My $40.00 Ruger #1 in 7 STW and my Ruger Frontier 308

[BKS]

 I won the Ruger #1 at a Buckmasters Banquet in 2002, I bought 2 raffle tickets and won it. It ws their conservation edition for that year.  My friends said I was crazy to shoot it and actually hunt with it but,, I have $40.00 invested in the rifle. It is a 7STW and is a deer killing machine. What other scope to have on it but a Nikon Buckmaster's 4x14.

Best groups have been around 3/4" at 100 yards with 140 Winchester Ballistic Silvertips.





 The Frontier is a 308 and I bought it last year, barely used. It has Leupold FXII 2.5 Scout and is finished in Target Grey? I have only shot it a few times so I can't brag about any groups.  




 


  

[wallynut]

Nice rifles.  I would just shoot them both, don't worry about the collector value. I don't really think that there's much, if any extra collector value just for winning it.  Besides the engraving, what would make it any better then the next #1 off the shelf?  It's great that you won it with a $40 investment, and if you like shooting it, shoot it with pride knowing it only cost you that much.

[BKS]

 My thoughts exactly. I had always wanted a #1 but wouldnt turn loose of the cash. I am thinking of having a muzzle brake put on it to make it a little "nicer" to shoot. The recoil is a little fierce on it.

[Darrell Davis]

  SUPER!!!!!!!!!!  

Love those #1s!

I think I personally would stay away from the muzzle brake.

That is just IMHO, from an Ol'Coot.

I have shot a 300win mag for years, and my bench time is spent with it pounding a sand bag, while range time is sometimes reduced loads.

Ya never feel the recoil when hunting as long as the rifle never hurts you the rest of the year.

Just personally don't want the added noize that a muzzle brake would produce.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[rugerfan.64]

Pretty nice little # 1 ya got there. What say I send you a nice crisp U.S. Grant for it? LOL !! Enjoy!! I couldnt win anything if i had all the raffle tickets save 1.

[Lloyd Smale]

Like was said there isnt much interst in collecting banquet giveaway guns anyway and it would be one fine long range deer rifle and a shame to let it sit in the safe.

[zoner]

if recoil is a problem there are other ways to help it than a muzzle brake....a high quality recoil pad,dead mule in the stock,etc.Muzzle brakes are too loud for the shooter and anybody around them. And good on you for shootin these rifles. No "safe queens" at my house. If I can't shoot it,i don't need it

[BKS]

 I did collect my largest deer with my farthest shot, 255 yards with it. I had completely forgot about a mercury recoil reducer in the stock.

 I hope to find a super deal on 7mm Rem Mag bolt gun, Im gonna have it reamed to 7STW. Ain't no sense in reloading for two different 7mms.

 

[Darrell Davis]

Except, --------- manufacturing tolerances being what they are, even though the numbers on the outside of the barrel are the same, it is very likely that you should devote a set of dies and brass supply to each rifle.

Otherwise, you will more then likely not have optimum case life and/or reloads.

Should one rifle have a larger/longer chamber - all within tolerances of course - and the other shorter/smaller, you will be forced to OVER size your brass fired in the larger chamber for them to fit the smaller. BAD!!!!!!!!!! for consistency of handloads AND case life.

Then say your dies happen to be small or large and this throws in another veriable.

AS per long shots, years back I made the longest shot I ever expect to make, with just a plain Ol'RUGER #1B in plain Ol'7mag.

Bang flop at 500yds or a tad more according to the range finder, 7mm mag with a 160gr Nosler Partition.

You will never find a critter to tell you the difference, and never need a rifle to shoot a greater distance then the plain Ol'Rem. 7mm mag.

IMHO, keep the rifles as they came from the factory and avoid any brass/die/chamber size issues between the rifles/dies/brass!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[BlkHawk73]

  Non-factory engraving = no collector value.  As a shooter it doesn't matter anyways.   Play with the loads and you can probably get groups down a bit but hey, anything "minute-of-deer" is all you need. 
  Have 6 #1's and will add another soon (on order) and more after that.  GREAT rifles! 

  I've looked at the Frontiers a few times.  I like the feel and the balance of the short bbl but never bought one.  I like it!!!