Author Topic: Ruger #1 Tropical (Read 998 times)

Dana C · « **on:** May 11, 2005, 12:40:17 PM »

I have just put my money down on a #1 Tropical in 458 Lott.
Do any of you have any experience with the Tropical on the range or in the field. I have alway loved single shot rifles and have a few. Now I have a "stopper" that I will pick up on 24th

Do any of you know anyone who has hunted Africa with a #1?
How about for big bear?

I plan to add a mercury recoil comp. as soon as I get the rifle by the way.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2005, 01:06:22 PM »

The mercury recoil suppressor is a great idea.

Max loads in my #1 in 45-70 kicks the crap out of me. :eek: I have a mercury recoil suppressor on the way for it also.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2005, 04:41:55 PM »

Likewise on my Tropical in .458 Win. It hurt too much, so I sold it, and got the .45-70!

DanP · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2005, 02:55:16 AM »

I've used past pads with my .458 1-H. Worked amazingly well -- compared to my memories of a .458 I owned when I was much younger. So far, I have yet to shoot the thing without the pads, so I don't really know how much it can kick. Sof ar, the rifle really rocks 'n rolls, but I have yet to see any bruising from the recoil. I do also observe the following points: 1) but is not on my shoulder ball, joint mass; it is not on my clavical; it IS on the muscle mass just below my clavical to the left of my joint ball. 2) I hold the rifle firmly against my shoulder. 3) I tend to hold the rifle a little more towards the front than I typically would with other rifles (more scope relief, less creeping, etc; since I tend to put my left elbow against my rib-cage anyway, offhand support isn't compromised in the modified position). One of these days I'll have to go out and bruise myself.

I bought a .375H&H Rem Classic a few years back. 1 past pad wasn't enough. Went with a decelerator pad and mercury tube. That did the trick on that rifle.

Dan

captainkirk · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2005, 04:37:12 AM »

The mercury tube and a "real" recoil pad may just be the ticket for your Lott. I have the same rifle in 458 winchester and shoot it almost exclusively with lighter cast loads. I have shot some "oliphaunt whollapers" with it though, and in factory guise it is quite a handful. I have the old pink pad on mine which I hope to replace with a decelerator one day. Overall, the #1 is a great choice. Probably my favorite rifle, right up there with my old '06. The Lott is better if you handload, but I'm sure you know that already. You don't want to fire full-house loads all the time (well maybe you do- not everyone is me...) ;o)

captainkirk

DanP · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2005, 09:47:12 AM »

I finally got around to trying my 1H in .458 with the stock hockey-puck recoil pad without the protection of my Past pads. I followed my own directions: Don't put the butt against the shoulder joint swell; Don't put the butt against the collar-bone; don't put the butt against your arm. If you put it on the ball or on your arm, you have a good chance of getting a tingly feeling shoot down your arm (not a good sign). I put it against my chest muscle below my collar bone and below and inside the joint ball. Actually, this is the place the "Past pad" straps fit the pad to your shoulder -- encouraging you to put the butt in the right place to begin with. The recoil was surprisingly painless -- no sharp sensation or slap -- just lots of shove.

My recommendation: don't bother adding recoil reduction to the rifle. Use one or more Past pad(s) on the bench (should be sufficient), and the rifle won't kill you when you hunt with it (should be able to shoot it 5 or 6 times without too much trouble).

Dan

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:30:49 AM »

Quote from: DanP

I finally got around to trying my 1H in .458 with the stock hockey-puck recoil pad without the protection of my Past pads. I followed my own directions: Don't put the butt against the shoulder joint swell; Don't put the butt against the collar-bone; don't put the butt against your arm. If you put it on the ball or on your arm, you have a good chance of getting a tingly feeling shoot down your arm (not a good sign). I put it against my chest muscle below my collar bone and below and inside the joint ball. Actually, this is the place the "Past pad" straps fit the pad to your shoulder -- encouraging you to put the butt in the right place to begin with. The recoil was surprisingly painless -- no sharp sensation or slap -- just lots of shove.

My recommendation: don't bother adding recoil reduction to the rifle. Use one or more Past pad(s) on the bench (should be sufficient), and the rifle won't kill you when you hunt with it (should be able to shoot it 5 or 6 times without too much trouble).

Dan

DanP
If you add the mercury recoil reducer and use a Sims recoil pad, you will not need 1 or 2 Past pads. I can shoot both my 416 Rigby and my 45-70 hot loaded without a Past pad, and shoot a lot more than just 5 or 6 times.

Dana C, do yourself a favor, and invest in a mercury recoil reducer and use a Sims recoil pad. No more problem at the bench or while hunting. JMHO.

DanP · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2005, 08:27:19 AM »

I don't disparage Decelerator pads and mercury recoil reducers: I have both installed on my .375H&H. That rifle (700 remington classic) was very light, and I found the recoil uncomfortable. That might also have been in part due to how I held the rifle The mercury bottle helped quite a bit. I have found past pads still make shooting off the bench at a range more comfortable -- even for my .375H&H with the recoil reduction stuff.

A prior .458 win that I owned had taught me that the cartridge requires respect. That's why I got the extra past pad. I'd learned about the tingling in the arm first hand from that first .458 win rifle. So, I'd never shot my 1H without the pads for my first outings. I did fine the Past pads very effective at reducing recoil -- shooting 20 rounds was not uncomfortable. However, the last time I took it out, I decided to shoot it without the pads to see if it was really as bad as I remembered. I found that the recoil with no recoil reduction, no past pad, etc, was quite manageable. Not even a bruise after several shots. My conclusion is that recoil reduction isn't something I'll bother with for my 1H. Its fine for hunting as is. And, I will keep shooting at the range the way I do with all my rifles (though I don't bother with the past pads all the time, I still like them). Suffice to say I was very pleasantly surprised how manageable the unreduced recoil of the 1H .458 win could be IF I had just learned to hold the gun better when I'd begun shooting .22's (its harder to unlearn habits that have already been established -- especially adjusting shooting positions, keeping good fundamentals while tweaking things, etc).

I figure it is worth trying some simple things -- like holding the gun differently -- if it can save some money, and the time the rifle is away at the gunsmith's (not to say that gunsmiths are not worth their hire!).

Dan