marksman13
Member
Let me start off by making it clear that I have zero real “need” for a new rifle. I have multiple hunting rifles in multiple chamberings that will kill anything I’m going to encounter in North America. This is simply a “want” born from pure nostalgia. There’s no need to rationalize why I should pick a different rifle. I’ve got all the bases covered for any hunting I’ll partake in.
Here’s the thing, my dad died in 2013. One rifle he always wanted, and one of the last things we talked about as he was dying in the hospital was a Ruger No. 1 RSI. Dad loved those full-length Mannlicher stocks. Problem is, he never could justify ponying up that big Ruger No. 1 price tag. We never had much money growing up and a thousand dollar single shot was just a pill he couldn’t swallow.
I’ve never had much interest at all in bolt action or single shot hunting rifles. Black rifles have always been my thing. I like ARs and have hunted pigs and deer with them for years. For some reason, that all changed last year when Mom died. I have recently found myself feeling more and more nostalgic. With the first anniversary of Mom’s death and rifle season for deer rapidly approaching, I just want a Ruger No. 1 to hunt with some this year.
The question is what cartridge to go with. I’ve got a 270 Win, 30-06, 308, 6.5x55, 7mm-08 and 280 Rem, along with several AR cartridges. I don’t want or need any of the big, magnum chamberings. This rifle is going to see some deer and pig hunts, maybe pronghorn, maybe elk. That’s about it. I realize that I can kill anything I just mentioned with the rifles I just mentioned and I know that the smartest thing to do is stick with a round I already have on hand.
I’m leaning towards an RSI model in 308, but I’m not married to that idea. I’m not even married to the idea of the RSI model. As much as Dad loved those rifles, I’m not sure how I feel about that 20” barrel on anything other than the 308 or 30-06. If the Ruger No. 1 was legal to hunt with during Mississippi’s primitive weapon seasons, I’d go with a 35 Whelen and never look back. That said, I still think I could do much worse than a 35 Whelen for hunting the game I’ve mentioned. What’s out there that I’m not thinking about with fairly mild recoil and plenty of factory ammo available? Anybody have personal experience with a No. 1 in 35 Whelen? Anybody have a No. 1 and hate it? Thanks in advance.
Here’s the thing, my dad died in 2013. One rifle he always wanted, and one of the last things we talked about as he was dying in the hospital was a Ruger No. 1 RSI. Dad loved those full-length Mannlicher stocks. Problem is, he never could justify ponying up that big Ruger No. 1 price tag. We never had much money growing up and a thousand dollar single shot was just a pill he couldn’t swallow.
I’ve never had much interest at all in bolt action or single shot hunting rifles. Black rifles have always been my thing. I like ARs and have hunted pigs and deer with them for years. For some reason, that all changed last year when Mom died. I have recently found myself feeling more and more nostalgic. With the first anniversary of Mom’s death and rifle season for deer rapidly approaching, I just want a Ruger No. 1 to hunt with some this year.
The question is what cartridge to go with. I’ve got a 270 Win, 30-06, 308, 6.5x55, 7mm-08 and 280 Rem, along with several AR cartridges. I don’t want or need any of the big, magnum chamberings. This rifle is going to see some deer and pig hunts, maybe pronghorn, maybe elk. That’s about it. I realize that I can kill anything I just mentioned with the rifles I just mentioned and I know that the smartest thing to do is stick with a round I already have on hand.
I’m leaning towards an RSI model in 308, but I’m not married to that idea. I’m not even married to the idea of the RSI model. As much as Dad loved those rifles, I’m not sure how I feel about that 20” barrel on anything other than the 308 or 30-06. If the Ruger No. 1 was legal to hunt with during Mississippi’s primitive weapon seasons, I’d go with a 35 Whelen and never look back. That said, I still think I could do much worse than a 35 Whelen for hunting the game I’ve mentioned. What’s out there that I’m not thinking about with fairly mild recoil and plenty of factory ammo available? Anybody have personal experience with a No. 1 in 35 Whelen? Anybody have a No. 1 and hate it? Thanks in advance.