Ruger No1 Experts ...Need help deciding!

[115grfmj]

Need help deciding on a No1 for an upcoming safari . What is the difference between the Tropical rifles and the medium sporter. I can't seem to find anything stating the diff.

This is for an upcoming safari that I'm planning. This year ruger has the medium sporter in 9.3x62. I love the history of this cartridge, and have already talked to a few PH's from possible camps I'd be going to, that love the idea of me bringing it to hunt with them. I was told it has a long established history in africa, and can be used on anything up to and including Buffalo.

Ruger also has the tropical this year in 450/400 NE. I'd rather get the 9.3 but not if the tropical has any serious design advantage that the medium sporter does not.....please help

[kmbrown]

The action on all No 1's are the same. The medium sporter and the tropical models are really similar. The tropical models have fairly heavy contour barrels so the overall weight of them is more than the sporters. I've got one in .375 H&H. It's a great shooting but heavy rifle. I haven't handled one in .450/400 but the .458's I've seen are very heavy. Unless you need the extra horsepower, I'd go for the 9.3x62. 

[Lloyd Smale]

like was said the sporters are much lighter. I had a 458 tropical and it was a brute of a gun and i see why they have gun carriers on a safari. I wouldnt want to tote that big thing around for 12 hours.