Ruger #1 .308 For Kid

[PHOENIX PHIL]

So I'm toying with the idea of buying a Ruger #1 in .308 Win for my 13 year old. He has been cursed with the genes that make him height challenged, at least so far. He's right around 5' tall now but I'm sure he still has some growing to do. I bought him a Savage last year that has a shortened stock. The gun is certainly accurate, but the rest of the quality lets just say is lacking. Well he's now tall enough to shoot my Tikka in .223 and he's only going to get taller.

He has shot rounds in the Savage up to 165gr and it takes quite a few shots before he starts to feel it on his shoulder. So caliber is not too concerning.

So I'd like to get him something new now and also something perhaps that I'd like to shoot. In the end all of my guns will be passed on to my two boys, but I'd like to get him something special that he will keep all of his life and hopefully will be filled with memories.

I know it's a bit expensive, but I'm giving thought to a #1 in .308 for him. I like the idea of a single shot that will hopefully teach him to be that much more disciplined with his first shot. And I've always liked the simple and elegant #1 though I've never owned one.

What do you guys think?

 

[enysse]

I love Rugers, but have never been a fan of the #1's. Just looking at the design, didn't leave me a lot of confidence. My friend has a number of #1 and he can't shoot them super accurate...and won't have a gunsmith work on them. I may take a beating from the Ruger #1 fans....but I would much rather see your son should a bolt action. I will teach my stepson with one in the near future. Mine is a Ruger Mark II in a 223. , with a Leupold Scope 3-9 40 mm.

 

[sestoppelman]

Blasphemy, sacrilege! But seriously, recently made No. 1 rifles are proving to be capable of MOA accuracy and most require no tinkering. I have been playing with a .303 Brit for some time now and find it easy to load for and quite accurate. Every gun has preferences and the No. 1 is no exception. Phil, go ahead and get him the .308 No. 1, both you and he will enjoy it. I have 3 and love them all. My .257 Roberts will put 8-10 rounds into one inch at 100 reliably if I do my part. I know a lot of bolt gun sporters that wont do that.

 

[James.Grage]

The ruger model 1 is a very good rifle...

I would change out the recoil pad to a kickezz to help soften the recoil...

If that is not far enough have good gunsmith install a mercury recoil reducer in the stock...make sure it is parallel to the barrel for maximum recoil reduction...

I would check with Wenig out of Lincoln, Missouri to see if they are going the the Autumn grand at Tucson (first week in November) and take the rifle down there and they will have some ideas on how to make the rifle fit your son for better recoil reduction and rifle fit...

there will be some of the best gunsmith in the country at the trap-shoot...

 

[Second Wind]

my thoughts

Phil -

I figured to weigh in with a little of my own personal experience.

My recommendation for your boy is as follows:

#1 a good quality, bolt action rifle;

#2 make sure it is fitted with quality iron sights, including a peep sight, let him get the basics down before you get too involved with a telescopic sight. Remembers his eyes are young, yours are not!

#3 it needs to be chambered for a readily available and reasonably inexpensive round, I think a .308 is probably the easiest choice, however, if recoil is a concern I would look to a 7.62 x 39mm the ammo is cheap, readily available and CZ makes a quality rifle at a reasonable price chambered in this caliber. Ballistically compares nicely to a 30/30 which as we all know is a proven deer killer.

#4 get him out in the field and/or on the range and shoot and shoot and shoot.

Remember, despite what people will tell you, it is a craft not an acquired skill.

 

[Oldsarge]

The #1 will teach him to make each shot count. That's the glory of the single. The .308 will handle anything in N. America with the possible exception of moose, bison and the largest bear. None of those will be on his license at this young age. While a smaller caliber might give you a better shot on those little Coues deer, the .308 is more flexible and has the very serious advantage that you can buy a snap cap for it. With one of those he can sit in the back yard and dry fire daily for years. He will learn to call his shots. He will perfect his breathing and his hold. This works. It worked for Karamojo Bell and he was a terrible shot in the beginning. By the end of his safari days the man could take flying geese with a rifle and he gave all the credit to dry firing. I rest my case.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Phil -

I figured to weigh in with a little of my own personal experience.

My recommendation for your boy is as follows:

#1 a good quality, bolt action rifle;

That's still on the list. For the money I'd be better off buying another Tikka T3. I have two and they're nothing pretty until it comes time to look at the target. The action is as smooth as anything out of the box that I've handled.

#2 make sure it is fitted with quality iron sights, including a peep sight, let him get the basics down before you get too involved with a telescopic sight. Remembers his eyes are young, yours are not!

Little late. He's shot .22's open sighted but I put a scope on his current .308. He's got it down and I'd trust him to hit the target properly at least to 200 yards.

#3 it needs to be chambered for a readily available and reasonably inexpensive round, I think a .308 is probably the easiest choice, however, if recoil is a concern I would look to a 7.62 x 39mm the ammo is cheap, readily available and CZ makes a quality rifle at a reasonable price chambered in this caliber. Ballistically compares nicely to a 30/30 which as we all know is a proven deer killer.

Not an issue, as mentioned he's been shooting a .308. I started him with pretty light loads and gradually moved him up to full power 165gr loads.

#4 get him out in the field and/or on the range and shoot and shoot and shoot.

Remember, despite what people will tell you, it is a craft not an acquired skill.

Thanks to all for the replies. This is something still under consideration. I still like the single shot idea to teach him discipline on the first shot.

 

[Code4]

Ruger make the #1A in 7x57 which is a light and very handy rifle (if a bit butt heavy, relieved by hollowing the butt more).

In my experience with the .308W with 165's in Africa and the 7x57 with 140's and 175's here and NZ , the 7x57 is mild to shoot and can be loaded up for game heavier than the .308W can handle.

Just another option.

 

[sestoppelman]

Code4,

Hope to not sound argumentative but thats hooey. Loaded up to snuff the .308 can drive a 180 gr bullet to over 2600 fps in a strong gun. I have the rifle you describe in 7x57. A 175 gr bullet (the heaviest normal weight) can only realisticly acheive about 2500 fps. Would any animal know the difference? Of course not. So to say one is better than the other is just showing bias. I love the 7x57 but its no better than the .308.

 

[johnfox]

Loaded up to snuff the .308 can drive a 180 gr bullet to over 2600 fps in a strong gun.

The original topic appears to have been lost here. The OP is looking for a rifle for his son, a full house 180gr 308 load is not going to do the kid any favours at all.

I've got a 1A in 7x57 (no longer made by Ruger) and with a 4x Conquest on board I thinks it's too heavy for a young bloke of small stature.

I second the thoughts on a bolt over a single shot, it will be a bit more versatile down the track and a far greater choice of rifles. If you want to teach the discipline required of a single shot just load one round.
I like the 308, but I really, really like the 7mm08. Along with the 260Rem, I would consider it to be about the perfect beginners cartridge. Low recoil, not much noise and enough punch to handle most hunting needs.

 

[sestoppelman]

Code4;
Yes, true but you mentioned how the 7x57 "can be loaded up for game heavier than the 308 can handle". And thats simply not correct.

Phil has already stated his boy has been shooting full house loads in his current .308 as well so thats not an issue either.

 

[trigger creep]

So I'm toying with the idea of buying a Ruger #1 in .308 Win for my 13 year old. He has been cursed with the genes that make him height challenged, at least so far. He's right around 5' tall now but I'm sure he still has some growing to do. I bought him a Savage last year that has a shortened stock. The gun is certainly accurate, but the rest of the quality lets just say is lacking. Well he's now tall enough to shoot my Tikka in .223 and he's only going to get taller.

He has shot rounds in the Savage up to 165gr and it takes quite a few shots before he starts to feel it on his shoulder. So caliber is not too concerning.

So I'd like to get him something new now and also something perhaps that I'd like to shoot. In the end all of my guns will be passed on to my two boys, but I'd like to get him something special that he will keep all of his life and hopefully will be filled with memories.

I know it's a bit expensive, but I'm giving thought to a #1 in .308 for him. I like the idea of a single shot that will hopefully teach him to be that much more disciplined with his first shot. And I've always liked the simple and elegant #1 though I've never owned one.

What do you guys think?

I think that either the .270 (my personal favorite cartridge), .7mm-08, or the .308 would be a great choice for him. The 3 of them are almost identical in recoil and in killing power. I personally would choose either the .270 or .308 though, due too ammo prices.

I agree that a single shot is a good way too go, but don't ignore the bolt action either. If you find the perfect bolt for him, don't pass it up for a single shot. Both the bolt and the single shot teach you patience, though the single does it too a higher degree of course. Just choose the rifle that fits him best, it is very key that the rifle fits him like a glove. If the rifle doesn't fit him like a glove, then not only will it fell unnatural to him, it will affect his shooting. Choose a bolt or single that fits him well and get him out to the range and PRACTICE.

 

[trigger creep]

The #1 will teach him to make each shot count. That's the glory of the single. The .308 will handle anything in N. America with the possible exception of moose, bison and the largest bear. None of those will be on his license at this young age. While a smaller caliber might give you a better shot on those little Coues deer, the .308 is more flexible and has the very serious advantage that you can buy a snap cap for it. With one of those he can sit in the back yard and dry fire daily for years. He will learn to call his shots. He will perfect his breathing and his hold. This works. It worked for Karamojo Bell and he was a terrible shot in the beginning. By the end of his safari days the man could take flying geese with a rifle and he gave all the credit to dry firing. I rest my case.

The .308 will do just fine on Moose, as would the .270. Unless you're thinking Alaskan moose, then that's a different story. My dad shot a Moose in Vermont with the .30-06 and it went over just fine. The .308 is almost identical to the .30-06, so it would've done just fine as well. There isn't a Moose in the lower 48 that I wouldn't take with a .308 with 180 grain partitions (if it was at a reasonable range of course).

 

[trigger creep]

Ruger make the #1A in 7x57 which is a light and very handy rifle (if a bit butt heavy, relieved by hollowing the butt more).

In my experience with the .308W with 165's in Africa and the 7x57 with 140's and 175's here and NZ , the 7x57 is mild to shoot and can be loaded up for game heavier than the .308W can handle.

Just another option.

There is not a load that the 7X57 surpasses the .308 in killing power with. The .308 can be loaded with everything up to 200 and 220 grain Nosler Partitions and that trumps whatever 175 the 7x57 can put out there. The 7X57 is a wonderful cartridge, but among its few fans there seems to be a certain level of exaggeration of its killing power. A lot of 7x57 fans think that the .270 with a 160 partition is somehow innadequate for Moose, but the 7X57 with a 175 grain bullet is almost overkill. I'm not accusing you of being one of those guys, but I'm just stating how ludicrous some 7X57 fans are.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Just so there isn't confusion, .308 will be the caliber. He has as mentioned shot full power loads in 165gr pills and has handled that just fine. I took the time to work him up from lightly loaded 150gr loads up to the 165's. I already have a .270 that someday he'll be a bit bigger to handle, talking rifle fit, not recoil here.

I did a little more thinking about this today and was on Winchester's website and they may have the best choice. They make a Featherweight "Compact". The length of pull is 13" and would probably fit my son just a bit better and it can always be lengthened later with shims. It also has a shorter 20" barrel, so it should handle better for him. And, he's got a younger brother coming up behind him, only 8 years old now. But, he's by my side every time I go scouting for elk. He's going to be as loony as his old man about hunting it looks like.

The Ruger #1? Well, maybe Mrs. Claus will purchase one for me in .300H&H this year? :tongue:

 

[sestoppelman]

I too have been eyeballing that particular Ruger Phil.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I too have been eyeballing that particular Ruger Phil.

Not following my advice to give up shooting/hunting eh?

 

[sestoppelman]

Not anytime soon!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Don't know why I'm thinking of the H&H when I already have the .300 Win Mag, just want it I guess. Must be nostalgia. Using a single shot in the old H&H on a leopard someday has something appealing about it.

 

[sestoppelman]

Yes it does. My brother took a Rem 700 Classic in this cal to Namibia in '07 and did well with it. I used it to take my springbok too. Great caliber!