Two Ruger # 1's

[sharps4590]

I agree with your opinion on the Mossberg and the T/C. They certainly aren't in the same class as the Dakota or Ruger.....or the Ballard and Sharps and certainly not any of the Westley Richards, Rigby's or any of the single shots that came out of Britain during the 1870's to early 1900's. I'll check out that web site and thanks. Coyote....you oughta take a look at this 375. Nothing quite like a big hole in the barrel!! I worked up a "wuss load" for it and it's still a thumper!!!

Vic

Vic

[coyotewhacker]

Been there, done that....I had a #1 carbine in .45-70. The orthopedic clinic said I should recover in a few years with no further therapy. I was not content with wuss loads...I had 305 gr. hollowpoints going way faster than 45-70 bullets should be going. Accurate, but a bench session was not something to look forward to. Wish I had it back, though. I miss that little gun. As long as you kept the MV down around 1200 to 1400 fps it was like shooting a rimfire. Break 2000 fps with even a modest bullet and it retaliated. I simply cannot imagine shooting a #3 in that caliber with the steel buttplate and straight comb stock.
Speaking of Brit big bores, some company was converting Ishtapore .303 Enfield rifles to .45-70 a few years back. The action is certainly strong enough for the average .45-70 load, and after they put some kind of stain resistant finish on the rifles, they looked pretty decent. Of course, I missed my chance to get one while they were readily available. I had the opportunity to shoot several old Ballard rifles that had been converted to .22 rimfire for Schutzen matches down in New Braunfels, Texas some years back. That is a game that separates shooters from wanna be's. Open sights only, 100 yard targets, and triggers that would release the sear merely by looking at one. The club I visited was well over a hundred years old, and virtually every member was brought in by his or her parents, who were brought in by their parents, etc. The guns were all put together by the finest gunsmiths in Texas, and were passed along from generation to generation. The rifles were quite capable of shooting sub 1/2" groups at a hundred yards. Needless to say, all the ammo was Ely Olympic grade stuff. No US ammo was to be seen. It was nine bucks a box twenty five years ago.

[sharps4590]

I shot 45-70's for years but currently don't own one. I had Marlins, Winchester 86's, a Shiloh Sharps and a couiple others I forget. I still hunt with a 45-90 and have a Ballard 1 1/2 in 45-100 and used to own a 45-120. Only one I've never owned is the 45-2 7/8 of Quigley fame. Did I say I liked the 45's? None of them have or had the recoil of this 375 with factory 300 grain loads but I'm sure they were all heavier than your # 3. You oughta try a 416 Rigby. I once flirted with one til I shot one a friend of mine owned.

I bet that litte # 3 did belt ya pretty good!!!! I'd like to find one and re-barrel it to 38-55 which probably wouldn't be a smart thing to do.

Back several years ago there were some gentlemen who developed a 22 rimfire game similar to BPC silouhette. I believe the farthest distance was 225 yards or there abouts. When I lived west of Jeff. City some buddies of mine put a course together and acquired the appropriate rifles, low walls in 22 LR, Stevens 44's and I believe 44 1/2 and shot that course. I was thoroughtly amazed at how accurate you could be with a 22 LR at those distances with aperature sights.....as long as the wind stayed down. Was a lot of fun and a lot easier to find a 300 yard range than a 600 yard range where it was safe to shoot big bores.

Interesting reading about the club in Texas. I have some dear friends who live in New Braunfels. You remember any of the names?

Vic

[coyotewhacker]

Sorry, I don't remember any of their names. Doc Dietch, who owned Doc's Guns there in New Braunfels sold the Nr. 1 I still have. As I recall, I have some $25 tied up in the rifle, obtained new in the box back in 1980. Long story...retail back then was just over $400...a princely sum when you could get a nice 700BDL for about $325.
The Schutzen Club was unique (at least to me) because I was invited out to shoot with them, and when I showed up at the range, along with all the beautiful old rifles, there were coolers full of beer, plenty of food, and several fifths of hard booze. I could not believe they had alcohol and guns in the same place, but one of the members explained to me that it was a very social gathering, and nobody ever had anything to drink before they shot. With well over a hundred members, a fellow could shoot his relay, then join his buddies for a brew and sausage. This had been the custom for over a hundred years, and there had never been an accident of any kind. Oh yeah...most of the members were descendants of the original German immigrants who settled the area in the 1840's. Interesting fact: until the early 70's, the local NB newspaper was printed in German. I hunted the hill country above New Braunfels for several years, and it was always a treat to drive back through town and stop in for a German style sausage meal at one of the local restaurants. I was down there two years ago, and the town has grown unbelieveably. I-35 is now 8 lanes wide from the north side of town all the way back into San Antonio.

[Hellbender]

I have a couple of #3s that I may sell, haven't decided as yet, but I'll let ya'll know if I do.
I'm not using most of my guns now, so if I can ever get my locked fingers to loosen, I may have some varmiters to unload.

[pitbulll]

I'd like to see sum pics if u got any

[Daffy]

Here we go with the pic POST over here now.

[coyotewhacker]

Hellbender...never sell a Ruger #1..they fit nicely in the coffin with you when you pass on. I let one go three years ago and have regretted it ever since. I was going to pass my old .243 #1 on to the oldest granddaughter next year, but now there is a second granddaughter, so the oldest one will get a nice little 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser topped off with a decent scope for her first hunt with her dad, and the little one may be a dolls and tea party type when she is old enough to make a choice. Guess the son in law will get the #1 if I don't take it with me.

[GoGop]

I'll dig you up for a #1.

[sharps4590]

pitbull, I'm sorry I don't have any pics and the sad truth is I wouldn't know how to post them if I had any. You have an e-mail

Vic

[sharps4590]

Daffy...don't look if it annoys you. Now you're the one being sarcastic. As I said before, I thought the post was perfectly understandable as evidently did most folks. I'm sorry you had never heard of a Riger # 1. Perhaps a little research on your part would have been enlightening. The information isn't difficult to come by.

Vic

Vic

[GoGop]

MOCraig said:

sharps4590 said:My experience has been that if a gentleman shows up with a quality single shot rifle he most often is intimate with it...

That's not a large bore is it?



I was intimate with my Model 700 Mountain Rifle one lonely morning. It left marks on the stock that I have yet to remove.