Author Topic: Who has or has had Ruger #3 rifles and what calibers? (Read 15590 times)

thornblom · « **on:** December 16, 2007, 05:27:57 AM »

Howdy ya'll,

My first #3 was in .22 Hornet with ruger mounts and rings and a 6x redfield scope. My second #3 was in .223 remington with Burris mounts and rings and a Burris mini 6x scope. Sadly, I let both of those #3's get away. My third #3 is in .30-40 Krag with redfield mounts, leupold rings and the leupold "Alaskan" 2.5x scope. A fine rifle using upscale loads fron an old Hodgdon loading manual.
My fourth #3 is in .375 JDJ (originally in .375 winchester, but re-chambered by Mr. JD Jones) with weaver mounts, Warnes rings and a leupold 1.5x5X scope. A killer combo but it needs #1 wood on it with a better recoil pad.

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

PS: list your #3's, calibers and comments

baranjhn · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2007, 06:10:51 AM »

I just got my first #3 yesterday. It is a .45-70 with Weaver mounts and rings (no scope yet).

I got it through some very clever trading on my part. Earlier this week I got a Husqvarna rolling block .22 for $260. After I got it, cleaned it and shot it, I decided it wasn't what I really wanted. So I listed on a local web site. A guy called me who wanted it yesterday, but he wanted to trade an AMT Aries MK 258 night scope for it. I didn't want the scope but realized it was worth more than I paid for the Husky, so I did it. Then on the same local web site a guy had this #3. So I called him up in the afternoon and asked if he wanted to trade. He did! So now I own my first #3. It is in my safe with my #1 K1A in 7.62x39.

Unfortunately, I wish it was different caliber, but since I don't have a lot of money tied into it, I can fix that. I was thinking of something more "plinkable".

BTW- I love the lever and the straight stock. I know people always talk about changing those items, but mine will stay.

zasxcd · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2007, 08:09:08 AM »

I currently have one #3 in .45-70 and another in .375 H&H (re-chambered from .375 Winchester). Loaded heavily they both kick the bejabbers out of the guy holding it. Lever shape is main problem, but the addition of a recoil pad would help also, although buttstock shape makes this difficult. Had one a long time ago in .22 Hornet, got rid of it for a Walther KKJ. Wish I'd kept the #3! Wish I still had the KKJ! Wish I had a #3 in .30-40, but I have a P-14 in .303 British so I guess I really don't need that...

Rangr44 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2007, 03:07:05 PM »

These recoil pads are ugly, but they fit the #3 stock/buttplate contour:

http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GIO&Product_Code=BW07&Category_Code=Buttpads

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=295680

http://www.gunaccessories.com/RecoilPads/index.asp

Sir Charles deMoutonBlack · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2007, 03:45:08 PM »

I own a #3. Initially in .45-70, but now it is a .32-40 Schuetzen rifle. It has a Ron Smith custom barrel on it, and DEADLY.

my shooting habits have progressed to Frontier Action Shooting, so I don't use it much. I have some #1 wood for it sitting somewhere.

deltecs · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2007, 04:39:33 PM »

I had a #3 in 30-40 for a while back in the 70's. Traded my dad for a Segely Springfield in 06. It was a nice weapon and shot very well with pointed rounds. With the strong action of the #3, I had velocities almost equaling top loads in the 06 without pressure signs on the brass. The rounds came out very easy and the ejector flung them far. He still uses it for deer hunting in OK.

thornblom · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2007, 11:21:45 PM »

Sir Charles,

Would the #1 wood be for sale, and, if so, how much?

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

barracudadave67 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2007, 06:11:32 AM »

I have two #3's. One in 45/70, w/ a bushnell scope, and weaver rings. It shoots decent @ 100 yds.
The other has been rechambered to .444 Marlin, I have a CHEAP Tasco scope on it and havn't got it
to do any thing spectacular yet, but I havn't been shooting for a while now. Got to get back into it.
I miss it. I have a lot of job restraints.
Dave C.

Drugstore Cowboy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 25, 2007, 05:01:41 PM »

Have had a #3 in 30/40 for 10 or 12 years. A little chunky to carry but accurate with factory ammo and tough on deer.

popplecop · « **Reply #9 on:** December 26, 2007, 04:48:37 AM »

Had one in 45-70 years ago, kicked like a mule. Traded in on a No. 1 in 25-06. Now shoot a 45-70 in a No. 1, mo better.

BobT · « **Reply #10 on:** January 02, 2008, 05:59:13 AM »

I had a .22 Hornet years ago but I had to part with it due to financial difficulties, (I was in the "Clinton" Navy and had to pay for my own transfers),(I did stick it out long enough to retire though!). I loved it and would like to have a safe full of them but they don't show up around here very often!

Awf Hand · « **Reply #11 on:** January 02, 2008, 07:42:03 AM »

Have a No. 3 currently. Formerly a .45-70. Pulled and sold the bbl and am building a .32 Miller Short w/ 27" long 1.25" O.D. bbl. Lotsa work. I'll post pictures when I get it done.

s_hawk · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2008, 10:29:29 AM »

45-70.
Hawk

HEAD0001 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2008, 03:22:39 PM »

I once had a 22 Hornet. I let some one talk me out of it. I wish now that I had kept it. Oh well, Tom.

Doc RD · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2008, 01:37:41 PM »

I had one in .223 but I sold it off to buy a bolt gun. Like the others have said, I'd like that one back.

Doc

the jigger · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2008, 11:17:47 AM »

my first #3 was a 45-70. traded it for an over/under shot gun back in the 70's. my next #3 was in 223 which immediately became a 250/3000. i still have it but it has become a 250/3000AI with a wenig laminated stock set, a douglas XX #7 barrel, a kepplinger single-set trigger and a 4X14 Nikon mil-dot scope.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2008, 11:46:38 AM »

I had a No 3 in 45-70. When I last saw it at my friends house it looked the same as it did when it left the factory.
I would like to get another one. But in another caliber. Pref. a small to medium bore. 7X57 to 35 Rem.

Harry O · « **Reply #17 on:** February 14, 2008, 08:59:06 AM »

I have three of them. However, I call them Ruger No. 2's.

.375 Win with a Williams peep sight. 30-40 Krag with a 3-9 Leopold compact scope. A wildcat 7mm/30-40 Krag Improved with a 6x18 Nikon scope.

The .375 was the first one and it beat my shoulder black and blue. The wildcat (I did not build or create it) came with No. 1 wood. That is why I call it a Ruger No. 2. It shoots a 140gr Barnes Triple-X bullet at 2,880fps at less than 1-MOA at 200 yards. Anyway, the felt recoil was FAAAAR less with the No. 1 wood, so I restocked the two others with No. 1 wood. The .375 Win is actually tolerable now and the 30-40 Krag is enjoyable. I am happy I made the changes.

http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=448574&size=1

http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=496409&size=1

http://www.hunt101.com/watermark.php?file=496468&size=1

thornblom · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2008, 04:35:31 PM »

Dear Mr. Harry O,

I have been looking for some Ruger #1 wood to put on my Ruger #3 .375 JDJ and can't find any. I tried gunbrokers.com, gunsamerica.com and ebay. No luck. Where were you able to find yours, how much did it cost, and how much fitting is envolved?

Sincerely,
Dave (Bubba) Thornblom

Harry O · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2008, 04:24:03 AM »

As you probably know, you cannot get the wood from Ruger. The stock is a "replace at the factory only" part. And, they have refused to put No. 1 wood on a No. 3 at the factory.

I got the first one from Great American Gun Stock Co. It was unfinished and 95% inletted. It was not cheap, but the wood was nice. The second one was an old Bishop stock that I got off of e-Bay. It was half as much, but was plainer wood. It was also unfinished and 95% inletted. The auction websites have No. 1 stocks on them on rare occasions. When they are, they don't go cheap. The fully finished takeoffs sell for more than the 95% finished ones. I know that I looked for about 6 months before I found the second one. They were both listed as No. 1 wood, not wood for the No. 3, but they fit well. There are a couple of other places that list No. 1 wood, but I don't have them here. When I find them, I will post them.

Neither one was hard to finish. The thing I have learned from fitting other 95% stocks is DON'T USE A MOTO-DREMEL TOOL. Use hand tools only. The moto-dremel tool will get you into trouble faster than you can stop it. Get stock fitting black paint from Midway or Brownell's and use it. It is messy, but it shows you where to take off and where NOT to take off. The amount of wood you have to remove is fairly small, but it is in several different places (sides at the front, around the top and bottom tang, at the rear of the receiver where the bolt screws in, etc). You need to find those places (with the stock fitting black) and remove them wherever they occur. Once that is done, sanding the outside and coating it was several layers of Tru-Oil (with light sanding in between) is downright easy.

Harry O · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2008, 06:06:02 PM »

As I mentioned above, Great American Gun Stocks has Ruger No. 3 & No. 1 wood. Expensive. Also check Treebonecarving.com. They are much more reasonable there. I believe the laminated wood on the wildcat came from Wenig.com. I have no experience with them. You might also want to contact Gunstocksinc.com. I have a different stock from them and it was plain, but solid wood at a very reasonable price.

jeclif · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2008, 02:18:34 AM »

I bought a #3 in 223 when they came out

and still have it

Graycg · « **Reply #22 on:** February 29, 2008, 03:16:40 PM »

Have a 223, 375, 44 mag and 45-70. My dilemma is that I have a 357 magnum #1 barrel that I want to put on one of these...but who which one do I booger up? So that is why I've been looking for a boogered up #3 or #1 to put that 357 mag barrel on....

I really like the #3's but the 45-70 is best loaded light or fitted with a pad. The 223 is a tack driver and has at least 2500 full power rounds through it, the 44 mag is not super accurate but fun to shoot.

BTW....the 375 has never been shot.

regards,
graycg

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #23 on:** March 25, 2008, 06:50:41 AM »

Your 375 has too been shot. You have never shot it. All firearms are factory tested and fired. Next time your on your way out to the range throw it and a box of ammo in the truck. It's a thumper.
One of the companies on the inter net sells no. 1 actions. I forget if its Mid South that advertises here on Grey beard or Midway.
Good luck with your 357 project.

BS · « **Reply #24 on:** May 08, 2008, 01:14:03 PM »

I re-barreled my hornet into a 40-90 wildcat [ equal to a rimmed 416x375 H&H ]...............my first rifle to shoot a 3/8" group at 100 yds off the bench..........................going to change it back to a hornet..............17 Ackley this time!

Brother still has one in a Hornet.

Bruce

Florida Jim · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2008, 06:18:23 AM »

I have 3 #3's. 45-70, 30-40 Krag, and 22 hornet.

TRWalker · « **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2008, 02:02:08 PM »

I recently bought five. A 45-70, 44 Magnum, 375 Winchester, 30-40 Krag, and a .22 Hornet. Three of them are 200th year. Still looking for a .223 caliber. Great little guns, if you own one, hang on to it.

Autorim · « **Reply #27 on:** June 02, 2008, 04:52:55 PM »

I have two - .22 Hornet and .44 mag. I use Millett extension rings to move the scope closer to my eye. I love No. 1's and 3's. Both of mine were bought used, but in excellent condition - still are. I am still looking for a 30-40 Krag chambering. I also have No. 1's in 45-70 and .257 Roberts. I have owned several No. 1's over the years, but these are the calibers I am most happy with.

IMO - if you find one in good condition - buy it.

Autorim

Capt Gary · « **Reply #28 on:** July 18, 2008, 01:21:33 PM »

I have a #3 that was was given to me by a very good friend.
He designed a wildcat cartridge and had it up. It is a shortened Hornet case with at 30 degree shoulder. It shoots a 40 gr. hornady at 2400 fps. He had a Pac Nor barrel on it.
He mounted a Weaver V16 on it and it shoots one hole groups at 100 yds.
I have only shot it once since he gave it to me. Killed a groundhog the afternoon he passed it to me, cleaned it, put it up and it's still there.

He spent a lot of time working on the stock, reshaped and refinished. Nice little rifle. Means a lot to me.

Would love to have it in a good hunting caliber, but never had the heart to have it alterd.

crash87 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 28, 2008, 02:47:45 AM »

Mine is a 375 Win, bought in the 80's for 169.95 on a closeout. I was a laid off 20 something Sheet Metal Worker at the time and had to sell a Super Blackhawk to get the funds to buy it. They had 2 left and I wish I could have snagged both of them. It has accounted for a number of Deer and I used it for my first Black Bear. As far as No. 1 wood goes, you have an alternative, Synthetic, www.mpistocks.com. CRASH87