Is your Ruger #3 a "knuckle scraper"?

[fatelvis]

I absolutely LOVE my #3 in 30-40 Krag as a cast boolit launcher. Very accurate, and I find the falling breech a cool design, but no matter how I grip the stock to pull the trigger, the recoil bites me somewhere on my trigger hand fingers with it's uniquely contoured triggerguard. Do you guys experience this? If so, how do you avoid the bite? Lol

[gnostic]

That's why I got rid of mine in 45-70, it turned my middle finger purple and it really hurt.

[WALLNUTT]

My 45 70 turned everything purple. The 30 40 is ok. I grip the entire trigger guard/lever. The 45 70 is gone. The 30 40 will stay a long time.

[pietro]

.

I just used to grasp the outside of the lever as I would a pistol grip, and operated the lever with my thumb.

It's been a decade since I owned/hunted with my .45-70 #3, but I don't remember ever getting bruised fingers - but my shoulder would feel it, after several shots (but never when wearing heavier clothing during Fall hunting seasons).

.

[l h jenkins]

I absolutely LOVE my #3 in 30-40 Krag as a cast boolit launcher. Very accurate, and I find the falling breech a cool design, but no matter how I grip the stock to pull the trigger, the recoil bites me somewhere on my trigger hand fingers with it's uniquely contoured triggerguard. Do you guys experience this? If so, how do you avoid the bite? Lol shrunk mine to a 25-20. problem solved. :p

[OlDeuce]

shrunk mine to a 25-20. problem solved. :p

That's one way to solve the problem :-) :-) Ol Deuce

[OlDeuce]

I sold mine and bought a Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 :-) that was a very smart move !!!!!

Ol Deuce

[dale2242]

Mine doesn`t hurt my hand at all.
:-)Maybe because it`s a 22 hornet....dale

[Artful]

I have 223 and 375 big bore but 45-70 was too much just bought a Marlin 1895
I also wrap my fingers around the lever like a pistol grip so no knuckle problems.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/RugerNo3-375WCF.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/RugerNo3-375WCF.jpg.html)

Well that and a recoil pad on the 375

[BAGTIC]

Not the one I kept, a .22 Hornet.

[BAGTIC]

Artful,

You cheated. You also got ride of the !@#* factory butt plate.

[Jeff Michel]

Like Artful suggested, just wrap your hand around the lever. In the harder kicking ones (375, 45-70) I use a slip on recoil pad when working off the bench and remove it when I'm out hunting. If it wasn't for the calibers in a #3 and they ARE real accurate , I'd of sent them all packing years ago.

[Sur-shot]

There are a couple of folks that at one time made #3 stocks with a pistol grip set back far enough that you did not have to cut the lever to fit them up. Like this picture I kept in case I wanted to make one myself. The one on the right is all #1 stuff before I fitted the recoil pad, it is a 7mm Rem Mag #3 action that was from a trashed gun (rusted out barrel, beat up stock, etc.) I found at a show back years ago, I still have it.
Ed

[Good Cheer]

Mine is OK.
283 grain boolit. Compressed charge of 760, CCI-250.
No hurt fingers.

192974

[Texas by God]

My 45-70 never hurt my knuckles. My shoulder, yes. On the bench was work. Hunting and shooting from standing or sitting was not a problem even with 405 grs. But I was young then.

[pertnear]

I made my Ruger #3 into a #2 by replacing the forend & butt stock with #1 wood. The butt has a regular Limbsaver recoil pad. Of course, if your #3 has collector value, save the old stock(s). Comfortable & easy to shoot.

FWIW

[Artful]

Artful,

You cheated. You also got ride of the !@#* factory butt plate.

I'm getting older - so I don't fight fair anymore and don't enjoy the fighting.

[Kent Fowler]

My 45 70 turned everything purple. The 30 40 is ok. I grip the entire trigger guard/lever. The 45 70 is gone. The 30 40 will stay a long time.

Saw this ad in Shotgun News in the late '70's:

" Ruger #3 for sale in 45-70. This gun is satisfying to shoot. One shot satisfied me"

[EDG]

I shoot my 45-70 #3 with my hand around the outside of the lever. I also shoot 300 grn cast bullets at about 1100 for very little recoil.
The heavier bullets are fired in heavier rifles.

[richmanpoorman]

Round ball over 12 gr of Unique in the 45-70 will shoot minute of Muslim @25 yards. Can shoot 100 with no hurt and very cheap.

[Good Cheer]

Ever use multi-ball loads in the 45-70?
I never did while I had one and wish'd I'd a given it a try.

[Good Cheer]

By the way, still have the 458-270 WFN from LBT so I really need to have another 45-70!

[richmanpoorman]

Yes, have tried up to 3 round balls @900 fps. 3 will land in 2-3" @ 25 yds.

[kmrra]

I put #1 stock and forearm on mine and love it , its a 223 tho and dont kick all that much .
Picked the Stock and Forearm up for 50 from a friend
193375If anyone needs a original Stock and forearm I have a set with the barrel band all in excellent shape. Just let me know

[richmanpoorman]

two ball loads at 50 yards w/iron sights #3 Ruger 45-70.

one strayed from lower to upper target, otherwise would be good crowd control.


193548

[HawkEyeEarl]

My 30-40 krag no 3 ruger is not a bad problem at the shoulder, not like a 45-70 would be.

But for the lever and fingers, I have to really concentrate on a firm and well positioned grip - not perfect then, but better.


I like the number 3 as a rifle. My 22 Hornet is great.

I would like a 45-70 in no 3, but wonder if I could handle it at lever and finger junction.
With shoulder pad enough I could probably make the shoulder recoil work for a few rounds.

Perhaps a supple non bulky leather glove could help.

[square butte]

Anyone happen to know the rate of twist for the # 3's in .223 ?

[Artful]

I'm thinking it's 1:12 as it came out before any of the heavy long bullets so 55 grain was standard weight.

[kmrra]

Yes the twist in my #3 is 1-12 , I have shot 53 g Serria HPBT in it since 1977 and it will shoot a one hole group. I load it with 23.5 g of H335 , I have never had to rezero it since I put the scope on it in 78 or 79 when I bent the scope that was on it , Sent it back to Weaver and they replaced it with a new one and its been on there ever since , its my go to Varmint gun, and the only gun I will not part with.

[square butte]

Thanks Artful and kmrra - I would have bet 1 x 12. Have had a chance at a couple of # 3's in 223 over the years - and never bit the hook. I am eyeing one at the moment but it's pricey.

[richmanpoorman]

Todays results 10 shots at 20 yards with an elbow rest. 3" at wide point.

LPP, 12 gr Unique, card wad, corn meal to bring ball 1/2 way out, Hornady .458 ball coated w/Lee Alox, light crimp.
cases are not sized or belled.

194383

[Thin Man]

A close friend (now deceased) owned a #3 in 30/40 Krag. He was a well seasoned handloader who loved to experiment and push the envelope. His experience was that the #3 action was much stronger than most anything else chambered for the Krag cartridge. I don't have any of his handloading notes but he reported the only limiting factor was the strength of the brass cases. He was getting higher velocity in his rifle than would be seen in any handloading manual with no signs of pressure at his final load level. He had loaded higher, and when pressure signs appeared he backed off the loads to establish his top pressure benchmark.

[historicfirearms]

A close friend (now deceased) owned a #3 in 30/40 Krag. He was a well seasoned handloader who loved to experiment and push the envelope. His experience was that the #3 action was much stronger than most anything else chambered for the Krag cartridge. I don't have any of his handloading notes but he reported the only limiting factor was the strength of the brass cases. He was getting higher velocity in his rifle than would be seen in any handloading manual with no signs of pressure at his final load level. He had loaded higher, and when pressure signs appeared he backed off the loads to establish his top pressure benchmark.

I have an old Hogdon manual that lists 30-40 loads for strong actions such as the #3. They show velocities that match or beat 308 Winchester loads. The Ruger will easily handle very hot loads if you are interested in that type of thing.

[Good Cheer]

Strength was one of the reasons I chose the No.3 action for my cast boolit deer rifle... I could develop compressed slow powder loads with mag primers without so much worry.

[Drm50]

I've got small hands never got bit with 45/70, but my fat fingered old man was always crying
about it. He also always complained about Ruger SBH busting his knuckles. Right now I have
223, 375win, 45/70 in #3s. The 223 I got when #3s were first out. My load is Hornady 55gr SX
#2260/ 26.5 gr Hogdon BL-C2/MV = 3100fps. This is my walk-about varmit gun have K10 scope
on it. When I first got it, tried Sierra 52g HP Match bullets, shot extremely well but wouldn't expand on Ghogs.

[Lance Boyle]

Well those hornady .224 SX bullets have no problem expanding. I bought them for a .22-250 in my youth. Opened the box and find that speed warning slip. They sat for years until my dad needed some shells for his savage 340 in .222. Perfect fit for that and devastating on woodchucks.

I am shooting a Uberti high wall in .38-55 and I get a bit of bump from the lever. I hate to over grip a rifle but you need some firmness of grip to ride with the rifle and not get the hit to the hand.

I don't have any time with shooting sticks with it. I'm still messing around on the bench. Last night I ordered a mold from Tom at Accurate molds to fit my excessive deep grooves.

[Drm50]

Well those hornady .224 SX bullets have no problem expanding. I bought them for a .22-250 in my youth. Opened the box and find that speed warning slip. They sat for years until my dad needed some shells for his savage 340 in .222. Perfect fit for that and devastating on woodchucks.

I am shooting a Uberti high wall in .38-55 and I get a bit of bump from the lever. I hate to over grip a rifle but you need some firmness of grip to ride with the rifle and not get the hit to the hand.

I don't have any time with shooting sticks with it. I'm still messing around on the bench. Last night I ordered a mold from Tom at Accurate molds to fit my excessive deep grooves.

I get the two bullets SX & SJX mixed up. I purposely loaded SX in a 220 swift, 55gr at approx
3650fps and really couldn't see the difference in them and SJX on groundhogs. But in 222 & 223
I don't think you can find a better Varmit bullet.

[Geezer in NH]

Why does everyone want to push an old cartridge in a Ruger #3 or 1 for that matter?

If you want to make it into a 30-o6 get a 30-06, want a 458 type load get a 458.

Been thinking that for years. Trapdoor loads for a 45-70 work fine for game.

Velocity lovers get a cartridge designed for that.