Ruger No. 1 not CHP 357 magnum

[jleonardwv]

I inherited this rifle from my dad and have been trying to gauge its accuracy.  I've shot a dozen or so groups at 50 yards and 90 yards.  I hand load, too.  I've tried lead 125gr. RNFP and the gun would shoot between 2-3" at 50 yds.  I've been using Hornady XTP 180 grains and 125 grains and SSP 180 grains with approximate the same results for all three bullets = 2 inches at 90 yards or 1 inch at 50 yards.  Considering my Contender pistol in the same caliber will do roughly the same, should I expect to get much better out of this rifle?  I've put a washer under the forearm screw to free float the barrel.  Would it be worth my money to put on the Hicks accurizer or something similar?  Or will this always be a 2" gun at 100 yards?

I'm not a bench rest shooter or hunter at this point, but have a good time seeing what kind of accuracy I can squeeze from a gun.  I'm shooting from a Caldwell front rest and Protektor rear bag with 18x BSA scope.

Jamie in WV

[cwlongshot]

A good friend has one of these too. I have shot it quite a few times years ago. Where it not for collector value, he would have re chambered long ago!!!

It's a fun gun but his is not so accurate either...

CW

[HoosierCub]

How are you holding/shooting the rifle?  Have you tried holding the rifle very near the forend and receiver junction then rest your hand on the front pedestal?  I have found that some Number 1s will only shoot like this. 
 
Don't forget that you are shooting a relatively slow projectile here.  Follow through is even more important with this 1600 - 1800 FPS round than with a 3500 FPS 22 projectile.
 
Tim

[mannyrock]

 
     Two inch groups with the .357 are what a typical Marlin 1894 lever action will do at 100 yards. So yes, if you "work with" your Ruger by  sanding, bedding, tuning it etc., it probably will shoot better, but it is highly likely that  you will never do better than 1 inch groups.  The Ruger No. 1 is a hunting rifle, not a target rifle.
 
   The .357 Ruger No. 1 is rare and valuable.   If you are not happy with it, please don't go any further in tuning it.  Other people will just view it as a "messed up" rifle and it's value will plummet.  Sell it to someone for his collection, at top dollar, and get something that you are happier with. If you really love fooling around with and tuning rifles, then get a Handi in .357 and go to work.
 
Just my thoughts.
 
Mannyrock
 
 

[Schuter]

Jamie,
Congratulations on your acquisition.  I have the same rifle, and it is by no means a safe queen.  It's a shooter.  If it were unfired and in the box I would perhaps keep it that way, (and find another to shoot).  It has become one of my favorite little rifles, and has rolled a lot of jackrabbits.   It sees more action than the half-dozen other #1s in the safe.  I did quite a bit of load development years ago, with a good scope on it.  Right now it wears an NECG peep sight.  I had an extra stock that had been shortened by about an inch, and it went on the .357.  It is surprising how that improved the handling. 

Regarding loading for it, I had a similar experience.  It's a bit finicky.  I found no advantage with the various forend fixes.    I noticed that the groups got smaller with the heavier bullets.  I settled on the Hornady 180gr XTP and the 180gr SSP.  Both bullets found a sweet spot and the groups settled down when driven hot with H110.   It shot 1-MOA average groups at 100 yards off the bench, and was quite consistent in its preference.   Don't expect the SSPs to expand upon impact.  My testing only resulted in expansion about 50% of the time.  The XTPs, driven at rifle velocities, are devastating on varmints.  For me, the primary advantage of the SSP is to distinguish my hot rifle loads from my revolver loads.  Don't want to mix those up.

I have no advice...this is just my experience.  The chase is half the fun. 

Regards,
Schuter

[Frank46]

Treat this as a rifle not a long barreled pistol. C.E.Harris I believe said to get these to shoot well you had to seat the bullets out almost to engage the rifling, much the same as any other rifle. Since these are a single shot rifle that should be easy to do. Measure the length of the chamber to get some idea of how long it is. I've heard about some of the martini cadets that had the barrels bored out and rifled to 357 mag also had this problem. Hope this helps. Frank