Ruger #1 bore diameter is smaller at muzzle

[timspawn]

I slugged my #1 30/30 tonight. Once the slug got into the bore about a half an inch I could push it the rest of the way with no effort. The muzzle end of the bore is tighter than the rest of the bore. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

[RickinTN]

Yes. I've heard of that before. Some folks lap a bore for that effect. It's called a choke-bore if I remember correctly, and if all other things are as they should be it should produce good accuracy.
Rick

[williamwaco]

it is not unusual at all.
some makers do that and others do not.

[Lefty SRH]

My 7x57 Ruger No.1 is the same way. Its VERY accurate with jackets but so far it has failed with several different cast boolits.

[375RUGER]

Does it have a front sight? Might be the reason. Any with an Alexander Henry forearm may also have a constriction at the sling swivel band.

[timspawn]

Does it have a front sight? Might be the reason. Any with an Alexander Henry forearm may also have a constriction at the sling swivel band.

Yep..front sight.

[Whiterabbit]

my old 338 was so constricted at the muzzle the 338 jag wouldn't fit. Maybe they put on the wrong barrel! :o

Shot so accurate (so accurate) that I never really let it bother me.

[MT Chambers]

Unless it's a hard spot because of the front sight, it's usually the sign of a well made barrel.

[EDG]

Ruger really pounds on the banded front sights and sling bands.
I had a #1 45-70 that would not shoot 2 foot groups with lead bullets. I pushed a .462 bullet into the breech and back out at .458. Then another to the sling band and it was .001 tighter. Another bullet was driven past the sling band it just dropped to the front sight. Driven past the front sight was .0015 smaller. I sent it back to Ruger. Ruger installed a new barrel and test fired it for accuracy at the factory at no charge.

[Lefty SRH]

My No.1 is the International RSI version so it has a front sight. Maybe I should try a slug started from the breech.

[timspawn]

Thanks for all the info. I am going to try various loads with jacket and cast. So far I have only tried one of each and have not found one it likes yet.

[KCSO]

All cut rifled barrels are tapered to some degree as the cutter compresses going down the bore. A really good barrel is made that way on purpose and when you get the blank it's marked which is the breech end. Sounds like you have a good barrel.

[bob208]

when I worked for bob Hoyt we made a lot of minie ball barrels with a choke in them. I have a .54 cal round ball barrel that has a choke it is a tack driver.

[Moondawg]

All my Krieger match barrels have been tighter at the muzzle than at the breech end. They came that way as blanks. For what Krieger charges for a match barrel and considering their reputation, I should imagine this slight bore taper was done purposefully.