Obsessed With Ruger Rifles Especially #1s

I taught my son to shoot with a No. 1B in .22 hornet. I hope to use the same rifle to teach my granddaughter to shoot.

Perfect choice to start out with.

I have a Hamilton Bowen 470 NE No.1. That and a 300 Win Mag, 416 Remington, 416 Rigby and 458 Win Mag.

I gained one in 30-06 when Cabela's stocked a few a couple years back. No regrets.

I only have one, in 375H&H topped with a Leica 1-6.4 DG scope. But its none some stuff, impala, warthog, zebra and buffalo bull with me and an eland with the previous owner

WAB said:

I taught my son to shoot with a No. 1B in .22 hornet. I hope to use the same rifle to teach my granddaughter to shoot.

Click to expand...

.22 Hornet! What a fine little rifle! That is the one I always wanted!

Ridgewalker said:

.22 Hornet! What a fine little rifle! That is the one I always wanted!

Click to expand...

I love mine. Bought it at the first Cabela’s Super Store in Sydney shortly after it opened. One of the most fun rifles I own.

One of the best things about the #1 is it's a relatively small subset of the rifle world but it was made in a lot of different calibers and configurations. If you wanted to target a certain kind of firearm as the focus of a collection you could do a lot worse than #1's. Even the most rare can be bought for comfortably under $5K. If you have a favorite weird caliber it was probably made in a #1 at one time. More than few were made in relatively small numbers. The 30-40 Krag and 275 Rigby mentioned above are a great examples. Approximately 60 and 115 respectively. That makes a unique and cool collectable most of us can afford. However, Ruger #1 fans tend to hang on to them so part of the enjoyment of collecting them is always being on the lookout for your personal Holy Grail. I still have a few I'd like to have plus a whole bunch more that I don't even know I want yet.

I've learned you have to pay close attention to the subtleties of the various #1 models. What seems like a rather ordinary #1 might have a small detail that makes it unique. For example I have a 30-06 1S that at first glance seems completely ubiquitous but suddenly you realize it has a 24" barrel instead of the more common 22" barrel. When I bought it I didn't notice it either. I thought I was just buying a typical #1 30-06. Now that doesn't make it super special but it is slightly different. So when you see one offered for sale check it out carefully. You may be looking at a unicorn and the owner doesn't realize it.

I always look forward to the annual release of the new #1 models. Inevitably they'll announce another one I can't live without. Then the hunt begins.

Bonk said:

I always look forward to the annual release of the new #1 models. Inevitably they'll announce another one I can't live without. Then the hunt begins.

Click to expand...

I felt that way about the Ruger Africans too until they came out with the 280AI. With apologies to 280AI fans I was thoroughly disappointed. I was hoping for a 35 Whelen, 300H&H or other classic caliber. 280AI? No habla.

Sadly I only have one #1 left in my collection, but she is a dandy in 300 H&H. I've let the other ones go for all sorts of reasons, mostly because someone else wanted them very badly, but I always applied the cash to a good cause, like a new Ruger in a cal. that I always wanted. At the moment I have 12 Ruger rifles in the safe in cals. from 6MM to 375 Ruger in models from 77's, 77 MK II's, Hawkeyes, Americans. Right now I'm working up loads for my latest purchase a Hawkeye Hunter in 308 Win. that I bought after my safari got cancelled this spring.

i,m down to 5 #1,s from 12 and 2 # 3,s. # 1,s .204-223-35 whelen-460-45-70, # 3,s .22 hornet-45-70

Like your collection of the stainless #1's I currently have 4 #1's 7x57 international, 9.3x74, 450/400, and 475 Linebaugh.

lwaters said:

I have two No.1 a 30-06 and a 450/400 nitro express.

Click to expand...

I wonder if they ever made that 450/400 in the stainless version?

AZDAVE said:

Like your collection of the stainless #1's I currently have 4 #1's 7x57 international, 9.3x74, 450/400, and 475 Linebaugh.

Click to expand...

Dave are any of your in the stainless?

I have a lot of Ruger rifles and handguns, but no No 1s. Looked at a few over the years and really like the RSI models. Might buy one for a grandson in the near future.

@CAustin No all mine are blued.

My favorite hunting rifle of all time is my Ruger #1 in 30-06 its light, fast handling and accurate what more could you ask from a rifle.

Charlie,
You missed out on a 25-06 stainless laminate just like yours in the auction I posted last week that had my friends guns in it

I kick myself in the rear when I think of the opportunities that I had to pick up a No 1 or even a No 3 back in the mid to late 70's.

I drooled over a No 3 in 45-70 which had a 1800 period brass scope installed but never did pull the trigger on it.

I do wish that Ruger would bring them back into regular production instead of these semi custom jobs in a particular caliber every year.

But now you have me thinking of that No 1 in 45-70.

my red pad ruger #1 in 45-70.