New #1 .308

[Rustyinfla]

  I've had my #1 for about a year and I just found time to take it for a ride. what a ride it was. I got to the range about 25 minutes before they were to close so I had to make it pretty quick. Just getting the scope fine tuned I'd fire two shots and adjust. 8 rounds and it was hitting dead center. The funny thing was I'd fire two and adjust then fire two more. there were 4 pairs of holes on the paper... each pair was touching. Man what a shooter!!!

  On another thread someone was looking into keeping a rifle just for cast bullets. I'm thinking seriously of getting one of Veral's paper patch bullet moulds as it looks like it has a great deal of promise.

  This is my first #1, I've enjoyed them from afar for quite a while, boy have I wasted a lot of time.

 

[Fred M]

Rustyinfla.
I am just tickled when I hear something like that. That is what a good rifle should be all about. I have a #1 in25-06 and a #3 in a 375 Winchester both shoot like yours and I bought them used, they are over 25 years old.  I have other super accurate rifles but the two Rugers take the cake. Take care and thanks for the heads up.

Somewhere above you can read that the Ruger #1 is not worth the money. I also have a little 17HMR Winchester Low wall that shoots 3/4" groups at 100 yards. Perhaps this one is not woth the money either.
 

[MSP Ret]

Merry Christmas Rustyinfla, it looks as if you got a Christmas gift early with that great shooter, congratulations. Fred, after reading your comments I started thinking of looking for a used #1 or #3, however, your statements that they are not really worth the money ( ) have me concerned, do you really believe that? I always thought they were at least on a par with H&R HandiRifles....<><.... 

P.S. Fred I put a lot of belief and faith in your opinions but believe me, If I ever come across a nice one for a good deal I will snap it up regardless of your statements...Merry Christmas to all!!!....<><....

[Fred M]

Andy
What I call a good deal may not be a good deal for you. I paid $650 for the #1 and $675 for the #3 in Canadian $. Converted into USD would be about 580 and 600 respectively.

You don't find them at that price very often, but mine needed extensive repairs on the stocks. In the US you can buy them at WM for 702 brand new and that is a good price for a new one compared to what they cost in Canada.

Your last statement quote"  your statements that they are not really with the money ( ) have me concerned, do you really believe that? Sorry my friend I don't understand what you mean by that. What did I say?

Whether the Handi is on par with Ruger #1 is something you have to decide for yourself. I am not getting into it. There is too much animocity about the Handi  as it is. So why stir up more?

The two Handis I have cost me  $375 plus $275 for a rebore each, that is a total of $1300, not counting my own work. Yes they are very nice but they keep shooting loose very frequently. The two Rugers cost me $1325 and they don't shoot loose.

[Rustyinfla]

 I found the Ruger group over At Yahoo but it is a mail list. A bit more work that a forum like this. I really can't believe someone hasn't created a cult following for these Number Ones. They are so pretty to look at. Some where in the back of my mind I seem to remember reading that old Bill Ruger was very fond of them.

  I like the Handi rifles even though I only have one in .30-30 along with several shotguns. 

  I'd really like to get this number one going with cast bullets. the old fashioned Shutzen rifles are absolutely fascinating to me. I've yet to join the American Single Shot Rifle Assn. but I intend to do so. What those old guys could do with a solid lead bullet is nothing short of a minor miracle. After reading about Veral's Pater patched bullet it kindled a new interest for me.
   Personally I really doubt what a lot of people say when they get rifles that they say won't shoot. I know some rifles can be temperamental but I know there's a whole lot more people that just can't shoot like they think they can.

[MSP Ret]

Hi guys, Fred, what I meant to say, in a joking tongue in cheek manner, was to jokingly quote what you said about them "not being WORTH the money", and I misstyped "not being WITH the money", I was just joking around and would really like to have a Ruger some day, sadley my lousy typing and poor job of proofreading ruined whatever joke there may have been it it...I have corrected the typo...Merry Christmas to all, buy the way, my wife went Christmas shopping yesterday, there will now be no money for me to buy a Ruger for quite a while!!! Andy....<><....

[Fred M]

Thanks Andy.
Jokes don't alway come out they way you thought they should. I really believe that the CHRISTmas shopping your wife does is much mor important than any Ruger#1 made.
A Ruger#1 purchased with the results of having an unhappy wife would not be a good idea. Me thinks?

My writing does not always come out the way I thought it should be understood. As you know englich is my second language and it causes at times conflicting meanings why that is so I don't know for sure yet.

Mathematics unlike englich is universally understood with equations that leaves no doubt. Not so with a living language were meanings are in constant conflict.

Merry CHRISTmas to you and your wife.
Fred

[Rustyinfla]

 Fred,
   What is your first language? You do fine with das English. I have a fellow I used to go to church with  years ago who married a young girl from western Canada. They were farmers there. They grew rape and broccoli as I remember.

  What do you do there?

        Rusty <><

[MSP Ret]

Fred I agree with Rusty that you do great with the english language, and wonderful with American also, which at times can be more difficult!!! I also agree with belief in mathematics, I have enjoyed numbers and math for many years, they mean what they say and thats it...Merry Christmas to you and yours my northern buddy....<><....

[Fred M]

Rusty.
I am a retired construction engineer. My first languge is German, I lived in Germany until 1951 when I immigrated to Canada at a tender age of 21.

[Hairtrigger]

A Ruger#1 purchased with the results of having an unhappy wife would not be a good idea. Me thinks?

My writing does not always come out the way I thought it should be understood. As you know englich is my second language and it causes at times conflicting meanings why that is so I don't know for sure yet.

 Come on now.
How long could a lovely wife stay upset?? Especially now with the Holidays as an additional distraction

[marlinman93]

 Come on now.
How long could a lovely wife stay upset?? Especially now with the Holidays as an additional distraction

 Well that depends on two things; how much we spend, and how much you leave her to spend!

[Fred M]

Rusty

I found the Ruger group over At Yahoo but it is a mail list. A bit more work that a forum like this. I really can't believe someone hasn't created a cult following for these Number Ones. They are so pretty to look at. Some where in the back of my mind I seem to remember reading that old Bill Ruger was very fond of them.

Rusty.
The reason that there is no cult for the Ruger#1 is. I believe, there is not much to say about the #1. Nothing as far as I know ever goes wrong with them and good accuracy is pretty well standard.

There is very little you can add on or improve on except a speed hammer and spring and a set trigger. Post tension the hanger will shrink your groups, ala Hicks accurizer.

With Ruger producing now some of the best hammer forged barrels the #1 got even better. So what else can you say. The Ruger # 1 competes with some of finest SS rifles and for the money a better single shot you can no buy. No it is not a Hagn but for $13000 you should get something better, but a Hagn will not outshoot the Ruger#1 by a great margin if any, me thinks.

By now you guys will have some idea of what I think about the Ruger #1.

[Rustyinfla]

 Well Fred, Thanks a lot. I thought I had reached the pinnacle of the gunmaker's trade with the Ruger #1 and now I see the Hagn. Now I have something else to devote my piggy bank to. They must be somewhat close to you as they're in BC.
   I was adopted as a baby and my family has Prussian roots. I have always been in awe of Germanic engineering. I may be biased but I think some of the finest designed items in the world come through that linage. Maybe you could explain what it is? The whole culture seems to be disciplined. I guess that leads to attention to fine detail.
   When I was in the muzzle loading club here shooting in monthly shoots we had a fellow that had spent time in Germany with an engineering firm. He shot a Schuetzen styled muzzleloader in the matches. He was something to watch. He would take a shot, then spend several minutes writing in a journal about each shot.
   The whole goings on of a Schuetzenfest have sounded like a lot of fun to me ever since I first read a couple of paragraphs about one put on by the Coors brewing company. At that time the winner was shooting a Ruger #1 in .30-06.
  Now if you'll excuse me I need to go read more about these Hagn rifles.

   Thanks for the lead,
     Rusty <><

[Fred M]

Rusty.
Quote:
I may be biased but I think some of the finest designed items in the world come through that linage. Maybe you could explain what it is? The whole culture seems to be disciplined. I guess that leads to attention to fine detail.

This simply came from the long history of industrial evolution. Immigration from Europe brought all of the industrial innovations to North America.

Gun making in Europe was only for the elite never available for the common man.
Gun making in the US was driven by need for the settlers, they wanted cheap and fast shooting firearms. Designs for guns were made to suit this purpose.

Single shot guns were phased out, and made mostly by custom makers which is still the case today here and in Europe. The Hagn also evolved to its present stage and is 100% custom and not very affordable.

Bill Ruger liked the Fergusson falling block and designed an affordable revamped Fergusson #1 using the most advanced manufacturing methods available, making the rifle with very little hand labor. The ingenious #1 is a marvel of modern gun making, and what a fine and pleasing rifle it is.

It is the finest mass produced high quality single shot rifle ever made anywhere. There are no others and of course it is affordable. My hat is off to Bill Ruger.

[Rustyinfla]

   Yes after looking at the Hagn I priced it using the currency exchanger program they have on the site. It looks like it would be setting me back about $11,200. I'd say that's a bit more than I could sneak out of the butter money.

  They are nice though. I guess I'll stick with my Number 1's for the time being. Learning how to make mine shoot cast bullets will offer plenty of challenge.


        Rusty <><