Ruger no. 1 vs no. 3

Hawkshaw

March 01, 2012 12:50

Is there any significant diff. between the two, as far as investment, or accuracy, or anything else? THX HAWKSHAW

0

• 

  gruntled

  March 01, 2012 13:59

  The stock design. The curved steel buttplate will HURT in a heavy caliber.

  0
• 

  TWalker

  March 01, 2012 14:08

  As the No. 3's have been discontinued for quite a while, they have become collectible and their values reflect this. Originally they sold for about $165. Common ones today bring about $600 and rare ones close to $1,000. (sometimes slightly more) The No. 1 is a higher quality gun even though it uses the same action. The lever is different and the wood is much nicer. Number 1's have a suggested retail around a grand though often sell for much less. Given a choice, I prefer the No.3's for investment and the Number 1's for shooting. I own all 6 of the No. 3's; My favorite is the 30-40 Krag. Of the Number 1's, my favorites are the 458 Win. Mag and the 375 H&H Magnum. Both the No. 3 and Number 1's are classics in my book. You can't go wrong with either.

  0
• 

  peabo

  March 01, 2012 18:27

  I think the #3 can be just as accurate as the #1.
  I had a #3 in .223 that I had just bought and had to shoot. It would shoot <2 inches at 100 yards with iron sites and factory ammo (and my bad eyesight).
  When I put a scope on it, I didn't have the high rings and the scope was hitting the barrel band, so I took it off. It didn't shoot nearly as well without the barrel band. I either had to get the high rings or use a scope with a smaller objective bell. You may want to keep that in mind if you get a #3. So yes, I think the #3 can be just as accurate as the #1, but I believe you must leave the barrel band on with the factory wood.
  
  I think the reason they discontinued the #3 was because people were buying the #3 for just the action and building custom rifles - which cut into the sales of the #1. I have seen some very nice custom rifles built using the #3 action. Just my thoughts.
  
  Edit to include photos:
  
  This is the reason for my opinion about the accuracy of the #3.
  
  
  
  
  
  These are from #3 in 22 hornet from the same year.
  I didn't record what scope I had on the hornet, and I don't remember.
  
  
  
  
  
  Thanks---Peabo

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.