... stainless with Varmint barrel in .204 Ruger.
I keep reading that these are sweet guns. I know I sure like the fit and feel of this gun. I keep reading that it takes alot of work and tricks to make it shoot. Is it worth all of the hassle?
I've read that 1. The trigger needs to be replaced.
2. The bolt in the forend needs to be backed off to relieve the pressure.
3. the barrel has to be floated.
Is all of this true? Will they shoot good out of the box? Do you all feel that #1's are worth the money?

Hey Tube.....

Obviously none has seen the need to respond to your query - but just ask me - gee; I've got an opinion!

I've got a Ruger #1 in .270 Winchester that is very accurate and has been from Day 1....never had any issues with it, no trigger replacement or tweaking requirements for accuracy either. It just shoots good.

I don't know what the Dealer wants for it, so cannot relate to value but try haggeling - can't hurt. Didn't pay a fortune for mine either and wouldn't consider otherwise, a fair price is just what it's worth!

My hunting squeeze has a Ruger #1 Varminter, Wood/Blue, Heavy Barrel in .223 Remington and it is a one-holer to which I've been witness to on trips to South Dakota, a great Boomer IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by cath8r:
... stainless with Varmint barrel in .204 Ruger.
I keep reading that these are sweet guns. I know I sure like the fit and feel of this gun. I keep reading that it takes alot of work and tricks to make it shoot. Is it worth all of the hassle?
I've read that 1. The trigger needs to be replaced.
2. The bolt in the forend needs to be backed off to relieve the pressure.
3. the barrel has to be floated.
Is all of this true? Will they shoot good out of the box? Do you all feel that #1's are worth the money?

Ruger #1s can be finicky, but others can shoot well without any issues. Both my brother and I had 22-250s that we shot the barrels out of on pds. Both were 5/8-3/4 inch at 100 most of the time. Replacing the barrel IIRC is not as easy as with a bolt gun. Ours we had to full length resize after each firing or you couldn't get the empty case out of the chamber, so brass would not last as long as with most bolt guns. Nice short guns that worked well for shooting from the pick up when doing a "drive by" on pds. Also nice looking rifles.

My brother has a 22-250 Savage BVSS now that cost him just slightly more than the Ruger did 15 years ago. The rifle is usually less than 1/2 inch at 100, no issues with firing once or twice fired brass. One of my pd rifles is a 204 Savage FV with a custom stock. I paid less than $500 for it. It usually shoots cloverleafs. My son-in-law has a BVSS in 22-250, shooting 52 gr. A-max, is more accurate than my 22-250 with a Krieger barrel.

It depends on what you are looking for and the price you can get it for.

Jim

Thanks guys.
This is such a beautiful rifle, to not consider it would be a crime. Deep down a fat barrel Savage would be the best bang for my buck, but these are sweet guns these Ruger #1's.
This dealer isn't much of a haggler.....

quote:

Originally posted by cath8r:
Thanks guys.
This is such a beautiful rifle, to not consider it would be a crime. Deep down a fat barrel Savage would be the best bang for my buck, but these are sweet guns these Ruger #1's.

And I agree. Good luck with the dealer.

Jim

I have had, three of them. The operative word is "had". They were a 223, 22 hornet & a 22 PPC. Note of them had anywhere close to decent accuracy. I did spend money on fore end floating, triggers etc. The 22 ppc would shoot a decent group, maybe an inch, but a week later the point of impact would shift several inches. I should have kept that one as there were few made. I can not resist picking them up when ever I am in a guns store. But none will ever go home with me again.

the only rugers 1's i will buy are always 375 416 or 458 they shoot moa or better every time.

I had a #1 in 25-06 when they were fairly new on the market. It would group 5 rounds onder a 30 gallon garbage can lid. To be fair I didn't try to tweak it any, I got rid of it. years later I had one in 6mm mag, it would shoot on the border of acceptable. I figured that there are so many more accurate rifles that I would give up and got rid of it too. I love the design of the rifle but I would not have another one. Life is too short to spend with a scattergun.

I have a Ruger #1 in .280 Remington and it will shoot .143 c to c consistently if I do my part. That is a 3 shot group at 100 yards...no work done to it and it has just a 3-9x40 leupold Vari-x II on it.

Just a hunting rifle

I think a lot changed when they started making their own barrels. Before that it was a crapshoot. Guy next door has the sslam in 204 and it is killer accurate. Beautiful guns.

I have the #1 stainless in 25-06 and have had a couple others over the years. Normally they shoot pretty decent and I have to agree that the stainless laminated is one pretty gun. I had all kinds of problems getting tight groups with my 25-06 and did not want to play the smith game and did not have the energy or time to work up handloads for it so was going to sell it. Then as a last resort I tried the Federal Fusion ammo in it and shot 5 shots in 3/4 inch so like in many rifles - you may hit the right load out of the shoot but if not there is probably something or a handload that will shoot extremely well. Search on here for 204 Ruger and you will find some others having excellent results with that rifle & caliber.

I have a Ruger #1 in .223 and one in 7mmRM.
Both are so accurate that more accuracy will do me no good.

If I have 200 guns, the Ruger #1 in .223 is the favorite.

I saw a #1 in 30-06 at the gunshow being sold by a friend for a friend. The price was $650, but he would take $550.

The stock looked great.
I should have got it for 6mmBR re barreling.
He who hesitates...

If you're gonna hunt with it, it sill be fine - if you're looking for a bench rest gun, you might not be as happy.. All mine shoot 1 - 1.5 inch groups at 100yds - more than sufficient for any hunting scenario...

I think I'm gonna write this gun off. It just seems too much money to take a chance onj it accuracy wise. I'd be pretty bent if it didn't shoot under 3/4" at 100 yards. Its pretty and all but I'll look elswhere to be safe.
I found a great deal on a T3 Varminter....

Well, I have a Ruger #1 in the 204 and this gun is very accurate out of the box. It doesn't have the stainless barrell and I was very happy with it. 5 shot groups were typically .5 inch @ 100 yards.

With a new trigger it would probably be better.

Shoots the 40 grain Hornaday the best.

I had a 22-250. "Had". It was the same as above. The point of impact seemed to shift with the changing of the moon. Beautiful rifle but frustrating as hell. The bitch of it was that I saved for a while to buy that gun and it kicked me in the ass.

I want one in the #1A. Lou

I have a 243 Win and 25-06 Rem Ruger B-1. I had to remove some wood on the forearm and glass bed the fore arm hanger to get them to stop vertical shot groups. The rifles now shoot about 1 1/2 inch 100 Yd groups.Hicks makes a part that attaches to the forearem hanger that puts upward pressure on the barrel which helps some rifles that have helped some rifles.

I found a web site that has accuracy improvements for the ruger #1 and I followed some of his suggestions.

The 1-B models have a problem with the scope rail hitting the receiver as the barrel heats up and he takes off the rails and file off the back to make sure that doesn't happen.

The other is the "Hicks" attachment (tuck 2 mentioned this)that I used on my 220 swift and it does work. This gun is the 1-V model that has two scope mounts and didn't show a problem as the barrel heated up.

The last thing that this guy did (I haven't done this yet) is lapping the bore with abrasive bullets. All of his ruger #1's showed a large improvement after this. Maybe later.

Here is the link to the web site, for those who are interested in getting thier #1's to shoot better.

http://www.rvbprecision.com/articles/9/accuracy_tips_for_the_ruger_

I wouldnt suggest lapping a barrel unless the tooling was extremely bad. Even then make sure you know what you are doing because you could make things worse.

I guess just some #1's dont shoot as good as others? Mine in .280 Rem. has done .143 c to c's

Buglemin,
Dont take this the wrong way but you once shot .143 for three @100. I'll bet rifles you cant put three into three times that regularily.You dont do yourself any favors do BS that much

How often do you shoot Bwest?

I had mentioned that "If I do my part". Me being the shooter has nothing to do with how well the rifle shoots...I am sorry you are offended

I was at the range yesterday (it's 1:26 AM now)
with my #1V in .223. Shot five groups of five rounds at 100 yards. Weather 57 degrees (sunny California) with no wind. Results in order shot: .570,.477,.982,.616,.543.
I Am a happy camper.
Pete