I'm toying with getting a #1, probably heavy barrel, in an attempt to find the best compromise between accuracy and suitability for hunting deer-size game out to 200 yards. I like the 6 PPC, except it's probably a bit light for hunting deer at that distance. I wouldn't hesitate to have an old #1 rebarreled or rechambered, so non-standard choices aren't a problem.

Suggestions?? 7x57?? 6MMBR?? Others ??

6.5x55, exceptional accuracy and good for 200 yd deer. Second choice 7x57.

.375 H&H, hands down winner. Easy & cheap to load for. Mine shoots tiny groups with a 265gr. cast bullet at about 1800fps.
You can load it light or max. for a lot less than the cost of factory ammo. The full loads will get your attention right away. 10 rounds is about my limit for full loads.
The 235 gr. bullet, with a starting load, should drop a deer like a load of rocks at any resonable range, without too much recoil.

As an ex-silhouette shooter, I'd go with the 7mm IHMSA or 7-08. Both cartridges are good out of a 15" barrel and with todays bullets, you can shoot accurately and with plenty of velocity to hunt at 300+ yards. I've used the lighter Barnes X bullets with great success. Bullets are designed to open at 1800 fps and you'll be way beyond that with either cartridge. Trajectory is flat enough to set a MPOA and be able to hold any correction needed. 7 IHMSA is a little more efficient, 7-08 capable of a little overbore but can go a little faster. Bull barrel not needed for accuracy. Competitors always used a tapered barrel for weight reduction, and with a 5 shot string fired in 100+ temperatures grouping tight, you won't need anything more for hunting. Build your pistol for balance, with a 13 - 15 inch barrel and you should be good to go.

I had one of these babies and the 235 grain running at 2900 fps fairly pole-axed an elk at about 60 yards. My son was using it.

Looking for a rifle, in a Ruger #1. 375 is not on the short list of fun choices to shoot from a bench.

7MM-08 may be a good choice, or a 7 x 57 - they're pretty close in ballistics I was kind of hoping someone would have already made a choice in this action for a deer-size cartridge among the benchrest category candidates.

260 Remington also begins to look pretty good,and has done OK in some 1,000 yard type shoots. 6.5 Swede also has a reputation for accuracy.

Still shopping for ideas, and I do appreciate the views of the members of this forum.

Off to Midnight Mass in a few minutes - Merry Christmas to all !!

The Ruger website says that the #1B and #1V are both still available in 6mm Rem, that would be my choice

I think my choice would be a 30-06 in the 1A model. Also a 7x57 would be another good choice.