New in box No. 1

[Singleshotsam]

I saw a couple No.1's sitting in the local shot and the .243 caught my eye.  Price tag said 850.00.  When I handed it back to the guy behind the counter, he said they'd had it for a long time and would take $700.00.  Fair deal or should I wait and find another?

[Graybeard]

It's fair if you want to take a chance on a #1. I took a chance on one at least five or six years ago and bought a #1B in 6MM Remington cuz I'd long wanted a 6MM Remington and not many were offered. I paid $650 then.

It kept some three shot groups on an 8.5"x11" target sheet but not all by far. Needless to say the dealer got it back and I bought a Browning Low Wall .243 to replace it. That one kept most loads within 0.4" to 0.8" at 100 yards and did better with some but seldom over an inch regardless of what I fed it. Man do I regret letting that one get away.

[mcwoodduck]

Graybeard,
All your story points out is that 6mm Remington is a dog not the No.1 
I have a few friends that love their 243 No 1's they are not the B model but the earlier model with the mounted sights and they are tack drivers.
They bought them cause they read Boddington's book on Hunting Rifles and since he had one and still has the same one that thought it was a great gun.  Don't tell him or he's going to think he's Jack O'connor or something.   

[Graybeard]

True it's an example of one and only indicates that rifle was a real dog. In general I think I've heard of more problems with the #1 than perhaps any othe single rifle but those most often are fore end fit problems which mine wasn't as I spent the time to take care of that and yet it still wouldn't shoot. I think that particular rifle had some major problems. I have no doubt Ruger would have taken care of it for me had I given them a chance. I didn't as I decided it just wasn't what I wanted.

It was merely another story in a long line of stories of why me and Ruger guns just don't seem to get along.

[BlkHawk73]

  Only 4 #1's here currently.  Those I've shot shoot GREAT!  $700 for a used one?  If it's indeed NIB go for it.  There's fewer around now it seems and there's yet to be any shipments of these come out of Ruger this year except for special distributor models.  Rumors of thier demise is heard too. 

[jcn59]

Used #1s on GunBroker $490. to $ 650. generally.  I bought a like new 30-06 recently with nice wood for under $500.

Groups from under an inch to 1.5" at 100 yards measured.  (Second best Ruger I ever owned).

Older #1, red pad .223 from 10 years ago shot 1.5" to 3".  Sold it.

[Tom W.]

I have two, and they are both very accurate..... Both #1b's

[patw]

Only have one, originally 30-06 rechambered to 300H&H.  Did not know there was a difference, but mine has a red pad.  Picky about ammunition, would shoot Winchester ammo under one inch, Remingtons 3 to 4 inches.  It will shoot 3/4 inch groups with reloads. 

[Hank08]

#1s are a case where you pays your money and you takes your chances.  I've seen good ones and bad ones.  Sometimes with some forend work bad ones become good ones.  Not long ago I bought a 1B in 6mm with a Burris 3x9 scope in excellent cond. and a Win M70 featherweight in .257 rob. with Burris 3x9 scope for $300 each.  They are both box stock and I haven't done anything to them except shoot them.  They both are very accurate and the 6mm is the most accurate #1 I've ever seen. Sometime I can get 5 shots touching @ 100 yds.  The Roberts is almost as accurate.
Sometime your the windshield and sometimes your the bug.
H08