The Old No.3

[Good Cheer]

This is my personable old No.3. Most favorite shooting iron I've ever owned.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/R.jpg

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/carrier.jpg
.375x45-70

[Bill Torzsok]

That is a very nice gun!

[Buckshot]

................Does it hurt much when you pull that trigger thingie? :kidding:

..............Buckshot

[Marine Sgt 2111]

Nice rifle..

[plmitch]

Thats a fine looking No.3. there.

[Artful]

Like your forend redo with schnabel tipped forend.

What kind of loads do you pump out of that .375x45-70 wildcat?

I have two #3's one 223 and one 375 big bore - that 45-70 rocks you world with good loads, I imagine you can beat my 375 BB for velocity. ;^)

[725]

Lots of nice unique (personal) affectations speaking to me from that gun. Barrel down carry flat against the back, loose sling over the barrel so as not to effect accuracy, & a practical ammo carry open at the bottom. Well done. Thanks for the photos.

[Nrut]

Very nice looking #3 and in a unique cart.

[nanuk]

725: I agree with you

I have always wondered why they put the slings on the bottom when, if you carry across your back, it becomes a painful experience

I had an old Mauser that had the sling come through the side of the butt, and connect to the stamped ring on the barrel band. Opposite side of the bolt.

sold me on it! I'll NEVER buy a new gun with sling swivels installed (unless I absolutely have to)

[BruceB]

There are still a few old-timey shooters who use the sling as a shooting aid.

I can assure you that a sling mounted on the side of a rifle is an almost-impossible set-up for a right-hander, and virtually impossible for a lefty. Putting proper tension on the sling twists the rifle radically and it becomes nearly un-manageable and awkward.

Of course, if one is accustomed to NOT using the sling as a shooting support, this is unimportant (but you are missing-out on a VERY valuable technique).

[SharpsShooter]

Always liked the No.3. I've wanted one in 30-40 forever.

SS

[izzyjoe]

very nice rifle you have there. i know a fellow that had one in 45-70, he said it would rattle his teeth. so he changed the barrel to 257 Rob. for more pleasant recoil. personally i like to no. 1 better, but that just me. :Fire:

[Good Cheer]

The cartridges shown are the hunting load; 375296, compressed 760 and mag rifle primer. Minute of angle or a little larger and works great out to 200.

[725]

BruceB I, too, use a sling to help in some of my shooting. One arm & hasty have served me well on many occasions. Some slings, however, (like my Swiss 7,62) are made for carry only and if used in a good one arm hold, adversely affect the gun's accuracy. Just the way it is. Don't know for sure, but a sling mount out on that bare barrel of the above #3 might affect accuracy. I just don't know. Now lock me behind an 03A3 and you can bet I'll use the sling.
Best regards, 725

[Tallyman]

Never understood why Ruger didn't make the No. 3 in caliber 30/30! The 30/40 Krag and 45-70 were just too much cartridge for this light carbine.

[Artful]

I never understood why they took it off the market much handier than No 1's.

[NHlever]

Never understood why Ruger didn't make the No. 3 in caliber 30/30! The 30/40 Krag and 45-70 were just too much cartridge for this light carbine.

They are making some No.1A's in 30-30 right now, but don't know how long that will last since it is a distributor special right now.
Edit: Oops, looks like those are gone, but they are making some .375 BB's now.

[Tatume]

They are making some No.1A's in 30-30 right now, but don't know how long that will last since it is a distributor special right now.
Edit: Oops, looks like those are gone, but they are making some .375 BB's now.

The Ruger website shows 375 H&H and 375 Ruger. What's a 375 BB's?

Take care, Tom

[Good Cheer]

Never understood why they didn't make a bunch in .41Mag.

[Artful]

The Ruger website shows 375 H&H and 375 Ruger. What's a 375 BB's?

Take care, Tom

Winchester's updated modern version of 38-55
take a 30-30 case and make it totally tubular and thicken up the brass for more strength - load it to modern pressures and put it in a strengthened '94 and you can launch a 200 grn at 2200+ fps and a 220 grn at 2000+ and 250 grn at 1900+ fps
http://picturearchive.auctionarms.com/87493/8856815/375bigbore.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.375_Winchester

First winchster lever I got that came from the factory with a recoil pad. :smile:
http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/375%20WINCHESTER/pix926927083.jpg

Makes an excellent cast boolit rifle. I have had 3 guns chambered in 375 BB a Winchester 94, Ruger #3 and T/C Contender barrel.

[2shot]

Who did the stock work on your #3 ? Looks nice and much better than the factory stock Ruger put on those. I have a #3 45-70 and love the gun except for the stock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2shot

[Good Cheer]

My big brother did the stock and cartridge holder. He's an artist with wood and leather. The rebarrel was done by Pasadena Gun Center, Pasadena, TX. They probably still have the reamer. I've been trying to talk myself into a Marlin .375x45-70 for years but always come back to well, why bother.

[Leadmelter]

I have a Ruger #3 for a long time. I had a recoil pad installed which helped. My favorite load was the RCBS 405 over 22-24 hrs of 2400 with some Dacron plug. The rifle could shoot this load all day. I would not come home with a bruise on my right cheek.

Gerry

[dale2242]

I love my #3 in 22 Hornet.
One of my favorite sage rat guns....dale

[Swampman]

I love my .45-70. When shot with normal loads it doesn't kick much at all.

I tried 12.5 grains of Unique and a 340 grain hard cast bullet to get on the paper, and it shot really well at 25 yards with almost no recoil. I then switched to 30 grains of IMR-4198, a CCI LR Primer, Starline cases, a 405 grain hard cast Georgia Arms bullet with an OAL of 2.550 and shot a sub-1" group at 50 yards. This is the 1st 3 shot group at 100 yards. I adjusted the scope and shot a 10 shot 100 yard group that was about 2" including a called flyer. Most of them were in one ragged hole.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/Woodsman1956/Ruger/100_0478.jpg

[rollmyown]

That round (375x45/70) looks like a mini MH cartridge. The number 3 is, well let's put it this way - I want one!! One in 45/70 would be great if tamed with some lighter cast loads.

[9.3X62AL]

If I had to guess, Ruger quit on the #3 for the same reason Remington stopped making their 788 bolters--the less-expensive rifles sold more vigorously and shot at least as well as the full-dresser models. A #3 in 223 was my first "really accurate" varmint rifle, and shot in the .5s and .6s very routinely. Should have kept it, but wanted a repeater for a trunk rifle at work--and money was VERY tight in my early 20s.

[jlchucker]

I like that No. 3! I wish that Ruger would introduce them to the market looking just like yours. That No. 3 of yours is just what a classic single shot should look like. Very nice!

[bigted]

If I had to guess, Ruger quit on the #3 for the same reason Remington stopped making their 788 bolters--the less-expensive rifles sold more vigorously and shot at least as well as the full-dresser models. A #3 in 223 was my first "really accurate" varmint rifle, and shot in the .5s and .6s very routinely. Should have kept it, but wanted a repeater for a trunk rifle at work--and money was VERY tight in my early 20s.

YES SIR!!! i completely agree and the exact 223 was my first love that i could dot the eye with every time...rather i could put the bullet into the middle of the O in the cOk-a-cOla can upon desire. oh for the spent stupids of youth...i dream of having some of the "ol guns" i had as a broke youngster. the flee markets were full of treasures that upon looking back make a tear come to the eye. yepper been there n bought the t-shirt!