Ruger #1 500 Nitro Express

[Quaticman]

Just for the fun of it I'm considering rebarreling a Ruger # 1 presently chambered in 7 Rem Mag to 500 Nitro Express. What do you think the recoil will be like in what will be around a 9 1/2 lb. gun?

 

[Papabear55]

Just for the fun of it I'm considering rebarreling a Ruger # 1 presently chambered in 7 Rem Mag to 500 Nitro Express. What do you think the recoil will be like in what will be around a 9 1/2 lb. gun?

Mine was a pleasure to shoot

 

[Tanks]

I am guessing severe. The .500 NE doesn't bother me, but I am using an almost 12 lbs double rifle that fits me like a glove.

Just ran the recoil calculator real quick. The ruger has 22.5 ft.lbs more recoil energy (105 vs 82.5) than my rifle due to lighter weight.

 

[Quaticman]

Mine was a pleasure to shoot

I guess it depends what your definition of "pleasure" is.

 

[Quaticman]

I am guessing severe. The .500 NE doesn't bother me, but I am using an almost 12 lbs double rifle that fits me like a glove.

Just ran the recoil calculator real quick. The ruger has 22.5 ft.lbs more recoil energy (105 vs 82.5) than my rifle due to lighter weight.

OUCH.

 

[cajunchefray]

I'm interested if we have some forum members that have owned a Ruger #1 in .500 Nitro Express and their feedback.

How was the perceived recoil? I know Ruger #1's in heavy calibers can be stout kickers.
I've dreamed of this, with a 26" semi bull barrel, at least 11# weight.

I've emailed JD Jones at SSK industries, and in a #1, he strongly recommended a muzzle break and a Coil-Chek stock, neither features of which I wanted.

On page 421 of Pierre van der Walt's book, African Dangerous Game Cartridges, he has a picture of PH John Harris, shooting an elephant with said gun and caliber, weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces ( ouch!). The elephant didn't like it.

I still want one, just like to know feedback from actual users.

 

[Papabear55]

I'm interested if we have some forum members that have owned a Ruger #1 in .500 Nitro Express and their feedback.

How was the perceived recoil? I know Ruger #1's in heavy calibers can be stout kickers.
I've dreamed of this, with a 26" semi bull barrel, at least 11# weight.

I've emailed JD Jones at SSK industries, and in a #1, he strongly recommended a muzzle break and a Coil-Chek stock, neither features of which I wanted.

On page 421 of Pierre van der Walt's book, African Dangerous Game Cartridges, he has a picture of PH John Harris, shooting an elephant with said gun and caliber, weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces ( ouch!). The elephant didn't like it.

I still want one, just like to know feedback from actual users.

Mine was stout but not as bad (sharp) as my 458 lott

 

[matt85]

I shoot 577 NE doubles and 8 bore paradox guns for fun... but I wouldn't shoot a Ruger #1 in 500 NE with someone elses shoulder let alone my own. The gun will be light for caliber and poorly balanced, you will not want to shoot the rifle more then once in a sitting (not more then once a month likely).

-Matt

 

[bruce moulds]

the one i shot in 450/400 was unpleasant.
the gun is too light for that, so would be impracticle in 500 nitro.
the gun is so light that the recoils very sharp, as well as hard.
1st shot ok, then hard to shoot more shots.
bruce.

 

[AZDAVE]

I had one built years ago and it was about 10 lbs. Had as heavy a barrel as could be put in the action, 25 in and no muzzle break. add a little weight to the butt stock to get the balance correct. It was a hard recoil compared to my friends Merkel double but there was also 2 1/2 LBS difference in weight. A 570gr at 2150 recoil was comparable to my 500 Jeff at 2350. If you have any reservations about taking 100+ flbs of recoil you don't need the rifle. A muzzle brake and recoil dampning in the but stock would go a long ways in taming the rifle down. I enjoyed mine, at the range it was a 8 shot or less session. My nephew currently owns it. Even with the Muzzle break it will still kick about like a 458WM. So do a self assessment and decide if you want a specialized rifle and the $$$ associated with building one.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Mine was stout but not as bad (sharp) as my 458 lott

A Lott in a #1? Mine sure is a mover and shaker. Some fool had one in .460 Wby. I can only imagine the lack of fun there.

 

[BeeMaa]

This guy looks pretty well experienced with big bores with the Ruger No. 1. Gives you an idea of what you could be looking at for recoil.

Skip to the 2:40 of this video for the mother of all flinches.

 

[RTG]

Here is a 450 Nitro Express #1 for sale on gunbroker. I asked the seller, weight is 9 pounds 2 oz. Not too horrible.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/965931939

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Here is a 450 Nitro Express #1 for sale on gunbroker. I asked the seller, weight is 9 pounds 2 oz. Not too horrible.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/965931939

I was under the impression that a 50 cal ought to weigh at least 11 pounds

 

[IvW]

11.5 lbs in a well balanced rifle is the sweet spot

 

[Major Bonkers]

I think that it would help if you were enormously fat.

 

[Tanks]

11.5 lbs in a well balanced rifle is the sweet spot

I was at the DSC where Jerome was showing the new .500 NE Rigby Boxlock double. A tad over 10 pounds and was very well balanced. Couldn't talk @Red Leg into buying one though.

BTW, they were going to do a numbered run of 20 and sold them all at DSC.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I was at the DSC where Jerome was showing the new .500 NE Rigby Boxlock double. A tad over 10 pounds and was very well balanced. Couldn't talk @Red Leg into buying one though.

BTW, they were going to do a numbered run of 20 and sold them all at DSC.

Too bad Toby @TOBY458 wasn't there. I'm sure he would have bought at least one? LOL

 

[Red Leg]

I was at the DSC where Jerome was showing the new .500 NE Rigby Boxlock double. A tad over 10 pounds and was very well balanced. Couldn't talk @Red Leg into buying one though.

BTW, they were going to do a numbered run of 20 and sold them all at DSC.

Going to be a wonderful rifle. They had one of them in the white and it will be fabulous thing once fitted, regulated, and in final livery for @Tanks. (Sadly a bit too beefy an action for a .375 flanged.)

Lovely stock and the sort of inherent balance would expect from a Rigby.

Really smart move on Rigby's part. Twenty rifles provide a significant savings in both production costs and in time from order to delivery. Both are being passed to the customer. Those smart twenty buyers acquire what are essentially bespoke rifles for two-thirds the cost of having ordered the same rifle individually. DSC provides Marc Newton and team an opportunity to reap an immediate return on that investment. A real win win for everyone.

 

[colorado]

My 500 Jeffery is right around in the 100 ft lbs range with 570g bullets at 2500 fps. Recoil is painful off the bench, no other word for it. It's fine offhand. I believe the Ruger No 1 has a thinner stock, so the recoil maybe more pronounced.