Ruger #3 what to rebarrel it to?

[40-82 hiker]

I think .357 Mag/Max would be fun. .256 Win. Mag. would be a hoot as well.

I owned a #3 .22 Hornet for a number of years, and it accounted for many Montana gophers. If I still had my #3, I think it would be fun to go with the .357 Max. Brass is a pricey but available.

[richhodg66]

Dad had one for quite a while when I was a kid chambered in .30-40 KRag. Wish he had kept it. Personally, I can't think of a better chambering, call me old school, but a cartridge for a single shot should have a rim on it.

A .30-30 or .25-35 would be cool too, or .38-55.

Next question, what's wrong with it as it is? Why rebarrel an already good rifle?

[bigted]

What twist rate on the 223?

The barrel is the stock Encore 223 and tho I have not checked it ... I believe it to be a 10 or 12 twist.

Further, I cut it back to 17 inch. This is so fun with my Encore that I have cast Lee's 55 grain boolits and PC'd them Ford blue, then sized em .225 inch. Same load but have not tested them yet.

[6string]

303 British has been mentioned a few times. I'll go one step further and suggest looking into the various 303 wildcats designed by Ellwood Epps of Orillia, Ontario, Canada. He had a series of them in .25, 6mm, 6.5mm, 303 (improved), a .35, and probably a few others I'm forgetting.
These were designed about 50 yrs ago, Ellwood is long gone now, but the shop still exists and thrives.
Jim

PS: There are similar wildcats originating in Australia. The .25-303 is considered a good kangaroo gun. There's also an Australian book called "The Accurate Lee-Enfield" with a whole chapter on Mr. Epps.

[BAGTIC]

If I had to shoot it with that atrocious factory stock I would stay with a small low recoil round. Also that underlever is not very compatible wit h heavy recoil.

[Don Purcell]

With richhodg66, 30/40 Krag.

[onelight]

With richhodg66, 30/40 Krag.

I think that 30/40 was one of the first No.3 calibers if I remember right along with 45/70 and maybe 223

[ironhead7544]

30-30 would be my choice. Plenty of brass available. Recoil is low. Classic rimmed case. Good cast bullet cartridge.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
If we ever re-barrel our #3 which is 375 Winchester it will be to a 50 Alaskan.
We have a 86 repro in caliber .50 Alaskan and it is a fun one. From round ball at 600 fps (loaded single shot) to a 525 GC slammer at 1850 fps it will do any task I can dream of.
50-100 will do the same but the brass is rather expensive. 50 Alaskan at Starline is 1/2 the price and gets the job done all the same.
Mike in Peru

[Texas by God]

Consider the .44-40.

[CamoWhamo]

I recently re-barreled mine into .357 Maximum.

But if i was to do it again i would go with .38-55 or .375 Win.

[Groo]

Groo here
How about 41mag????????????

[Good Cheer]

Handi rebored to .41 is nice.
Looking forwards loading black.

For a #3 I'd love to have one in .45 caliber but .451 diameter instead of .457.
460S&W would be just about right seeing as nobody seems to have a 45-70 necked down to .451.

[RICHP]

Groo here
How about 41mag????????????

Bought a no. 3, with no.1 wood in .41 mag., haven't, done anything with it yet. Also have another barrel for .41mag.Does anyone know ifthe barrel threads are the same on no. 1 and no. 3 actions?

[Doughty]

They are the same. 16tpi

[skeettx]

My #3s are in 22 Hornet and 30-40 Krag
Both great shooters
But I do like my #1s better for lever comfort