Will people hate me if I do this to a somewhat rare Ruger No.1?

[Crosshair]

I'm looking at a Ruger No.1 in 357 Magnum that was an overrun of the California Highway Patrol Limited Edition in the 1980s. It doesn't have the stamp that the "real" limited edition guns have. The gun does come with the original box and papers.

Would I be doing a bad thing if I bought it and had the chamber reamed to 357 Maximum? Yes Yes I know there will be people saying, "You bought it, do what you want with it." I'm just wanting a second opinion. I know the H&R Handi-Rifles in 357 Magnum were converted to 357 Maximum so often that it's hard to find one in the original 357 Magnum now, so I can't be the only one thinking about this.

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I wouldn't do it.

 

[Mn Fats]

I'm looking at a Ruger No.1 in 357 Magnum that was an overrun of the California Highway Patrol Limited Edition in the 1980s. It doesn't have the stamp that the "real" limited edition guns have. The gun does come with the original box and papers.

Without the stamp, how do you know it's legit? Because that does sound like a very cool gun if it is. I'd leave it be until further verification.

Plus 357 max brass is ridiculous to find.

 

[DisgruntledPatriot]

LEAVE IT BE. Trust me on this. I have had MANY forehead-slap moments looking back on stuff I had DONE, or SHOULD NOT HAVE done.

If you want a single shot 357 maximum, then have a $200 single shot shotgun sleeved and add sights or a Pic rail.

Things like that will turn up being massively valuable, and you will go around looking like someone kicked you in the jewels when it does, out of regret, because you didn't leave it alone.

 

[Roverguy]

Do it. Enjoy it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Wring out the Magnum before you decide whether Maximum will be an improvement.

 

[LoonWulf]

To be fair collectability dosent really mean anything to me unless i can sell a gun for more to fund something else....so take this for what its worth.

Id change it in a second....

 

[tark]

As a collector, who likes to leave things alone, I think this is the one instance where the very minor, unseen and undetectable modification you propose....is harmless. Go for it.

 

[ericuda]

Why is it a highway patrol overrun. I would think a single shot gun in a lowly 357 in a rifle would be of little use.

I'd sell it and move up to a #1 in a rifle caliber.

 

[redneck2]

Long answer to a short question....

Years ago, I saw a sign in an antique store. It said something along the lines of “yes, we know you had one of these when you were a kid. Yes, we know that you should have kept it. Yes, we know what it would have been worth. But, you throwing it out made this one worth what it is today”

We always hear from the “purists” that piss and moaning because milsurps were altered or sporterized. They berate and vehemently verbally abuse anyone that’s ever turned a screw on some clunky military rife. What they obviously overlook is that the milsurps you so dearly love wouldn’t be here if all the others hadn’t been worked over.

Very, very few shooters that I knew in the 60’s had the disposable income we enjoy today. We bought guns to shoot and use. A milsurp is in its original form is basically useless for anything other than a long forgotten war or play time. There’s nothing it will do that a modern rifle will not do better. Your beloved milsurp is only a remnant that got passed over when all the others were being changed into something useable. The reason it’s here is that it got brought with the ones that were altered.

So, my answer would be, it’s yours to do as you please. You don’t have to make anyone else happy. But, from a purely pragmatic point of view, I personally don’t see the benefit of spending a significant portion of the purchase price to lower the value of something for very marginally improving performance. It’s always cheaper and you end up with a better product with something designed and built for that purpose up front.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

People shoot .357 Magnum in .357 Maximum chambers.

Why is it a highway patrol overrun. I would think a single shot gun in a lowly 357 in a rifle would be of little use. ...

I think the Limited Edition was one of those commemorative models, "one of xxx in honor of so-and-so" things, in this case CHP. I don't think it was intended for anything but a commemorative model rifle in 1980s CHP sidearm caliber.

 

[mcb]

Ream it! Enjoy it!

 

[Demi-human]

If you haven’t bought it yet, don’t pay extra for a stamp that isn’t even there…
Pay for the rifle, not a box and a story.

If you own it, make it your own. Aren’t customs priceless?
This wouldn’t be a question with something that was actually a valuable collectible.

 

[greyling22]

Sounds like a pretty cool gun. I would certainly shoot it as a 357 mag for a while before I modified it. And honestly, I wouldn't do it just because I'm not sold on 357 max. I'd rather have something more readily available like a 44mag or 350 legend, or something that hits harder like 358 win, 8mm Mauser, or 35 Remington. But that's just me.

 

[edwardware]

Would I be doing a bad thing if I bought it and had the chamber reamed to 357 Maximum?

Sounds good. My only comment is that I prefer my wildcats/rare calibers in brass I can make from common pickup brass.

If I did this, I'd buy 3 lifetimes worth of brass. . . which isn't that much if the chamber isn't sloppy.

 

[Reloadron]

Would I do it? Likely not but if you buy it or have it it's yours to do with whatever you choose.

Ron

 

[Nature Boy]

Ponch says no. John says go for it.

 

[someguy2800]

Do what you want. If done well you are probably increasing its value.

By the way I am just about to list a bunch of 357 maximum brass on gunbroker. If you want some send me a PM.

 

[doubleh]

It's your money so do what you want to do, not what we want you to do.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Suggestion:

Load some 158gr jacketed bullets of your choice over 17.8gr of Hodgdons Lil’Gun. Shoot it through a chronograph and at a target at 100yds.

I don’t think you’ll want to spend any more money on the gun!
The above mentioned load gets 2,050fps from a 20” Winchester M94. The on-game performance with a JSP approaches that of a .30/30.
It’s enough gun for deer and pigs to 150yds.

 

[BreechFace]

I would do it in a heartbeat. There are plenty of No.1's out there, make this one yours. In my opinion a 357Mag is silly for a No1, reaming it to Maximum makes sense for the rifle.

Even if it was the "California Highway Patrol Limited Edition" version, those "limited edition" much like the various other "special" runs are dumb in my opinion. I don't feel they add any value, unless it is something really special and very limited in numbers.

Although a single shot rifle is fitting for representing the California gun freedoms, sadly.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Who cares what others think? Your gun your rules.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'd ream it out in a heartbeat.

Brass isn't too hard to find, I ordered some from Cabela's a couple years ago. Starline regularly makes runs of it.

It's pretty active for a "dead cartridge".

Wish I could get my 92' to run on 357max's

 

[jmr40]

I'd sell it and buy something else more useful, but that is just me. A single shot 357 mag or maximum isn't something I'd want. But if you want to keep it, then I'd go for it.

 

[someguy2800]

I'd ream it out in a heartbeat.

Brass isn't too hard to find, I ordered some from Cabela's a couple years ago. Starline regularly makes runs of it.

It's pretty active for a "dead cartridge".

Wish I could get my 92' to run on 357max's

If someone made a lever in 357 max I would be pretty excited