Ruger #3 questions......

[Del]

Recently I found a Ruger #3, in .45-70 caliber, that is in like new condition.

1) What is a reasonable selling price for this rifle?
2) For you folks that have or had Ruger #3's, have you ever used a peep sight?  If yes, what make & model?
3) How is recoil w/standard factory loads, when shooting standing off hand? (I've had .45-70's & a .375 H&H, plus shoot my .300 WM w/Federal High energy loads, so I'm not that recoil sensitive - but I've always heard the #3 / .45-70 is brutal!!)

Any info you are willing to share about Ruger #3 / .45-70's would be greatly appreciated!
Del

[LEO]

I don't know what they are selling for now and I haven't used a peep on mine but I can answer the recoil question.  The rifle does kick but with standard factory loads off hand it is not unpleasent to shoot for me.  Mine is extremely accurate.

[marlinman93]

 Last one I saw in that condition sold for $450. They are hard to come by, and get good prices!

[marlinman93]

 Last one I saw in that condition sold for $450. They are hard to come by, and get good prices!

[DennisB]

Del:  I found mine iin a pawn shop some 5 or 6 years ago, got it for something like $275.  It now wears an old Redfield 2X7.  I've tried a lot of 325 and 405 gr cast bullets, it shot the 405s OK, even took one deer, but the recoil will get to ya on the bench.  Recently I ran across a couple of bags of Rem 300 HPs at Cabelas bargain dept and found that they will group an inch at 100 yards all day in this gun, don't kick too bad, and really let the air out of hogs.  BTW:  where did you hunt the Dall ram in your avatar?   

[Del]

Dennis,
Thanks for the reply & information on the Ruger #3 & loads, it will be useful.
The price on the #3 I found is a lot more then you paid for yours, I may try to make him a more reasonable offer & see what he says.

I harvest that Dall ram here in Alaska last fall, Northwest from from a place called Tok.  He was an old warrior, broomed some on the side showing, broken horn on the other side, and a number of small scars on the bridge of his nose.  He may not have been the biggest one on the mountain, but he was very unique and has a lot of character to him! 
 

[DennisB]

Del, did ya get that #3 yet?

Just this morning I ran across a #3 in .375 Win caliber on consignment at a local gun shop.  Had a $425 ticket on it.  I didn't hesitate--put a down payment to hold it for a few weeks so I can scrape up the balance.  It has a little custom wood work, in that the fellow "added" a pistol grip to the straight carbine stock.  Nice wood and craftmanship, but it's coming off.  He also put on a Douglas 26" barrel (still have the original Ruger barrel as part of the deal).

(Check your PM)

[Critter]

I bought my first one for $250(.45-70).  The last #3 I bought cost me $375(don't recall if it was the Hornet or .44). I loved that .45-70!  Recoil was brutal with the load we worked up but it would kill anything in North America. 500 gr cast Lyman bullet loaded with 3031 to 1800+ fps.  Hurt on both ends but it shot one hole gruops at 100 yards off the bench. I had a Weaver K-4 on it, in fact on all of them so I can't vouch for the peep.  Seems like it would work great.