Ok , I know that everyone here on the single

shot rifle forum has a lot more knowledge than

I about this subject. So I have been reading

the post on the sidelines in hopes of learning

something. I am also sure that the question

that I am going to ask has been asked before,

but here goes. If you had to pick between a

bolt action or a single shot which one would

you pick. Sure I know you post here and know

also it must seem a little off to ask this here

, but here is why. It seems everyone is against

my single. They seem to think a bolt action is

a lot more accurate and stronger. Of course

they our talking about out of the box guns not

the guns of the cal some of you shoot. I am

sure you can do a lot even with out of the box

guns to make them shoot better . So that is

why on a earlier post I asked about how to

make my gun shoot better. They have been on

my back about my gun. I have made my pick but

but you guys are the men . Give me something

I can fight back with. Thanks a bunch.

So just what is the problem with your 1885 in 300 WSM?.........you never did say in this post or the other one that you posted what kind of groups you are getting....are you happy with this rifle or are you going to let your friends decide that for you?.... ...cheers mic

No my freinds don't bug me. See they just have this misconceived ideal they are always right . Well

my gun shoots fine I think . It just has a hard tigger ,which I think makes me pull off. It shoots

I guess about 3/4 " groups at a 100 yards sometimes a little bigger . I do have a 7 mag that shoots

under a 1/2 " and it is a bolt action remington that I had worked on . Besides you could never

change my freinds . To them a quaterback is a refund as the joke goes. What do you think about the 300's

groups leave it alone or try to improve it?

It depends on what I'm hunting. I have 2 Ruger #1s & love hunting w/ them. Both are extremely accurate for big game rifle, often shooting their best loads well under 1moa. For extreme long range accuracy, I think it's easier to get a bolt gun to shoot than the #1. Single shots just have a certain class about them. For dangerous gaame, I like a repeater/bolt so picj your poison & go hunting.

My opinion.....single shots often require more tinkering than a typical bolt rifle. I have some amazingly accurate single shot rifles...I also have some very accurate bolt rifles.
I like singles and use them when its appropriate but if I know I could need a backup shot....I would use the bolt.
Arguably a Ruger #1 is just as "strong" as any bolt rifle.....your friends are full of shxt.

If your gun is strong enough, then stronger is a a stupid critieria to use.

If it's accurate enough, then more accurate is a stupid criteria.

If it makes you happy - what could be better.

I own an unknown but largish number of single shots. I own ZERO bolt rifles. So, my opinion may be a bit biased.

Brent

Bought a lot of guns both SS & bolts over the years that were condemned by their owners as having sub-acceptable accuracy
Two that come to mind are a 1949 FN sporter in 257AI that shoots 3-4MOA with 100gn bullets and a Ruger 22PPC that shot 2MOA. Both were sold very cheaply.
First the AI, barrel is 1:11.5" twist "Krupp" barrel and will stablise 90gn Sierra Gamekings to give groups of 0.6-0.7MOA. The twist is wrong for the 100gn + bullets
Second the 22PPC, throw away the cases made from PMC 7.62x39 and buy Lapua match grade ones, use match grade projectiles instead of bulk factory seconds, weigh the powder in preference to spooning it in to the neck and
Wow! I have shot a 0.21" group with it.
Problem was simply the owners knew little about tuning the rifle or simply lack the ability to shoot well.
With 0.75MOA from your 7mm Mag, I would predict that you will never go hungry from hunting with it

quote:

They seem to think a bolt action is
a lot more accurate and stronger.

Stronger?? MOOO! B.S.!!

If anything a Ruger No. 1 is stronger than most bolt actions! As for accuracy, well, anything under 1 MOA in a big game rifle is a waste anyway!!

I have been using Ruger single-shot rifles ever since they came out. I have had excellent out-of-the-box performance from all of the ones I bought after mounting a scope on them. I have not had to do anything to make them shoot. The Ruger 1A handles better than any bolt action rifle I've ever owned, and since I do not believe the extra 0.5 second it takes to reload one vs a bolt-action repeater to be a handicap, if I was limited to just one rifle for hunting, it would be a 1A in either .30/'06 or 7X57mm.

My 1A 7X57mm @ 100 yards, 140-grain bullet at 2998 FPS



My No. 3 in .30/40 Krag @ 100 yards, 170-grain bullet at 2500 FPS



My 1B in 7mm Rem Mag. @ 200 yards, 175 grain Rem. Corelokt @ 3070 FPS

Methinks your friends are full of some smelly brown stuff. Either that, or they feel threatened by the fact that you feel you have the ability to cleanly take your game with a single shot rifle.
With practice, using dummy rounds, you can get to where you can reload that one shooter and get off an AIMED shot almost as fast as the average bolt action shooter. I use the term "average" because you probably will never get close to a practiced rifleman doing rapid fire in competition. The trick is in finding the method that works best for you. Whether it's a spare round or two between the fingers of the off hand, a cartridge holder on eith the rifle's butt or your belt, or even like the profesional hunter's cartridge loops on the front of his shirt. Find what works best for you, learn to chamber the next round without looking at the rifle by keeping your eyes on the game and most of all, learn to take your time fast. About five to ten minutes a day with dummy rounds will get you up to speed in a relatively short time.
You do what you like, not what your friends (?) try to dictate. Much African game and much North American game has been taken with the one shooters. John "Pondoro" Taylor stated in his book AFRICAN RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES that when he ws hunting lions exclusively, he was armed with a single loader. Many young British officers stationed in Africa and India couldn't afford expensive double rifles did their hunting with single shots. I doubt you'll find better company than those fellows.
FWIW, I've been hunting with Ruger #1s since 1975. I just picked up a Browning B-78 in 30-06 a while back for splits and grins. I like the single shots.
Paul B.

if accuracy is the only issue I guess that I'll have to sell by doubles huh??

I'd get a trigger job and some new friends. Sounds like a jam up rifle to me. if it has a hard trigger and you are getting 3/4 imagine what you could do with a nice 3 lb hunting trigger. I just got a 7mm wsm win 70 and it had atleast an 8 lb trigger. I actually looked to see if i really had the safety switched off.

7Mag
If your 300 Mag single shot shoots 3/4" groups, you are good to go. I would not wear the bbl out trying to get better groups, just take it hunting.

Try this, from a sitting position shoot your 300 and your 7 mag bolt rifle at 100 yards. You should see that the 1/4" better groups from a bench meen little in the field.
If YOU like the single shot for hunting, do not worry about what your friends think.
Just do it, ie take you single shot hunting.