Boddington No.1 450NE Bought it and shot it!

[jcs271]

I had read a lot of comments here and on other boards regarding this upcoming rifle. Well I got mine last week and finally got some Hornady factory ammo yesterday. While still at the shop I purchased a limbsaver pad (prefit for No.1) and we installed it right on the spot, pad fit perfectly but the bottom screw hole needed to be realigned about 1/8th inch. Rifles fit and finish was excellent. The wood is very nice and received several comments at the shop. The rifle balances perfectly, just slightly forward of the action. Trigger pull is clean and breaks nicely. I had heard a number of theories that due to its light weight this rig would kick like a mule. I admit to using a folded dish towel for shot number one which I just cranked off quickly to get a feel for the recoil. You can't imagine my relief that recoil was not only not bad, but with subsequent shots using only the limbsaver pad it was actually not even uncomfortable. The first two aimed shots that I took offhand were at about 20 yards and they both landed about 1/4 inch apart. This rifle really fits me well and truly points where I am looking. The larger/thicker pad helps with my LOP due to my "ape arms". I ultimately fired 12 rounds with the open sights at 20-25 yards and had a very respectable group and best of all, NO BRUISING! This rifle is definately a keeper.

BUT! its not perfect. The safety blocked EVERY SINGLE round from being ejected. The case length is such that when the rear of the case strikes the safety the front edge of the case has not even cleared the barrel yet. Ejected cases simply hit the safety lever and bounce halfway back into the chamber. I tried rotating the rifle onto both sides and gravity could not even help enough to get the case to fall free.

It is absolutely amazing to me that Ruger could market these as dangerous game rifles in magnum calibers, then let these rifles leave the factory knowing that you have to claw each empty case out of the action. This is a well documented problem that they apparently refuse to address. I will do like everyone else and just grind the leading edge of the safety but it will forever be a point of irritation for me. I have probably 25 ruger firearms and love them all but this is OUTRAGEOUS!

 

[mcknight77]

Tilt the rifle a bit sideways when you drop the lever and the case will hit the safety and drop to the ground.

 

[jcs271]

Please re-read paragraph 2, tilting the rifle does NOT work. Case is to long, and this is totally unacceptable. There is NO reason to have that much extra metal on the front edge of the safety.
This is a dangerous game rifle, you cant worry about "tipping" the rifle during a reload!

 

[mcknight77]

So, the real reason you came here was to complain? Have you called Ruger to tell them your dissatisfaction?

Dangerous game rifle and single shot should not be in the same sentence, IMO.

Sell the rifle if you don't like it.

 

[Silent Sam]

First and foremost it is a #1, of which the great majority are not dangerous game rifles. It is marketed as one of a collector series, some of which are chambered in what are considered to be dangerous game calibers. It is not sold as a ready to go DG rifle. I would wager only a small percentage ever make it to Africa. No off the shelf factory rifle would qualify on that account. Even purpose built DG bolt actions from any manufacturer require some "attention" prior to facing DG. Single shots, rightfully or wrongfully, have been and will continue to be used in the role of hunting DG. If you are at all sane you also accept that there will be immediate backup from a repeating weapon. Concerning your complaint, that is a feature many #1 users appreciate. You can adjust the ejector strut to just extract the case or eject it. You can also adjust the force of ejection somewhat. See page 16 in your manual. If all that is needed is a little stoning to make it DG hunt ready you should feel lucky.

 

[mattsbox99]

I see people complain about that issue, but I prefer my brass not hit the ground if I can avoid it. Out of habit when hunting with my bolt rifles I work the action pretty quickly even though most of the time the second shot isn't needed. The safety blocking the brass is a neat feature and I believe it was purposely designed that way.

 

[jcs271]

So, the real reason you came here was to complain? Have you called Ruger to tell them your dissatisfaction?

I actually sent a letter with two photos, I await their reply. JCS


Dangerous game rifle and single shot should not be in the same sentence, IMO.

Dangerous game hunting originated with heavy single shot rifles, many still honor this tradition. JCS

Sell the rifle if you don't like it.

I love the rifle, I will modify to overcome this ONE design defect. JCS

Sam, it has been created with all the features necessary to make it an outstanding hunting rifle (far beyond standard No.1's) I understand things may need adjusting but once again, due to the extreme case length of the .450NE the CASE RIM HITS THE SAFETY BEFORE THE CASE MOUTH CLEARS THE BARREL. Design flaw!

Don, I had hoped it would eject like my four other no.1s and your .458.

Matchbox99 "The safety blocking the brass is a neat feature and I believe it was purposely designed that way." I am afraid that you sir either did not read my original post or you are completely clueless about this topic, whatever the case, I'll pray for you.
_________________

 

[Con]

jcs271,
This is not a unique problem and in my opinion is a design flaw in the No1, particularly the Tropical rifles. If a bolt action African in 416Ruger had the same problem it would be rectified, excuses such as 'its not a real DG rifle' are simply that ... excuses. I believe its a design feature for bench shooters so the brass remains on the loading port or at least nearby when a Tropical should be launching them into orbit over your shoulder. Its not confined to the 450NE x 3 1/4" either (other than the not clearing the chamber) as on an Australian forum the issue of not clearing the safety was noted in x3 450/400NE rifles, a 25/06, 375Ruger, 375H&H, 243Win, 45/70 and 458WinMag. Interestingly ... older rifles circa mid- 80s don't seem to have this issue.

In most cases, quick reloads are assisted by a 'wrist flick' but it shouldn't be necessary. A few of us are planning a group order with a local gunsmith to recess our safeties, just like Ruger should have done ... or redesigned the safety catch itself. I can only suggest you inform your place of purchase and Ruger direct of your dissatisfaction.
Cheers...
Con
PS: If you grind away the leading edge, there's a risk of exposing a slot where the safety slides which is potentially a dirt collector plus ugly. If its 'just catching' cranking the ejector spring to max can kick cases out hard enough to overcome the slight catch.

 

[4Sixteen]

Nice rifle, interesting cartridge. I wanted a heavy caliber No.1 - I choose the .45-70 because it feels handier with the medium weight barrel. No complaints with it whatsoever.

It's capable of firing a 500gr bullet at nearly 1900 fps.