I'm looking at a used Ruger #1 in 7mmMag and was wondering if there are any feeding problems with belted cartidge in this gun? This would be my first #1. I was looking for a .280 but ran across this 7 Mag at a great price, so good it made me wonder???

quote:

---

Originally posted by floridabigfish:
I'm looking at a used Ruger #1 in 7mmMag and was wondering if there are any feeding problems with belted cartidge in this gun? This would be my first #1. I was looking for a .280 but ran across this 7 Mag at a great price, so good it made me wonder???

---

I have both .45/70 and 7MM Mag #1s. They both load and extract perfectly.
Ed

I have a #1 in 7mm STW, it was a little inaccurate from the factory, but has always functioned superbly.
I shoot 162 gr spbt Hornady and 160 gr Sierra spbt bullets most of the time at about 3150 fps.
I have now floated the barrel, installed a Hicks accurizer, and bedded the accurizer.
Last Saturday I gave her the first trial since the bedding job. The Hicks is an adjustable tuning device. Upon reaching the proper tuning point, the rifle shot a .5 inch three shot group at 132 yd, which gives .38 moa.
While mine took a little tuning to get there, this rifle will definately perform with belted mags.
The 7mm mag will, of course, burn a little more powder and kick a little harder than the 280. But I would not hesitate to buy it.

I love my #1 in 7RM and was lucky to get one that shoots sub 1" right out of the box. Mine was a new 1976 "Liberty" model that was owned by an older guy. He neglected it in a leaky room and left it in the original foam rubber lined factory box. It had light rust on one side of the barrel about half way up and a touch of rust on the rings and action. I bought it dirt cheap and hoped. It is a touch on the rough side on the exterior but it shoots like a dream and has some of the best wood I have seen on a Model #1. Buy the 7RM & enjoy it.

Many years ago I encountered feeding problems with a Ruger No 1 in .45-70 caliber. What you have to remember about this rifle is that you are the bolt and the extractor is extremely weak (no leverage at all). The cartridges from the factory will work perfectly, but handloads must be sized fully, properly trimmed and bullets must not be loaded out so long that they jam into the lands. Additionally, if you get even a little warm in the load you will have difficulty in extraction. Yes, the gun is as strong as a bank vault, but it may also seem more like a muzzle loader in reloading time if you "push the envelope" in pressure, as you will have to drop a dowel or a cleaning rod down the bore to pop out cases. Just keep the pressures sane, the cases properly sized and you will have no problems. Good luck! I have one too and its a sweet little stalking rifle.

quote:

---

Originally posted by floridabigfish:
I'm looking at a used Ruger #1 in 7mmMag and was wondering if there are any feeding problems with belted cartidge in this gun? This would be my first #1. I was looking for a .280 but ran across this 7 Mag at a great price, so good it made me wonder???

---

None!!

"the extractor is extremely weak (no leverage at all). The cartridges from the factory will work perfectly, but handloads must be sized fully, properly trimmed and bullets must not be loaded out so long that they jam into the lands. Additionally, if you get even a little warm in the load you will have difficulty in extraction."
Weird - I have one in 25-06, shoot top-end loads, only necksize the cases (they wouldn't even know what FL-sizing is!, even after several firings) and I have no extraction problems at all. Also, I seat the bullets into the rifling. Check your mechanics on the rifle: While it doesn't have the extraxcting power of a bolt action rifle, there is mechanical leverage to extract stubborn cases. When you have extraction problems, you will probably be loading way too hot, or there is something else wrong with the rifle...

quote:

---

Originally posted by martinibelgian:
"the extractor is extremely weak (no leverage at all). The cartridges from the factory will work perfectly, but handloads must be sized fully, properly trimmed and bullets must not be loaded out so long that they jam into the lands. Additionally, if you get even a little warm in the load you will have difficulty in extraction." I have one in 25-06, shoot top-end loads, only necksize the cases (they wouldn't even know what FL-sizing is!, even after several firings) and I have no extraction problems at all. Also, I seat the bullets into the rifling. Check your mechanics on the rifle: While it doesn't have the extraxcting power of a bolt action rifle, there is mechanical leverage to extract stubborn cases. When you have extraction problems, you will probably be loading way too hot, or there is something else wrong with the rifle...

---

Well., actually, the mechanical advantage of the extractor in the No. 1 is the distance of the operating lever from the pivot screw to the end you apply pressure to divided by the length of the extractor arm from the pivot screw to where it contacts the cartridge case. To me, it appears that the No. 1's extraction power is as good as a typical rotating-bolt action. I have used Ruger single-shots in .25/'06, 7X57mm, 7mm Rem. Mag., .30/40 Krag, .45/70, and .375 H&H from the late 1960's, and can definitively state that the No. 1 will fire and extract any ammo that will work in a bolt-action, period. There is no need for full-length sizing of fired brass, or any other magical machinations, to get handloads to work properly in the Ruger singles, any more so than if using a Mauser or Model 70! Overall, the Ruger single-shot is LESS prone to ammo/extraction problems than the Model 721, 722, and 700 Remingtons I have used!

Alright, I will permit that your experiences have been altogether free from unhappiness if you will allow that mine were not.

I do not agree that the extractor on a No. 1 is a strong as on a Mauser-style bolt action. I have been in a position to test that question and I promise you it is far easier to remove a very slightly stuck case or cartridge in the bolt action, especially if it has controlled feeding.

The loads that I used in the past in my .45-70 were later admitted by Speer to have been too long (OAL) and too hot - a problem in two departments. My admonition about extraction was a reminder that one should steer clear of the margins and that the extraction could be a nuisance from not trimming, undersizing or overlong loads. I stand by that, freely allowing (as I originally said) that with reasonable consideration one should experience no trouble.

But live and learn. I recall the protests against those who said that Remington extractors were unreliable, doubting that myself - until it plagued my favorite rifle. Now I am having a Tubb Sako-style extractor put in and I sympathize with the fellows who were castigated as if they had claimed to see flying saucers.

Slainte'