Bought myself a plinking gun...

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Cool rifle. Congrats.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Forrest,
How 'bout some pix of your groups. Show us how that beauty shoots.

Well sir it would appear that I need more practice with this rifle. My zero needs to be verified. I'll shoot for groups tomorrow after I find my recoil shield. I have mounted a Limbsaver and it works well. I just need to fix my form which I ruined shooting the Encore. I'm still concerned about scope strike which is not really likely with this gun. This evening I took a few pot shots at my old steel swinger set at 65 yards. I went two for six offhand. First shot struck low and was a 300gr Sierra BTSP reload. Fourth shot was PPU 300gr SP and struck left. Hold was not steady at all. On a high note, I have 21 cases reloadable now. I'll keep using them for a while. I just received 200 Federal Primed Nickel cases so I'm set up to roll out ammunition once I find a load.

 

[ve7poi]

Bought my first one back from my friend who took it to Africa several times and took Cape buff on trips with it. It still shoots great. He talked me out of it twenty some years ago .
Now have 4 a well.

 

[Art Lambart II]

How did shooting your Encore ruin your shooting form? I switch between my Encore and my #1 all the time and don't seam to have any problem.

 

[Forrest Halley]

What does the No 1 weigh?

The rifle currently weighs 10.3lbs/4.7kg with scope, sling and new recoil pad.

How did shooting your Encore ruin your shooting form? I switch between my Encore and my #1 all the time and don't seam to have any problem.

The lighter weight combined with a poor scope choice for a light rifle, a Leupold Ultralight, and developing recoil management skills made for a few scope strikes. That particular scope has no rubber protection on the eyepiece.
You have likely planned your rifle out much better than I did.

 

[Art Lambart II]

I prefer a medium weight varmint barrel on my encore to help with the recoil

 

[Forrest Halley]

This was a Prohunter 28" 1-10" fluted barrel in .375 H&H. The rifle is quite light. I don't find the .300 WM quite so enthusiastic even without added weight. None of my .300 barrels are fluted. What chamberings are you shooting?

 

[meigsbucks]

Congrats on the #1, one of my favorite rifles, and the M70. With the .375’s you have the ability to hunt anything. Now just find a load and go to Africa!

 

[Forrest Halley]

Today I found a moment to shoot some groups. Here's six shots fired at thirty five meters sustained slow fire from a sitting unsupported. The three shot group was a quick three shots. All reloads.

 

[sierraone]

#1H 's are one of Bill Ruger's greatest inventions (along with RSMs). Congratulations!

 

[Forrest Halley]

Today the Model 70 Safari Express came in. It's not as pretty as the No. 1. It is all business, but has subtle muted beauty. It is fun to shoot, but has a hard limit of 3.600 COL. That should be fun to see how the Ruger likes the shorter loads. I was at 3.685 COL. I think the MOA trigger is okay, but the real fun lies in this controlled round feed. I really like the option to sling cases twenty feet away or drop them right beside me. I should have bore sighted it before I shot it. It was very low at 25 meters.
My off hand skills are improving with the No. 1. I worked hard to beat the flinch and roll with the recoil. I still have a lot of work to do. I'm interested to see what the 70 is capable of once sighted in. I intend to keep it in iron sights for a bit.