Ruger #1 .243

dirtcop

I saw a ruger 1 in 243 auctioned on GB for $1400. It was in good shape but it was used. The description of the rifle stated that it was a 3 diamond checkering on the forend and low serial #, (born in 1968 or '69). Can anyone tell me WHY this rifle went for soooooo much?

dfletcher

I'm not certain which site I saw this on, but the Ruger #1 in 243 Win made during that year is evidently a relatively rare rifle. Fellow wrote that he picked one up for about $600.00 & the general consensus was that he was a) lucky as heck and b) got it for about 1/2 price. The rifle also came with early Ruger vertical split rings.

wanted man

I don't know the history of the cartridge well enuff to be certain, but I'd bet that '68-'69 was one of the first few years the .243 was offered commercially, by anybody. That 'prolly has alot to do with the "inflated" price?

dirtcop

I guess the reasoning behind the original question was that I have one and I purchased it on gunbroker a couple of years ago and did not give any where near 1000 dollars for it. I was just wondering what it was worth. I did see one go for 1400 on gb, and that was only a month or 2 ago.

yearofspider

Here's a nice one: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=63571166


dirtcop, if the one you saw auction off for $1400 had a 22" barrel, these are rare. They were made from 67-68 in limited numbers. Also, all Ruger number 1's made from 67-73 used Douglas barrels.

dirtcop

If memory serves me right, the description was a 25" or 26" barrel. My has a 25" barrel. I measured it from crown to reciever block.

gruntled

No joy.[:(] Mine is also 25".

2xbyu

The #1 is measured from crown to top rear of the receiver block.

The early non-prefix #1s came in S22L, S26M, S24H, and some very limited un-cataloged models: S24L, S25L, S22M and S24M, AND ALL of these models except the "H" could be ordered with or without sights, target blocks, Alex Henery or beavertail forearm.

S = Single-shot
22,24,25,26 = barrel length
L,M,H = barrel weight

The early non-prefix .243 ('67-'69) came in 11 different variations, excluding the limited un-cataloged models. The most common was the 26" beavertail forearm no sights, S26M, (NO1B) about 1,000 made. The least common was the 26" Alex Henry forearm, with sights, about 5 made (NO1S).

Pretty sure this is the #1 you are asking about, sold later for $1,400. non-prefix S26M 243 with beavertail forearm, WITH SIGHTS, about 69 made. There is no model designation for this variation that I know of, maybe (NO1S W/beavertail forearm).
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=61420461


Hope this helps.

blogdog37

I got a necked out chamber Ruger 1 that shoots a 378-338 Weatherby load. I don't know whether to take my Westley-Richards .470 double or my CZ 550 .416 Rigby to the panhandle [caprivi strip] Namibia in September in the long grass [its spring in Nemibia. The 378-338 Weatherby has a muzzel break, you can down load 200 grain bullet for plains game. I dont trust single shot for cape buffalo.