Accurizing a Ruger No. 1

TBASTIAN · Mar 24, 2007

I'm running into an accuracy issue with my Ruger No. 1, .25-06 with a 26" barrel. I have a load that is shooting around .50" at 100 yards some days, and then opening up to 1.25" on other days...

I have heard that the accuracy in the No. 1's can be fickle due to their two piece stocks, but that some folks have found a solution to the problem. I've heard that accuracy can be helped by putting a small metal shim, between the barrel and forearm screw. Has anyone tried this before, and if so, what are your results, and how hard is it to do?

Thanks for your help in advance.
-TB

rick smith · Mar 24, 2007

I suggest that you contact John Lewis at Carolina Precision Rifles in Jackson,SC. He has done a lot of work with the No. 1s and does a fantastic job.Rick.

FOTIS · Mar 29, 2007

YoteSmoker · Apr 1, 2007

I just happened to be digging through some old reloading and shooting magazines a few hours ago. There is an article called "Accurizing Ruger's No.1" under the Gunsmith collumn in the Feb 2005 Shoting Times magazine. It talks about installing a Hicks Accurizer to the forearm hanger bar and how to tune the trigger. If you don't have the magazine, maybe I can scan the article for you...

GB300wm · Apr 1, 2007

http://www.eabco.com/HicksAccurizer1.html

Try this link for the Hicks accurizer

panhandlepr1 · May 5, 2007

I have 4 of them darn things. I love them, but seems like everyone of them needs some attention. If I didn't own Rugers, there wouldn't be any excuss to go to the range. I've put Moyer triggers in 3 of them, the 4th one has the original adjustable trigger which Moyer copied. Also had the forearm hangers drilled and tapped for a 6-32 setscrew, this adds a little tenson on the barrel. The Hicks unit does the same thing. The best thing that I have done is to float the forearm from the barrel. I started by putting in a small wood screw in the inside of the forearm down by the standard forarm screw. Once that was adjusted where the forearm wasn't touching the barrel, I then glassed a small area in that section.
You also have to sand out the channel a little for clearance. This has worked well on all 4 of these rifles. They all are capable of shooting 5 shot groups under an inch consistantly.

flashhole · Jul 1, 2007

My Ruger is a #1V model in 25-06. It was an inconsistent shooter when I first bought it. I sanded out the barrel channel and put a very firm 1mm (.040") rubber shim in two places, one at the front most part of the forearm and the other at the action. The rubber pad came with a self adhesive (peel and stick) and I carefully trimmed the excess with a razor blade. If you know to look for it you can see it otherwise it is not noticible.

The shim keeps a constant pressure and pressure point on the barrel. It's not "tuneable" like the Hick's accurizer but it works for me. It's been in place for 3 years now and no flow or shift in position. Both accuracy and consistency are very good with my hand loads. I shoot it a lot and I shoot 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips over 60 grains of Retumbo with CCI 200 primers.

I don't know if shooting technique makes a difference but I always place it on the rest the same way, with the contact point on the rest being closeest to the action. About 3 months ago I shot my first one hole group at 200 yards. I've had several come close to that but usually end up with one hole completely detached from the others, I can't shoot or hold better than that. I still shoot the factory trigger and will eventually replace it with a set trigger like on the CZ's. My gun is scoped with a Redfield 3-10 X 50mm scope with the wide field of view viewfinder. I can say it's a nice rig because it shoots so darn well.

Alaska · Oct 24, 2007

Place a small white nylon washer under the forearm screw, this will create a small space between the forearm and barrel......worked for me groups tighten up good!

Suggested by E. Keith