Ruger No. 1 rebarrel question

[bdg848]

Hi, Question first, If looking for a Ruger No. 1 to rebarrel to 45-70, is there a particular chambering that would be better to start with? Say, to use the same extractors that came on the original gun, for example. Or does it not make a difference?

Background if needed;
I want a Ruger No. 1 'International', which is the one with the full length mannlicher forend, in either 45-70 or a 35 cal. I live in Iowa and we can use straightwall cartridges OR bottle neck cartridges of at least 35 cal. Ruger made a No. 1 in these chambering in other models but not in the 'International' model as far as I know (point me to one ,please, and solve all my problems).

I think the best way to get one is starting with an international model and changing the barrel OR chambering. If I start with a 308 or 3006, the conversion to 358Win or 35 Whelen would be a pretty straight forward rebore to the desired chambering (maybe even a 270 but idk if there's enough meat in the barrel to go from 270 to 35...?). However, if I want to go with a 45-70, what's the best starting point to make the swap as simple as possible or does it not make a difference?

I don't know if its worth messing with the 45-70 option when the solution of a rebore to 35 cal is right there but I want to at least know the starting point for each option. Is there an advantage to having it rebarreled completely to 45-70 vs rebored to 35? Less recoil than a Whelen, maybe? The only other advantage of the 45-70 is hunting in other straightwall cartridge states that don't have the 35 call exceptions that Iowa does.

Thanks for the help.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Best thing to do is call Gary Reeder as he does a lot of #1 builds. He will give you an idea of what is the best route. I can only see one item of concern and that is a 45 caliber barrel will likely be thicker making the long slender forearm much wider changing the feel and look of the rifle. Reboring a slender barrel of .35 caliber to 45 caliber isn't going to give you much barrel thickness so may not be feasible. Maybe purchase a #1 in 45/70 and have someone build you a new International forearm for it. I believe it would be easier and less expensive.

 

[Wapiti1]

Any standard or magnum chambering will work. The ejector (they don't have and extractor, it's a spring loaded ejector in technical terms) will be modified to fit the case rim by the gunsmith. It's a one way trip, so going back would require a new one, or welding up and recutting the original.

Jeremy

 

[TaperPin]

Either of those would be awesome to hunt with!

Right now there are Ruger number #1’s in 45-70 and 35 Whelen on Gun Broker. It would be much easier to add an international forend than doing barrel work. Well, maybe not easier than a rebore, but I doubt there’s enough barrel thickness for that.

 

[TaperPin]

I always assumed an international would have to have a front sight to look right, but this rifle popped up and looks pretty cool with the custom stock.

 

[bdg848]

Best thing to do is call Gary Reeder as he does a lot of #1 builds. He will give you an idea of what is the best route. I can only see one item of concern and that is a 45 caliber barrel will likely be thicker making the long slender forearm much wider changing the feel and look of the rifle. Reboring a slender barrel of .35 caliber to 45 caliber isn't going to give you much barrel thickness so may not be feasible. Maybe purchase a #1 in 45/70 and have someone build you a new International forearm for it. I believe it would be easier and less expensive.

Thanks for the smith suggestion, I will contact him for thoughts. Now that you mentioned it, I am now also a little concerned the international forend wouldn't fit back on the gun with a 45 cal barrel and doing any woodwork would sort of defeat the purpose of changing the barrel instead of having a custom forend made. I could send in the original to have the new barrel matched in profile but then that raises the concerns about required thickness for 45-70. Good questions for Reeder, I suppose.

I had looked at having a custom forend made but wasn't finding much for MANNLICHER style custom work and what I did find was going to set me back at LEAST $500 and still require special fitting to the gun after I received it. Reboring or new barrel options were more like $300 plus shipping and would maintain the 20" barrel, and for a rebore, the iron sights as well, which I liked.

Either of those would be awesome to hunt with!

Right now there are Ruger number #1’s in 45-70 and 35 Whelen on Gun Broker. It would be much easier to add an international forend than doing barrel work. Well, maybe not easier than a rebore, but I doubt there’s enough barrel thickness for that.

View attachment 788763

Saw those!

Any standard or magnum chambering will work. The ejector (they don't have and extractor, it's a spring loaded ejector in technical terms) will be modified to fit the case rim by the gunsmith. It's a one way trip, so going back would require a new one, or welding up and recutting the original.
Jeremy

Good to know. Thanks! I wasn't sure how close the case diameter needed to be from the get go.

 

[turbobrick]

I'd highly recommend getting ahold of Paul at Country Custom Metalsmithing, he's the No1 whisperer. I know he's out hunting right now, so give his a few days to get beck to you, but he can lead you to the best way to accomplish what you're after. I've seen several No1s that he's made International style forends for (really forend and buttstock both usually), and they came out amazing.