Hey guys what do you think about this? I can get a #1 in .45-70 for 350-400. I can get a #3 in .45-70 for 485. What do you guys think?

NH_Hunter

There is only one answer,
Buy both. I have both and love them both...Pros of Number one is that it is easier to mount scope and sling, original retail was higher than number 3 and number 1 is much more recoil friendly than Number 3. Not many cons on the Number one.
Pros of number 3, lighter, points a little better, more traditional look, collector value to some extent. Cons of Number 3, curved butstock will beat you to death if you don't add a pad, best way to add a pad is use one of the bolt on ones for the mini-14 or 10-22 as they use the same butt. Another con of the number 3 is that the it doesn't use Ruger scope rings and base system, unless you are lucky enough to find some of the old ruger special screw on bases that take the ruger rings. Otherwise your only off the shelf choice are Weaver bases and rings. One more disadvantage of the number 3 is that the finger lever might pinch your finger in recoil if you aren't careful. The final disadvantage of the number 3 is adding a sling, you either need to try to find an uncle mikes barrel band that will fit the barrel forward of the forearm or buy one of the Uncle mike's converters that modifys the barrel band for the forward attachment and then you drill the buttstock for rear sling stud.
I know there are more cons for the number 3, but If I were you, I'd still buy both...you'll be hooked! Also don't forget, you can still buy a new number one in 45-70, there aren't any new number 3s to be had.
Hope this helped out, contact me via email at graycg@aol.com if you want to ask more Q's.

regards,
Graycg

I dont have enough money to buy both or else i would. My dad has a #1 in .45-70 so i would feel like a "poser" The #3 has had my eye for about 3 years now. I can handle the recoil, but if i did get the #3 i would put a pad on it anyways. What pad did you put on yours? I am asking the questions now because i am bad at checking my email. Also, B-Square makes a thing that converts the weaver mount to a Ruger mount, but i dont know how good that would be.

NH_Hunter

Get the No. 1! A heavily-loaded .45/70 is hard enough to control, and on your anatomy, in a No. 1 with a recoil pad! In a No. 3, it is murder!! Even WITH a pad!

[ 10-12-2003, 20:09: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

eldeguillo is right, I have a no. 3 in 45/70 and it is murder on the arm and mine wears a decelerator.

also, i personally think the no. 1 is a prettier gun, I like the lever on it. I bought the no.3 I have because it was a good price and has some beautiful striped wood on it. and by the way, the handle does tend to beat your fingers if you aren't real careful.

then again, people always get a kick out of shooting a couple of heavy 350gn loads out of it!

Red

You could get the #3 and put a #1 butt on it...

Personally, I like the way they look. However, if it is money that drives the train, get the #1 and don't look back. Forget that poser crap. Do what YOU want in YOUR life. What you like is what you like and that is what matters.

Well, it all boils down to whatever floats your boat. I have had both, but the #3 went down the road in a moment of stupidity. I will state this as bluntly as possible. If you go the #3, stay away from 500 gr. cast bullet loads at 1800 FPS. They will surely get you attention and enrich your chiropractor's wallet.
Frankly, I feel the #1 is a better rifle, but the discontinued #3 can only go up in value if unaltered. Hell! Even used #1 rifles have gone up in price in my neck of the woods lately. If you can get that #1 for the price you say, and it is clean, you'd best jump on it like a hungry tiger on a dumb deer. Any #1 in my area is in the $600 and up range, especially since Ruger upped the prices on them. I don't know if there is a sudden demand for #1s or what, but in the last year, they]ve gone from $350-$500 to $600-%750. I've been known to ask if they rob banks during the rest of the week. One guy at the last show had a #1B in 30-06 that was not only used, but abused and he wanted $750. I offered him $250 and let him know I was doing him a favor. I figured that after replacing the wood, and the rebore to .35 Whelen, the gun would have cost more than a new one anyway at the price I offered. Guess he'll keep that one forever, and it was a late one with the piss poor trigger.
Paul B.

I have had a #3 in .22 Hornet and 45-70 and, was very satisfied with both. When shooting the 45-70 I always used Hornady's 300 grain JHP. I do not have a current catalog from www.cheaperthandirt.com.
They had a replacement "ruberized" recoil pad for about $6.00.

That's the same pad I put on mine, works pretty good, designed for mini-14s.

Regards,
Graycg

I have a No. 3 in 45-70 and would not think of getting rid of it. I replaced the plastic butt plate with a steel one and installed a Weaver K2.5 in Weaver mounts and rings. I have killed several deer with this rifle (350 Hornaday RN/53/IMR3031) and it kills like the hammer of Thor. Yep..it does kick a mite.

I have nothing against the #3s but the #1 sounds like a better buy, depending on condition factorsd.

My #1 in .45-70 is a lot of fun to shoot even with my post-rotator cuff surgey arm. I keep the loads modest and don't miss the extra punsisshmnet at all. Why punish yourself and flirt with flinching if you don't need the extra ooomph?

Some guys near me are into down-loading .45-70s and use cast bullets at loooong ranges. For those of you in tha Fairfax area, they hang out at the loading Bench shop in Annandale. They say that there is a definite time lag between the boom and the clank of the iron targets downrange. Sounds like a lot of fun.

1B

PM sent to 1B, please contact me at graycg@aol.com I need your help!

thanks,
Graycg

GRAYcg,

I emailed a response. Did you get it?

1B

I have a No.1 and had a No.3 both in 45-70,personally I like the No.1 alot better.
The No.3 was a good shooter and the No.1 is great with 47grs. of RL7 under a 405gr.Rem (1750fps)it's one raggged hole at 100yds.

I have a No. 1 in .45/70, and a No. 3 in .30/40 Krag. I like them both, but would like to "improve" the No. 3 by putting a pistol-grip stock on it and altering the lever to lie in a slot in the grip, a'la Martini, and inlet an knob on the end of the leverinto a groove cut into the front face of the gripo acp. The addition of a slimmmed down, schnabel-tip or Mannlicher-style forend wouyld complete the modification.

Ballistically, in a No.1/No.3 type action, the .30/40 can be safely loaded to beat the .308 Win. and equal a factory-loaded standard (NOT LM or HE) .30/'06 round.

I'd also like to see Ruger produce a rifle styled like this, and they could call it a No. 2, or some such.

In addition to centerfire rounds, there should be a Ruger single-shot in .22 LR, 17 HRM, and .22 Win. Mag.