I had a No. 1 in 303 British and was very disapointed in the accuracy of the rifle. Several others reported the same accuracy level ie fair to poor. However, I like the No1 and would would to get another one. Would anyone who has one in 30-30, 300 H&H, 405 Win or 9.3 x 74 post your accuracy and consistency of groups. Thanks Elmer.

I have a 1-B in 30/06 and it shoots 168 gr A-max into .5" A 1-B in 22/250 shoots 52 gr SMK into .5-.75" And a custom 1-S in 460 S&W mag that shoots Hornady 300 gr SST's inti 1"
Ive been very happy with all of mine.

Can't speak of the calibers you mention, but have/had No.1's & 3's in calibers ranging from 223 to 458Lott and all have been fine in the accuracy department. Like Rugers or not as a mfg., the No 1/3 rifle is one of his finest moments in the firearms world. Currently own three in 45/70, 22-250 and very near completing No.1 in 348Winchester to go with my 71 levergun. There are of course full custom, beautifully enhanced similar rifles available, but come at a multiple in price and doubt that in the accuracy department there is such a multiple. We are fortunate to have available such firearms at the pricing level offered.

Here´s a group at 100m with my #1 .480Ruger.


But the rifle will shot only good with 400grs handloads. With the fast and light bullets, like the 325grs, the accuracy is poor.

Martin

Hi Elmer
I have six #1s in 22-250/270win/7mm rem mag/338win mag/45-70/458win mag.I went through my records and here are my average group sizes by caliber these are the average of all recorded groups from smallest to the largest ones it didn't like.22-250 .78/270 .45/7mm .72/338 .56/458win mag 1.0 I've never shot the 45-70 yet.I've never worked this out before but the average for all #1s is .70
One thing you might try is a Hicks Accurizer for tuning the barrel to a specific load. Bill

I have also had ver mixed results with several #1s, both in raw accuracy and holding zero.

I traded off all three of them but got soft and found a mint, nice wood, 22PPC varmint.
It stays at about an inch or just under, not great but ok.

The only one I ever had a problem with was a 25-06 Varmint model. I currently own a custom 458, a 450-400 I am restocking, a custom 300H&H, a custom 9.3x74, and a No 3 45-70 with new wood. All these shoot well, certainly on a level acceptable for a bolt gun. It has been my impression that the larger bores all shoot really well. Early on in production (60's and 70's) there was a lot of talk of erratic performance. They tended to be very critical as to forearm mounting. I have never seen this mentioned, but it seems to me that a lot of this went away with the change in the forearm hanger from the simple threaded hole to the system with the threaded rotating insert.

I have not had one in the calibers you refer to, but have had six of them over the years including a .243, .25-06, 7x57, .338 Winchester, .357 Magnum, and .375 H&H, as well as a .30-40 Krag No. 3. I always seem to sell them, have seller's remorse, and buy another a few months later. All but one would shoot under 1-1/2 inch groups with most bullets without any alteration to the gun. The one needing alteration was a .338 that shot 3 to 6-inch groups. After releaving the forened so that it did not touch the face of the receiver and playing with loads, I was able to get it to shoot sub-inch groups with Hornady 225-grain Interbonds. One thing I have found is that my No. 1's would not shoot Barnes-X bullets worth a hoot and all of them required some playing with loads to find one that shot well.

Thanks for the reponses but I need the infor on the calibers listed. I have had two 45-70s and still have one, both shot great. I had a 300 win mag. average about 2.5 in. The 303 British was worse. 2 shots at 1 inch and 3rd shot about 6-7 in out. 5 shot groups were a joke. best group out of that rifle was 3 inches at a 100 yards. I used two different scopes, factory ammo, military ammo and multiple handloads. nothing shot well. Best info I got indicated that the 303 British had oversized bore (.315/316) this is what I want to avoid this time. If the bores are oversized or the throats too long or short. etc. I was looking at .458 and found info that the throats are oversized and they require the cast bullets to be .460 or so to shoot I dont cast bullets and would be buying .458 etc. no good. Elmer.

Get your #1 and have someone accurize it. If it is the new model, with the forend screw under the forend as opposed to entering from the front it should be okay, but there is a way to attach the forend that takes the downward stress off the barrel. That typically is what dooms the Ruger #1 in the accuracy department. That front screw at 45 degrees is as poor a design as exists!

Elmer: Some of the guys in Australia reported poor accuracy with the No.1 in .303. Did you slug your barrel?

no unfortunately I tried bullets from .308, 310, 311, 312 and 313 cast and jacketed. with no accuracy.

My Ruger 9.3x74R shoots very well. I have considered re-stocking mine with fancy wood as well as some of you. The Ruger 9.3x74R and my M1 rifle perform well on wild hogs.

Elmer
I've got not one but two No. 1 Rugers in 405. I've got other No. 1's but since you asked of only certain calibers, here goes.
Both my 405 rifles shoot very well. From a bench at 100 yards the one I shoot with jacketed bullets will shoot as good as it can be held, which is very good. The other I keep for cast bullets shoots pretty much just as good. I can't say enough good things about my two 405 Win. Rugers.
Kidd

Elmer
I have a #1 in 300 H&H. It shoots great right out of the box. The rifle is sub m.o.a. with the right loads. Best group has been four shots cutting the same hole, the fifth shot about 3/4" out because I got excited and jerked the trigger. All in all I think I have one great rifle in a great caliber. chuckT

I have 2. A Boddington Model in 300H&H and a Stainless in 45/70. I haven't shot the 45/70 much yet so can't really comment at this point.

The 300H&H is excellent. I'm not a benchrest shooter so my idea of excellent could be different from yours, but from a hunting standpoint, it's all thumbs up. I shoot the 180gr Barnes TTSX and just as an example, one of the first animals I took with it was a Black Wildebeast at a lasered 389yards. That's all I need it to do and a bit more!

I have never even seen a Ruger No. 1 in .30-30 chambering. Has anyone else here seen one? When were they made, and in which configuration(s)?

There are several on Gunbroker now. It is a No.1A 22 in barrel. Elmer.

I just finshed a work-up on my .303 British.I tune the forearm to fit and float and shoot slowly...

I have the SS/Lam 405Win. It will go 1-1.5" all day. I have shot the Hornady 300's as well as Barnes 325's (1"). Cast will be next.

Had a 1V 22-250 that should have been classified as a shotgun. Also had a Tropical in .416 Rigby that no kidding shot little tiny cloverleafs at 100 yds. I love No.1's but u are always rolling the dice.

quote:

Originally posted by Elmer:
There are several on Gunbroker now. It is a No.1A 22 in barrel. Elmer.

Thanks, Elmer. I gather it is a new chambering which I must have missed the introduction of...

Sounds like a gun it would be fun to have.