I dont have real deep pockets but would like to own a 416 rigby and was thinking of the ruger #1 tropical, Anyone have one ? i have owned #1s before , great looking gun some shoot fine some dont, what your opion?

I don't own a #1 416 but I do own a bolt action 416 and a #1 in 458 Lott. I think a #1 416 would be a good option although for actual dangerous game hunting single shots are debatable. You might want to add a little weight to the butt to improve the balance and increase the overall weight and a softer recoil pad. Some folks add mercury tubes. My Lott at 10.25lbs isn't bad to shoot.

I have one and love it. It is a bit muzzle heavy unlike my 77 .416 Rigby, but the weight is your friend if you load it up hot. The only problem I had was getting the scope to fit. I used a Leupold 1.75-6xE and had to use Ruger double offset rings to get the scope back far enough. If I were doing it over, I would use the straight tube 1.5-5x so I could avoid using offset rings, not that they have been any problem, I just don't like the looks of them.

You'll enjoy a No.1. I built one in .450/400-3" and it's great fun to shoot. There's something very satisfying about dropping a cigar-sized cartridge in an open breech and listening to it slide home. While a single shot is not the weapon of choice for a gun battle with dangerous game, it can be made to work. The Brits did it with Farquharsons before Mauser magnum actions were available, and I used my rifle to take two Cape Buffalo and assorted plains game in Zimbabwe.

Most No.1s have the potential to shoot quite well just as delivered. Those that need help usually respond quite well to properly bedding the forend.

Roger

They are fun to shoot in that caliber. Just put on a decent recoil pad, and if the muzzle heavy feeling bothers you have your gunsmith add a bit of weight to the butt.

It will cost you about the same as a stock CZ in 416 Rigby with the Hogback stock. You'll have fun with either gun. The Accurate reloading manual has a great plinking load for use with 350 grain gas checked lead bullets. You can shoot those all day long.

JCN

Here's another vote for the #1 in .416 Rigby.

I got mine for Christmas '96 from my wife and daughter. Since then, it has digested several thousand rounds of mostly cast-bullet loads. I have developed some HIGH-powered X-bullet recipes, including one with the 300-grain "X" that nibbles right at 3000 fps....WAY too much fun!

With the RCBS cast bullet (nominally 350 grains, but 365 grains in my wheelweight alloy) I have good loads from 1400 fps all the way up to 2600, which again is a very "enthusiastic" recipe indeed. Most of my shooting uses cast loads around the 2000-2200 range, which is a much comfier area in which to hang out. Search on "416 Rigby" on the cast bullet Board here at AR for details.

Many folks here seem to think the #1 is abusive due to its stock design, but I don't have enough experience to comment on that. I do like mine, though!

the cz 550 is within $100 of a #1.. and wont kick the snot out of you

jeffe

The most recent "Gun Tests" had an article comparing three rifles in .416 Rigby. They claimed that ejected empties from the Ruger #1 would strike the safety and bounce back. Has anyone else encountered this "problem"?

The safety is designed to do that. It is a CYA on the part of Ruger. There must have been concern about the brass hitting someone in the face if ejected from the shouldered position. You could have the button recessed (like Bowen does) or file the top end off a little.

This is quite true, in fact, it is true on the .416, .375, and .300 Wby, that I own. None of them will eject the empty as it hits the safety and bounces back. Only the .22-250 and the .45-70 throws the brass out. The solution is either tilt the rifle to the side when working the lever or modify the safety, which is what I did. I removed the safety button and removed the top edge of it. Problem solved once and for and you won't forget to tilt it and have the round bounce off the safety and back in. I have been doing this so long to my No.1 s that I don't even think about it, I just do it as a matter of course. I agree that Ruger should do something about that as I do view it as a very undesirable feature.

Thanks for the answers to my question. I was considering the purchase of a couple of #1s (.45-70 and .375 H&H). This doesn't alter my decision, but it is good to know how the gun is supposed to behave, and how to change it if I don't like it.