Ruger No. 1, 45-70 First Shot

Shot my Ruger no. 1 in 45-70 for the first time over Labor Day weekend, 2009. Used Hornady Leverevolution 325 gr rounds. Kicked hard. Kicked HARD at the bench. Additional weight from ammo sleeve with nine rounds on stock helped keep recoil down. Started out smiling; ended up grimacing. Partly from recoil, partly because I missed the target. Ruger's factory sights aren't calibrated for the high-speed Hornady rounds (apparently). We maxed out elevation and were consistently four inches low at 25 yds, both offhand and from the bench. Wouldn't mind seeing more weight on the rifle. Original 45-70 rifles, even for the low-pressure black-powder loads of the day were 10+ pounds, and even up to 12 and 13 pounds. What with the high-pressure modern loads possible in the Ruger, under eight pounds seems too light.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Ruger
• 45-70
• Ruger no. 1

[STARFLAME333]

GREAT Rifle,I am getting the 45-70 as well. I really like the Laminated Stock. I am also getting the Ruger No.1 Tropical Single-Shot Rifle in 458 Lott. Have FUN&Enjoy I am!!!

[jokostel]

The rifle needs a better owner.

[csw4ak]

Ditto on the cheeseburger.

[gbmcy]

Stick a cheeseburger in the kid's mouth.

[InAKwitmyHK91]

do you shoot factory rounds, cause ruger1s are the strongest action around, and you can load bullets real hott for it, make 400 grain bullets sizzle @ 2100 FPS, and for 500 grainers, those don't need speed,since abullet that big is not for shock kills, its for bone busting, but i doubt you understand the pros of a 45-70 because how you over prepared your self before you shot.

[TriggerHappyLunatics]

I get hornady's leverevolution for my .45-70 cuz its the cheapest i can get plus the aerodynamic tip kinda makes sense.

[gnorthbird]

he might be hitting low cuz of the lightweight hornady round.with,say, a 405gr. it would be closer

[danebrewer10]

Hey nice rifle, I'd love one in .45-70 some time... I guess it is shooting so low at 25 yd because the sights would be regulated for the pretty loopy trajectory of the .45 bullet so it will shoot low at 25 yd and be zeroed on say 40 yd and then zeroed again at 100yd say with the bullet being high between 40 yd and 100yd

I'd go and team that with a 1.5-6x42 S&B vairable... I imagine it would be just the ticket for close range game....