Someone raised the question recently as to how accurate single shot rifles could be. I have been working on a Ruger Number 1 custom for three or four weeks. I am using a McGowan barrel and chambered it in 300H&H. I have the metal work essentially done, and am waiting to do the stock. I put a "mule" stock on it to try it out before proceeding.

I also had occasion to acquire three more single shots in the last couple of weeks. A 450/400 Ruger and a 9.3x74 Ruger both popped up as singles on Davidson's site, and since these are tough to get and I had wanted them both, I ordered them. I also traded a shotgun for a really nice looking new Browning B78 in 243. They are making these again with a heavy barrel.

I finally got to go to the range yesterday and tried them first at 25 yards to get on target. I then shot at 75 yards, due to some target issues. Only fired one target with each due to weather, but here they are.

First is the 9.3x74. Top shot is the first, the lower two are after a site adjutment.


Next is the 300 H&H, (three shots)

Third is the B78 in 243. Top two shots were first, followed by a scope adjustment and three more in the lower group.


Last is three shots from the 450/400


To say I was pleased is putting it mildly.

If it handn't been cold, I would likely not have shot any more anyway.

All were handloads.

It appears you have answered the question-in spades. Well done and good shooting.

Wow, congratulations looks like you won the Ruger lottery on that one.

Wish my #1 243 shot like that. It's an older one that I bought new several years ago. It shoots minute of coffee cup at 100 yards. Not quite the long range coyote rifle I wanted.

Don't know how it happened, but I posted the following last night, and it ended up in the wrong thread.
--------------
The 300 H&H is one I didn't win the lottery on, but I wish I had left alone.

I bought it at a gun show years ago; probably around 1980. It was a 200th anniverary (marked on barrel) varmint model 25-06 with the best wood I had ever seen on a Ruger (and at the time some of it was really nice. It wasn't odd to see hi grade wood on them). It had a 15X Unertl 2" Ultra varmint on it. I quickly sold the scope (for very little, at that time the top of the line Unertl wasn't in much demand.) I mounted a more modern scope, and proceeded to try to get it to shoot for a year. In frustration, I had a local smith turn down the barrel to a heavy sporter contour, and restocked it in fiber glass. It still wouldn't shoot, and in addition, turning it so drastically apparently warped the barrel to the point you could hardly get it on target. I, of course, had sold the stocks by this time. I pulled the barrel, and have had the action stuck in a corner for probably 25 years. It really shoots now, and the old trigger is great.

All said and done though, I wish I still had a mint bicentenial varmint rifle with a premium Unertl and exhibition quality wood (at the time I paid $350 for the rifle and scope). The scope would be in four figures today, and I haven't seen a bicentential No 1 for sale in so long I have no idea of their current value. Thinking how much I have spent on the gun, and how much it would be worth if I hadn't almost brings a tear to my eye. I just tell myself I got a lot of practice on it.

Large doses of alcohol will do that to a guy...

elk hunter,mine was the same way.I wanted to wrap it around a tree.It is the reason I started reloading.It will only shoot the smaller bullets well.And only from a fouled barrel at that.Using 75gr VMax now and it shoots well.

The #1s will shoot very well but you must do the Seyfried modification to them first.
My #1 .300 Win shot about 3" out ofhe box.
After the mod and hand loading 180 gr Sierra's it shoots 1/2 MOA.

Would you mind what is the modification you are talking about ? Just curious

Art S, nice shooting.

Do you mind sharing your 450/400 load with me please?

Best wishes and Happy New Year. Chris

Can single shots shoot?

Does a fat baby fart?

Best
GWB

RockDoc
I was shooting, I believe, 83 gr RL19 behind a 400 gr Hornady DGX. (I don't have my records with me right now.) I think this is a pretty conservative load for a Ruger; don't know how it would work in a double.

That said, I don't recommend it as I shot it. I used a standard rifle primer and no filler. The case was only moderately filled, but there was no way the primer would be exposed. I have shot many smokeless loads in a 45-120 Ruger with less loading density than this with no problem. However, I generally used Fed 215 primers with those. I wear electronic muffs when shooting, and with every shot fired (only about six), I distinctly heard the hammer hit the firing pin, then nothing when the shot fired. I was obviously getting a hangfire with every shot. I was using a good double sandbag rest, and was amazed at the accuracy I got, considering this.

I plan on pulling the bullets, putting filler in a couple, reprime a couple with FED215's and do both to a couple. Hopefully, the accuracy will still be there, because it doesn't get much better than the first group. I love short load development, and if the accuracy holds, I will be done. I will likely load a few higher levels to see what the Ruger will do (I think it will easily handle anything you can reasonably load in the case, but some higher velocity 300 gr loads may be nice for deer or elk.

Originally posted by Londonhunter

quote:

Would you mind what is the modification you are talking about ? Just curious

The seyfried mod is where you drill a 6/32 hole in the hanger and tap it, Then you run a headless allen screw through untill the screw applies an even amount of pressure on the barrel.

You can tighten and losen the screw till you find the sweet spot for accuracy.

This photo is the one on my #1 .375. The photo is bad but I think good enough you can get the idea. Look just ahead the slot that retains the spring you will see the screw.

There is also a gadget that dose the same thing called the Hicks accurizer. It bolts onto the hanger. I have never used one of thease because what I do is both easyer and cheaper but I have only heared good reports form guys who have used them.

[IMG]Would you mind what is the modification you are talking about ? Just curious[/IMG]

Not sure what I didthere. Here gos again.

Looks like you had too much coffee or flinched

I had Pac-Nor put a 6BR bbl on my #1, Kepplinger trigger, 105 Amax, put 3 into .498 one morning.

Oh, at 330 yds