i have seen a few of these rugers for sale lately and was wondering if anyone had any experience with it, and what would be a good price to pay. is the #1 an accurate rifle?

K1A?
Not herd of that configuration.
I am aware of a limited run of 35 Whelen's from lispy,s. They were walnut and stainless steel.
is that what the ones you have seen look like ? They would also have a banded front site flip up rear and I think a banded sling swivel.
Cool rilfe. I would love one myself.
Is the #1 an acurate rifle ? In my limited experence definatly acurate.
Others would tell you differently. I think of the Whelen as a 300 yard Elk and or moose round.
I would be shocked if an out of the box #1 in that cartridge was not up to the task.
I have a frend who loves them and says that those he has that did not shoot at 1st, got acurate in a hurry when free floated...tj3006

quote:

Originally posted by RUSTY75:
....is the #1 an accurate rifle?

Some say "No" - & they are wrong.

My No.1S in 45-70 will group UNDER 3/4", & I've got the paper to prove it. No modifications, that I'm aware of.

Funny thing - I almost passed on this fine rifle, because I heard that nasty rumor as well...

It depends on what you call "accurate". Ruger considers 2.0" at 100 yards accurate. Fortunately, most do a lot better than that.
When you look at it, a .35 Whelen isn't exactly a varmint rifle so if I had that rifle, I would consider a consistant 1.5" or less just fine. I would rather have a rifle that shot 1.5" consistantly than one that shoots .375" but places the groups all over the place, and take my word for that, I had one that gave .375" goups, but never put two groups in the same place. It wasn't a Ruger #1 though, but a custom Mauser.
I collect Ruger #1s, or at least I'm trying to, although even the used ones have jumped way up in price. Right now, I have 18 in various models and only two are what I consider inaccurate. One is the first one I ever bought back in 1975, a 1B in 30-06 and my latest one, another 1B in 25-06. All the others will do at least 1.25" or less and a few are mostly less with no tinkering on the guns by me.
One of these days I'll send that 06 back to Ruger and see if they can straighten the gun out. It has the nasty habit of spitting the first shot in a group 6" high. After that, one inch clusters. Let the barrel cool and the same thing happens all over again. The 25-05 was made in 1978 according to the serial number so maybe it might have a shot out barrel.
I have another custom built on a #1 action, a "walkabout" gun in carbine form chambered to the .223 Rem. It's my walkabout gun to terorize the local jack rabbit and coyote population and it serves the purpose quite nicely.
FWIW, on the 25-06, if the barrel does turn out to be bad, IE shot out, then the gun will be a donor for a .35 Whelen #1.
I think you'll like the rifle. Gun writer Al Miller once wrote an article on speed loading the single shot rifle. You'd be surprised just how quickly one can get off another round should the need arise.
Paul B.

I've seen a few of these stainless #1 .35's around. They are really cool guns. Where are you seeing these I'd like one myself.

#1's are very acurate but sometimes not out of the box. My.300 win mag #1 woulden't do better than 2" out of the box but after a little tinkering and load development it shoots 1/2"

I was told that the Number 1 45/70 was one of the most accurate of the number 1's. I guess large stiff barrel and a relatively mild load from the factory might be it. Mine has shot .414 center to center with factory 300 grain winchester. It also has a very nice trigger. Wood not so great, but it is a hunter.

I also use low Leuopol mounts.

would a 35 whelen or 45/70 be a better woods whitetail cartridge?

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Reply

Rusty, I have both, more or less. I have the #1 in 45-70, and will have a #1 in .35 Whelen before long. I'm planning on rebarreling one of the 06s "B" models I have to the Whelen. Either would be just fine. I think the Whelen would be more useful but the 45-70 is great at reasonable ranges. I have a 3X scope on mine and shoot my home cast Lyman #457122 330 gr. hollow point bullets. Accuracy runs right about 1.25" from the bench.
I have three rifles chambered to the Whelen, so I think you can safely guess where my true loyalty lies.
Paul B.