I have a Ruger No 1 that is presently a 243. I was going to have it rebored to 375 flanged mag, but am having second thoughts. I am considering 9.3x74, 30 Super flanged, 30-40 Improved, 7x57R, 7x65R. Your thoughts?

Rebored or rebarreled? All of them sound interesting. Pick one and report back on it.

Rebored by Danny Pedersen. 375 is the max bore diameter I can go to with the OD of the bbl. Danny has rebored a couple of barrels for me and does a superb job. I'm kinda leaning to the 7x57R...tonight. But I'll wake up in a new world tomorrow!

I like the 30/30.

Nothing wrong with the 30-30, except that I live in the wide open spaces of SE NM. Most of the time, the effective, pointblank range of a 30-30 is about as useful as a rock in these parts.

The 7x65R sounds like the best of your mentioned choices for your area, it'll handle anything in NM up to 500 yds or even farther. In a wildcat I also like the 6.5-06R, made from 7x65R (or even some 405) brass. I understand there are now several new Euro 6.5 factory cartridges but I'm not familiar with them.

IMO the 6.5 bore is the ideal all-around-caliber for your area, with the proper bullets it'll handle anything from prairie dogs to pronghorns to elk to bears. BTW I have a cousin in High Rolls, it's beautiful country.
Regards, Joe

Hi Joe,

I've been looking at the 7x65R and my thoughts concur with yours.

When the shortages began in '08, I stocked up on powder, primers, and bullets, so I have a nice supply of 7mm pills laid by. I love this country out here. I can hunt the desert for muleys, pronghorns, blue quail and doves within a few minutes of my house. Or I can be over in the mountains of the Lincoln Natl Forest in less than 3 hrs for turkey, deer, and elk. I'm not much of a bear or cougar hunter...but those are around as well.

Never owned one, but have always wanted a 30-40 or 30-40 AI on a Ruger No. 1 action. You can go with a 28" barre and have about the same overall length as a 24" bolt rifle.

Some of the re-bore mentioned conversions are not possible unless all the existing 243 chamber is removed. You need a cartridge that is fatter than a 243. Which eliminates the 30-30. the 30-40 Krag the 9.3x74R.

Last year I had a 243 #1 26" rebored to 6.5x284
I would have liked a 6.5-06 but again the 06 did not clean up the excisting chamber. I am very happy with the the 6.5x284 also the cases are very expensive.

So your choices are very limited either the 284 case or a magnum case or one of the short magnums like the 270WSM. The standard 284 Win is also a fine caliber.Also any 308 Win based caliber is possible, like 260Rem, 270 Redding, 7mm-08 308Win, 358 Win etc.

quote:

Originally posted by congomike:
Never owned one, but have always wanted a 30-40 or 30-40 AI on a Ruger No. 1 action. You can go with a 28" barre and have about the same overall length as a 24" bolt rifle.

I have a highwall in 30-40, so that one is probably out for this rifle. I'm leaning toward the 7x57R or 7x65R.

Gidday ACR,
The 7x57R is just right for a single shot rifle the little extra to be had from the x65 isn't needed.
According to the Norma catalogue, when sighted in at 200 yards the x65 loaded with the 156 grain Oryx bullet shoots 1 inch flatter at 300 yards than the x57 with the same bullet That's nothing to get excited about.
I have a 7x57R rifle which is wonderfully accurate with bullets from 139 to 175 grains, it has an 8.75 inch twist Last week I knocked a Turkey over at 246 yards with the 175 grain bullet.
Standard 7x57 dies can be used and there's a few manufacturers offering brass for it. I don't know what it's like the the Good ole USA but the our local agent here in New Zealand doesn't stock Norma 7x65R brass.
A Rooger No1 in 7x57 rimless would be the easier conversion, the extractor would not have to be modified.

Hi Oldun,

The only reason I might go with the 7x65 is that I don't have one! I really love the 7x57 and the only reason I might go with the rimmed version is (that I don't have one) and it seems more fitting for a single shot. However, I'm already set up to load the rimless version. I prefer the 175's for everything. I just change to a premium bullet if I'm hunting anything larger than deer. I don't generally take shots over about 250 yards.

And then there are days like today when I wander back to the original plan of 375 flanged mag!

quote:

Originally posted by ACRecurve:
And then there are days like today when I wander back to the original plan of 375 flanged mag!

The only reason I don't already have one is the REALLY POOR Bertram brass. I have tried and tried Bertram in calibers from 222Rimmed to 50-110 and been disappointed every single time. I dream of good 375s....
Regards, Joe

I have a hundred rounds of BELL brass, so that isn't a problem. Jamison makes it, too. I think either RDS or Horneber also makes it.

I've used RWS brass before and had problems with small flash holes and shallow primer pockets in several calibers; even had 'the dreaded doughnut' in one of 'em. Have not tried Jamison or heard anything about their rep, been hoping Starline would make it but no joy so far. I've used Bell in several calibers with good success, will just hafta keep looking. Thanks for the info.
Regards, Joe

Gentlemens:

FWIW, I have some .375 Flanged brass head stamped HDS, which I believe to translate into Huntington... While I have yet to work with it, the brass appears to be very good quality. I was told it was made by Bell, but I don't know that.


I bought the brass and the set of dies when it was offered because I knew I wanted a .375 Flanged rifle some day. I have waffled much about this and I think you might have talked me into to something.

Another project I have been threatening is to attempt to cut all the ugly off a #1 and build a rifle on it. The #1 is an excellent action, one of the best falling block actions ever built. Howsomever, to my eye it falls short of what it could be in the cosmetic department.

So there you have it. The answer is to accost two birds with one stone and build the hopefully more aesthetically pleasing #1 in .375 Flanged.

Now all I need is the time...

Glenn

Between 7x57R or 7x65R I would go with the x65R. It's easier to get the 7x65R cases and factory loaded ammo. The 7x65R also will give you a bit more velocity and/or option of using heavier bullets at greater velocity.

Why not just 7x57mm? Since the extractor is already set up for the rimless case, I would think the standard 7x57 would be the best 7mm option.

Won't all of these require barrel setback?

If the Jamison .375 Flanged brass is as good as the 577-450 cases I have it is very good brass. It seems as least as good as Starline.

Jerry Liles

Here is one that is clear out of the box you are thinking in. How about a 257 Weatherby with a 28 inch barrel so you can wring all the velocity potential out of it? Wide open spaces and a caliber to shoot long as flat as a lazer beam. DW

The 257 Wby is a fine, flat-shooting cartridge. The last pronghorn I shot with one, I saw the entrance hole in the scope before recoil pulled me off. Actually it was a hole in front of the entrance wound where the top part of the humerus blew backward through the skin on bullet impact.

As I've gotten older, I've gotten a bit heavier and slower afoot...so have my preferred bullets!