Author Topic: Custom Ruger#1 in 257 Wby Magnum. (Read 3958 times)

Fred M · « **on:** December 16, 2011, 11:12:42 AM »

The rifle is being made up from standard Ruger parts. Barrel will be rebored and rechambert wood is all Ruger too. Similar to the 6.5x284 shown below. I have sofar 4 rebored barrels all are super accurate. All have been made by Ron Smith of Wimborne Alberta and feature octagone barrels. I hope the 257Wby Magnum will be jusr as good. I have been requesting from the Ruger factory a 257Wby for a long time. The first time in 1968. The 257Wby is perhaps the best long range deer rifle ever. They are not too popular be cause of the high cost in Wby format and components.There is one other No 1, one with a custom 27". barrel that I know of.

Silvertp · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2011, 01:47:06 PM »

Hey Fred...where you been hiding out? I missed seeing what you are up to with your #1 tinkering.

Very sweet rifle by the way. The W.257 should make a sweet long range deer blaster, or perhaps the perfect Wolf Rifle.

Cheers
Silvertp

Fred M · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2011, 04:35:38 PM »

Silvertip.
Thanks for the reply. The Ruger #1 tinkering is pretty sad, hard to get a reasonable priced barreled action. Practically no chance to get one across the US border. The last one I got was a #1 7x57 AB which was too nice to tear appart, so I left as is since it is very rare. I toke one of my 7x57 that I made up from parts and tore it down for the 257Wby.

Besides the the Ruger factory has been cutting out all sorts of #1 models. Have not seen one with a 26" barrel lately. The young and new hunters are not very interested in expensive single shot rifles. Every one is looking for cheap plastic and pressed sheet metal rifles. Never mind buying expensive single shot and spend another 4-500 bucks for a conversion. As you know I do most of the work myself except the re-bore and chambering.

I have one more project to do, that is to lighten a #1 9.3x74R I bought new, this rifle is a real dog with that heavy barrel while the recoil is not at all bad. Have not yet calculated how much weight I can loose off that barrel. By replacing the 1/4 rib and the Ruger rings with Weaver bases and and Burris Rings 3/4lbs can be lost. All you ever hear is how much a #1 cost and how cheap you can get one. And of course the European single shots are terribly expensive a Blaser Kiplauf here is at a price of $4950 with some cracy trigger system. Well the Ruger #1 and #3 are pretty hard to beat, also a bit heavy but reasonable priced.
Well that is about the latest.
Fred M.

martineta · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:33:52 AM »

I bought mt first #1 this year. Older red pad RSI in 7x57. Now looking for same in .243 Win. Love the .257 Weatherby. I have been shooting whitetails with a .257 Mark V since 1972. An old man I mowed grass for left me that rifle when he passed away. Every time I pick it up, I have fond memories of Mr. Blankenship. Your new build will be a beauty.

txpitdog · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2011, 05:59:59 AM »

I have just started looking at the 257 Wby myself. I have a stainless 1-B in 243 that shoots perfectly fine, but I am tempted to rebore it to 257 Wby. The 1-B's are pretty heavy, and for where I hunt I just don't see myself lugging it around. If I'm going to hunt from a stand or a stationary position with a longer shot (200yds +), then the 257 Wby offers plenty over the 243 at those ranges. To me, the 243 is a walkaround sub-200yds caliber, and I would rather have a lightweight bolt gun for that.

Sorry to ramble but my main reason for posting was to ask if anyone has successfully rebored a stainless Ruger barrel with no issues? The more I look into this the more I am finding that the stainless Ruger's are the one barrel most likely to cause an issue.

Fred M · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2011, 07:36:45 AM »

txpitdog
You need to ask th shop that will do the rebore job. There are many SS alloys some are not suitable for reboring. Since Ron Smith doe all his barrels by cut rifling he get suitable SS bar stock. Non of my barrels are made of SS.
Fred M

Silvertp · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2011, 06:27:25 PM »

Fred, you would know better than I, but seems re-boring a # barrel would be the cheapest method of getting a different caliber. I just can't see changing out my two existing #1' s, a 7x57 and a 45/70. They are my favorite calibers.

I often think I would like a 26 or 28 inch #1 in .264 mag. I'd get a faster twist to shoot the heaviest bullets and I would use it as my long range hunting rifle.

Silvertp

Fred M · « **Reply #7 on:** December 31, 2011, 06:16:48 AM »

Silvertip If you want a 264 rebored rifle you have to staRT WITH A SMALLER BORE, like a 223 or 243 with a 26" Ruger barrel B model that is the way I would go. Worn out B barrels should be easy to find in the USA. That way you have the thread and the extractor no tch.
I lighten th B barrel by milling it octigon. Or turn it round. Either way wiil require a little forearm work.I use colored glass bedding to fill the gap. Ido reshape the B fore arm to a Henry type.
Fred M

Rock Home Isle · « **Reply #8 on:** December 31, 2011, 08:41:57 AM »

That gun is going to be screamin awesome...very cool.

Why stop at deer, you may want to try that gun out on an elk hunt.

Fred M · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2012, 10:02:35 AM »

Rock Home Isle.
There is no trouble shooting an elk with a 257Wby. I have two replacement knees and can't move around the mountains anymore. Besides I have trouble using all the meat of a small deer let alone an elk. As is, I pick out the smallest deer I can find. Many years ago I had a 257Wby MkV. But there were hardly suitable bullets for the speed, and only some handmade custom bullets would do the job.
Now we have buckets full of bullets that will do well on most any game. I use 100gr Barnes TSX in my 25-06 and there are no complains. This is a fantastic bullet in a 25cal bore. For what I hunt the 25-06 would be more than adequate. But the 257Wby is something else. I just love that caliber.
Ruger made all sorts of Wby calibers but never a 257. I wrote Ruger to build me a 257Wby they said maybe next year. Ruger is not very accommodating when it comes to pleasing hunters, right now they down to a few models with short barrels that are not selling that well. Soo they will be out of the #1 bussines soon.
They should be concentrating on 24" and 26" barrels with a lighter contour, and lighten the action somewhat. The standard #1 is too heavy for a lot of people.
Fred M.

txpitdog · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2012, 02:10:27 AM »

It will be a shame if Ruger ever drops the #1. They are barely affordable now, and the value of the secondary market will go through the roof if they are discontinued.

I am fortunate to have 4 but I am more interested in buying more than I am in the value of the ones I have going up

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Fred M · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2012, 09:53:49 AM »

txpitdog
Just have a look at this forum, hardly any activity regarding the Ruger #1. Is that tell you something? The only thing that people look for is "cheap, cheap, cheap". As you say the Ruger #1 is barely affordable now compared to junk.
As of now the Ruger #1 is the best made single shot rifle available for a reasonable price of around $1100 in Canada. Compared to the Merkel and the Blaser from Germany for $4900. Are they that much better? I don't think so more complicated yes.
I too have several #1 and a #3 most all I have rebuild, rebarreled, rebored and refinished. Two I bought new a 30-06 Centenial and and a 9.3x74R . Yes it would be a shame if Ruger quit making #1's. But the writing is on on the wall.

txpitdog · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2012, 11:58:43 AM »

Fred, if you need a little boost in #1 camaraderie, rugerforum.com and 24hourcampfire.com both have a healthy population of single shot junkies.

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nomosendero · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2012, 01:27:43 PM »

Quote from: Fred M on January 05, 2012, 09:53:49 AM

txpitdog
Just have a look at this forum, hardly any activity regarding the Ruger #1. Is that tell you something? The only thing that people look for is "cheap, cheap, cheap". As you say the Ruger #1 is barely affordable now compared to junk.
As of now the Ruger #1 is the best made single shot rifle available for a reasonable price of around $1100 in Canada. Compared to the Merkel and the Blaser from Germany for $4900. Are they that much better? I don't think so more complicated yes.
I too have several #1 and a #3 most all I have rebuild, rebarreled, rebored and refinished. Two I bought new a 30-06 Centenial and and a 9.3x74R . Yes it would be a shame if Ruger quit making #1's. But the writing is on on the wall.

You could be right about the N1, but I hope not.

The 257WM is a great pic, I look forward to your results.

I have a Lipsey 264WM that is shooting well, another good one!!

Silvertp · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2012, 02:41:29 PM »

NomoSendero

Guess I didn't know Lipsey sold a .264 Mag....would really like to get my hands on one. When were they available....long, long ago or last few years.

Think I'll do some searching on the "interweb".

Cheers
Silvertp

nomosendero · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2012, 03:23:47 PM »

Quote from: Silvertp on January 28, 2012, 02:41:29 PM

NomoSendero

Guess I didn't know Lipsey sold a .264 Mag....would really like to get my hands on one. When were they available....long, long ago or last few years.

Think I'll do some searching on the "interweb".

Cheers
Silvertp

Maybe 2009, I bought mine in early 2010.

Fred M · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2012, 03:44:43 PM »

The 264 Win Mag is another fine long range caliber and was made by Ruger. The 257Wby was never made by Ruger. I ask Ruger to build me one. But they never did. They build big bore special jobs for Africa. But nothing for special jobs for us guys in this country. Don't know how many 264 Mags were made but there is a small market for these hot to trott calibers.
Not only that when you try to build your own they wont sell you any stocks or ejectors. They have a very stupid management. No wonder they are in troubles making money. At one time they had a very good adjustable trigger, how much money did they make doing away with it? This 257 Wby I am building is the last one for me. Fred M

gr8ful · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2012, 05:03:26 PM »

Man would i love to have a No.1 in .264!!! As far as the .257 weatherby, i have been whacking deer with quarter bores since the 80's and the weatherby though more expensive is just more of a good thing. Love the Ruger no.1

Silvertp · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2012, 04:43:36 AM »

Fred, be glad you have the skills to build'em the way you want them. Not easy pulling together the component pieces for a #1, but well worth it given the end results. That .257 Wby will be close to Laser-performance.

My situation...if I want a #1 in .264 I need to be moving one of my current firearms, then I can get serious about looking. Ive pretty much whittled my collection to "keepers", so won't likely be selling anything in the near future (unless I run across the right deal

).

I sure can't complain as I sure enjoy the ones I have

Silvertp

Fred M · « **Reply #19 on:** January 30, 2012, 04:45:09 PM »

Yes my friends I too love the Ruger #1. M y first one was a badly abused and stock butchered 25-06. Its hard to comprihend what people can do to a fine piece of equipment with the intention to accurize it.
You can read about it on my website.. As it turned out it became my most accurate #1. I was told to simply run in a reamer and turn it into a 257Wby. But I rather wanted to start the 257Wby with a new barrel. Fred M.

Fred M · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2012, 06:06:40 PM »

Bad news, have not got my rebored barrel back from the smith. Been there since November. Never had to wait that long before? So perhaps I wont have it for the coming hunting season. Too bad because there is nobody else around here that does rebore jobs. Fred M

Fred M · « **Reply #21 on:** June 29, 2012, 07:14:20 AM »

Sorry to say there wont be a 257Wby in a rebore. I cancelled the order waiting since last November. I get it done next year by others. Who can put up with that much rubbish.

Silvertp · « **Reply #22 on:** June 30, 2012, 01:17:54 PM »

Fred. sorry to hear about your delima. For now I reckon you will have to be satisfied choosing one of your "finished and shooting where you want it" number 1's. I know the feeling, sometimes it takes years getting a firearm up and running.

This will be the 2nd year I am hoping to have my .338 Lapua ready for elk season.
I do have my 7/57 #1 about ready for my wife to use this hunting season.

Cheers
Silvertp

Fred M · « **Reply #23 on:** November 18, 2012, 06:22:22 AM »

There will be asfterall a 257Wby a model 11 by Luxus should be here next week. Still time to hunt with? This is a brand new custom rifle.

Wayne123 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2012, 01:16:32 AM »

That Luxus model 11 is a beautiful rifle. Please post some pics when you get it.

tomtomz · « **Reply #25 on:** December 23, 2012, 05:32:40 PM »

Quote from: Fred M on December 16, 2011, 11:12:42 AM

The 257Wby is perhaps the best long range deer rifle ever.

I totally agree. It is a fine cartridge and I'm sure admiring (OK, envying) your rifle.