Ruger Number 1's Outta the box accuracy

R

Rol_P

Handloader
Nov 23, 2013
697
22
Ok, on in another post it was stated that a 7x57 is adequate for elk out to 400 yds... Given proper shot placement.. I have been tweaking my Rem 700 CDL in 30-06 for elk and mule deer, and it seems to have come together nicely....but a very nice Ruger #1 in 7x57 caught my eye at a gun show today...

What is the consensus as to the outta the box accuracy with modern production #1's? I do not want to start all over with tweak this, tweak that... Just put a good quality set of rings and scope on it and develop a load for accuracy first, then velocity.. and go shoot & hunt.

I plan to keep the '06 regardless. Thoughts please. Thank you, Rol
 
Rol I have two #1B's in 30-06 and 6mm Remington. We also bought a 6mm Remington in a 1B for a friends wedding gift many years ago. All of these were pretty simple to get really good accuracy out of in my opinion. I don't know if loading for three Number 1's qualifies me as someone in the know, but I didn't think they were any more cantankerous than any other rifle.

David
 
Can't speak to the accuracy of the Number 1s, but they are nice looking. Those owners whom I know speak well of them.
 
I had a 1V (laminated stock, heavy SS barrel) in a .204 Ruger and really liked it. Set it up as my dedicated varmint gun. Out of the box it shot great 3-shot groups (about 5/8"). I noticed after 3 shots though, the bullet holes started climbing up the target. After reading up a little on the #1s, I learned that accuracy is fairly sensitive to fore-end pressure, and how the fore-piece attaches to the barrel. You might have to play around with the point of attachment on the fore-piece a bit (adding different sizes of rubber washers) and shave or shim the fore-piece a bit, but the potential is there for pretty accurate rifle. Beautiful rifles.
 
Good info here so far.

I've had four, and am sadly down to one, the .375 H&H. Suppose it has enough power for elk at 400 yards? Huh... Dunno... Depends where ya hit 'em I guess. Might be marginal otherwise... :grin:

Accuracy on all of them has been "pretty good" roughly MOA or better easily enough.

One, a .25-06 heavy barreled "Varminter" version was the most accurate factory rifle I've ever owned. That thing consistently put three 100 gr Sierras over H4831 into tiny clusters, measuring about .3" dia at 100 yards.

After three shots, with a big game rifle, who cares? The elk is over the next hill by then.

Never should have sold that .25-06, or any of the other Number Ones that I let go...

Guy
 
Guy Miner":2fnsaaxk said:
After three shots, with a big game rifle, who cares? The elk is over the next hill by then.

Guy
Click to expand...

Yeah, kinda had to laugh -- after my post I read the original post again and thought the same thing. It is worth noting though that if he buys the #1 and is disappointed in the accuracy, there's a very good chance that it can be corrected with very little tweaking of the fore-piece and almost no $$$. I know a lot of people that had #1's and wish they never had sold them, and very few who wouldn't own another one.
 
I have a 2013 model .220 swift varminter in the No 1. It shoots consistent five shot groups of about 1/2 inch with most any load including factory hornady, and I've done nothing to the rifle. If I could find someone to do a good trigger job on the rifle I think it may shoot bug holes and that is its only flaw. It has a lousy trigger. I can't speak for the 7x57 but is sure is a classy looking rifle. And coincidentally, I had the same rifle back in the early 80s and got rid of it. I fixed that mistake.
 
A #1 in 7x57 would be a sweet rifle...especially in that little Mannlicher stocked version.

I've only fooled around with a few #1s....all were certainly "hunting grade" accuracy and one 22-250 was scary accurate.
 
I think my old buddy Lefty315 used a Number One in 7x57 in Africa and did well with it.

Guy
 
My first question would be red pad or black pad? Red pads for the most part had Wilson barrels although the very early ones had Douglas barrels. The Wilson barrels are spotty in quality. I believe though that the black pad guns all have Ruger made barrels and are of very good quality. I started a collection of Ruger #1's back when they first came out and all mine are red pad guns. Some are excellent shooters and some have me pulling my hair out.
I love my #1A in 7x57 and the barrel was so bad I had to send it back to Ruger. It came back with a new barrel and is a tack driver now. Problem was way too long throat. Seems from my experience that most red pad guns preferred heavier bullets The small bore from .223 to 6MM Rem., especially in the "B" versions were very tight grouping guns; at least mine are. One 25-06 I bought as a donor shoots so well I won't change it and another that was minty with great wood is giving me fits. Sorry I can't get into more details right now as I'm leaving for New Mexico to slay the mighty Wapiti. Well a cow elk anyway.
Paul B.
 
Good luck Paul.
That's a wealth of information, thank you.

Vince

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
 
Good luck Paul.

Can't speak to the #1's as I have never owned one, but the 7x57 is a very capable cartridge. RL17 and other newer powders have really brought it another breath of life, not that it needed it, but 140's at 2900+ and 150's right behind it. It has the power to handle elk. My son took his this Fall. No luck on an elk with it, but I have 0 thoughts of it was adequate with a little extra..
 
The good ol' Hicks Accurizer has been around a long time! Glad to see it's still available, though I never used one on any of my Rugers.

I can see how it could be The Answer for a finicky Number One.

Thanks for posting!

Guy
 
Guy, interesting you mentioned the .375 No. 1. I had one a number of years ago with a Swarovski variable on it. At 200 yards I was getting a little over 1 1/4 inch groups with 270 grain Speers I believe with IMR4350. Didn't do any tune up work with it. It just plain shot well. Sold it and regretted it ever since.
 
I have owned (2) Number One Ruger's. An early (SN; 3XX) in .308 and a newer 9.3x74R. I do not see much accuracy difference in them but the wok done on the .308 was done in the late 1960's with powders and components available at that time.

Both rifles would shot about MOA with the correct loads, not over heating the barrel.
 
Guy Miner":3mxvesvq said:
The good ol' Hicks Accurizer has been around a long time! Glad to see it's still available, though I never used one on any of my Rugers.

I can see how it could be The Answer for a finicky Number One.

Thanks for posting!

Guy
Click to expand...

That's cool. A number 1, or some sort of falling block is on my "bucket list", at least to play around with for a while. CL
 
I own a few and the ones I have shot have all given good accuracy. My favorite shooters are a 25/06 B and a 6.5x55 A.
 
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