Old vs New Ruger No 1. in 45-70

[Slowdive]

I've been considering adding a single shot Ruger No1 in 45-70 to my collection. I think the older #1's seem to have a nicer finish plus a little more character. I've seen several on GB. I've been reading Paul Matthews "Forty Years with the .45-70". The following excerpt has me concerned. From chapter 10, pgs 63 & 64.

"Up until the mid-1980's all of the Ruger single shots that I ever saw had considerable freebore ahead of the chamber. This was new to most of us and some people didn't like it because it was not conducive to good accuracy with standard length cartridges. To get the best from a chamber with freebore, you have to seat the bullets out to fill the gap"

He goes on to say that he couldn't get good accuracy in the #1 with his favorite casts...

"...unless I seated the bullet out so far that the forward grease groove was fully exposed."

My other 45-70 is a Marlin SBL, I don't really want to make rifle specific reloads. Any Ruger aficionados that can comment?

 

[Knob Creek]

I had a #3. Kicked like a mule. Course it only weighed 6 1/2 lbs. Never worked very hard to work up a load. Ruger #1's are stylish but have never been known for accuracy. I have C Sharps in 45/70. Very accurate with cast bullets.

 

[Slowdive]

That's what I've been hearing. Many say that there is some minor gun-smithing you can do to improve this. Even if the rifle is pretty, the pride of ownership factor will plummet if its not accurate.

 

[SemiAutoSam]

Talk about the ruger model 1, do the new mfg guns come in stainless steel ?

 

[Slowdive]

They make both wood/blue models and laminate/stainless models in current production #1 rifles. I'm not sure they make both in all calibers, but both are available.