doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Ruger No. 1

I have been contemplating building an accurate single shot in a .244/.257/.264 caliber. I do think a Ruger no.1 is a handsome, well built rifle, but have heard that some of them have accuracy issues.

What are the exact issues? If I am building custom, can these issues be addressed?

When I was a kid I thot the Hauck was the coolest rifle in the world. He's long dead and the #1 is the very image of the Hauck and I always wondered if ........? The Hauck was patented but if the patent holder is deceased and there is no assignee I can see Ruger going for it. Anyway......... I got one of the super zoot #1's in 45/70 for my brother. He may not be as demanding as you but he has no probs with accuracy. I suspect that like all the single shots the forearm bedding would be critical. Other than that what could go wrong? It's been my understanding the the #1 has a fine rep for accuracy but I've been misinformed on other things. I'd look to the hot setup on forearm bedding before I dis'd it.
just a thot
Charlie

I have had two for some 30 years, a 1H in .45-70 and a 1V in 7mm Rem. Mag. The 1V is one of the most accurate out-of-the-box rifles I've ever owned. Never had to mess with the forearm/hanger on it. That said, many can be helped in that area. Easy to do, and you're not breaking any new ground trying to figure out what to do.

I've never worried about trying to coax the last bit of accuracy out of the .45-70. I load it for power, and it's used for short range work. I've loaded and shot it (offhand) with 500 gr. RN at velocities within 300 fps of the .458 Win. Mag. If you can handle the recoil, it's fun.

SRH

I can't imagine any accuracy issues with a rifle built on the Ruger action. All them I've owned have shot well save for one with a custom barrel that turned out to have a seriously loose spot in the bore. Another barrel took care of that. As for a comparison with the Hauck action, I think all the advantage goes to the Ruger. Internally they're nothing alike, and the Hauck is so large and heavy that it's not possible to make a graceful looking rifle with it. And, they sound like a Sherman tank when they're opened and closed.

Take a look at Reto Buehler's website. He builds single shots on Hagn and Ruger actions. Beautiful guns and I'm sure they shoot well.

I've had good luck with decent accuracy in the few #1 Rugers I've owned. Those I know who have built them for competitive shooting have all gone to the heaviest barrel contour they could fit with the hanger and told me the heavy barrel usually fixes any issues the hanger might cause.
I tried doing the DeHaas fix on one that tended to string shots a little as it got heated up. I D&T the hanger for a setscrew and locknut, and tried various amounts of pressure to see if it would decrease the issue of groups opening up as the barrel heated up. But I never got a definitive decrease in group size that would tell me it worked. I still think the heavy barrel is the best for obtaining higher accuracy for competitive shooting. For casual shooting, or hunting, they're fine as is.

Thank you for the comments...

I always thought that the Ruger No. 1 was patterned off a Farquharson action - the heart of many a beautiful Brit rifle.

A Ruger No.1 would, I thought, make a nice sporting rifle for antelope, Arizona whitetails, and coyotes.

I have a nice one in .243
Plenty accurate
As I get older, the smaller recoil is much appreciated
Mike

p.s. On the other hand, these are way too heavy for field use

Because this is the "Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles" list here on doublegun.com, maybe I can ask if you have considered a Steve Earle Wesson action (long range or midrange actions) or one of his Fraser actions, or even a Winchester singleshot action.

Every time someone wants to build a custom rifle, I always want to second guess their ideas and plans. So, I probably shouldn't throw these out there - but I did. Just another set of possibilities.

Brent

This is not cast in concrete yet. I spoke to a couple builders this AM and have considered the following actions:

Ruger No. 1

Hagn

Faquahrson

Browning

Dakota mod. 10

Winchester high wall

I like them all, but I like both the looks and the availability of the Ruger most. I am thinking 26" Krieger barrel in 6 mm Remington with a medium heavy sporter profile.

Gary Goudy, who would stock this for me, says that he eliminates the forend accuracy problem when he stocks the gun. He also has a Ruger action that he will sell to me. I have a couple English blanks to choose from.