How hard and approximately how much would it be to put a set of Sporter sights, forearm and barrel swivle on a ruger #1 capt david

Check that you get your eye low enough on the comb.

Handling a 1A would make this easier. Taking the 1A home would make sense too.

What I realy want is a Tropical #1, 300H&H with a 26" barrel. My gunsmith can make a 300H&H out of a 30-06. I'm just wondering if the other is possible for a reasonable price? capt david

The Tropicals all have 24" barrels and iron sights.

The 1S was made in 300 WM as I had one for a decade as my long range big game rifle. The 1S may have been made in 30-06 too. One could ream out a 30-06 to 300 H&H by hand without removing the barrel. Those 1S's had 26" barrels, iron sights and the Alex Henry forearm. They are a little heavy.

The trigger on the #1 may need work. That can be expensive just by itself. I found that my 1A in 30-06 is so much easier to carry that I kept it and the heavy 26" barreled rifle is gone.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/P-CategoryRiflesSS.html

quote:

Originally posted by captdavid:
How hard and approximately how much would it be to put a set of Sporter sights, forearm and barrel swivle on a ruger #1 capt david

Getting the parts to do the job would most likely be the hard part. From what I've heard, Ruger will not sell the parts to do the conversion, and will not do the conversion if you send the gun to them. There are exceptions to this rule. When gunwriter Ken Waters orderd a #1 in .280 Remington, he wanted the "S" model. They sent him a "B" model. He later sent it back and they did the conversion for him. Guess if you're a gun writer, they'll give you what ever you want. I think the iron sights on Rugers are crappy anyway. The front sight is way too small for my old eyeballs.
I like the idea of the #1S or "H" in a .300 H&H, but AFAIK, the "S" has been discontinued. I haven't a clue why. I've been looking for one in anycaliber since they came out. I finally found one in .300 Win. mag. and it has rapidly become one of my favorites along with my #1A in 7x57. I think the #1Bs feel like an ungainly club, yet they seem to be the most common.
As long as I'm griping about Ruger anyway, they ought to put a decent recoil pad on their harder kicking rifles. Guess they got those POS pads cheap at a fire sale or something.
Paul B.

The bbl. band swivel & front site are no real problem, I have NECG on one of mine. The AH forend can probably be made from the existing #1B if you already have a #1H forend to copy from. I have always liked the #1H/#1S over the #1B.

Ruger made a limited run of 1S in 300 H&H...hard to find and if you find one plan on a second mortgage. I had the same thought about conversion, the only thing being is the 1A in 30-06 has a 22" barrel. I really like the balance of 26" on a No. 1. I have a 1S in .338. My thought at one time was to try and pick up a 1S in .218 Bee and have it rebored and rechambered to .300 H&H. Not sure of the muzzle diameter of the 218 though. Ruger has discontinued all 1S with the exception of 45-70. Parts wouldn't be that much of a problem as Brownells sells everything except the stock. Last time I called Ruger they wouldn't sell a stock for a No. 1 unless you gave them the serial number of the rifle it needed to go on, and then they would only replace the stock that it originally came on from the factory. I agree that with some careful shaping the 1B could be made into a 1S style forend. The butt stocks are the same on all the models. Hope this was of some help. In the end it may be cheaper to get it rebarreled by one of the good makers and have the barrel profile match a 1S factory gun. You could then use Ruger parts to finish it. Good luck

quote:

I'm just wondering if the other is possible for a reasonable price? capt david

Why not merely ask your gunsmith for a quote on the work you want done?

Yes this can be done for a reasonable price. There are a few gunsmiths that specialize in No.1's. A number of years ago I had this exact conversion done by a guy in Pennsylvania. I can't remember his name.
The guys that do a lot of No.1 work usually have the parts needed (sights, forearm, swivel mount, etc.)on hand from other rifles they have worked on. Check around.

I did see what I think is a 1S in 300 Win. Mag yesterday at a local sporting goods store. It was a red pad model, with a warning on the barrel. I don't remember the serial number, but it started with 132-xxxxx. Had a pretty beefy barrel that looked to be at least 24, and more likely, 26 inches. It had sights, a Henry forearm and barrel band swivel. It had been hunted with, but I didn't notice any major problems -- mostly scratches in the stock. They were asking $385 for it - I don't recall seeing any rings on it.

I'm don't know if it could be rechambered to 300 H&H --seems likely, though you might lose some barrel to clean up the chamber. I don't think there would be any extractor issues. But, if it can be rechambered without issue, you would be starting out with something much closer to what you wish to end up with.

I haven't had any experience with the store, but it's a local, well established chain that mostly sells outdoor stuff. I'm not sure if it's okay to post the store's name here, so I haven't. I'd be happy to do so if that is acceptable etiquette. Also, I have no stake in or connection to the store -- but, I do have a couple of No. 1's and wanted to help someone out.

A #1S for $385? Even without rings that would not be a bad buy. For some silly reason, for a while Ruger would not give rings for rifles that came with iron sights, which for a rifle in .300 Win. Mag. is to me the height of assinitiy. However, rings are not all that expensive if you look around. I've picked up spare rings at gun shows for $35. That's a lot less than Ruger charges. Just remember, rings for a Ruger #1 must be of equal height. Rings for a Model 77 are of two different heights. You could always buy two sets of 77 rings and have a high and low set. Could come in handy if you got a scope with a large objective bell.
You can not chamber a .300 Win. Mag to .300 H&H. maybe to .300 Weatherby, but not the H&H. You would have to do a rebarrel.
FWIW, that #1S would sell for $500-$600 here in Tucson.
Paul B.