Allure of the Ruger No1

[leslie hetrick]

Love to see this thread still going! Tip of the cap to Kevin Peacocke for getting it started! Hey Leslie, what are your thoughts on the .223? Thinking about adding another #1 to the family and that’s the one that I’m kicking around.

its a # 1 B with 26" barrel, i mounted a 12 x leupold on it and it shoots pretty good with my reloads, just heavy to carry around. i use my tika in 223 for walking.

 

[HWL]

I have a No1 in 30-06 as you know, but that is in Zimbabwe. Now I am looking for an identical one for my son-in-law so I can use it when I visit his farm in SA. Hard to find. Savuti Arms still have the commemorative model in 308, but too expensive for a working No1.

Aren't there gunsmiths in Zimbabwe that can change a barrel of a No.1?

HWL

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Aren't there gunsmiths in Zimbabwe that can change a barrel of a No.1?

HWL

There are gunsmiths, but no barrels.

 

[HWL]

There are gunsmiths, but no barrels.

Wtf....

HWL

 

[Goopy]

its a # 1 B with 26" barrel, i mounted a 12 x leupold on it and it shoots pretty good with my reloads, just heavy to carry around. i use my tika in 223 for walking.

Thanks for the response. It’ll be a bench gun for fun, not a walking around gun.

 

[ThreeJacks]

I'm rejoining the No1 owners club. I broke down and bought one of the very few Lipsey's No1's floating around in my favorite caliber .275 Rigby. I say rejoining the club because I canty remember for sure, but I want to say at one time in my life I had one in 275 Rigby around 2014 or 2015 and foolishly sold it. I could be misremembering, or it could have been marked 7x57.

At any rate it seems these are rare as hen's teeth and this most recent run of them was possibly made from leftover parts as many of the usual distributors are saying they can't even get allotted one. Anyone remember when these were last produced or know any of the current story on them? Ill post pics when I finally have it in hand.

I have one of the 275 Rigbys from the “early” run, the serial number on mine is from 2017. There was/is a “second” run of these that I think started last year? Lee Newton told me the “early” run had express rear sights (along with the Boddington No. 1’s) and the “second” run had the usual flip down rear sights. Though Ruger’s spec sheet on their website lists express rear sights on the current version.

 

[ThreeJacks]

I have not heard anything about the 2025 models, but I did notice a 9.3x62 RSI listed on Ruger’s website (along with the 275 Rigby, 257 Weatherby, 6.5 Creedmore, and a .308 model).

 

[ET1775]

One of my local gun shops has an older, gently used, No1 in 6.5x55 Swede, with the full length Mannlicher stock. Would be another cartridge to reload for but I am thinking it might be a great deer/elk/black bear rifle for my daughter. Any thoughts?

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

I have one of the 275 Rigbys from the “early” run, the serial number on mine is from 2017. There was/is a “second” run of these that I think started last year? Lee Newton told me the “early” run had express rear sights (along with the Boddington No. 1’s) and the “second” run had the usual flip down rear sights. Though Ruger’s spec sheet on their website lists express rear sights on the current version.

I just went and looked at one of the sale pics of the one I bought, and it does indeed have a flip down rear sight.

 

[Joker12]

I have not heard anything about the 2025 models, but I did notice a 9.3x62 RSI listed on Ruger’s website (along with the 275 Rigby, 257 Weatherby, 6.5 Creedmore, and a .308 model).

The place to look is on Lipseys website. Any current production #1s are special orders by distributers/ retailers with Lipseys being the most prominent.

 

[Nyala23]

One of my local gun shops has an older, gently used, No1 in 6.5x55 Swede, with the full length Mannlicher stock. Would be another cartridge to reload for but I am thinking it might be a great deer/elk/black bear rifle for my daughter. Any thoughts?

Absolutely deer and bear, elk at moderate ranges and good bullets! Most of my experience with a 38 short rifle Mauser/260 rem but so similar it’s a moot point. The last 260 rsi I saw at Cabelas was price inflated and left me deflated

 

[ET1775]

Absolutely deer and bear, elk at moderate ranges and good bullets! Most of my experience with a 38 short rifle Mauser/260 rem but so similar it’s a moot point. The last 260 rsi I saw at Cabelas was price inflated and left me deflated

This one is around $1500 with a but of room to negotiate, expensive but much less so than most are going for currently.

 

[HWL]

...., but I did notice a 9.3x62 RSI listed on Ruger’s website....

Continental hunters prayed for that for over 50 years.....

HWL

 

[ThreeJacks]

This one is around $1500 with a but of room to negotiate, expensive but much less so than most are going for currently.

Compared to the prices on GB and GI, you better buy that one.

 

[HookMeUpII]

This one is around $1500 with a but of room to negotiate, expensive but much less so than most are going for currently.

GB and the internet ruined local gun shop, and even worse, pawn shop finds. I was super lucky to score a No 1 in 458WM last year from a LGS that had it listed for $1350. I talked him down to $1250 after making him realize he had it for 2 years and the likelihood someone else was going to walk in wanting a Ruger No 1, in 458WM, in New Jersey was slim to none.

Ruger No 1's being a niche market already, then add on top that it's probably a very niche caliber, it makes no sense how these guys don't come down at least a little to let it go.

 

[Nyala23]

This one is around $1500 with a but of room to negotiate, expensive but much less so than most are going for currently.

Pounce!! That’s good for an rsi

 

[ET1775]

Pounce!! That’s good for an rsi

Any idea how barrel life might be for a 6.5x55? I doubt the guy knows an accurate count as it is a consignment gun. I don't want a shot out rifle.

 

[Goopy]

I believe its known to be a mild round to shoot and a barrel should last a long time. Obviously, take a look at the bore and I would look at the throat. If the gun came from a hard core reloader/shooter, it'll show signs of wear. Chances are that this was a hunters rifle that was shot irregularly at most. Given the nature of the #1, especially in a more obscure caliber like 6.5x55, the gun was cared for and not put to the test with heavy/fast/hot reloads.

 

[ET1775]

I believe its known to be a mild round to shoot and a barrel should last a long time. Obviously, take a look at the bore and I would look at the throat. If the gun came from a hard core reloader/shooter, it'll show signs of wear. Chances are that this was a hunters rifle that was shot irregularly at most. Given the nature of the #1, especially in a more obscure caliber like 6.5x55, the gun was cared for and not put to the test with heavy/fast/hot reloads.

Thank you. I will take a closer look when I get a chance, they are closed today. This one may be a contender, but a 7x57/.275 Rigby would be sweet for her as well for an elk rifle. 7mm/08 could be a nice option too. That is the beauty of the No1, so many options!

 

[Goopy]

The #1 barrel stamped with .275 Rigby is truly a rifle to grab up when you see one!