ruger 38-55

[bigted]

has anybody had experience with a ruger #1 chambered in 38-55? suppose to be a rare find.

thanks.

[TXGunNut]

No longer listed on their website, heard at one time they would do factory customs or it could just be a custom barrel. Sounds like fun.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I have one with a meduim/heavy barrel 26" with 1:12" rifling. Topped with a Lyman 25X scope it has to be the most accurate 300gn cast boolit shooter I own.

I don't believe they were a 'factory' rifle but rather a special run by one of the supply houses. There is no markings on the barrel except 38/55 Win.

[bigted]

Wallace...does this mean that the barrel does not have even the strum ruger on it either? also how much does yours weigh? i made an offer on this one as i "need" it...lol. besides in the lurking back corner of my feeble mind...i seem to remember something about these 38-55's that ruger offered for a very short time...but cant remember enough to even begin to research it properly...guess i better start a search and find everything out i can about it before he counters me and im on the spot again.

thanks

[rockrat]

I think they offered them as a special run. May have been 250 or less made. I have seen 2 of them. One, I was pulling my wallet out, but the dealer picked it up and gave it to the guy next to me, who had just paid for it. I was about 2 minutes too late:(.
The other was priced way out of what I was willing to pay.

[McLintock]

My Reference of Ruger Firearms, put out by the Red Eagle News Exchange, a Ruger collector site, indicates that Sloan's East Sporting Goods put out a special edition of either 289 or 400 guns, Serial number range of 132-84316-84951. They were a 1-S with 26" med weight barrel and Alex Henry forearm. There was one with a 24" barrel put out, probably in 1986, Serial # 132-73075, and probably a special order gun for the buyer. The Sloan's guns are considered very scarce and the one only extremely rare.
McLintock

[bigted]

well its a gone deal...got very expensive for my pocketbook...at least for this kinda rifle so i passed. prolly regret it later but it will just have to contend with the other regrets i have.

thanks all for the info ... i always know that there will be good answers here...thanks again.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Wallace...does this mean that the barrel does not have even the strum ruger on it either? also how much does yours weigh? thanks
No Ruger markings on the barrel. Without the scope it weighs a tad over 9lbs. The profile is not "Varmint" but heavier than my No.1 30.06.

I tend to buy these unusual items, like my No.1 V in 22PPC with a heavy 23" barrel, I believe the factory only made about 100 off.

[McLintock]

The 1-V in 22 PPC is considered rare, Serial # range of 133-10163-16851, so no definite number is quoted, but to be considered rare, your estimate of 100 is pretty close; doesn't say who put them out. You have a good one B.A.
McLintock

[Bad Ass Wallace]

This one has Ruger impressed all over the barrel. The only reference I can find is that it was offered as a factory rifle in the 1993 catalogue but for one year only.

[McLintock]

The serial # range indicates '93-94, so you're right on; collectors value them at $1000 plus or minus a couple hundred, depending on how bad they want it and how much money they got at any particular moment.
McLintock

[vynshah]

Well, the No. 3 was offered in .375 Big Bore which (unfortunately) is interchangeable with the .38-55. .375 shells should NEVER be fired in a .38-55.

[Lead pot]

I have seen two .38-55's in the #1 one at the local range and one at a gun show.
I had a .45-70 in the #1 back in the late 60's maybe 1970??????and I never could get warmed up to it.

http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory/RI-No1.html

[TXGunNut]

OK, I'll bite. What's so special about the 38-55? I have a 375 Big Bore so I'm not totally unaware of the round. Seems this cartridge is experiencing a resurgeance. Fondled a Cabelas anniversary 94 in 38-55 recently but couldn't get past the tang safety and the price tag. That and the gaudy 50 yr Cabelas banner. I like Cabelas, just not willing to accept an unpaid PR position for them.

[bigted]

txgunut...cant speak for anybody else but me but i like the 38 for the accuracy in a lite recoil rifle...[ comparably] with the nostaga of shooting a former bp round .

i load bp and smokless in it and my rifle is a browning hi-wall that i had re-worked to the 38-55 with a gm #4 winchester taper barrel at 30 inches long. i have a 12x unertl scope mounted in the unertl external mounts so this has the look of a period rifle with all the coil springs and trigger that makes it a very fun shooter without beating me up in the least.

had it to do over again i would build a liter barreled rifle that i could pack along without feeling like im bout to tear out my shoulder with the weight...prolly weighs around 12 lbs or so complete.

easy on the powder consumption and when i cast the lyman 300ish or the 250ish boolits for it the lead goes a long way compared to my 45 cal boolits weighing in around the 520ish area.

[bigted]

so i found these pic's of my browning so here is the rifle that made me a believer in the 38-55 and the cheep fun it adds to my battery...just a bit heavy is all.

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/023.jpg

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/026.jpg

and here she is with the loong leatherwood malcolm scope.

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/8538-55001.jpg

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/8538-55003.jpg

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/8538-55002.jpg

but it aint a lite ruger but that rifle got into the mid 1000's so i gave up as they still sell the winchester hunter and i prefer the highwall action to the ruger...just wanted to try to land a bit of a collectors gun while i was at it.

outta try the 38-55 cartridge for a very lite and fun shooting experience with an older cartridge and blackpowder to spice things up.

[Boz330]

Well, the No. 3 was offered in .375 Big Bore which (unfortunately) is interchangeable with the .38-55. .375 shells should NEVER be fired in a .38-55.

That may be true for factory ammo but Win. made 38-55 cases are the same just a different head stamp. The same goes for the WIn. loaded 38-55 ammo just a lighter powder charge. The old 38-55 guns are a true .380 to .382 groove diameter and the case is longer than the .375 case. The more modern 38-55s are usually a .375 groove diameter and the .375 case can be used but the case doesn't fit the chamber perfectly unless it was chambered for the shorter case.

Bob

[44 WCF]

Some sort of confusing all these, new old , factory original, same as and used to be dimensions.

[gandydancer]

I have that rifle caliber in a marlin 1993 button magazine lever action little pitting in side bore shoots very well. also have it in H & R buffalo classic that shoots much better I use both smokeless and Black. its been years sense I shot them.. I should make a point to do that. GD

[TXGunNut]

Very nice, bigted. Thanks for sharing.