I've seen a Ruger No 1 in .357 for sale, one of those marked California Highway Patrol, and wonder if anyone has ever shot one?

That's a lot of rifle for that pistol caliber, but it sure is an attractive gun. Is it likely accurate? I guess it doesn't really have to be for the short distances it might be used, but I am curious.

Probably a good candidate for some of those heavier BTBullets.

I gotta ask the dumb question here. Was this some sorta commemorative rifle or did the CHP actually use them?

I've yet to hear my first complaint about the accuracy of a Ruger #1.

I gotta ask the dumb question here. Was this some sorta commemorative rifle or did the CHP actually use them?

I don't know the answer. I think they were made about 15 years ago and I have seen mention of them in print a couple of times over the years. I can't figure out why any police agency would have a single shot rifle, unless the Chief wanted one of his very own. :p

A Ruger No. 1 in .357???

Boattail bullets for a .357??? Or does your "BT" stand for Black Talon, Ballistic Tip or something else?

Never heard of any of them. As far as I know, Ruger makes no rifles in .357, let alone No. 1s.

As far as accuracy in any chambering, Ruger No. 1s are a crapshoot, due to their 2-piece stock and the way the forearm is hung. Some are great, some are so-so, and some are horrid.

RSY

Bear Tooth Bullets is what I meant by BTBullets. Sorry.

Yeah, .357 is not offered in any of their current production rifles, and especially in a #1 !!! I suggested to a Ruger Rep they chamber a stainless #3 carbine in .480 Ruger in honor of the Grand Old Man.

I hadn't thought of seating a pointy bullet, but I guess there are some for a similar neck rifle caliber??!!??

The #1's in the CHP commemorative series are quite collectable. There were some shooters as well. Total number produced is near 1200, IIRC. Were I interested in buying one, I'd do some good research work.

How about a rechamber to .357 Maximum? :)

How about a rechamber to .357 Maximum? :)

The point is if it's under 1200 bucks it's a shooter, so ring your bell.
Loading the 357 in the 42,000 psi range, there's not much point in going with the max.
You burn slower powder and more of it with the max.

Gentlemen,

I have had a .357 Number One now for about three years, and it has become one of my favorite rifles. The research that I did indicated the following: About 1800 were made in 1982 or 1983, most of which were rollstamped with the CHP emblem. They were sold as sets with .357 revolvers as a promotional item. I don't believe that they were ever issued to the officers. A few made it out the door without the CHP stamp, but are hard to find. I found mine, (un-stamped) for $299 at a local, smalltown gun shop. Being a pathological single-shot fanatic, I had to grab it. It is a #1A, specifically. It was used, with a little wear indicating it rode in a saddle scabbard, but overall was pretty nice. I restocked it with figured walnut, and alternate between a NECG peep sight and an old Weaver K2.5 straight pipe scope, depending on what I'm shooting with it.

Loading:
Mine likes the heavy Jacketed bullets, in the 180 grain category, with high doses of H110. I only load cast bullets in my revolvers, so I don't mix them up the the rounds slated for the rifle. The Hornady 180g XTPs shoot under an inch all day long, and I have been very pleased with their performance on small game. Make that, small non-edible game. Just for fun, I tried the Hornady 180g SSP, a semi-spitzer intended for single-shot pistols. It's sort of a red-headed stepchild. It's an odd-looking thing, but it shot remarkable well. Moreover, less bullet resides in the case, and primer appearance, side by side with the equal XTP loads, indicates lower pressure. I had to borrow a bullet seating stem from another rifle die to effectively seat these, but it worked. Expansion in wet newsprint with these bullets is iffy, about 50%. Expansion with the XTPs was perfect. BTB 180s grouped within 2" off the bench at 100 yds.

Regarding the eccentricities of the Ruger #1...The forend hanger system seems to affect the smaller bore, higher velocity cartridges more than the slow heavies. I have 6 #1s, in the A, B, H, S and V comfigurations, in .220 Swift, .25-'06, .357 mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, and .45-70. The only two that have been affected are the .25-'06 and the .220 Swift. Both shot M.O.A. out of the box, but the quick forend fix and a free-float improved them considerably. Other cases I've seen support the same conclusion.

Cordially,

Smith

Thread moved to this forum for board conformity.

Good, interesting postings, Gentlemen.

Only comment is that having owned several #1's and having helped others with theirs, usually a business card shim at the foretip helped all considerably in the accuracy department.

kdub
Moderator

Smith, you've made my day! I was hoping there was a user like you on this Forum. Thank you for that info.
Dave

Bear Tooth Bullets is what I meant by BTBullets. Sorry.

Yeah, .357 is not offered in any of their current production rifles, and especially in a #1 !!! I suggested to a Ruger Rep they chamber a stainless #3 carbine in .480 Ruger in honor of the Grand Old Man.

I hadn't thought of seating a pointy bullet, but I guess there are some for a similar neck rifle caliber??!!??


I'D LOVE A #1 in 480 Ruger . PLEASE MAKE'M RUGER!!!!!

YEAH. I'd like mine (.480 Ruger #1) in stainless. :)

I have Ruger No. 1A's in the original .357 Magnum and a rechambered .357 Maximum. I shoot Hornady's 180 SSP and 200 grain SP-Interlock. It shoots fine but I am a traditionalist who shoots with open sights so I really can not tell what its real accuracy potential is as my aged eyes are the limiting factor.


Gentlemen,

I have had a .357 Number One now for about three years, and it has become one of my favorite rifles. The research that I did indicated the following: About 1800 were made in 1982 or 1983, most of which were rollstamped with the CHP emblem. They were sold as sets with .357 revolvers as a promotional item. I don't believe that they were ever issued to the officers. A few made it out the door without the CHP stamp, but are hard to find. I found mine, (un-stamped) for $299 at a local, smalltown gun shop. Being a pathological single-shot fanatic, I had to grab it. It is a #1A, specifically. It was used, with a little wear indicating it rode in a saddle scabbard, but overall was pretty nice. I restocked it with figured walnut, and alternate between a NECG peep sight and an old Weaver K2.5 straight pipe scope, depending on what I'm shooting with it.

Loading:
Mine likes the heavy Jacketed bullets, in the 180 grain category, with high doses of H110. I only load cast bullets in my revolvers, so I don't mix them up the the rounds slated for the rifle. The Hornady 180g XTPs shoot under an inch all day long, and I have been very pleased with their performance on small game. Make that, small non-edible game. Just for fun, I tried the Hornady 180g SSP, a semi-spitzer intended for single-shot pistols. It's sort of a red-headed stepchild. It's an odd-looking thing, but it shot remarkable well. Moreover, less bullet resides in the case, and primer appearance, side by side with the equal XTP loads, indicates lower pressure. I had to borrow a bullet seating stem from another rifle die to effectively seat these, but it worked. Expansion in wet newsprint with these bullets is iffy, about 50%. Expansion with the XTPs was perfect. BTB 180s grouped within 2" off the bench at 100 yds.

Regarding the eccentricities of the Ruger #1...The forend hanger system seems to affect the smaller bore, higher velocity cartridges more than the slow heavies. I have 6 #1s, in the A, B, H, S and V comfigurations, in .220 Swift, .25-'06, .357 mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, and .45-70. The only two that have been affected are the .25-'06 and the .220 Swift. Both shot M.O.A. out of the box, but the quick forend fix and a free-float improved them considerably. Other cases I've seen support the same conclusion.

Cordially,

Smith