I just received my last Boddington Ruger #1 today - .450 3 1/4" - & it only weighs about 8 pounds. How brutal will the recoil be on such a lightweight rifle in this caliber ?

At full loads, brutal.

Fit a limbsaver.

The #1 stock actually vectors the recoil reasonably close to straight back, and that helps. So does the (standard) recoil pad.

Those things said, glad you're shooting it and not me. I max out at .375H&H/300.

Good hunting.

Ruger Tropical is listed at 9 pounds! How much did the 450/400 weigh? I though I might want one of those someday and was counting on a 9 lb 40 caliber gun.

I would shoot it and see for my self. But, this is too bad, seems much too light for me. Maybe send a nasty gram to Ruger, ask whats up here?

If, it were mine, and I really wanted to keep it and shoot it - I would try adding 1 pound inside the butt and a scope.

To make my CZ in 458Lott more enjoyable to shoot, I built it up close to 12 pounds (scope and hvy base included). Thats me and I wont be carrying this around all day. if, I did, I could remove weight from the butt. Basically, I dont care what anyone thinks. Its my gun and I want to shoot it. Out of the box, no scope was about 9.5 pounds and it was manageable but harsh.

Just so you dont think I am to nutty, I have a Ruger RSM, older model with a 24" barrel. The gun plus 1-4x scope, right out of box, no added weight (only scope), now tips the scale at 11.5 pounds and its a cream puff to shoot. I guess it should be at that weight.

I have a tropical that I converted long before Ruger decided to do this.
Put a 30mm scope on it and add a mercury tube in the stock the 15oz type.
And it is a pleasure to shoot even with hot loads.

Nitro450exp

For range work use a Limbsaver (about $34--don't butcher your stock unless you need lop added) slip on style pad over the butt or a Limbsaver/Past style shoulder protector. Don't leave the slip-on pad
in place for storage as it will discolor the wood. In the field hunting, leave it off you will never notice the recoil. The DG won't either. I have a Ruger #1 in .405 Win and 450/400 (Tropicals) and they both weigh 9 1/4 lbs (no scopes) My wife shoots the 450/400 3"NE off of sticks and has no problems with recoil.
Good shooting with your new Boddington 450.

Frank, Great caliber. There should be a channel in the buttstock where the screw is accessed to attach the stock to the action. Just find something fairly heavy to slide in the to fit firmly. I imagine with the heavier safari-type barrel, it will also help bring the weight balance to a point closer to the action. With that and a scope/rings, you should be good to go. Have fun!

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Frank, Great caliber. There should be a channel in the buttstock where the screw is accessed to attach the stock to the action. Just find something fairly heavy to slide in the to fit firmly. I imagine with the heavier safari-type barrel, it will also help bring the weight balance to a point closer to the action. With that and a scope/rings, you should be good to go. Have fun!

Exactly. The weight can be tacked in place with a wood screw angled in to hold it forward. Two suggestions for weight are first any solid metal round stock, steel or brass you have on hand. I found to get the most weight per volume, I could pour molten lead into a section of tubing. (not while in the gun of course)

This is not a butcher job even if there was no hole in place already. It is all hidden behind under the recoil pad. If this tropical weighted the advertised 9 or 9.25 pounds there would be no complaints. For normal men or women, 8lb for a 45 cal elephant rifle is light!

full house 450
500gr at 2150?
popgun .. seriously
put a decellerator on it and you'll be more than happy .. put a scope on it, and it will suddenly be 9+

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If, it were mine, and I really wanted to keep it and shoot it - I would try adding 1 pound inside the butt and a scope.

As a "Brit" where we almost were obsessed about "balance" in any gun I can't understand the idea of adding one pound of lead into the butt.

Surely it defeats entirely the idea of a sweet handling rifle such as the Ruger No1? A better solution would be to add the weight between the hands.

Maybe by a thicker barrel at the chamber section like a military Mauser with a "step" and maybe some a chunkier "supersized" action from the outset? A Ruger No1 on steroids.

But adding weight to the butt?

Biebs: That's part of the problem ..... it doesn't have the safari-weight barrel ..... it's the same barrel contour as the 9.3 #1 - way too light, maybe not even 8 pounds.

Frank, I think you have a F'ed Up gun. I think you agree. The catalog is clear 9lb. Looks like you either make do, one way or another or contact Ruger. The No1 Tropicals already have a bad rep for recoil in 9lb 458WM. Is that the recoil pad, perhaps?

It is too bad, no other 450 owners would come forward. No one even speaks up what a 450/400 weights. Maybe like those M70 in 470capstick, where (reported here on AR) none ever worked right. All those apparently, were purchased for collectors to remain NIB for all time. I dont get that mentality, what kind of gun geek wants a NIB gun collection?

These guys over on the single shot forum seem more familiar with this model. Here is some on going discussion on the Boddington series:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...9421043/m/3921084031

There was another interesting question about replacement of the chessy No1 rear sight with the site off the Alaskan. That site seems the only improvement in a Boddington over a standard No1. And the standard, tropical, has a real blue, instead of cheap matt finish.

I have heard (perhaps on this forum) that you can pump up the 450 X 3.25 considerably in a Ruger #1. Closer to 458 Lott capabilities. Am I wrong? If so, it might sting a bit more on the tail end!
No issue with regulation in a falling block. I have heard 2400 FPS (500 gr) but that may be way over stated?? It is a big case!

EZ

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Originally posted by jeffeosso:
full house 450
500gr at 2150?
popgun .. seriously
put a decellerator on it and you'll be more than happy .. put a scope on it, and it will suddenly be 9+

the 45/120 case is within a couple grains .. and i've taken over lott vels in a singleshot enfield.

but, at 500gr/2150, it will be fine

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Originally posted by Frank Beller:
Biebs: That's part of the problem ..... it doesn't have the safari-weight barrel ..... it's the same barrel contour as the 9.3 #1 - way too light, maybe not even 8 pounds.

I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment at least and flinch at worst. If you reload, why dont you make a few light loads just to get a feel for it "as is" and then work up to factory loads. If you don't, then take the advice of others, scope it (there's an easy 1 1/2 pounds between scope and steel rings) and put a slip-on pad over the butt and enjoy it. If all of this doesn't help, the choice will be to sell it, store it or weigh it down with lead in the butstock.
Have you ever successfully shot a lightweight 12 gauge with 3 or 3 1/2" shells? If so, I think you'll find this isn't as bad as you might otherwise think.

I just fondled a No1 in 9.3x74R. What a nice light handy/dandy rifle! I may yet go back on that? Only lack of funds and expectation of future 450/400 purchase held me back. No money is a bitch.

I cannot picture that sweet little gun in full blown 458 class rifle. Even with scope. I already have an 8oz 1-4 Leupold ready to mount. Thats not a lot of weight. IMHO its the classic small glass for a small gun. These No1 sporters are not built like CZ550, a big scope looks goofy on a short bbl No1.

I know everybody is different, but that 9.3 has me seriously reconsider my whole 450/400 plan.

I have two of the 450/400s and they are a joy to shoot. I have one 9.3x74R as well, both are fun to load for and shoot. you might have more fun with the 450/400, I've loaded it down to shoot coyotes in the thickets around here...

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Originally posted by fourbore:
I just fondled a No1 in 9.3x74R. What a nice light handy/dandy rifle! I may yet go back on that? Only lack of funds and expectation of future 450/400 purchase held me back. No money is a bitch.

I cannot picture that sweet little gun in full blown 458 class rifle. Even with scope. I already have an 8oz 1-4 Leupold ready to mount. Thats not a lot of weight. IMHO its the classic small glass for a small gun. These No1 sporters are not built like CZ550, a big scope looks goofy on a short bbl No1.

I know everybody is different, but that 9.3 has me seriously reconsider my whole 450/400 plan.

Thanks, I needed that. I got my mind re focused for 450/400. I know, I could order one, but stocks vary and even sights and bbl taper appear to be in question. I want to see a few (or at least one) and pick one I like.

Frank, that thing is gonna kick the shit right out of ya. I have shot the 9.3x74 and like the lightness of it, I own and shoot the 450/400 and it is great...a fine package. I own and shoot a 458Lott in the #1 too, with a very heavy tropical barrel AND a pound of lead in the butt.......and it kicks like hell. Really, it numbs my brain in 2-3 shots fully loaded up. That lightweight rifle is gonna be brutal no matter what you do to it and even with lead in the butt...it is gonna kick upward a lot. What brainless moron would build a 450 Nitro in that configuration?

Put me in the camp of it is going to kick the shit out of you. I have one in .450/.400 and it is not pleasant to shoot (and I am not afraid of shooting big recoil rifles). I personally have no desire to own and shoot one in .450 3 1/4.

I have a custom Ruger # 1 in 500 nitro. The action will handle hotter than factory loads. I shoot some 570 grain bullets at 2365 ft/sec. a little over 7000 ft.lbs of energy. They are a whallop!

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I have a custom Ruger # 1 in 500 nitro.

Too bad Ruger wont make those! For me, a big 50 would need 11 or 12 pound, out of the box with 26 inch heavy barrel on a cannon like that. Then a hefty scope. And good wide cushy recoil pad.

You would think there would be a market for really big No1's, even if they needed a little personalization.

And a 577NE No1. That would be blasting a big bore! In that case we would need Hornady to get off the dime and offer some 577 ammo.

My #1 450-400 weighs 8.6 pounds, without the scope. Not a killer, but not fun. (#1s in .458 are NO fun, and I like rifles to kill on both ends). (Elmer said that). I added a 1 pound mercury tube in the butt, and yes it makes it butt heavy and moves the balance point back to just in front of the receiver, but it actually feels good that way; it points well a bit muzzle light. I have not selected a scope yet because I want a Swarovski and they actually want money for those. I might have to settle for a Leupold. So I am shooting it now a bit, sans optics.