Ruger #1 Build suggestions

[tater]

A question for my fellow quirky rifle fans: What would your ultimate Ruger #1 "sort of back-country" rifle look like?

Something in that 7 1/2-8lbs all in with the ability to be a consistent 450 yard effective round from deer through moose.
A current take on a classic highlands stalking rifle? Something with carbon fiber? Utilize the layout to keep a full 26" barrel or slim it and shorten it? Go 338-06AI or something a little more classic like a 9.3x62? Chase the trend and go 280AI or a PRC?

My current go to calibers are 25-06, 6.5x55, 308, 30-06 and 338WM.

I have a 1987 in 338WM that is ready to be a donor (understanding that the extractor will more than likely need to be recut/replaced), and a great smith who likes weird so let me know some thoughts.

 

[NSI]

I too have been flirting with both a classic walnut/blue no1 or a bullpup single shot carbon concept.

Feels like a 243, 7-08, or 25-06 would be philosophically quite at home on a classic no 1. Who makes a gloss scope that holds zero? Dialing seems antithetical to such a setup, so maybe a capped-turret Trijicon comes close…

-J

 

[eric1115]

Man, a 7x57 would seem right. Maybe .280AI or .284win?

Fixed 4x gloss Leupold (probably the only Leupold I'll recommend).

 

[TaperPin]

Ive always liked the number 1 - had a 22-250 varmint and 375 H&H. . . Both were pretty heavy. Handling another guys 30-06 with the short skinny barrel made it feel lightweight, although it was probably 7 lbs. without a scope. It’s such a classic design, I’ve had a hard time liking any of the black stocks or stainless looking finishes.

A 26” octagon barrel 7 mag would be cool.

 

[TaperPin]

I did t think I liked silver finishes, then this picture popped up. Lol

 

[letrbuck]

I've always wanted a No1 in 9.3x62... could go x74R or a 370 sako for a little more snort...

With it currently being a 338 win mag, I'd make it a 358 Norma

275 Rigby would be neat too...

My vote is go the classic, fuddy route

 

[thinhorn_AK]

6.5 creedmoor

 

[left hunter]

my vote is to send it to RJ Renner and have him do his stalking rifle treatment on it minus lowering of the comb so it still works best for a scope. And chambered in 300 H&H magnum with a 24 inch barrel. It would have to have a red pad as well

 

[tater]

Some great feedback here.
I am committed to my smith here that is not only a crusty European craftsman, but he is also a single shot loon as well.

I may have to look at this as my "one and done" last rifle at my age and go all in (he does beautiful stock work).

Sorry Thinhorn, but i can't do a CM. Having said that, i have always been "6.5-284 curious".

 

[left hunter]

If you already have a smith that is into single shots and phenomenal at wood (a rare combo these days) then I wouldn’t even consider carbon fiber for the stock (unless you were referring to the barrel but I still wouldn’t do that). Probably the hardest part now will be picking out the stock blank you want!

 

[Wapiti1]

This one I built. 30-06 AI, 22" Douglas barrel, english walnut stock with a lot of flame to it, Jard trigger set at 2lbs, custom Weaver style scope base made by myself. With scope it weighs 7.5 lbs. I put the barrel band and banded front sight back on. There is a peep sight hidden under the recoil pad that fits on the rail. If you have a screwdriver to get the scope off, you have what you need to get to the peep sight. One day I'll make a mechanism to make that a toolless operation. Pull back on pad and rotate left. I've made a couple but never seem to get time to make one for my own rifle.

I had no good reason to go 30-06 AI other than I already had the reamer and dies. It would have been just fine in standard 30-06. If (when) I did it again, it would be a long throated .284 Win with 1:8 twist barrel.

The stock is way nicer in person, but you get the idea.

Jeremy

 

[LoggerDan]

7mm Mauser. Mannlicher stock.

 

[S-3 ranch]

358 Norma mag or 8mm Remington mag for unique
375 with 250gr @ 3k fps sound like um hum let’s go

6.5-06 , 6.5 Norma sounds good too

 

[Jim1187]

If I had your 338 as a donor I'd probably do a modernish twist on the highlands stalking rifle. Make it a 7mm Rem Mag for simplicity's sake, 3 leaf folding rear sight with a fixed 4 or 6x scope.
L Starting from zero I'd be inclined to do a similar build but in a rimmed cartridge likely the 7x65r to give me maximum warm and fuzzies.