Back in April I started a thread asking about the authenticity or possible origin of a Ruger No.3 “Deluxe” model that I had spied for sale. Everyone pretty quickly agreed that this was just a No. 3 that someone had added No. 1 wood.



Original Thread

As I posted in the thread this one caught my eye and few days later the mailman made it mine. One little surprise that I was not aware of when I bought it was that the base gun was made in 1976, hence the barrel carries the roll mark “Made in the 200th Year of American Liberty”. (I had not originally planned this inaugural testing for July 4, but it did seem appropriate that my schedule worked out that way)

I collected the proper Ruger rings and bases (Brownells stocks the No.3 bases) and scoped it with a Leupold 1.5-5 x 20 Vari X III. The bases proved to be not the most straight forward of installations, the back of the scope was about 1/16” above the rear ring when I first started to tighten things up. I had another set of Ruger base and these exhibited the same issue. While some Ruger actions take rings of varying height, the No. 3 aint one of them, the front and rear ring are supposed to be matching. Turns out that the front base's taper didn't not quite match that of the barrel and was tilting forward. A bit of shimming under the front screw with the proper thickness of a coil of spring wire cleared up the issue and got everything in line.

All my 45-70 loading prior to this week had been with lead bullets, I felt this Ruger needed to go a bit more modern so I brought in some Hornady 350 grain and Remington 405 grain FP bullets. IMR 3031 seems to be the numero uno powder for the .45-70....but in today's market finding talcum powder around here is tough enough - I had no IMR 3031 but did have IMR 4895 to spare. The Hodgdon/IMR online data has several loads listed... so today it was IMR 4895 we would work with.

45-70 handloaders know the published data is segregated to 3 pressure levels; “Low” pressure for the old Trapdoor and various 19th century style single shots, “Mid” level for the modern lever action guns, and the “High” pressure data (approaching .458 Win Mag power) specifically for the Ruger single shot and like actions. Having already spent some time with the low level data, lead bullets,and a Hi Wall I decided to experiment with the Mid range data and jacketed bullets with my (new to me) No. 3.

All load were assemble with W-W brass and CCI LR Primers. Bullet were seated to the cannelure on top of a single charge weight if powder. My goal was mainly to get a little trigger time and end up with the scope roughly zeroed. Experimentation with charge weights, bullet seating depth, etc. will have to come later. All groups picture below were at 100 yards off a sand bag rest on top of my shooting bench.

Starting with a handful of 405 grain loads using enough powder to hit +/- 1850 fps (per the data). I got the POI in paper and then fired the last 2 loads achieving this 1.4” (center to center) “group”. Yes, I know 2 shots does not a group make...but that was the last of the 405 grain loads and my shoulder was already talking to me.



The next load, a 350 grain bullet somewhere around 1950 fps (per the data) landed about 3” higher on the target and put 3 shots in a 1.75” c to c group. Recoil was still, shall we say, somewhat noticeable but obviously less than the 405 grain loading.





While both loads are well within the required Minute of Whitetail I suspect the usual tweaking of the powder charge and type and some bullet seating depth experimentation can tighten these up significantly.

Wanting a bit more trigger time, but not the aching shoulder, I went back to the loading bench and grabbed a can of XMP5744. This powder is specifically marketed as position insensitive for use in building standard velocity (ie; Black Powder equivalent) loads in larger capacity cases. I've used it for some time under 405 grain lead bullets in a Hi-Wall gun and seem to have most of the kinks worked out in a pretty good load. I loaded a few cases with the same +/- 1450 fps charge I've used in the past then substituted that Remington 405 grain jacket FP bullet for my usual cast slug.

The first 3 shot group impacted a full 11” higher than the faster loads. (I suspect a longer dwell time in the 22” barrel and recoil caused the higher POI, the same way a lower velocity handgun loads will print higher than a similar load at a higher velocity) Recoil, as you would expect, was greatly reduced from the faster loads. What really got me excited was the group spread I found on the target.



A whopping .837” c to c at some 1400 fps, Could this be for real?

Back to the loading bench and few more cartridges will tell the tale.



.707” c to c.

I am starting to be a believer in the XMP5744 load. Yes, I know I am giving up 500 fps - but at even at the leisurely 1400 fps I have first hand knowledge that the 405 grain slug will travel plumb through any Whitetail deer we have in Kentucky...and it sure is easier on the shoulder.

I'll continue to develop some speedier loads with 3031 and other powders. It would be a shame not to use all the action strength Bill Ruger designed into this piece - and you never know when the need may arise should the elephant make a come back in Kentucky.

N E 450 No2 wanted to know how she shoots.

I think the answer is going to be “I have a winner here, she shoots as good as she looks”

GunCat I really like the looks of your Ruger #2...Nice shooting also...
I am wondering if the spur on the lever gave you much grief in recoil...
I have a couple of #3's and would like to install some #1 wood on at least one of them..I think set up like yours they look better than a #1 plus they are lighter also...

GunCat, nice rifle! As a 45-70 reloader, let me make a couple of suggestions. I know powder/primers are hard to find, but 2 powders that the 45-70 dotes on are H4198 and Reloader 7. Also, I got better groups/more consistent velocities with Fed.210 primers over the CCI. You might give that a try.

Mad Dog

My #3 still has factory wood/ metal butt plate- I loaded some 500 gr. hornadys with 47.5 of 4198 @ around 1800 fps- about two rounds is all you will want in that light a gun

Gun Cat

That rifle is a good shooter.

My #3 is in 22 hornet and I am glad it is. I can't imagine shooting level 3 loads in a 5 1/2 pound gun! !!

I have a No 3 in .30-40 with No 1 stock and Henry fore end. The seller claimed the wood was factory. I don't care, as I hunt with it. Makes the rifle a much nicer hunting gun.