality. The wood is usually very good compared to other sporting rifles of that league. The #1's do sometimes have issues with grouping due to the barrel hanger under the forearm. Tinkering with this is not normaly difficult and usually takes care of the problem. A #1 in .375 H&H would be a fantastic elk and black bear rifle IMHO. With good bullets it can handle anything... .22 LR Ruger M77/22 30-06 Ruger M77/MkII .375 H&H Ruger RSM | |||
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They're great rifles. He may want to consider a Rigby rather than th 405. Great long range round. My rigby shoots very well but to be honest the barrel is so thick I don't think anything would affect it. Only one shot but very nice guns. | |||
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I have one of each 375H&H and 405Win. Coin toss in my opinion. I would and do use them rather interchangebly. Both have good wood both balance practically the same. If I were choosing only one it would probably be the 375 only because more factory loads are available and it is easier to load for. SCI Life Member NRA Patron Life Member DRSS | |||
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The only problem I can think of is the weight. The Tropical rifle is heavier than other #1's. this is good for recoil reduction, but can be a little heavy for carying all day. Nice rifles for the money IMO. R ****************************************************************** R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle." ****************************************************************** We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!! 'What the hell could possibly go wrong?' | |||
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I'd take the .375 if you're going to feed it factory ammo. I'd also take the .375 if you need 250+ yards of PBR. If you plan to shoot cast bullets, the .405 is a very good choice (better than the .375). I have a #1 in .458WM. It's become my favorite rifle. I've taken it deer hunting the last two years. | |||
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My first .375 was a No. 1, and I shot 4 or 5 elk and several deer with it. They balance well, and at least for me, it was one of the best/fastest pointing rifles for hunting in heavy timber that I have used, so I could hit well with it. Also, though a bit heavy, it carried easily for me because it was so well balanced. I am sorry I sold the gun, as if I still had it, I would still use it for elk. As it is, since I have another .375, I replaced it with a No. 1S in .338, which balances about as well as the No. 1 H .375. As to a scope, I would suggest the Leupold Vari-X III 1.75x6. My No. 1's have shot well with Nosler partitions and Barnes TSX bullets. For an elk gun in .375 I would recommend either the 260-grain Partion or the 270-grain Barnes. I have no experience with the .405, but the .375 would be more flexible as an elk rifle because it is a flatter shooting round. Hope this helps. Dave One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx | |||
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one of the most perfect factory rifles ever made. perfect size, perfect shape, perfect weight, perfect ctg. leaves nothing to be desired. | |||
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My #1 is the .416 Rigby version. It's my understanding that the .375 has a somewhat lighter barrel profile than the .416 and .458 versions, but I'm very content with the weight/balance and the handling of this #1H. In addition, it's beautiful! It shoots very well with jacketed or Barnes-type monometal bullets, and also is extremely accurate with good cast-bullet loads. I'm another fan of the #1, and I'm at least three or four short of the number of #1 rifles I'd like to own. Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1) | |||
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I've got one, and I love it. It has given me sub-2" groups at 200 meters with ammo that was NOT specifically developed for that rifle. I like it so well, I'm contemplating a companion piece in .416 Rigby! "Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen." | |||
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I own and shoot a Ruger # 1 Tropical in .416 Rigby. It has a beautiful dark red Walnut stock with red accent lines that seem to glow when the sunshine hits them. It is very accurate with 370 grain North Fork bullets. I already had a .416 Rem and got this rifle for my own use when my son expressed an interest in accompanying me to Africa. He ended up not making the trip, and low and behold I had the best excuse in the world for another rifle. My wife said I hornswoggled her, she always was as smart as she is pretty.  Good shooting.phurley | |||
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Absolutely right on. NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS. Shoot & hunt with vintage classics. | |||
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The 'Fickled Finger of Fate' has me slobbering over a #1. It has the appeal of 'simplicity'. ____________________________________________ Did I mention, "I REALLY LIKE GUNS"? "...I don't care what you decide or how much you pay for it..." Former FFL Dealer NAHC Life Member NRA Endowment/Life Member Remington Society of America Member Hunter in Training | |||
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I have one for sale in the classified section as we speak! ****************************************************************** R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle." ****************************************************************** We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!! 'What the hell could possibly go wrong?' | |||
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I realize that based on the ballistic charts, the .375 is more powerful. But with good handloads, equal bullets, is there much difference on game? Does the increased diameter of the .405 add any knockdown punch to level the playing field of these two great cartridges? | |||
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I have #1 Tropicals in 375 and Rigby. I used the 375 for my New Mexico Oryx and it "got'er done" with a 75 yd running shot. It wears a 1x5 Redfield and handles beautifully. I haven't messed with the Rigby yet ( a shattered left knee and being LH has me concerned). I have #1s in 300 Win Mag and 220 also. They are some of the best looking factory rifes available. Look good, shoot good (some need tweaking) and get the job done. Single shot should not be an issue for the use described. I would go with the 375 vice 405. Bullets will always be available reasonably, same for brass (although 200 rds should last a lifetime) and factory ammo is easier to find if needed. They will and do shoot cast bullets well and even lend their self to use with paper patched if you want to. I would think (I can't speak from experience) that it would make a fine second rifle for an Africa trip if one choose to. I wouldn't want one for my primary if I was going. Thaine "Begging hands and bleeding hearts will always cry out for more..." Ayn Rand "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here, we might as well dance" Jeanne C. Stein | |||
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Except the workmanship Roger Kehr Kehr Engraving Company (360)456-0831 | |||
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The Number 1's I've owned are at least as good in this regard as any factory-made rifle on the market today! And a whole lot better than most. You can't buy custom workmanship for $600.00 per copy!! "Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen." | |||
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I only own (1) Ruger #1, a 1-B 25-06. But I can say that that single example is of huch higher quality than the Remington 700s & Winchester M70s I bought during teh same period (late 90s). My 25-06 is a MOA gun after simply bedding the forend. I use it for deer & some varmint hunting. My daughetr has also used it on deer here in PA. This was her doe from last year.........with No. 1 in hand!   | |||
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How effective do you 458 guys think one could be with a 458 (WM or Lott) with, say, a 400 gr TBBC or North Fork? Could a person squeeze 200 or maybe even 250 yards out of such a combination? I would tend to think yes, but having not used such a caliber before in the field, I'm only guessing. I think a .375 H&H could do this, but a .458??? -eric " . . . a gun is better worn and with bloom off---So is a saddle---People too by God." -EH | |||
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I'm not talking specifially about the No. 1. Though, I did have one that had a flawed barrel that they wouldn't stand behind. Genarally, their quality control leaves a lot to be desired. The companies ideas are very good, but the execution is piss poor. I recently bought the last item I will ever purchase from them. A Super Redhawk in 454 Casull. The chambers were very rough and oversized too boot. It wouldn't eject 3 fired factory cases loaded in a six shot revolver. I sent it back to the factory and they polised the already oversize chambers. Now the cases are so badly bulged I would be afraid to reload them. Like I said, over the years I have kept trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and buying their products. Now I have decided that enough is enough. I don't expect a custom gun for 600 bucks, but I do expect functional. Roger Kehr Kehr Engraving Company (360)456-0831 | |||
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Hey Scroll, I think you have the MARK OF CAIN on you! I have a room full of No1s, and have owned twice that many more, in all chamberings except the 416 Rigby, and had a problem with just "ONE"! This was about 1970 with a No1 light sporter chambered for 7mm Rem Mag. That little was only chambered for that round for a short time, and are rare today, because they didn't shoot well with the thin whipy barrel. As to the choices between the 405 and the 375H&H, the 375H&H is a far more versatile chambering, that the 405! IMO, the best use of the 405 (.411 dia) No1 is to runa 450/400NE 3" reamer into the barrel, and do a little tweeking of the ejector to have a rifle I'd rather have than either the 375 H&H, or the 405 Win, and one that is legal for all the big five, as well as being a good rifle for anything in North America!  ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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Poor workmanship? Well, let's see, what manufacturer produces a rifle under $1000 that doesn't need a bit of work? My thought is how much work (or how much $) and will the cure stick? My wife and I have two NO.1's in 270 that have had less than $200 in gunsmithing combined and are sub-MOA, with handloads, if we do our part. I've got two M77 tang safety that are just great, a factory 35 Whelen and a custom 9.3x62. Both M77's required very little in the way of work flawlessly (other than the rebore on the 9.3 obviously). I have 3 Ruger single actions, one with a bit of custom work (very little of that effecting basic function) and the other two with only minor polishing, all are completely reliable and have taken lots of game over the years. My MKII 22 worked perfectly from day one. On the other hand I had one No.3 in 223 that I finally got rid due to poor accuracy (for a varmint rifle). So, I can assume I've been as "lucky" as Rugers as I have been "unlucky" with Remingtons: malfunctioning extractors and triggers, poor accuracy. Winchesters: A post-64 Model 70 in 338 that was the rifle from hell in every respect. I've had rifles that function very well or had small problems only from Mossberg, Marlin, Savage, Brno (now CZ) or Savage. Frankly I didn't pay more than $500 for anything I've had or currently shoot so I can't complain. The funny thing is a neighbor of mine has spend $1000's on custom rifles and has many problems. Bad luck or bad judgement on his part? Probably a bit of both. If you like N0.1's buy one. Shoot it. If it shoots, hunt with it. If it doesn't shoot to your liking take it to a gunsmith that likes to work on them and have him tweek it. | |||
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The Mark of Cain? Jezeeezus. I, too, have only had the one that did not shoot. It was the barrel. I could see chatter marks in the rifling at the muzzle. Their fix...recrown the barrel. My problem was they didn't give a shit if it shot or not. It met their criteria of 3 inch three shot groups at a 100 yds. If that's good enough for you all, then that's fine. I expect more out of a company than that. My biggest problem isn't with the rifles, it's their crappy QC in their revolvers Roger Kehr Kehr Engraving Company (360)456-0831 | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Little help: Ruger #1 tropical - 375 H&H
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