300 H&H Craig Boddington "Kudu" advice

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Good morning to you all!

Recently I acquired a brand new, never been fired 300 H&H Craig Boddington "Kudu" Ruger #1 with original box and all the trimmings. Now, the problem is that when I was bidding for this item I didn't KNOW it was "brand new, in case, never fired" rifle! So now I'm facing a conundrum and I'm reaching out to your infinite wisdom for a bit of help. Should I keep her brand new, as is for a few years then try to replace her with a used version and turn a bit of potential profit or should I load her up, take her out, perhaps modify her a bit (as an example I hate having barrel bands on rifles, I prefer stock slings) and then see what I can do later in life about selling? I will say that I don't hand load so even if I did shoot her it would have to be with readily available factory ammo, which I know is the 8th deadly sin to some folks on here lol.

Anyway, your input is appreciated and thank you for your time!

 

[mark-hunter]

Virgin rifle? Sounds like real bingo!

If basic intention was not to make profit, I would use it to hunt, definetly!
Stick to first intention, and use it! Everything else would be at least waste of time, for questionable gain, which was not intended in the first place!

 

[Britt Beck]

USE it.

 

[sierraone]

Hi EA, I will give you my opinion and mine only. Can you afford to keep it in a safe for several years and just go ahead and buy another rifle? Are you a collector? FYI, I don't reload either, and it has never caused me a problem. If you do decide to hold on to it for a long period of time to sell, DO NOT remove the barrel band. You and I differ here, any rifle designed to hunt Africa is suppose to have a barrel band. A #1 in .300 HH is designed for Africa IMO. Even if you decide to hunt with it, if you remove the band on a CB African series rifle, you are DE-valueing it. Plus will likely have to have the barrel re-blued.
So I suggest you have two options. Place in a safe and hold on to it for possibly increasing in value to sale. Or sell it now, and buy one that fits your requirements. You are the only one that has to be happy with your decision!

 

[ZG47]

@Eventually_Africa Truth is ... barrel bands work! I advise you to leave your rifle as built and shoot it. Yes, you might have an issue with a tapered barrel during rapid firing (longitudinal thermal expansion of a tapered barrel can result in sideways pressure against a close-fitting stock or binding against an unrelieved barrel band) but you would probably have a bruised shoulder before it was an issue with this rifle. If there is an issue, it can be remedied by a genuine gunsmith without altering the appearance of your rifle or reducing its value.

Please enjoy your new toy, rather than just looking at it.

 

[ChrisG]

I have to agree that barrel bands are the best!!! I would have them on all my rifles if only just for the looks... But to each his own.. The only issue you will find with Rugers is they usually blue the gun AFTER installing the barrel band. So while the band is typically held in place with just a set screw and maybe pressed a bit, there will be a white ring of metal under it. Also, you would need to cut it off. Ruger front sights are nearly impossible to remove. They are installed with a tremendous interference fit which means they are essentially a permanent fixture unless they are cut off.

As to the main question, SHOOT IT! unfortunately, you haven't yet become addicted to reloading which is a bit of blasphemy, but we will forgive you of that. The craig boddingtons hold their value, only if they are in a rare caliber. For instance, a .450-400 will likely not hold it's value as well as a .450 3.25 NE. I don't know how rare the .300 H&H is but it is something to consider. The gun is made to be shot.... Craig had a say in their design, that is why they bear his name I believe. That is also why they have practical features like the glare free finish and the straight grained walnut for strength... It is a hunting gun. Not a show piece! You really need to hunt with it! Congrats on the purchase too!!! There is one sitting in my Local Gun Shop in .450 NE 3.25" that I have my eye on, but the price is half way to a used double so I will probably just pass on it.

 

[Red Leg]

I suspect the "Craig Boddington" signature rifles - even the Lipsey limited editions - will be in the same class as Ducks Unlimited specials - relatively little appreciation in value. Few of these sorts of limited run rifles, trying to create collector interest, ever seem to turn into DHE Parkers or Colt Peacemakers. Winchester made a slew of limited edition model 94's and they tend to languish on the websites with hopefully inflated prices. I would shoot it and hunt it. If you decide to hunt it, you will learn to appreciate the barrel band - it keeps the rifle lower on your shoulder and out of the way of overhead branches. And at hunting ranges, it will have no meaningful effect on accuracy. If I were going to have something special done to a Number 1, I would have Doug Turnbull case color the action. I had him do it to one of mine and it now looks like a classic English single-shot sporter.

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Good morning to you all, and thank you for the replies!

I guess I should clarify something, I've heard that barrel bands can negatively affect accuracy because unless you hold the rifle the exact same way every time (sling around arm, sling not around arm, sling half around arm, etc) your putting a different "pressure point" on the barrel which can have horrible effects down range. I may be wrong, I admit that, but this is the assumption I was going off of when I noted that I hated them.
Now, as to the main point, it seems rather unanimous and I'm pretty glad to hear it! I did buy it, as Mark-Hunter said, to use it originally and I was just unsure about collection. I will say that one modification that will almost certainly find it's way onto this rifle would be a new recoil pad. I really like limb savers and I'm betting this hasn't got one.
When it comes in I could post some pictures if folks are interested, if not no worries and either way I want to say thank you for your responses! As always this community is quick on the draw and I appreciate it!

 

[Bullthrower338]

I hate having barrel bands on rifles, I prefer stock slings)

BLASTFAMY!!!! Lol

 

[tarbe]

Only mod I made to my Kudu was to lengthen the throat 0.2 inches (I load my own).

Then I took it to Africa and took over a dozen animals with it.

Sold it to a buddy and he took it to Africa as well.

Agree with those who say this rifle will never be appreciably more valuable than a non-CB rifle.

It’s greatest value will be achieved in the bush hunting (like in my avatar)!

Tim

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

Only mod I made to my Kudu was to lengthen the throat 0.2 inches (I load my own).

Then I took it to Africa and took over a dozen animals with it.

Sold it to a buddy and he took it to Africa as well.

Agree with those who say this rifle will never be appreciably more valuable than a non-CB rifle.

It’s greatest value will be achieved in the bush hunting (like in my avatar)!

Tim

Hey! I'm glad to run into you on here, it was actually your post on the "For Sale" thread (along with the other posts that you linked in it) last year that got me interested in this rifle to begin with! (Incidentally, my wife and my wallet would both like a word with you heh). Thanks for making me aware of this rifle in the first place!

 

[Bullthrower338]

Hey! I'm glad to run into you on here, it was actually your post on the "For Sale" thread (along with the other posts that you linked in it) last year that got me interested in this rifle to begin with! (Incidentally, my wife and my wallet would both like a word with you heh). Thanks for making me aware of this rifle in the first place!

@tarbe is bad about causing guys to spend money! I have his rifle and it served me well in the Limpopo. The kudu is a perfect rifle as it is, if you don’t like barrel bands, there is a No. 1 without one from the factory and they are on gunbroker and guns international semi regularly.
I run a rescue for wayward 300 H&H rifles so if you decide you want a different rifle shoot me a PM!

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

@tarbe is bad about causing guys to spend money! I have his rifle and it served me well in the Limpopo. The kudu is a perfect rifle as it is, if you don’t like barrel bands, there is a No. 1 without one from the factory and they are on gunbroker and guns international semi regularly.
I run a rescue for wayward 300 H&H rifles so if you decide you want a different rifle shoot me a PM!

Good to meet you, and a generous offer to boot! However I think that, for now, I'll keep this one even if it has the barrel band. By the way, do you happen to use factory ammo and, if so, can you recommend a brand/weight that yours shoots well? If I'm going to take this one out hunting I need to make sure I'm well bellow "Minute of Deer" at 100 yards, or perhaps even a bit longer (I have to confess that I'm not sure what a good range of hunting distances are for this round).

Again, happy to meet you!

 

[fourfive8]

IMO, if you can sell that for anything close to what you paid, acquiesce rapidly to the wishes of the prospective buyer. Just as others have posted, markets cannot be created with laser etched logos, "celebrity" endorsements, through mutual admiration society press or important commemorative pronouncements. Things will increase in market value for their own reasons in their own time and some things will never increase in value no matter the time.

 

[wesheltonj]

Items made to be collectors items never are. Shoot the gun, if you are going to keep it. That said I still have guns new in the box, only because I have not had a reason to use those guns yet. I also have guns new in box that I am holding for investment purposes, those guns are all black.

 

[sierraone]

EA, you didn't ask me, but here is an answer for factory ammo.

This is from the bench at 150 Yards.. Hornady 180 grain Inter Bond...$38 to $46 a box depending on who has it on sale. M70 Winchester XTR. Would jump up to 200 gr if taking it to Africa.

 

[Bullthrower338]

do you happen to use factory ammo

BLASTFAMY! But if I did I would recommend Nosler Trophy Grade 180 accubonds. As Tarbe said he had the throat cut .2 longer so that he could seat the longer mono metal bullets out further and give a bit more case capacity. I load 180 peregrines for that rifle and it shoots lights out!
I have shot the Nosler loads through my Pre 64 Winchester 300 H&H and they just over 1/2” at 100 yards. I believe Norma loads their Oryx bullet for 300 super but don’t hold me to it.
Cheers,
Cody

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

BLASTFAMY! But if I did I would recommend Nosler Trophy Grade 180 accubonds. As Tarbe said he had the throat cut .2 longer so that he could seat the longer mono metal bullets out further and give a bit more case capacity. I load 180 peregrines for that rifle and it shoots lights out!
I have shot the Nosler loads through my Pre 64 Winchester 300 H&H and they just over 1/2” at 100 yards. I believe Norma loads their Oryx bullet for 300 super but don’t hold me to it.
Cheers,
Cody

Gotcha and thank you! Quick question about the "throat cut .2 longer". I know almost nothing of gunsmiths or reloading so would that modification make factory loads not work as well, or does it only affect hand loading? Thank you for the reply!

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

EA, you didn't ask me, but here is an answer for factory ammo.

This is from the bench at 150 Yards.. Hornady 180 grain Inter Bond...$38 to $46 a box depending on who has it on sale. M70 Winchester XTR. Would jump up to 200 gr if taking it to Africa.

Thank you, and dang nice shooting! I'll try the bullets you specified and I'll try to see if I can find some 200 grains. I've seen a lot of the 180s and under but haven't run across those for sale yet.

 

[tarbe]

Gotcha and thank you! Quick question about the "throat cut .2 longer". I know almost nothing of gunsmiths or reloading so would that modification make factory loads not work as well, or does it only affect hand loading? Thank you for the reply!

I chronographed Nosler factory 180gr ammo in that rifle after the throat was cut and it registered roughly 200 ft./s below the factory claim.

There is no reason to cut the throat if you’re going to shoot factory ammo.