Ok...I finally did the deed! I have wanted an RSI forever but was always waiting for Ruger to introduce something like a 358 Win or 375 Win but I am NOT getting any younger! Tell me about your thoughts on the RSI! I have handled dozens but NEVER pulled the trigger on one! I am torn on the two scopes I have. It's between a vintage Weaver V4.5 or a newer Burris 3X9 ShortMag. I'm leaning towards the Burris because the eyes aren't getting any younger either! Thanks for any input!

Tim, they're great little carbines. You probably won't set any benchrest records with one, but for PA-type hunting, they're perfect.

What caliber did you get? I have not owed the #1 RSI, but I have owned the 77RSI (I think that's what it's called).

I love the #1's. Just got through putting about 15 rounds through my .300 H&H today, and will take it as one of two choices on my bear hunt this weekend. This gun shoots lights out.

If you have trouble with consistency on the RSI, you may have to have your gunsmith look at options for bedding / etc. to improve on the accuracy. Full stocks are often tricky for consistency, but usually can be made to shoot great with a little effort.

Best of luck with it and great hunting.

I bought a 270 RSI this spring.

It shot ok, but would not hold zero


I free floated the barrel channel, and it then held zero as long as the barrel was cool.
It felt short for me and I dident like the way it handled. Nice to carry though. I sold it last month.

Thanks for the replys....Mine is a 7X57!

Congrats. A super choice in caliber! If yours won't shoot like it should, find a competent 'smith that understands the challenges of a full-length stock and have him do his magic.

My riflesmith recently finished a .222 Mannlicher for me on a Mini Mark X LH action, and it shoots bug holes. The #1 stock is a challenge, but at least the RSI doesn't have the forend attached with a hanger and a 45-degree screw torquing the barrel like the regular #1!

That is a beautiful rifle. Congrats and enjoy!

Great caliber choice. Good luck with it.

The RSI is not a target rifle but if you are willing to work with it, it can be a very nice woods rifle (under 200 yards).

I bought a 7X57 RSI this summer. The first four shots group great-right at one inch @ 100yds.-then as the barrel heats up the shots start walking up the target. To me this is a non-issue. I have a Leupold 1x-4x on it. So far all it has killed is a hog @200rds.

I bought a new #1 RSI in 7 x 57 several years ago. I think it's beautiful, it points like a shotgun, and it's so short you can carry it by the wrist and not drag the muzzle in the dirt. I love it for bottomland whitetail hunting. That said, I would like it a whole lot more if it would stay inside 2". I've done a few tweaks on it. I took it completely apart and stoned and honed everything. That smoothed the action mightily, and the trigger is pretty good.

Do not take one apart unless you have a manual that tells you exactly how to put it back together!

I should have said at around 200 yds instead of under 200 yds. The RSI is a sweet looking rifle but it does have some problems with sustained accuracy (not all but a good number). Barrel heat is a problem.

Taking the total action apart can be a big time pain.

I own five No. 1s at this time, one of them is a 7mm Mauser RSI. All of them have been stripped down. All of them have new triggers. Some of them have new hammers. But not all of them have been free-floated. They're fine the way they are.

I got a 7x57 RSI last winter. Most loads can be depended on to shoot into 1.5" including 139 Hornady SP, 154 Hornady SP, 160 Speer Hot Core, and 175 Speer Mag Tips. Not benchrest quality but, will do for woods hunting deer as I do and I plan to put it to use in a couple of weeks.

Edit to add: I would recommend a Leupold 1.5-5 scope,which I have on mine and it looks just right on this small rifle and works like a charm.

These in 7x57 have been on my gotta have list for a long time. I've always heard about they're not accurate guns...but good killing guns.
Someday I'll have enough saved up to get one.
Everybody keep posting pics please.

There's a gunsmith who used to do a modification of the bedding on the RSI's that is supposed to have solved the problem.

I wish I could think of his name.

I called a fellow who has one and it's called a "Hick's Accurizer" and Brownell's sell them.

I took some of the money my Uncle left me in his will and bought a 7x57 RSI, I had it engraved "Little Gus" as this was his high school nickname.
I'm still working on loads but took a nice 6 pt buck with it last season.