Accuracy Tips/tricks On The Ruger #1?

[Big Blue]

As the proud owner of a new #1, I was wondering if there are any tricks to accuracy with these rifles. I haven't shot it yet, waiting for new dies and components. I know the H+R/NEF single shots benefit by the use of a rubber o-ring around the forearm hold down screw. It sort of floats the forearm. Would this help the #1? Any tips would be appreciated.
Don

[Awf Hand]

Don,

That washer trick will not help the #1 or #3.  They are not constructed the same at all.  Ruger thought they should hang the forearm on a long bracket which extends foreward from the front of the action.  Do make sure that your barrel is floating if you choose to retain this forearm hanger configuration.  Look at eabco.com and you should be able to find an adjustable tension hanger that can (allegedly) improve accuracy, as well.

You can do that if you want to stay in the box.  As for mine, I'm having a 1.25" OD bbl fitted which will require the forearm hanger be cut off.  This will also mean that I have to reconstruct the ejector and make it function as an extractor.  The mainspring end will be relocated to a block screwed to the underside of the bbl.  The forearm mounting will be more similar to a typical single shot after that.  Count on this rifle having a speed hammer and heavier mainspring.  As for the trigger, I'm still waiting to see what can be done with the factory model, but a friend/gunsmith is working on a BR assembly that will offer quicker lock times than any set-trigger could dream of.  I will hold my breath for that.

[marlinman93]

First off, don't do anything until you've tried a number of brands of ammo, and if you reload, a number of loads worked up for it!
 Once you've gotten the maximum accuracy you can find for the ammo you buy or build, then you can consider what else you need to do to get it shooting tightly.
 Most Ruger #1's will shoot just fine out of the box, especially if you're only hunting at normal ranges. Should you decide to target shoot, or hunt at extreme ranges, then you can work on extreme accuracy.
 Frank DeHaas' book, Gunsmithing Ideas for Single Shots, is a great resource, and he covers accurizing the #1 thoroughly in that book. I have used one of his ideas to make a friend's Ruger #1 in .22-250 shrink groups at 100 yds, from 1.75" to .75". The key is a set screw to put tension on the forearm hanger and barrel. A 1/4-20 NC tap and 7/32" drill are used to drill and tap the hanger in the forward most end. Then a allen head set screw is installed, with non-hardening Loc Tite, and the screw is adjusted to just touch the barrel. Then the gun is fired at the range, and tension is added until the groups respond.
 It's a simple fix for anyone with some basic tools and skills, but as I said, don't do anything until you see if it's needed.

[MickinColo]

I agree with marlinman, don’t do anything until you shoot it a while. You just may find that you have one of those No. 1s that shoot sub MOAs without any alterations.

[Big Blue]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll shoot first, and maybe play later. This rifle is in 7mm Rem Mag, and I plan on using it strictly for hunting. I have several bullets in stock, and more on the way with a set of dies. I have three different powders to try, so I'll load several of each bullet and at different powder weights and types, and make a determination from there.
Thanks,
Don

[MickinColo]

Nice choice of caliber, I have a 7mm too. I’ve had three 7mm No. 1’s in my life and all of them liked IMR4831. Not that they wouldn’t have worked with another powder but they always worked will with IMR4831 and a 160 gr. SPBT.

Have fun  :-)

[Born2shoot48]

Check this out:

http://eabco.com/Ruger03.html

[Lone Star]

That tuning-fork-of-a-barrel-hanger can cause all kinds of accuracy problems for the #1 and #3.  On my two most accurate ones, I made a wedge of plastic out of a 12 ga. slug sabot and hammered it between the barrel and the and of the hanger.  I also glass bedded the forend firmly to the hanger, and put in a Moyers trigger.  Used a stronger action spring, and lightened the hammer.  I made certain that the rib on the .257 did NOT touch the action.  I bedded the scopes into the rings.  These mods made my .257 Weatherby shoot 1/2 moa 3-shot groups consistently - not just once in awhile.  My .22-250 stainless shoots as well for 5-shot groups after these changes; both rifles with good ammo of course.

Before going to all that trouble, see if it shoots well off the rack.   I had a .270 which did just that.

[Cement Man]

I just received the FEB 2005 issue of Shooting Times.  There is a good article on accuracy enhancement for the #1 - page 16.