204Ruger

I absolutely love this rifle. I have had several back in the day, before I sold out. When I decided to get back into the game, I made sure this was first on my list. Here are the girls. The first two are 22 Creedmoor, the last one is a 17 Fireball.

Mike, it appears we have more in common than just sage rats and rockchucks. I also have an affinity for the Ruger No.1, and falling block single shot rifles in general. Your No.1's with the Cerocoating look great! Have not seen any so treated. Not sure, can't tell from the pics if yours have wood or synthetic stocks, but if synthetic, they are perfect for use in the lava rock for rockchucks.

My only No.1 is the Ruger No.1 Varmint in 223, and it has the distinction of being my only rifle I ever went 100/100 on sage rats one day in N. CA on a friends alfalfa ranch. That was a day to remember, as I've never been able to duplicate that feat since with any other rifle I own.

Mine in the rat patch on the bags having my way with Skippy and his pals:





A guy shooting a single shot falling block rifle is at no disadvantage over bolt-gun shooters in the rat patch, as the shooting is precision; no rapid fire stuff involved. Mine has the barrel and forearm floated/glassed, Canjar single set trigger, lapped factory barrel. It still shoots in the low .3's, and was purchased from a neighbor who didn't handload because "it doesn't shoot". He was wrong. Very wrong (much to my glee).



Again, good to have you with us. Once you get out with your rifles, we're looking forward to hearing and seeing those adventures here.

I have never had any problem with accuracy, even though they have a bad rap for stringing. Never experienced any of that. Especially when handloading. Both my No. 1's were stripped actions and, in a box, waiting for a customer to want one (me). My smith goes completely through them and modifies the extractor to work with cartridge of choice. He works magic with the factory triggers and is able to work them down under 2lb's with no creep or over travel. He makes his own stocks (PCS) and yes, they are constructed with special resins, fiberglass, Kevlar and carbon fibers. Every stock is reinforced with two (2) steel cross pins. The 17 FB is a Lilja with a 9T and the 22 CM is a Benchmark 9T. I'm second guessing myself on the CM twist for the bullet I chose (Hornady 62-grain ELD-VT). I guess I'll find out during load development???

Mike...nice looking #1's. I've never owned one but in retrospect it would seem that they would be a top notch choice sitting in hot rat-patch pivot in a swivel bench.

I'm not familiar with a 22 Creedmoor but it looks like a overbore cartridge. Not familiar with the Hornady bullet you've chosen either and i don't know if this helps in your application, but during my Highpower competitive days, 69 SMK bullets shot real well in 1x9 twist barrels out of AR-15's out to 300 yards. They did good out to 500 & 600 yards too but if it got breezy you had to keep up with the changes. The 77 SMK did ok but they much were better in 7 to 8 twist tubes for me.

Jim White wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:57 pm Mike...nice looking #1's. I've never owned one but in retrospect it would seem that they would be a top notch choice sitting in hot rat-patch pivot in a swivel bench.

I'm not familiar with a 22 Creedmoor but it looks like a overbore cartridge. Not familiar with the Hornady bullet you've chosen either and i don't know if this helps in your application, but during my Highpower competitive days, 69 SMK bullets shot real well in 1x9 twist barrels out of AR-15's out to 300 yards. They did good out to 500 & 600 yards too but if it got breezy you had to keep up with the changes. The 77 SMK did ok but they much were better in 7 to 8 twist tubes for me.

Thank you, sir. Like I said, we'll have to wait for the load development phase. When hunting sage rats, I have always used a follower to load one at a time. After all the time spent on being very particular and trying to eliminate as much human error with my handloads, I didn't want to foul anything up with picking one up out of the well. When I got my first No. 1, I found my new best friend.

For my varmint repeater rifles I use a S.L.E.D. [Single-Load- Enhancement-Device] that goes right over the top of the follower so I can avoid what you mentioned. Since all of mine are Remington 700's they were easy to get and they may be adaptable to other rifle brands as well. I picked mine up from Russ Haydon years ago but he has since retired. You should be able to find them at Sinclairs or Brownells.

Single shot follower for bolt guns.

The best one I've found is from Score-Hi Gunsmithing. Charlie there even made me a one-off SS follower for my Sako M75 Varmint which utilizes a DBM vs the standard Mauser style staggered mag box. I use them on all my rat bench bolt guns.

Humm, must be a tear in the Force, as the above post was me responding to Mike in Oregon, and not visa-versa.

Not sure how my post got labeled as one from Mike, but it plainly is, as Mike does not own a Sako M75 Varmint, and the post was directed at him. As the admin seldom ever monitors the forum, it will remain a mystery. Maybe the software is confused by two, yes TWO guys from Oregon posting with almost the same screen name. Dunno, as I have no explanation.

Carry on......

Rick in Oregon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 10:38 am Not sure how my post got labeled as one from Mike, but it plainly is, as Mike does not own a Sako M75 Varmint, and the post was directed at him. As the admin seldom ever monitors the forum, it will remain a mystery.

Yes we do monitor the forum. Which post are you talking about, be specific?

skipper wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 11:20 am

Rick in Oregon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 10:38 am Not sure how my post got labeled as one from Mike, but it plainly is, as Mike does not own a Sako M75 Varmint, and the post was directed at him. As the admin seldom ever monitors the forum, it will remain a mystery.

Yes we do monitor the forum. Which post are you talking about, be specific?

Skipper, don't want to create a tempest here, but it appears Mike in Oregon might have quoted my post above without knowledge he did it.
It's his post tht starts out with "single shot follow for bolt guns"

That is what I posted, but it appears to have come from Mike in Oregon (MIO) in a fresh post. Confusing?

I think he may have quoted you and erased the quote tags. I'll admit, it's a little confusing. It certainly has his signature line.

A long time good friend and GS owner passed a while back. All the inventory was sold off. One last lingering rifle sat alone #1 varmint in 220 Swift. Everyone was scared of it because of possibly being shot out. His daughter told me a price and I bought it. I knew it came from a collection and if it had 20 rounds through it that was all.
Shoots darn good. I got a fair bit of Nosler ammo cheaper than I could buy brass and bullets.

Hope everyone here is well. Got off my normal path this year. Life gets in the way some times.
Ruger #1 I have always admired. My long time friend and GS owner passed a couple of years ago. I ended up with a#1 of his a heavy varmint in 220 swift.
Then another gent I shot with and have known for many years passed. He and I talked a lot of guns we had and have. Well I was looking for a 45-70 for some unknown reason. Couldn’t find one I deemed worth the $$$$. Well the sold off his collection and this #1 Tropical in 458 WM was on the list. Everyone was scared of it I guess, heck all it is is a modern 45-70 and can be loads as such. Bargain price, along with dies,brass,bullets powders and factory heavy loads.

Good catch. Have fun with it and let us know how it is doing/working for you. Maybe some grouping photos.