CZ550 Safari Magnum? Check, Winchester Model 70 Safari Express? Check. What affordable dangerous game rifle should I consider next?

[Velo Dog]

I've actually been looking at the Ruger No.1's and have considered one as a cheap alternative to a double rifle if I could get one chambered in something interesting (470NE, 500J, 500NE).

It doesn't look like Ruger is currently offering their No.1 in any big bores though.

Hello Northern Shooter,

It remains a serious mystery why, during the high production years at Ruger that, they did not offer their fantastic Model #1 “Tropical”, in caliber .470 Nitro ………
Well ok … that and some other classic, Africa-worthy cartridges as well.
Just to name two more of the many, the .450 #2 NE 3.5” and .500 NE 3” come to mind.

Can you imagine how well a Ruger #1, in .470 NE, with 26” barrel and oval cheek piece stock would have been received ?
Zowie, whata peach.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

What about a Ruger No 1 in 416 Rigby or 404J?

 

[Forrest Halley]

Hello Northern Shooter,

It remains a serious mystery why, during the high production years at Ruger that, they did not offer their fantastic Model #1 “Tropical”, in caliber .470 Nitro ………
Well ok … that and some other classic, Africa-worthy cartridges as well.
Just to name two more of the many, the .450 #2 NE 3.5” and .500 NE 3” come to mind.

Can you imagine how well a Ruger #1, in .470 NE, with 26” barrel and oval cheek piece stock would have been received ?
Zowie, whata peach.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

Those have been a fun time indeed. It's come to my attention recently that there are quite a lot of folks who have .458 WM and Lott #1's. They are carried and shot frequently and even carried later in life from the sound of it.
I'm uncertain why there haven't been larger calibers chambered. I'm not sure which weight barrel the 26" .470 would require, but I for one would welcome a big bore #1 with a nice rimmed cartridge.

 

[Velo Dog]

What about a Ruger No 1 in 416 Rigby or 404J?

Greetings Mtn_Infantry,

Ruger did formerly offer their #1 Model in .416 Rigby.
I do not know if it was a limited run of them or not.
However, I have seen a half dozen or so of them in that truly great caliber.
Likewise, I have seen one factory made Ruger #1 in .404 Jeffery.
The .404 chambering I am sure, was a limited number, short run for sure.

A local machinist and fellow rifle enthusiast (Dean Hooper) here in Alaska, had once told me that, Ruger was somewhat put off by the .404 chamber dimensions not being SAAMI standardized.
So, with multiple versions of slightly differing chamber dimensions existing for this otherwise wonderful and historic caliber, Ruger quit messing around with it, before they had a chance to make very many rifles for it.

According to Mr. Hooper, many years ago the Ruger Corporation was rumored to having once formerly planned on building their huge Magnum M-77 in .404 Jeffery.
But that project died on the vine for the above mentioned tedium and frustration of trying to sort out which chamber dimensions to use.
The now discontinued Model 77 Magnum I think, was only offered in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby and .458 Lott ….. ?
Well, at least those are the only calibers I’ve seen that great rifle made in, by Ruger / not custom rebarreled calibers.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Greetings Mtn_Infantry,

Ruger did formerly offer their #1 Model in .416 Rigby.
I do not know if it was a limited run of them or not.
However, I have seen a half dozen or so of them in that truly great caliber.
Likewise, I have seen one factory made Ruger #1 in .404 Jeffery.
The .404 chambering I am sure, was a limited number, short run for sure.

A local machinist and fellow rifle enthusiast (Dean Hooper) here in Alaska, had once told me that, Ruger was somewhat put off by the .404 chamber dimensions not being SAAMI standardized.
So, with multiple versions of slightly differing chamber dimensions existing for this otherwise wonderful and historic caliber, Ruger quit messing around with it, before they had a chance to make very many rifles for it.

According to Mr. Hooper, many years ago the Ruger Corporation was rumored to having once formerly planned on building their huge Magnum M-77 in .404 Jeffery.
But that project died on the vine for the above mentioned tedium and frustration of trying to sort out which chamber dimensions to use.
The now discontinued Model 77 Magnum I think, was only offered in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby and .458 Lott ….. ?
Well, at least those are the only calibers I’ve seen that great rifle made in, by Ruger / not custom rebarreled calibers.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

I’ve seen several 416 Rigby offering in the No 1 and less (2-3) in 404J. I’ve seen several custom No 1’s in 404J.

I believe both of the chambering were a special run for 1 specific customer with very limited production numbers they’re out there, especially the .416.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Randy Brown, Rugers top retailer in the world told me that Ruger had trouble getting quality American walnut. And that was the holdup with producing 77’s, and number ones.

Randy asked the owner of Tristar, if they could help Ruger with securing quality Turkish walnut.
So Ruger should be coming out with much nicer walnut eventually. I did not ask if this will impact pricing.

In that same conversation, since we had the owner of Tristar on the phone I asked why they didn’t produce an entry level double rifle.

Apparently Turkey does not allow rifles to be made there. Also asked if they could chop the barrels of one of their nice O/U 20 gauge to 20” for ruffed grouse hunting.

 

[Captain Munro]

Randy Brown, Rugers top retailer in the world told me that Ruger had trouble getting quality American walnut. And that was the holdup with producing 77’s, and number ones.

Randy asked the owner of Tristar, if they could help Ruger with securing quality Turkish walnut.
So Ruger should be coming out with much nicer walnut eventually. I did not ask if this will impact pricing.

In that same conversation, since we had the owner of Tristar on the phone I asked why they didn’t produce an entry level double rifle.

Apparently Turkey does not allow rifles to be made there. Also asked if they could chop the barrels of one of their nice O/U 20 gauge to 20” for ruffed grouse hunting.

That is the reason then? I have been wondering if they were just going to stop producing their African model and the No 1.

 

[Altitude sickness]

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/993841041

Northern Shooter, how about a stainless number 1
Or a Uberti Courtney in 45-70

 

[Altitude sickness]

Capt. Munro, that’s what I heard. They have the actions. Just couldn’t get the wood they wanted.
A Ruger one with some nice Turkish wood . I’m thinking would sell

Here is a Tristar shotgun of mine. Many may consider Tristar a lesser quality shotgun. But they work for me.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Tristar Turkish walnut

 

[spike.t]

That is the reason then? I have been wondering if they were just going to stop producing their African model and the No 1.

So how come other companies manage to turn out rifles with ok wood..ruger ain't exactly a custom rifle maker, so don't get their problem....since the RSM.....I thought they were basically middle of road or cheap end of market...

 

[Altitude sickness]

It is a strange reason. Most Ruger rifles have basic furniture. I have to drop some items off to Randy this week. I’ll confirm that I heard him correctly. Or where it stands

 

[Captain Munro]

Yea their African models are plain Jane in the lumber department.