Dilemma with a Ruger#1

blue devil · Feb 21, 2018

I own a .257 Ackley Improved Ruger #1, purchased in 1973. Sent it to a guy to give me some options on what to do with it since it had been having some issues. Got the call last night that the barrel has hairline cracks about 3" above the receiver and needs to be a total rebarrel job. My dilemma comes with the money to rebarrel the gun and labor, due to its age, where I could almost buy a new Kimber Hunter or at least pretty close? Is there a demand for selling the Ruger #1 for the value of the receiver, stock, etc. ? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

BrentD · Feb 21, 2018

Cracks in the barrel? I would think Ruger would replace for free and fast.

pabearhunter · Feb 21, 2018

I think I would get a second opinion from another gunsmith.

BrentD · Feb 21, 2018

pabearhunter said:
I think I would get a second opinion from another gunsmith.

++1

Keeptrying · Feb 21, 2018

It would go back to Ruger if it were mine. They would want to see it.

blue devil · Feb 21, 2018

I am going to try to get a hold of Ruger. This gun is 45 years old, approximately 15,000+ loads shot thru it and has been modified with improved. I don't foresee them doing much for me, but it's worth a shot. This gunsmith was referred to me by a buddy and seems to be the only gunsmith that wanted to check into the issue and get me some info. The first 3 (in SD) didn't even want to deal with a Ruger#1 and the 4th (in Indiana) seemed to be extremely knowledgable about Ruger#1's but I'm willing to spend $1100 to fix the issue, when I can buy a new one for $1,300-1,400. So calling Ruger to find out some options.

cahunter805 · Feb 21, 2018

With that many rounds I would think he meant fire cracking in the rifling of the barrel. PacNor will rebarrel a ruger #1 for a pretty decent price. Are you wanting a 257AI again? PacNor has a lot of reamers available also.
Since you have had the rifle a long time and I'm sure it has sentimental value I'd say rebarrel it. Plus it will probably be pretty accurate with a custom barrel.

blue devil · Feb 21, 2018

Yes sorry, they look like micro cracks, so you are probably correct. I'm not sure if I would have it as a .257AI again or a straight .257 Roberts. I will also check with PacNor Thanks

cahunter805 said:
With that many rounds I would think he meant fire cracking in the rifling of the barrel. PacNor will rebarrel a ruger #1 for a pretty decent price. Are you wanting a 257AI again? PacNor has a lot of reamers available also.
Since you have had the rifle a long time and I'm sure it has sentimental value I'd say rebarrel it. Plus it will probably be pretty accurate with a custom barrel.

6mm Remington · Feb 21, 2018

If you rebarrel I would go a 25-06 if you like the 257 calibers. Man with a 24 or 26" barrel it's a screamer. I do have a Ruger 1B in 6mm Remington and it is a fantastic shooting rifle. I really like it for coyotes, deer, and antelope.

Redman · Feb 21, 2018

6mm Remington said:
If you rebarrel I would go a 25-06 if you like the 257 calibers. Man with a 24 or 26" barrel it's a screamer. I do have a Ruger 1B in 6mm Remington and it is a fantastic shooting rifle. I really like it for coyotes, deer, and antelope.

Aww man I have been wanting one in a 6mm Rem or .220 Swift!

belly-deep · Feb 21, 2018

I’d just rebarrel.

And I’d buy a Hunter.

It’s called win-win.

Keeptrying · Feb 22, 2018

Wow! Did you put the 15,000 through it?

Such nice rifles.

blue devil · Feb 22, 2018

Between my father and I. He used to shoot it a lot on prairie dog towns and I've shot it a lot in recent years to fireform any .257 brass that I can find

Keeptrying said:
Wow! Did you put the 15,000 through it?

Such nice rifles.

Gunner46 · Feb 22, 2018

Keep in thought, if you send it to Ruger they will rebarrel to it's original factory cartridge only. That goes for any work you have done on any rifle sent to them, back to factory original spec (for the entire rifle), period.

Boarmaster · Feb 22, 2018

You got your moneys worth out of it . If it has sentimental value I would hang it in a place of honor and go buy a new one.

Keeptrying · Feb 22, 2018

blue devil said:
Between my father and I. He used to shoot it a lot on prairie dog towns and I've shot it a lot in recent years to fireform any .257 brass that I can find

That's cool. Where do you shoot? Benchresters for me.

blue devil · Feb 22, 2018

I discussed that with my father. We've been discussing what caliber to go to. He would like to see it in an original .257 Roberts, but the brass is so difficult to find anymore. I would maybe look into the 6.5 Creedmoor. Only bad thing is it had a heavy/varmit barrel on it and now I would have to go back to the sportster barrel.

Gunner46 said:
Keep in thought, if you send it to Ruger they will rebarrel to it's original factory cartridge only. That goes for any work you have done on any rifle sent to them, back to factory original spec (for the entire rifle), period.

Dilemma with a Ruger#1

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