No.1 vs No.3

[Guy La Pourque]

Hey fellers - I see on your forum that many of our scholarly posters are especially enamoured of the Ruger No.3 rifle and action. Why is this?

Ruger No.3's are like hen's teeth around here, I have never even seen one outside pictures. What does this action offer you guys that the No.1 doesn't?

[lbaize3]

Guy, I have owned both Ruger #3s and Ruger #1s in 45-70. The stocks are different, how I am not exactly sure, but the #3 kicks the snot out of me and the #1 is a joy to shoot. I did like my #3 in 30-40 Krag. Not sure why I let it go. I remember it as being a fun shooter. Never owned the #3 in 22 Hornet.

[stubshaft]

It was a lighter rifle and could be considered the "cheap" version of the #1 (although that is relative now days). For some reason the #3 stock never seemed to fit me as well as the #1 and it came out in a limited amount of caliber choices. It was/is a handy fun rifle and I think it's downfall was that it was overpriced to fill that void.

[WinMike]

I don't believe there's a difference in the action between the two (let us know if I'm wrong), but as posted above, my impression is that only the stock (and the limited caliber offerings) that was different.

I owned a #3 in Hornet that I never did get dialed in. The stock kind of reminded me of a cut-in-half 10-22, complete with barrel band and curved sheet steel butt-plate.

And yeah, a friend had a #3 in 45-70. It was his great sport to offer to let someone shoot it....none of us shot it twice:cry::veryconfu

[Leadmelter]

I had a recoil pad installed on mine for the recoil and to give me a little more stock length.
I discover cast bullet and the RCBS 405 GC with a 22 grain of 2400 for a nice gentle load.
Still have mine and the original box. I hope to try some Lyman 293 gr out it as soon as it is warm enough to cast.
Gerry

[TJF1]

The only dif. In the #i and#3 are the levers

[Ramslammer]

G'Day
Levers and stocks were different. I fitted a set of no1 stocks to a no3 in .223. It made it a lot nicer to shoot and it became a no2 I suppose.
Juddy

[nanuk]

or a 1/3rd?