Ruger No. 1 Straight walk cartridge options

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  • Horseman308

    Active Member
    Jan 27, 2016
    222
    Ruger No. 1 Straight wall cartridge options

    I have always loved single shot rifles, especially the falling block designs. I've got a Sharps and 2 Stevens, and I used to have a nice Ruger No. 1 in .308win that I sold years ago. I miss that rifle and feel a growing need for another. With straight wall rifle cartridges now legal for deer in Maryland, it seems time.

    I know the most common straight wall chamberings for the No. 1 is .45-70 and probably. I see a few others out there, like the odd .38-55win, .405win, and .44mag. I know there have been some recent ones in 450 Marlin and 450 Bushmaster.

    What others am I missing that I might consider.
     
    Last edited:

    Growler215

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 30, 2020
    2,170
    SOMD
    I see a lot of folks going to 350 Legend.

    I bought a 450 Bushmaster last year but have been thinking of building a 350 Legend AR pistol - depending on how the brace thing goes.
     

    ohen cepel

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 2, 2011
    4,509
    Where they send me.
    The 450BMs were getting blown out by CDNN recently, $1050 or so IIRC. I like the BM in an AR but seems a bit silly in a #1.

    I would go 45-70 myself as the #1 can be loaded HOT in that round if you like (special section in the manuals just for it, after the modern lever guns).

    I think the 44's are rather uncommon and $$.

    They chambered it in many less common rounds over the years so I'm sure we're missing some still. Also, I get confused with which state calls which rounds "straight" as they don't seem to match across state lines and are not straight when I look at them. Some also are anything over .35cal.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,881
    Well the OP has specific Interest in a Ruger #1 on purpose. ( Perhaps his interest might stretch to No 3 also ? )

    For reasonably available gun , in reasonably available calibers , you're probably looking at .45-70.

    My Late Shooting & Handloading Partner #1 did aquire a No 1 in .405 . Unfortunately this was after the Cancer started , and he never regained his health enough to shoot big bore rifles again .

    There were enough .405's in circulation a few years ago , you might be able to get one with only a modest wrestling match with a Ruger Collector . ( If you like historically interesting cartridges that virtually require handloading .)

    Added- That's assuming you mean factory rifles . If OP is at the level of enjoying Made in Montana Sharps , and modern clone Stevens , it wouldn't be daunting to rebarrell or rebore a No 1 to * Interesting * chamberings of your choice .
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    38-55 is an excellent cartridge that is very accurate and won't beat you up too bad. You can also load it down and not loose the accuracy as in some calibers. Brass can be made from 30-30 just by firing a small charge of pistol powder filled with corn meal and sealed with Elmers glue. It is perfect for anything East of the Mississippi.
     

    6Den

    Active Member
    Feb 10, 2013
    835
    Howard County
    38-55 is an excellent cartridge that is very accurate and won't beat you up too bad. You can also load it down and not loose the accuracy as in some calibers. Brass can be made from 30-30 just by firing a small charge of pistol powder filled with corn meal and sealed with Elmers glue. It is perfect for anything East of the Mississippi.
    You and I think alike, my friend. My .38-55 is loaded from .44mag level all the way up to .375Win/.45-70 levels. It is delightfully accurate. Varying bore sizes and chamber lengths can make it challenging to find the right loads and bullet diameters, but that's part of the fun. I love the caliber...but I also love oddballs!
     

    duckslayer

    Active Member
    Feb 3, 2009
    554
    southern dorchester county
    45/70 infinite hand load options and still very popular everywhere. So you can buy factory loads virtually anywhere in the US. Also more than adequate for elk ,bear or Buffalo if you should so desire
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,881
    Yes , unquestionably .45-70 is fine ctg , handload- able to wide variety of levels , plus good variety of factory ammunition . The only " gripes " is that it's overkill on Maryland sized Whitetails , and " flat for 19th century " trajectories . If comparing to the universe of other popular " SW Ctg " , the comparitive trajectory is mid pack .


    Now that the PSA on the virtues of .45-70 are out of the way , how about the Md DNR and .38-55 ? Do they accept it as SW with a 0.029 shoulder ?

    I don't know if I talked about it here , but my recent B day present to myself was a shooter grade 1971 Win M94 , with an eye to eventual rebore to .38-55 . If DNR blesses .38-55 as SW , that project will get bumped to front burner .

    Added for background :

    Yes , I was exposed to happy users of Win 1894 .38-55 in my formative years.

    While recent era .38-55 ammo is warm spit velocities ( from either Lawyer paranoia , or downloaded for CAS ) , the mid 20th Century " Hi Speed " loading intended for Win M94 and Marlin M336 class guns is similar energy , and similar sectional density as 170gr .30-30 , with 50% more hole . ( And yes , load data for these type loads has lots of data , within these pressures .)

    And for Hunting with Cast Bullets , .377 is way more better than .309- ish .

    **********************

    But in the modern era , original .38-55 Winchesters are $$ to collectors , and .30WCF can be rebored for way less than price difference between comparable guns .
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Here is Ohio's law.
    What Kind Of Rifles Can You Hunt With In Ohio?

    The ODNR has recently approved of the .450 Bushmaster rifle pistol cartridge, making this a legal hunting cartridge. This round is hard-hitting and can take any deer down quickly.

    A .444 Marlin is legal to use for hunting season. This traditional cartridge was used to give a lever-action rifle a bigger punch when the .45-70 caliber rifles weren't produced commercially for years.

    The .38-55 Winchester is a common type of cartridge that can be labeled as one of the 'grandfathers' when it comes to ammunition used in gun season.

    .44 Magnum is legal to use for shooting. This cartridge isn't just used for revolvers, it can also be chambered into an accurate rifle. The effect of this is more powerful than a handgun length barrel, allowing for even lighter recoiling practice and is perfect for a hunter to use on deer.

    A hard-hitter that is suitable for any large game at a short-medium range is a .45-70 Government cartridge. This straight wall cartridge is said to be a king out on the terrain and is great for deer hunters.

    The .357 Magnum is a revolver cartridge that is perfect for deer hunters. Placing these cartridges in a rifle gives it some teeth.

    .50 Beowulf is a bigger bullet that can do very well for any hunters that are equipped with this type of ammunition. Added to this, it's a humane way of shooting.
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,881
    Yes , Ohio and Mississippi were the pioneers of special regs for SW Ctgs .

    But as we all know , Md doesn't always use logic . Has Md made a pronouncement on .38-55 ? Would the typical DNR Ofc/ Ranger w/o a micrometer in their pocket just nod their head at your representing a .38-55 as SW just from visuals 3 feet away ?
     

    6Den

    Active Member
    Feb 10, 2013
    835
    Howard County
    The .38-55 is SW. The smaller neck size is because it's tapered, just like the .350L. MD has no case length restrictions, so if the .45-70 is acceptable, so should be the .38-55.
     

    Horseman308

    Active Member
    Jan 27, 2016
    222
    Thanks for all the suggestions, y'all. You're basically confirming that I need a .45-70 - or a .38-55 if I can find one. I already have a Pedersoli Sharps in .45-70 and a CPA/Stevens 44 1/2 in .40-65, so I'm pretty set on a No. 1. Heavy rifles don't normally bother me, but 12lbs is a bit much for hunting rifle. Another. 45-70 would be great, as I already have all the reloading components.

    I had a W94 in .38-55 a couple years ago. It was one of the Legendary Frontiersman commemorative models, so I was dubious that hunting with the silver receiver would be smart. I ended up selling it to finance a flintlock. That was before the SW became legal for deer, and now I kinda wonder if I made a dumb move.
     

    pre64hunter

    Active Member
    Mar 19, 2010
    643
    Harford County
    Browning 1885 in 45-70

    I'm finding the 45-70 to be very accurate and forgiving especially with the Hornady 325 FTX. Off the top of my head recalling loads,(more or less) an increase in a few grains of powder only increases the velocity a 100 FPS or so.
    I did a little work on a Marlin 1895 and I'm getting less than an inch one hole @100 and 2" @200 10" low.
    I just put a scope on a Browning Single Shot 1885 in 45-70. I was just going to flip it but after seeing how well the 45-70 shoots I'm going to try it @200 this week if I get time to load some ammo for it.
    I also have another Marlin 1895 that shoots just as well. I'm probably going to sell both one day. The Browning is really a nice gun, no safe queen, used enough that you're gonna want to hunt with it.
     

    pre64hunter

    Active Member
    Mar 19, 2010
    643
    Harford County
    350 Legend is great

    I see a lot of folks going to 350 Legend.

    I bought a 450 Bushmaster last year but have been thinking of building a 350 Legend AR pistol - depending on how the brace thing goes.

    My son and grandson shot a bunch of deer last year with the 350 Legend. Notable is a buck at 213 Yards, he held a little high on the body, a pass through heart shot. Another, although admittedly a bit unethical, shot a nice doe at 35 yards. Her little one standing behind her fell over dead and she ran a short distance and dropped dead.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    My son and grandson shot a bunch of deer last year with the 350 Legend. Notable is a buck at 213 Yards, he held a little high on the body, a pass through heart shot. Another, although admittedly a bit unethical, shot a nice doe at 35 yards. Her little one standing behind her fell over dead and she ran a short distance and dropped dead.

    4. BE CERTAIN OF YOUR TARGET, YOUR LINE OF FIRE, AND WHAT LIES BEYOND YOUR TARGET. Just sayin.
     

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