What is the draw of a Ruger#1?

[ArmyGrunt]

I've seen them on gun broker. I've seen them on arms list. I watched a couple of videos. And I think I fondled one at a store once.

What is it about this rifle that is so great? I'm personally one to favour a repeating weapon, rather then a single shot. Probably resultant from my generation's instant gratification mindset. If you have to load each round singly, why might you choose this gun over others of the same caliber for a given hunt?

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Video from 2014

 

[CAustin]

@ArmyGrunt I have three of them. The one above is the 458 Lott which will knock down most anything. I love these guns. My first one was a #1 in 300 WinMag that my wife gave me. That rifle has taken 19 plains game animals as well as lots of white tail deer here in the states. My latest is a 375 H&H Mag that I will take this year. Hippo is on the list. The age old question is "How many shots do you need?" When your on it just takes one shot in most instances. Now if you have one of those days where you can't hit a barn wall from inside the barn, been there, it doesn't matter what rifle you have in your hands. If you practice with this rifle and have extra rounds on the stock you can load it darn fast.

Below the 300 WinMag left and the 375 H&H mag on the right.
They are simple in form and function yet elegant to the eye! Several members on AH have #1 s and enjoy them. A friend of mine just bought one in 416 Rigby.....bet there is a Cape buffalo in his future.

 

[Red Leg]

One shot - one kill. I have always felt that single shots spoke to what it means to be a rifleman. Sure, that is largely romantic BS, but gosh it's fun to walk into camp with one (and out with a fine trophy). I have a .270 N0. 1 tricked out by a wonderful engraver in Austria. It was my first real rifle and it has taken at least 75-80 head of game. My .300 H&H No. 1 took a magnificent old mile deer a few years ago in BC. And I have a "new" Heym No. 1 in 7x65r may become my perfect deer rifle yet. They are wonderful, special things.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Thanks for your opinions, fellas. There certainly is no way to hide your marksmanship with a single.

...hippo on the list....
That seems to be going around! I've caught it myself. I just need to watch my spending habits so I can do it, too.

 

[CAustin]

See it!
Save for it!
Shoot it!
You can do it man!

 

[Longwalker]

I've owned four of the Ruger #1 rifles, eventually got rid of them all. I like the simplicity of the single shot, I like the lines and style of the #1A series, and I like the strength of the action and the rock solid reliability. I liked the short over all length. I liked the accuracy. But the ergonomics didn't work for me. I found the scope had to be mounted too far forward and or too high, the balance was a little odd. I had trouble trusting a trigger block safety when hunting with a round in the chamber.
If I get another single shot hunting rifle I'd consider a German Kipplauf like the Merkel or the Blaser or Krieghoff. Quick take down, completely safe to carry with a round in the chamber because of the cock/decock system, and both lighter and better balanced.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

@johnnyblues long thread we all goaded, I mean helped with his decision making process might have got me back! I think it was the boomerang effect

 

[Ray B]

I prefer the Winchester 1885 High Wall

 

[Deleted member 31290]

Quote: "One shot - one kill. I have always felt that single shots spoke to what it means to be a rifleman." Me too Red Leg

 

[Roan]

Good to see there are a couple of No1 fans!

Wouldn't give up my 270 No1 for any gun in the world.

Why do we like them, Because they are beautiful, 100% reliable and shoot like a dream!

 

[Roan]

This young man took his first ever Buck with a No1.

Good to teach them you only need and have 1 shot make it count!

 

[Ryan]

I'm pretty sure that was the question most other manufatcturers asked when Ruger put it on the market and SURPRISE! it sold amazingly well. Thompson/Center did the same with the Contender and then Encore.
They are a nice, simple, effective rifle with classic lines in a wide range of calibers that rarely need more than one shot to kill.
For me the first draw is it's ambidextrous. I'm a left-handed shooter in a not so left-handed world. I can get a Ruger #1 or T/C Encore in all kinds of calibers a lefty often has a tough time finding.
And in practice successive shots compared to a bolt action aren't any faster on the range and with a little practice the same can be said in the field most of the time.

 

[Shootist43]

Simple robust design, superb in function, accurate, relatively inexpensive and more than adequate for most occasions. Riflemen make their first shot count, after that it doesn't make any difference how many rounds if any, are in the magazine. European hunters that participate in "Driven Boar" hunts will take exception to my views. That style of hunting is covered by my qualifier "for most occasions."

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Quote: "One shot - one kill. I have always felt that single shots spoke to what it means to be a rifleman." Me too Red LegView attachment 174771

That's purdy!

 

[ArmyGrunt]

This young man took his first ever Buck with a No1.

Good to teach them you only need and have 1 shot make it count!View attachment 174802

Your mini appears to have a little bit of pride in his face

 

[Roan]

Little bugger shoots better than i do!

 

[ChrisG]

Ever seen a Farquarson?

In my opinion, they are one of the most elegant firearms ever created for sporting. You have no backup shot. It has been imperically proven that men shoot better at game when armed with a single shot because the know they have no backup. Plus, you show up in camp with one of these and prove you know how to shoot it, the PH will be more than thrilled to take you on safari. The Ruger No.1 is almost verbatim the same rifle. Functionally almost identical. Takes a scope with much less workaround than a majority of doubles, no need to regulate it. Just sight it in and hunt. I keep looking at a No. 1 in .458 Win mag with the intention of converting it to .450 NE. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. A successful hunter with a single shot is, in my eyes at least, the apex of the human predator.

All that said, wading into a pride of lions with one may not be the brightest idea, but I am sure it's been done. However, with practice, I would say it can be as fast as a bolt gun.
here is what Dr. Kevin Roberston a.k.a. "Doctari" has to say on the matter:


Notice the man who ran the course the fastest was running not a bolt, not a double, but a Ruger No. 1

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

A few years ago, Ruger struck a deal with Lipsey's (big gun wholesaler in Baton Rouge) that gave them an exclusive marketing deal on the No.1. Each year, they bring out a limited number in certain calibers. For 2016, the international version (mannlicher stock) is a chrome in 308 and I've seen auctions on GB going as high as $2500.

http://www.ammoland.com/2016/07/lip...uger-no-1-rifle-configurations/#axzz4aH9kGjTP

Classic Sporting Arms is a big dealer in No. 1s too:
http://www.classicsportingarms.com/ruger-no-1-rifles-for-sale/

 

[ArmyGrunt]

Ever seen a Farquarson?

In my opinion, they are one of the most elegant firearms ever created for sporting. You have no backup shot. It has been imperically proven that men shoot better at game when armed with a single shot because the know they have no backup. Plus, you show up in camp with one of these and prove you know how to shoot it, the PH will be more than thrilled to take you on safari. The Ruger No.1 is almost verbatim the same rifle. Functionally almost identical. Takes a scope with much less workaround than a majority of doubles, no need to regulate it. Just sight it in and hunt. I keep looking at a No. 1 in .458 Win mag with the intention of converting it to .450 NE. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. A successful hunter with a single shot is, in my eyes at least, the apex of the human predator.

All that said, wading into a pride of lions with one may not be the brightest idea, but I am sure it's been done. However, with practice, I would say it can be as fast as a bolt gun.
here is what Dr. Kevin Roberston a.k.a. "Doctari" has to say on the matter:

http://www.sportsafield.com/content/single-shots-dangerous-game

Notice the man who ran the course the fastest was running not a bolt, not a double, but a Ruger No. 1

I like this a lot! A real beauty