700 CDL or Ruger No.1

[txpitdog]

Forgive me if you read this same question on another board, but I have a crippling case of the wants and no way to satisfy it without sacrificing a rifle I probably shouldn't get rid of. I already asked elsewhere and received an overwhelming "keep what you have" response, but I thought it only "fair" to the temptation inside me to ask a more Ruger sympathetic group.

Recently, I scored a lefty 700 CDL in 243 topped with a brand new Nikon Monarch 4-16x42. This was a FTF deal, so no Federales were involved. The action has been bedded, barrel floated, and trigger slicked up. The cherry on top is that I got it cheap. I've got dies, brass, and 300 Hornady 100gr Interlocks, which are in my experience deer slayers.

There's absolutely no reason whatsoever for me to ever get rid of this rifle...except that I love my ss/lam Hawkeye 30-06 like a well worn baseball glove and likely won't ever leave the house with anything but it. Actually, I have had the willpower to hang on to this 243 until now.

I've stumbled into a beauty of a No. 1-A in 6.5x55. Deep bluing, rich dark walnut with nice grain. I love No. 1's. They are just as fun to look at and admire as they are to shoot. I've wanted a 6.5x55 for a long time, not necessarily in a No. 1,but this thing is eating away at me. Still, everything the CDL has going for it tells me it would be foolish to let it go.

So, I figure the Ruger crew will either side with the beauty for obvious reasons, but if you confirm the 243 is too good to let go, then it will be easier to hang on to it.

Thank you for letting me whine.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

Kill two want-to-have birds with one stone. That's what I did with my #1 in .280 Rem.

 

[gewehrfreund]

Not sure the 700 short action will handle the 6.5x55, but if it will, why not just have it rebarreled to that cartridge?
That statement will probably get me drummed out of the No.1 loonie corps, and I surprised myself in writing it with 30++ No. 1s in the house

On the other hand, if the Hawkeye is the only rifle you're likely to hunt with, sell the 700 and get the Ruger! There, I think I redeemed myself a little with the No. 1 gods. :wink:

 

[txpitdog]

It's not so much that I wish I had a 6.5x55, but that the No. 1 is very nice and in a caliber I happen to be interested in. I could rebore the 700 to 6.5x284, but the 243 is fine as is.

Part of my hesitation is that unique lefties are rare and typically cost what I spent for the gun AND scope.

 

[gewehrfreund]

Ahhh, I missed that it was a LH CDL. I really feel for your dilema. I have a LH CDL in 223 on layaway right now at the local Gander Mountain, and am only paying it off slowly in case a nice No.1 appears that I can't live without. We left shoulder shooters do not have it easy.
Took me a long time to find a short action LH CDL at a reasonable price. It's one more rifle "Must-have" itch that's been scratched. Maybe I can feed my No.1 habit at the gun show later this month ;-)
Good luck with your decision.

 

[rugerjunkie]

The only thing I see you mention on what you plan to hunt is deer. The only thing I do not like a No.1 for is sitting on the sandbags shooting prairie dogs. I find the lever a pain because I like to set myself and the rifle low on the bench and prefer a bolt in that situation. Everything else...love the No.1's! I say go for the 6.5 and don't look back!

 

[Watergoat]

I hunted deer for years with a M70 in 6.5x55, every deer it saw dropped on the spot. When I got into #1s, it seemed like good shot placement would continue to carry the day, and the other 4 in the magazine would be superfluous. I found a #1 in 6.5x55, and it is truly a sweetheart. You could put the 4-16 on the Ruger, but that is a big scope for this usage. The fact that you are asking the question here, tells me you already know the answer: "have them all".

The Rem is a fine rifle. Many folks, myself included, find the esthetic qualities and elegance of the #1 to be a decisive factor. You are in love - go for it!!!

 

[mattsbox99]

Remingtons are good to have along, they make great jack handles if you get a flat tire.

Just kidding of course, I have my share of Remingtons.

I'm in the keep the Rem and get the Ruger camp, you'll be happy both ways.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I love my #1s but also have 3 cdls and love them too. the most recent one is the new 257 wby and ive been doing load developement on it and have a few loads that go around 3/4s of an inch for 5 shots and have to admit that there a bit less tempermental then a #1. Dont get me wrong i have a couple #1s that are real shooters but i spent quite a few more hours on the bench getting there. Hard decision you have. #1s are in my opinion the best looking rifle on the market and cdls are probably in my opinion the best looking bolt guns under a grand. Only competion in my opinion is the winchester featherweight.

 

[Titleist]

Keep the .243 CDL.

 

[Corbi]

Keep the 243.....save up until you can afford the #1.

Corbi

 

[MMichaelAK]

The Remington is nice but the Swede can do everything a .243 can do and MORE.

If you can swing both, hold onto the M700 and buy the Number One. If that won't fit into your budget, The Remington can be replaced more easily than the Number One even if you have to build it. Get the Number One.

 

[mike-c]

Greetings,

The #1 in 6.5 Sweed will be hard to find in the near future. However, the 243 Remington should be easy to find for years to come... Get the SWEED...

moondog911