Grr... I have it bad....

[nodak7mm]

RADD, that is.

Over the past 12 hrs I have struggled with decisions, decided to commit, just waffled and going in a different direction. I even consulted RADD Spokesperson, 6mmRemington on the matter and I still waffled.

Okay, I have wanted a #1 for many yrs, never could quite make up my mind on which model in which caliber. Well 12 hrs ago I thought I figured it out, finally. Found the one on one of the auction sites and decided to sleep on it. An hour ago, I texted my cousin who is also conveniently my go-to FFL holder to make sure I had the green lite to bid. "Go for it" he texts me.. I text him back telling him what I am gonna bid on and proceed to go place my bid. Just about to hit the bid button and he says........"WHAT???, Call me.

Well, suffice it to say, he brought me back from the edge... As I have gone back to "Plan A, rev 89", which has been just build another rifle from scratch that will outshoot, out perform and have almost everything I want in it vs a factory produced, tho extremely sexy & gorgeous rifle....

So here I am second, and third and forth guessing my decisions..... :roll: :roll:

At least I have 13 days to decide which way I am going to go. I am sure I will "Flip-flop" several times between now and then tho. Such is the daily struggle with RADD!!!

Thanks for letting me share..

Rod

 

[FOTIS]

What did you almost pull the "trigger" on?

 

[nodak7mm]

A Ruger #1-A in 7x57......

 

[SJB358]

Man, that sound like a nice one!!! I feel your pain Rod. I know how it grips down on me. Scotty

 

[nodak7mm]

Dangnnnnggggnnnnnit. I am waffling again. Just got a great, professional & nice email form the dealer answering my questions.. If he had not answered, it would have been so much easier..

Whats a guy to doooooo.......? Oh the conflict, the confusion, the pain!!!

Do I buy a particular rifle I have wanted for along time, that is beginning to be hard to find in good shape.... OR.....Do I build a rifle in the configuration I want it in, the caliber I want that will outshoot any production rifle...

On one hand, the straight factory rig will continue to appreciate vs the custom build will be just that, an used donor action and a really nice barrel.... Hmmmmmmm....

 

[DrMike]

7 X 57. One of the great cartridges of the world. No collection should be without one. And in a Ruger #1-A, to boot.

 

[nodak7mm]

I just found something out that I never knew. All Rugers made in 7x57 have been a 1:8.75 twist. That is just too fast for what I want it for. (I am aware that there has been a misprint in the Ruger catalog stating 1:9.5, but it is a verified misprint)..... Hhmm

Rod

 

[FOTIS]

A Ruger #1-A in 7x57......

On my wish list....big time.... when I was on a #1 Kick.

 

[257 Ackley]

Rod -
Is there a specific purpose for the #1 or is just to fill a gap in the caliber ranges? Did you see an actual picture of the rifle being sold or a stock photo? I haven't been seeing as many nice pieces of wood on the #1's as I used to years ago. I do love that old classic caliber!!

 

[6mm Remington]

It does appear that I have HELPED out Mr. Nodak and got him to thinking. That poor guy should have never asked a guy who hunts with two Ruger #1B's, a 6mm and a 30-06. The only other rifle I ever use from time to time is my wife's 25-06! So we know I'm a very helpful single-shot fan! Sorry Rod......... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :shock:

 

[RiverRider]

A plan for a custom rifle can exist forever in one's mind and even get better over time. The existent physical rifle one has long sought and then suddenly appears may never be encountered again. I saw a nice, understated and modestly done custom 98 Mauser in .300 H&H at a gun show about six or seven years ago for a very reasonable price and I did not jump on it. I have not seen anything like it since.

 

[Greg Nolan]

nodak7mm
You have my sympathy for sure. The excuisite anguish over weather to push the bid button or not. And then weather to push the confirm button. Many a sleepless night has gone by with the decision usually being made for me, JUST WHEN I WAS GOING TO PUSH THE BUY BUTTON, it was sold and gone. :x . But then, along comes a different beauty that I've always wanted, and it starts all over again. :grin: Oh the agony of it all! :wink:

 

[nodak7mm]

Yes... It has been a long trying day... :mrgreen:

During my determined, yet rational decision making process today, I contacted Ruger Customer Service as I had two questions: One was about the twist rate in the 7x57 and the other about the blued finish on the 1-A's.

I considered an 06 & the 270 also, but had always wanted a #1-A (walnut/blued) in the 284 cal. Held out hope that they would make one in 7/08 or even a 7/08 in the #1-AB. Never happened.. Then almost biannually, I would look at #1's again. This time I looked at the #1A and thought the bluing was a matte, like the Hawkeye.. YUK! A matte finish on a walnut/blued #1? Flippin sacrilege in my book!!!!!!

I have wanted the little #1A as a great little carry/woods gun and I wanted it in a shorter case, something that will shoot 120-140gr bullet range. Well, recently as I was speaking with the Grand PooBah of RADD, I kind of was leaning towards the 270 as it too is a classic & an American classic at that! But now the dang thing is butt flippin ugly in a matte finish...

But my Number #1 aficionado brethren, but I found out a rather interesting, hypothetical of course, little tid bit of information that may have us hi gloss purists happy once again.. As I was speaking to the Ruger Customer Rep, I was lamenting about how ugly the matte finish is on the 1-A's, he stopped me and said, "We have our new catalog coming out in Dec and I suggest you look at it before you make a decision".. I then tried to corner him for specifics. He then said, "I have already said too much, I cant say anymore". I took the hint and thanked him for his time.

So, I am thinking that the gorgeous hi-gloss bluing on the #1-A's are to return to the shelves, possibly even in new offerings.

So this my friends, has me anxiously awaiting the new catalog and has effectively squashed my urge to jump on this current 7x57 on auction. Actually the twist on the 7x57 sewed that up for me. I want a little stubby carry gun that shoots little to medium size boolits. If I wanted to shoot 175 gr 7mm bullets, hell I would get a 375H&H or 45-70 and shoot some real boolits...

Maybe, they are coming out with a hi gloss blue #1-A in the 6.5 Creedmoor?? Hmmmm That would be a hell of a combo...... One can dream eh? Since it dont look like I am going get my 7/08. But thats what I would build... Kind of patterned on the model 7, but with a 22-23" barrel, fluted to match my 7RM..

Oh this has been an interesting day, at least in my own mind....... :lol: :lol: :lol: I thank you gentlemen for your empathy & words of comfort.


Rod

 

[BK]

I just found something out that I never knew. All Rugers made in 7x57 have been a 1:8.75 twist. That is just too fast for what I want it for. (I am aware that there has been a misprint in the Ruger catalog stating 1:9.5, but it is a verified misprint)..... Hhmm

Rod

Uh, why is it too fast? I can see too slow being a problem if you want to shoot 160+ gr. spitzer boattails, but I don't think you can spin something too fast.

 

[nodak7mm]

BK,

In that case size and rifle size, for the 284 bore, I would like to shoot primarily 120-140's.

Rod

 

[257 Ackley]

Rod -
Thanks for the tip...will be watching for the new catalog as well. I want a .284 in a #1 with a fluted barrel as well. That will become my carry rifle for Minnesota deer hunting. Now we just need to have Nosler make a 120 grain AccuBond bullet in .284. The 120 ballistic tip is nice and shoots well in my son's 7mm-08 but man do they explode inside the deer. I will post a pic after I'm done hunting of what was left of the bullet I found in the deer he shot.

 

[BK]

BK,

In that case size and rifle size, for the 284 bore, I would like to shoot primarily 120-140's.

Rod

OK, but I don't think you can over spin a bullet, unless they are marginal bullets anyway.

 

[nodak7mm]

Evening BK,

First off, I am by no means an accomplished & accreditation ballistician, nor will I claim any experience I haven’t actually practiced. I can only state what I have experienced and what I believe in.

With that said, 15 or so yrs back I messing around with a 223 rifle & trying to get it to shoot the 50gr TNT’s. I have always had good luck with that bullet and have never had to watch the speed.. But for the first time, I would lose a bullet here and there and just never really got the excellent accuracy I had gotten in a different rifle. To sum it up I was messing around with a 1:9 twist barrel and my previous rifle had a 1:12 twist.

After much self study on rifle twist & effects bullet weight, coupled with the experience I had, I have since followed barrel mfg’s optimum twist rates for applicable bullet weights and have not experienced any issues since…. In short, I have concluded that I can overspin a bullet & I think 1:8.75” twist in a 7mm is too fast for the bullet weight I specifically want to shoot. Thats my story and I'm a sticking to it..... :wink:

Rod

 

[BK]

OK, I guess ya got me there with the TNTs... that was one little"unless" that was in the back of my mind. My only fast-twist rifle is an original Colt AR15 that's never had optics on it, and I think the only TNTs I've loaded were for a .222. I will bow to your experience. I'm not ballistician either, just a dumb land surveyor.

For my uses, a 7x57 would be predominantly a deer-antelope-elk rifle (with the right bullets, of course).

 

[JD338]

The 7x57 is a classic and would be pretty cool in a #1.
Good luck Rod. :lol:

JD338