I asked about hunting Dangerous Game with a Single Shot (with a PH as a backup) in the African Hunting section and stirred up a lot of comments. Now I suppose I ought to ask what you guys think about the HEAVY caliber conversions on Ruger No.1's.

Besides the factory heavy cartridges, Ive seen custom guns in 500/416 (a 416 gun that was rechambered but used the factory barrels). 450No2 used to be talked about on 45-70 guns. Ive got a 45-70 and Im still toying with the idea or possibly just 45-120.

Ive also seen some really BIG BORE custom guns, including 577Nitro Express. I could be satisfied with a 500NE; but the 577NE is actually the one thats calling to me. I know I dont need a 577NE but Im starting to really WANT it. The one I saw was way waaaaaaay to light (10lbs -- I think thats why it was being sold) but Im guessing a good smith could make one heavy enough for the cartridge.


Are there limits to the Ruger design?

Is there a better option CLOSE to the same price?

Thoughts?

I mean, up to .577NE is possible, with the #1 rifle. But is it shotable?
For example. Jeffery builded between 1904 and 1908 only nine Farquharsons chambered for the .600NE, with weights between 13 and 18lbs.
I shot some #1 rifle in .416 or .458 and it wasn´t really funny.

Martin

As I remember there was an article in Rifle Magazine about this very topic. Converting No. 1s into dream rifles. As I recall, although the extractor/ejector design was a little tricky, someone chambered one in 600 Nitro Express.

The action can be modified for such rounds but how heavy the barrel can be made is limited by the hanger.

I had a baaaaaaad experience with a No.1 in 458winmag something like 30 years ago. I watched two twin brothers that barely weighed 150lbs; shoot it like it was a 22lr. I tried and thought I had it pointed at my own shoulder. In looking back we were shooting full house solids and I leaned way into the shot because I didnt want it to knock me over.

Id like to think Ive learned a bit in those 30 years about how to deal with recoil AND what to tell a smith thats building a rifle for me. Stilllllllll, Id be lying if I wasnt a bit concerned about the recoil. Ive actually seen some guns with a shock absorbing system in the butt.

How heavy should a 577 or 600 be? Is 15lbs too much?

My 10# 600 NE single shot is too light!

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Brooks:
My 10# 600 NE single shot is too light!

Thats what Im afraid of, how do you add weight or otherwise correct a No.1 thats too light? Ive never handled a rifle with mercury or any of the other "do-dads". What can be done?

Just because the gun is chambered for the 577 doesn't mean you have to shoot full loads ALL of the time!
You may never feel the need to shoot a full power load after working up a good stout manageable load for it anyway.
I have a No.1 in 50/110 and thought of opening it to something akin to .500NE but it is so much fun I think I will leave it alone and I won't have to ugly it up with a big pad either.

When I had my #1 in 500 3" NE built, I wanted an easy handling gun that was not akin to carrying a lead brick around. I felt that if it was easy to carry and light enough to handle well, I would not feel the recoil when taking the shot at the big game the caliber was designed for.
And this has worked out just fine.
The rifle weighs in at 7lb 9oz, has one of the thick pachmayr recoil pads. The safety has been filed to a slight dome similar to an english shotgun safety.
I shoot a 570gr GS Custom solid at 2180fps or a Woodleigh 570gr soft at the same velocity.
The sight is zeroed at 60m and I have shot groups off the bench (ouch) into around the half inch mark at 50m.

I just picked up a Ruger No.1 that was converted to 577NE by JDJones at SSK. It has a 26 inch barrel and some sort of hydraulic looking recoil system in the butt. Im guessing it weights about 10 pounds (my bathroom scale is electronic and wont register that low). It was on consignment and the dealer wont give me the previous owners contact info.

It came with some tarnished looking cases and a few loaded rounds that look the same. Supposedly they were "custom" loaded for the owner with light BP (BP substitute) loads and lead bullets with what looks like paper patching.

If it wouldnt have been a SSK gun, I probably would have passed on it, even though after haggling I got it for a good price. The safety doesnt look to have had any mods--or-- they were done so well I cant see them. Im reluctant to play with the ammo that came with the gun; but Ive got some snap caps coming so we'll see then how well it ejects.

So far Im VERY happy with it just on looks alone. If it works out I may be interested in a 500NE, although I have heard of 500-416's made by opening the chambers on 416 No.1's and using the original barrel. Ive also got a 45-70 No.1 that I originally thought about as a candidate for 450No2 or at least 45-120.

EDELWEISS, I am talking to JDJ about building me Ruger NO.1 in .577 NE, your twin. He told me he just sold a.577 NE in a Ruger NO.1 it was you I'm looking at a four month wait. Thats fine with me, it will give me some time to pick up brass , bullets and dies.

Let me know how that thing shoots! I am all ears! Do you know what the max pressure the Ruger no. 1 is good for after the conversion? Is the design compromised shooting the .577 vs a smaller caliber pressure wise? just curious. Keep me posted.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by doubledown:
EDELWEISS, I am talking to JDJ about building me Ruger NO.1 in .577 NE, your twin. He told me he just sold a.577 NE in a Ruger NO.1 it was you I'm looking at a four month wait. Thats fine with me, it will give me some time to pick up brass , bullets and dies.

Let me know how that thing shoots! I am all ears! Do you know what the max pressure the Ruger no. 1 is good for after the conversion? Is the design compromised shooting the .577 vs a smaller caliber pressure wise? just curious. Keep me posted.

Steve

I dont have too much info for you YET. The rifle I have is an older one, its marked Rifle Number 3. When I talked to Mr Jones, he said they typically mark the first five or so rifles in each caliber that way, and that meant it was made sometime in the 80's. I bought this from a dealer in PA. It was on consignment and also listed on Gunbroker.com for awhile. I saw it in person and passed because I "Had to Have" a double rifle; but it kept anoying me, and I weighted the pros / cons of $25K+ for a .577 Double vs this for $3K. In the end it seemed a non issue (BUT I still want a Double....).

If you have one made besure to have them address the safety. Mine extends just a hair into the feed way, its just enough to snag my snap caps when they are ejected AND the gun is held horizontal. If I eject when the gun is at an angle (say after recoil) its fine; but if I were having one made now Id have him buff it back a bit. Id also have the folding rear sight replaced with a fixed version, and heck if youre having it done Id skip the Ruger quarter rib with the scope mounts and have something more "period" installed (either a simple quarter rib or express sights on the barrel. Id also have him make up a barrel band for a sling. It would have to be custom made for the size of the barrel.

I havent shot it yet. The ammo that came with it is terrible. Theyre some sort of re-loads that Im sure were never resized and I have NO IDEA what they are loaded with, besides a lead bullet that I THINK is paper patched. The more I look at them, the more I think somebody used Minnie Balls for a light load. The original owner suppoedly had "someone" load them for him....but the dealer wont give me the seller's info to verify anything, so Im just not gonna risk shooting them.

Also my rifle has a Counter-Coil recoil system. My first reaction is thats its UGLY; but its no uglier than a anti-tank muzzle brake would be, and I suspect more useful.

Good Luck, theres nothing like a custom rifle made just for YOU!