Ruger #1 as a tactical rifle?

[old leghumper]

Pro's and con's? Assuming a good custom barrel, is the slow lock time a problem, having the scope mounted on the barrel a problem when it warms up? Other concerns I should consider. Lastly, a good smith who works on #1's? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Dans40X]

Seriously !?!?!?!?!?!

Hang your Uger #1 over the mantle below your favorite muzzle loader.

Select a bolt action repeater rifle w/ DBM capabilities.

 

[Richard Jones]

^^^^^ What he said.

 

[matthias]

doesn't seem like a great idea. slow reload times, lack of aftermarket, cost with re-chamber, on and on .
target gun or varmint gun or dangerous game gonna eat you gun you bet!


other than that , what they said^^^^^

 

[Shynloco]

Honestly, NOT HARDLY!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta get up to AT LEAST to an M77 model if you want to even consider a Ruger as a good Tactical Rifle these days. And I've got three Rugers and really like all of those M77's (one of which was actually a true Sniper/Tactical rifle and built in 1982).

Alex

 

[Ledd Slinger]

It's May 1st right? Not April 1st?...
A single shot can be used for many applications, BUT tactical engagement of multiple targets will never be one of them. No, it is not a good idea.

 

[Patch700]

If this is your only means to a "tactical " rifle I would recommend selling the #1 to someone who wants a #1 and use the money to purchase a more appropriate platform.

The ruger #1 can be a very nice rifle when done tastefully... I'm not in any way shape or for into the tactical thing but if I was and wanted a tactical rifle I would go with a store bought rem 700 in an hs stock and call it good enough.

Good luck.

 

[joshb]

I think it all depends on how fast you are on the reload! 😳

 

[watercam]

If you are dying to do it, do it. I was pretty quick on the reload when I hunted boar with one. Free float the forend and glass bed the contact points 1) where the action meets the forend and 2) where the forend screw bracket in inletted into the forend. Barreling is no big deal. Any competent smith can do it. Involves one cut for the extractor, no worse than M70 controlled feed actions. I believe I have seen picatinney rails for them if needed. Triggers are workable but there are a couple available from Brownells as well as lightened hammers to cut lock time (though I never really saw any difference).
Your OAL will be shorter and a tad lighter for those humps up and down hill and dale!

 

[rwk]

You got to be nuts.

 

[wwbrown]

I would hate to have to alter my shooting position so much just to reload. The other way to think about it is that tactical means tacticool to many, that is just hang as much stuff as you can off the gun. I have seen a surefire flashlight mounted on what the owner felt was a sniper rifle. The long range and the desire to remain concealed kind of precludes the use of a flashlight in the visible.

wade

 

[normmatzen]

When I was more into black powder there was a very popular tee shirt that said; "Beware the Man Who Needs Only One Shot!"

 

[Ledd Slinger]

When I was more into black powder there was a very popular tee shirt that said; "Beware the Man Who Needs Only One Shot!"

True, but that has NOTHING to do with a "Tactical" application.

 

[watercam]

Yes, well what is a 'Tactical' situation? The need to put accurate rounds down range effectively. Ideally one-shot-one-kill type shots. It really has nothing to do with Tactical Competitions as much as Tactical effectiveness. In the Civil War it was a guy in a tree with a target muzzleloader shooting as far as 1500 yards with iron or optical sights. In WWI a Tactical shooter (sharpshooter/sniper) was the guy in the platoon who could make extreme shots with his service rifle. In WWII it was Mauser 98 and Springfield-based bolt guns (yes and Lee-Enfields/Arisakas/K31s/Swedish 41Bs/Mosin-Nagants/M1C &Ds etc.) with 1X (K31 with diopter sights) to 4X (Nazi and Swedes) optics making 0-to-more yard shots with accurate service rifles with rudimentary optics. Vietnam saw Winchester heavy barrel 30-06 and Remington .308s with 8X (Marines) and 3-9x40 Redfield scope or accurized M1As with optics. Now we have anything from .308 to 300 Win. Mag. to 338 Lapua to 50 BMG. ANY rifle can perform a 'Tactical' function. Who the hell cares as long as the shooter is comfortable with his weapon and he is having a good time competing?!?!? It needn't be an equipment race. It is a SHOOTING thing not a COMPUTER and KESTRAL exercise. Some of the best (and longest) shots have been made by a guy estimating the range and conditions and making a shot based upon experience and knowledge.
Ask any military 'Tactical' shooter what training they STILL have to have to be sent out into the field.

 

[watercam]

Geez, I'm exhausted...

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Well Mr. MTM. Didnt mean to get you all worked up, but we happen to be living in the year 2015. And though I am not a huge tactical weapon guy, I know that the concept is being able to range targets effectively with optics and charts and engaging multiple targets as quickly as possible "when needed". If a single shot rifle was an acceptable tactical weapon these days why is there no such thing in the military today?

My wife's cousin was a Marine Sniper in Iraq a handful of years ago. I was talking about this with him and he just laughed. Said the terrorist would have "mowed him down" if that's all he had. He used the M40A3 and the M240 saw for both sniping and close encounters when on surveillance or support missions. He also utilized the MK11 and I believe the M110 semi-auto sniper rifle when it was being introduced to the military. All perfect examples of what is considered a tactical rifle today.

"Tactical" can have a definition open to interpretation in some people's mind. But to me and many others, it basically means "a modern military style weapon or associated gear used by soldiers in combat".

So I suppose he could get a muzzle loader and call that "Tactical" though none of those soldiers are living today. He can really do whatever he wants. Don't make no difference to me. I served in the military myself to give him that right. But if he wants to play G.I. Joe in today's tactical world, my "opinion" is that a Ruger #1 is not a very good choice at all.

 

[watercam]

Fair enough, I am not arguing the modern warfare point. It sounds like a single shot is what he has, no need to discourage him from getting started with that and let him or her move up as budget allows.
Believe me, it is not you!

 

[dtucker]

Seriously !?!?!?!?!?!

Hang your Uger #1 over the mantle below your favorite muzzle loader.

Select a bolt action repeater rifle w/ DBM capabilities.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Fair enough, I am not arguing the modern warfare point. It sounds like a single shot is what he has, no need to discourage him from getting started with that and let him or her move up as budget allows.
Believe me, it is not you!

Agreed. Everyone's gotta start somewhere with what they have. But if he has money to blow on turning it into what he thinks is a Tactical rifle, he might as well sell it and get a Model 700 Police to start with. Ruger #1's in nice condition sell for a pretty good penny depending on the chambering. So he might be able to sell the Ruger, get a nice bolt action rifle, and still have money left over from the sale. Then he'd have even MORE money to put into making a rifle much closer to what folks these days consider tactical.

 

[joshb]

MTM and ledd slinger. That was quite the dissertation. Bravo. Any one seen a picture of a Tactical Lever action? I think Mossberg is making it. Ugliest thing I've seen, yet.