Author Topic: Ruger #3 (Read 1039 times)

Nixter · « **on:** October 20, 2004, 11:06:19 AM »

Gentlemen, I need your help. On my visit to the local gunshop today I found a Ruger #3 in 22 Hornet. It is wearing a Leupold fixed 8x scope. Bluing and bore are in great shape (I comment on the bore but I have no experience in bore examination), the bore is shiny and I saw no weirdness with my naked eye. Wood plainly figured and finish is pretty good. Asking price 599. Dealer is going to contact seller to see how much negotiating room there is since it's been there for 8 months.

The thing is I know nothing about this rifle in terms of quirks or what problems I may be buying.

Please educate me in the finer points of Ruger #3's. A Google search and a search of this site didn't give me much to go on.

I appreciate your thoughtful input.

Nixter

Cross-posted in Ruger firearms.

John Traveler · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2004, 02:03:39 PM »

Nixter,

The Ruger Number 3 was discontinued in the late 1980's due to soaring manufacturing costs. According to my friend with contacts in the industry, Ruger actually LOST money selling the Number 3 since the middle-1980's!

The action is ferociously strong (same as the Number 1) but with a simplified block-dropping finger lever styled like the old Winchester/Browning M1885. It was made in 22" carbine length barrels only in .22 Hornet, .223, .30-40 Krag, .375 Winchester, .44 Magnum, .45-70, and a few other calibers. All that I've shot are finely accurate, and subject to the same accurizing "tricks" as the Ruger Number 1.

No doubt the Leopold 'scope is a fine one, but that $600 price seems sorta high at first look. I paid $325 for my .375 Win Number 3 in April.
On the other hand, like-new Number 1 rifles start at Well over $500 now, so it may be a good buy. The action is a good one for rebarreling to classic BPCR calibers, but the hammerless feature leaves it out of NRA sanctioned competitions.

The Ruger site gives serial-number and date of manufacture if you want to look it up.

Nixter · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2004, 04:50:25 AM »

Thanks for the info John. It's a sweet handling little gun, light and quick to point.

The only bad things I've read about #1's is that the quarter rib is a bad deal. Something to the effect of the rib heating at a different rate than the Barrel/receiver. As the #3 has no such rib it's a moot point. I'll peruse the Ruger department here and see what else I can find.

I'll go and make an offer on Friday pending the results of my research.

John, would you care to compare the #3 to a low-wall? Low-wall prices seem to be all over the place from 700 to 1400. I love the octagon barrel of the low-wall but the lower price of the #3 is attractive. Trigger quality comparable? Not real fond of the high gloss finish I've seen on the Brownings. Damn, sounds like I'm selling myself on this gun doesn't it?

Thanks again for your help.

Nixter

armory414 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2004, 05:06:36 AM »

$600 is a bit high for a No. 3, as it's basically a simple version of the No. 1. No.1's around here (Ohio) are selling for $400-$500 used with scope. A new No. 1 is around $600. Sounds like the guy is trying to get a couple hundred extra bucks out of you simply because the model is discontinued.

Nixter · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2004, 05:45:50 AM »

Thanks for the info armory. I gave the dealer an idea of what my budget was and he was going to contact the seller (it's on consignment). The gun has sat there for 8 months and according to the dealer very few people have even looked at it. Perhaps the seller and I can come to an agreement...

Thanks again for the info.

Nixter

Prince of Wales · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2004, 09:57:56 AM »

Nixter it is surprising how few people will actually look at a single shot rifle with interest. That can be to your advantage in negotation. Holiday season is coming fast and most can use the extra cash for that.
As far as the price goes I always think its a matter of how long you intend to keep it. If its for the long run then price is not that great a deal.
I have a Browning B-78 in 25/06 octagon barrel w/leupold M-8 6X. When I bought it the price seemed a bit high BUT that was over ten years ago and boy would i love to buy another for that price now. The price always goes up with time. If you can get it for $500 then figure $300 for the rifle and $200 for the scope. You could live with that.
I have seen a #3 owned by writer Jon Sundra that was customized to take the #1` wood with pistolgrip and no barrel band. It was very nice. Would love to have one just like it. Good luck. POW

pastorp · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2004, 07:03:16 PM »

Nester, According to the blue book of gun values, 24th edition. A ruger #3 in 98% is $400.00, 95% is $350.00, 90% is $300.00. What you describe sounds about 95-98% to me.If the scope is in excellent condition it would add about $200.00 to the value of the gun. Hope this helps, Byron

Nixter · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2004, 09:03:13 AM »

pastorp, thank you for the info from the Blue Book. My offer might be on the low side then but you never know what mindset the seller is in. One thing that concerns me about the rifle is the chamber. The area right where the rim of the case would sit is very bright almost as if it had been cut. It's been a long time since my high school metals chop class but it looks like a new cut. If it were re-chambered to a KHornet there wouldn't be any need to touch the rim would there? The stamp on the barrel still says 22 Hornet but I thought a re-chamber job would be the only reason for what to my un-trained eye is fresh metal in this area. The dealer didn't mention anything about a re-chambering either. I might just be trying to talk myself out of the gun but it might be a valid concern.

Thanks for answering my questions and listening to my ramblings.

Nixter

John Traveler · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2004, 01:12:13 PM »

Nixter,

That fresh-cut look of the chamber area may or may not be a problem.

If the chamber was re-cut to K-Hornet, a chamber casting would prove it. Visual inspection with a high-intensity light and borescope may do it too.

A PROPER rechambering would not normally cause the rim recess to be cut deeper. On the other hand, a few extra turns with that chamber reamer is enough to scuff off the bluing or worse, increase rim depth.

You may ask the dealer to let you test-fire a few factory cartridges or do it for you. I would be very interested in knowing if primer protrusion is excessive, because that would indicate excess headspace. An improperly doctored rifle naturally means a friendlier price.

As for comparing the Number 3 to a Low Wall M1885, I happen to like both. The hammer job is authentic 1800's of course, but the Number 1/3 is a modernized version of the European Farquarson action.

Oh, yeah. a dozen or so years ago, a Canadian shooter using a factory standard Ruger Number 3 with custom sights won the 1,000 yard BPCR competions at their Connaught Ranges (Canadian "Camp Perry") That should say something about the quality of Ruger barrels!