After our first Ruger No 1 (the 44 mag Ruger 1S) got me hooked, I asked my local shop to help me find another Ruger No. 1. My friend, the owner, asked me what I would like. Hmmm! Might as well dream a bit, so I replied that maybe something in more of a long range shooter, but in a pleasant to shoot cartridge, as in, say, a 243, this time with a 1B style long forearm. Yup, I told them a 1B in 243 would be just fine. Not that I expected to find one anytime soon, because we seldom see these Ruger single shots in our area.
Well, call me lucky, but the very next day I walked in the store and the owner looked at me and chuckled. He told me to walk down to the end of the gun rack and look behind the counter. He had a surprise for me. Believe it or not, there was a used Ruger 1B in 243 that he had just taken in on trade. Serial # dates it to 1988, which is a nice vintage for a Ruger. The look on my face must have been priceless, because the owner and the guys behind the counter broke out in laughter.
Back to the gun. The No.1B version of the Ruger single shot is probably the most common and familiar. All the B series have long 26" barrels and the long standard forearm. Even so, overall length is still only 42", thanks to the very compact single shot action.
Headed to the range the next day to zero the scope, using a variety of factory loads, everything from 70 grain Fiocchi to Hornady Whitetail 100s. Windy, though, with a 12-15 mph crosswind. Still, very pleased to report that everything put 5 shots into an inch or less.
Returned,today, with some different factory ammo. Still breezy, though not as strong and the breeze was at my back. First up was the most expensive ammo I could find in the Federal Premium loaded with 100 grain Nosler Partitions. Well, yuk. Groups opened up to a miserable inch and a half. My perfect streak of an inch or less with any factory ammo was broken.
My disappointment was short-lived, however. Using Hornady 75 grain V-max 75 grains took me promptly back to just under an inch. Finished up with the what I had left in the box of the Hornady Whitetail Classic 100 grain interlocks form my first trip. They had shot easily under an inch, then, would they do it, again?.
Oh, yeah. We have a winner!
Well, go figure. The cheapest factory 243 ammo happens to be the favorite for this rifle. Honestly, I don't know if I could do any better with reloads.
One more big plus for this 1B is that my husband, Bill, actually enjoys shooting the 1B, too, just as he surprised me by enjoying the 1S in 44 mag. Usually hard to talk him out of his favorite rimfires, but not with these Ruger No. 1 rifles. This is important, of course, because it means there maybe another Ruger No.1 in the collection, someday. I do like nice surprises.
