How about selecting a Ruger #1?

gravertom

gravertom

Joined
Jun 4, 2004
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1,163
Hi guys,

Through an interesting set of circumstances, (more on that later), I am scheduled to go to Kansas next fall, and shoot a Bison.

Not knowing if or when I may ever do such a thing again, or even if I do, I want to take my own rifle. I don't have a suitable rifle right now. Having some funds to spare right at the moment( due to some other unusual circumstances), I have about decided on a Ruger #1.

The only choice left is the caliber. It would be blue and walnut for sure. It would either be a 45-70, or a 375 H&H.

45-70 would me more "apropos" for the situation, ie old west Buffalo hunt.. 375 more like what that type of rifle was meant for, ie Tropical type hunting.

I like the looks of the 24" tropical model. The 45-70 comes in 22".

I'm leaning towards the 375.

because.

It would do anything I MIGHT ever need a rifle to do. OTOH, the 45-70 would do anything I would ever LIKELY need a rifle to do.



If I go 45-70, I may shoot for a Number 3. Looks more "American", as opposed to the "British" look of the #1.

I never thought I would ever go on such a hunt. I don't ever Imagine I would ever go to Africa to hunt either. I guess you never know.

A Shiloh Sharps is out of reach, money wise.

What's one more gun thread among friends, after all?!

;)

Tom

PS, I am curious to hear the discussion, but this will not end up being a "logical" decision on my part.

not necessarily.

I could also buy a Handi rifle on 500 S&W. Cool in a different way...
 
What a great thread for me- those are THE two Ruger number One's I've thought and thought about getting for many years now.

The 375 is going to weigh more. That will be good when you shoot. That will not be good when you scoot.

I had a Browning 375 and miss the calibre. I'd probably get the 375. If you only have one shot, why not make it a beauty?



munk
 
It is probably THE big game African Rifle. It will have far longer useful range the the old .45-70.
The 45-70 is a handloader's wet dream and custom moulds/careful reloading will give you a combo that is capable of anything at modest ranges.

I've heard that Ruger is discontinuing a large portion of their lineup in the #1 and last year's models are stacked up on dealers shelves looking for good homes.

Bison are interesting critters. A guest ranch that I frequent keeps a small herd for some unknown reason. You can't treat them like cattle and keeping them enclosed is a bit tricky.
You don't realize how powerful and big they are until you stand next to one. The bulls are about 6' at the top of their hump and are surpisingly agile.
Good luck
 
Gravertom,
Both are excellent choices and the rifle is top notch. I live and hunt in Alaska and have had both. The .375 has taken every animal in the world. It's versitility is unmatched. I sold my only .375 a few months ago, but I still have my 45-70 and no intentions of departing with it.

Just a couple thoughts. Ammo is quite expensive for the .375, about $50 for a box of 20 and it can have a painfun recoil. You certainly know when it goes off. It has a better trajectory than the 45-70 and you should be able to hit things up to and over 300 yds.

The 45-70 is an all time favorite of me and many others. It is the oldest continuously produced metalic cartridge in the world, that is still in production. Ammo prices for it are high as well, but there is quite a ready variety. Especially over the past few years. Buffalo Bore makes some very potent ammo for use in modern rifles (not antiques or those designed for only black powder). The ballistics get fairly close to .458 Win Mags! Hornady is making some with a soft rubber, pointed tip that has a better trajectory and a much longer range. It can be counted on to easily down any animal in North America, including Bison.

My preferance would lean toward the 45-70, unless I had plans to go to Africa. But, there is not a "bad" choice with these two, even though they are quite different, both are very capable for the plans you have with this hunt. It would not be considered a first choice for elephant or cape buffalo, but fine for lions and others.
I think your choice just boils down to your preferance.

Good luck and I wish that I had a hunt like than in the plans.

Mark
 
Tom, I just re-checked Sturm Ruger's site to make sure: they stopped making the number 3 a long time ago.

There are two models of the 45/70, and you can get it and the 375 in SS.
I know blue is nice, but I'd have to go stainless.

I said I'd dreamed of these two for years, and it comes down to this; the 375 is the one I want, but the 45/70 is a close second, and I know I could hunt 90% of what I could with the other, because my eyesight is the limiting factor anyway. The 45/70 is going to be a lot more practical to carry around. But I sure want the .375 Sigh.

Can't defeat the laws of physics.


munk
 
Just to be traditional. Pedersoli makes a Rolling Block for close to the same $ of a Ruger. :)

I have owned and hunted with a Ruger #1A in .243 that was a pleasure to carry and shoot. I took a number of deer with that rifle.

Bill
 
Loaded ammunition for the .45-70 runs between $1 and $3 per shot. .375 will set you back between $2 and $4 per shot. If you don't already reload, start.

Remember that if you're rolling your own, it's possible to load the .45-70 into mild 458 Winmag territory without overstressing the Ruger, although your shoulder may not like it much. When a #1 is the launch platform, the performance differences between the two calibers are not so large as some might have you believe.
 
Thanks again...

reloading? For sure.

I'm in the same place as Munk.

head says 45-70, heart says 375, not enough difference to loose sleep over. Probably will go for the heart.

There are some nice No 3's on gunbroker right now.

Pretty light gun though!

The traditional route IS tempting.

If I had more to spend, an original sharps 50-70 conversion would be it.

We restored one a few months back. It was a pile of rust and sawdust when we started. Gorgeous little gun when we finished!

Then there are the trapdoors...

Ruger #1 seems to be the best compromise between strength, beauty, practicality, and price.

Ruger, the gun for the aristocrat trapped in the working man's budget!

Tom
 
In the 80's I always thought of Ruger as the working man's gun, but then their prices jumped up. Still want a number one, though, and I'll probably go 375. I have a 45/70 lever already.


munk
 
gravertom said:
Pretty light gun though!
Click to expand...

A while back I handled one and thought the same thing, considering the round (45/70) it was chambered for. Also, they have a steel "carbine" butt plate that wraps over the top of the stock, so there is no good way to put on a recoil pad without replacing the whole stock.

However, I have also seen some custom #3s with different stocks and barrels screwed on that looked pretty cool, but for the price it would be cheaper to get a Browning Highwall.
 
One of the guys here at work has just that animal. he polished of the verbiage on the barrel, then had the action and quarter rib case colored. Rust blued the barrel too. Sweet looking little gun!

Tom
 
I've got a .308 you can use........

I'm trying to learn more about these gun posts, but I'm way behind you gents.
 
For the investment in money, I'd thought which cartridge to select for the Number One very important. Since the 375 is as close to the universal cartridge as one can come, it has a lot of appeal. Best suited to stopping an angry bear? No, but it can do that. Best long range big game rifle? No, but it can do that, with a trajectory in some loadings about like that of a 308. There I am, one man, one rifle, one bullet against the world, roaming the fields and hills and with handloads able to accomplish many hunting challenges... a scene out of the pages of an outdoor magazine of yesteryear.

I'd thought about the 416 Rigby, but did not need all that power. The 375 can do so much, and reaches farther than the 45/70. I love the 45/70, but if I'm going there, why not a 458? And if I'm at a 458, why not get a more versatile 375?

Gun admirers drive themselves crazy.


munk
 
Perhaps it doesn't look as elegant to you, but you could get a Buffalo Classic from H&R for about half the cost of the Rugers.

These guns are surprisingly strong, and can take Buffalo Bore rounds (stated explicitly on BB's site).

John, options are good
 
Hello folks, new here, first post. I saw this thread and just had to jump in, as a certified Ruger #1 lover. I have several, including one each in .45-70 and .375. I think that for the money, you simply cannot find a classier, more elegant, more beautiful rifle.

Keep in mind that the .375 is noticeably heavier, and balances differently, with the added weight all up front. In terms of recoil, the .375 kicks a bit more with most factory loads, but if you load the .45 up to the levels that it can handle, then it will hit you a lot harder. The .375 is easier to hit with at longer ranges, but the .45-70 will certainly reach out and touch something hard with the correct sighting equipment. Shooting much beyond 250 yards is tough with a typical hunting scope or sight, since there just isn't enough elevation adjustment available to correct for trajectory, and the #1 isn't well suited for easily mounting the kind of receiver or tang sights that are designed for true long range .45-70 work.

So you crawl a few hundred yards through the grass. So what? It's hunting. Can you honestly think about shooting a bison with anything other than a .45-70? There's a fair-to-good chance that you will actually be able to see your bullet in flight to the target! One of the coolest things you will ever see! Here's another vote for following the heart.

Now back to the tomahawk thread that I was looking for. Good luck in the fall, you lucky devil.:thumbup:

John
 
I would ask what range the hunt organizers anticipate you will shoot from. In the plains you can get into situations where the range is long. The guys who shoot antelope go for those really flat shooting calibers. You might need to go for a lower caliber higher velocity round. Depending on your circumstances a .338 Win Mag or a .340 Weatherby might fit your needs and be useful for an elk hunt some other season.
 
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