I recently bought a new Ruger #1. After getting it home I noticed that the lever has more side to side movement than my other no.1. This is both in the open and closed positions. It functions fine but it might be annoying when hunting. It clicks whenever you touch it. Is this common with the new ones? Am I being too critical or is this normal with the ones you own? Have you ever sent anything back to Ruger? How is the service and turn around time?

That is not normal with any of the 5 No.1 s that I own. The last No. 1 I bought a 1S .45-70 had a huge dent in the barrel under the forend. I sent it back and 4 weeks later it came back with a barrel that was 10 times worse than the first. I swear that it looked like it came out of the reject pile. Another trip back to Ruger and 4 weeks later it arrived with a brand spanking new barrel on it. No hassels from Ruger, but I was mighty pissed when I got it back the first time and it honestly had the front sight band flattened and the muzzle crown flattened as if it had been beaten on with a steel hammer. Ruger was nice about fixing it and did not give me any hastles, but two trips back got my goat. In the end though, all turned out quite well. Another time, after owning my first No.1 for over 20 years, with countless hot reloads through the barrel, it was simply shot out, the throat was terribly erroded. I returned it to Ruger for a new barrel (1V .22-250)-and yes, they knew it had never had a factory load through it-and about 4 weeks later it arrived with a brand new barrel, new scope blocks, and no charge, not one red cent. Now, you can't beat that with a stick IMO.

Fantastic!! A new barrel free after 20 years!! I have five No.1's now, but no new ones. The levers don't have excessive side-play.

Smitty,
Just picked up a Ruger No.1S today in 45-70,its my first No.1 it has a little bit of the side to side lever play yours does.I think I'm going to leave well enough alone as I can't see how it can affect anything.Mine looks nice fit and finnish wise,super trigger (lucked out there) but plain jane straight grained walnut.