Dear Ruger, please bring back the #3

Gather App
Guns.com Vault
I know it's kinda hard to see, but my hand is up too.

Maybe they'll do it like this?

DSCN0411.jpg
 
David, that is a beautiful rifle.

My preference is for them to be 100% stock, just like they were. I would like to see them do the No. 3 in 30 30 (seems to be a natural fit for this rifle). .45 Colt would be cool. I have one in 22 Hornet and I love it. The .223 is a natural for this rifle, too. I guess there are a few guys out there like us who like them, but the overall market must simply be too small to support bringing it back. Too much black plastic, I guess. No accounting for some people's tastes, I suppose. (I would prefer a No. 3 over any tricked-out black plastic rifle, but that's just me.)
 
I prefer them as they came from the factory too. My 1st 3 shots at 100 yards using 30 grains of IMR-4198 and a 405 grain cast bullet shows that they shoot. I'd like to have one in .30-40 Krag. I don't own plastic stocked rifles.

100_0478.jpg
 
Ruger doesn't sell enough No. 1's to continue producing all of the calibers and models they have cataloged for the last couple of decades -- there is no way they are going to compete with themselves for that tiny sliver of the market that is interested in single shot rifles by re-introducing the No. 3.

It would just cut further into their No. 1 sales, it isn't going to happen.....
 
Very impressive group. So much so that I think after I am done here I am going to go out in the garage and load some 45-70 to your specifications.

Way back in 1976, I bought all three No. 3 Rugers with the Liberty inscription. The calibers in those days were 22 Hornet, 30 40 Krag, and 45 70. Brand new they MSRP'd for $165. The dealer I bought them from (Starkey's in El Paso) sold them at $137.50. Almost seems laughable now. Stupidly, I sold all three. One went to a good buddy of mine, Jim McG (we were both in the Army), so I didn't feel so bad about that one. Selling the others was just plain stupid, and I regretted it ever since. So, I resolved to find and re-buy these three.

I recently completed the resurrection of that group by snagging a Liberty No. 3 in 22 Hornet (it's sweet, and it comes with a Leupold 4X scope). Don't have it yet; just won the auction on GB. I had previously re-bought both the 45 70 and the 30 40 in Liberty editions. And last year, I purchased a new in the box (with all paperwork) 45 70 No. 3 with Serial No 130-50031 (they started making No. 3 Rugers at Serial Number 130-50000). I also have a No. 3 in 44 mag, and I've heard that's a pretty rare animal, too. I guess you could say I like the No. 3 Ruger.

I've heard that Ruger made about 350 of the 1A Hornets (the magnificent rifle shown in another current thread on this board), and about 200 of the 44 Mag No. 3 rifles.

I missed the 22 Hornet No. 3 so much, though, that about a year ago a I bought the Hornet in a later model No. 3 (with the warning). I wanted a Liberty model, but I jumped the gun (pardon the pun) when I saw the warning-marked Hornet at Cabelas. It came with a Bushnell 4X on it, and I was able to get this group from that rifle using the 296 load I mentioned elsewhere:

RugerNo3Group1.jpg


The first three shots went into the tightly-clustered group on the left, and then the last two opened it up with the two shots on the right. I was pretty pleased with that, because at 100 yards, the crosshairs on that inexpensive Bushnell nearly covered the bullseye. I tried loads just under and just over 10.0 grains of 296 with the Nosler 40 grain bullet, but they all stringed vertically. Things settled down nicely right at 10 grains.

I've thought about selling the warning-marked Hornet once I take delivery on the Liberty gun, but with results like that, I don't think I will.
 
Back in the 80s I bought one of the Liberty 22 Hornets as a barreled action. My son, who was in his teens then, and I fashioned the stock and forearm to fit him for varmint shooting. He is off on his own now but I am keeping the rifle for his son who is seven right now. It'll be his someday. :D
 
I hate to burst anybodies bubble but, there are NOT going to be any new #3s.

The answer to 22LR? According to sources at the factory, they would never do it on the full sized action. Downsizing the action and chambering it in ANY rimfire, "Isn't going to happen in your lifetime".

I have 5 rifles that started life as #3s but they all became custom or semi custom #2s along the way, with #1 or custom barrels and #1 wood. Most and soon ALL will have had the rear of the lever modified to follow the contour of the butt stock. I could check with records but I'm pretty sure two were 223s and 3 were Hornets.

I like/prefer the way a #3 action locks up in the action rather than inside the trigger gaurd bow like the #1. I have to admit, that's the ONLY thing I like about the #3. ;-( Oh, I liked it when they were cheaper than #1s so I could buy them for the action. So I guess that 2 things. :-)

Ross
 
Too bad they don't make unfinished #3 actions available for building project guns with. the new .22 necked 9mm that is coming out in 1911's
the 6.8 SPC, .30 Whisper, heck even 450 Bushmaster, all cool newer cartridge sesigns that would be one heck of a bunch of fun in a single shot. Besides why should TC Encore have all the fun?
Seriously an action as strong as a #3 with an interchangeable barrel system would be so damn cool
 
There is no fast barrel change on #1 or #3 . The scope and mounts must be removing off barrel before unscrewing barrel , plus the ejector also needs to be removed and replaced if a parent case is not used . 1/4 turn barrels are not a good idea of mult-barrel system . TC Encore has all the problems fixed on mult-barrels ....... I built alot of #3 . Here is my match gun I built in the late 80's

Picture326.jpg

Picture328.jpg

target32-40.jpg

Picture049-1.jpg
 
I really doubt the return of the #3; just my opinion. Hopefully the No.1 will continue to be offered......the two actions(1 & 3) are pretty similar in makeup.

Often wondered why some of the special run folks have not offered a rimfire version of the No.1. It would make up a full sized rifle as a rimfire that some would relish.

Depending on the type of mods for the rimfire conversion, perhaps just a new extractor and barrel characteristic. Not an overly difficult conversion ; even for the home machinist really.

I have been shooting my conversion for a while now, about the most fun no.1 that I have..............well the 17 bumble bee is a killer too....... :-)

Odd how reading some of these forum threads gets one to thinking of how to do some of these oddities............and you end up with your own rendition.

Roof
 
We can all dream. A No. 3 in 30 30 would definitely be cool. Way cool. Doesn't have to have fancy wood. Doesn't have to be ultra high polished. Would sure be a great rifle. I wouldn't change anything on the original design. Well, all right, if we're dreaming...do away with that stupid warning, and put the metal butt plate back on instead of the plastic one. Maybe where the 200th year inscription used to be, you could say "Proudly Manufactured in the United States of America." That would be cool.

There's something about these rifles that just makes them incredibly appealing...at least to me, and judging by the comments on this board, to others as well.
 
I had a No.3 in Winchester .375 Big Bore.Alas,moved to No.1 International,which I prefer but the appeal of No.3 understood.
Had the 3 been in 44 or 30/30 it probably would have remained in the case.

still wishing of scaled down No.3 rimfire.......slightly hefty Ruger version of Stevens Crackshot.
Who knows,with advances in production and marketing outlook it could happen.
 
I have a Ruger #3 custom "lunch bucket" gun that I understand was built by factory staff. It has as a bandless, Schnabeled foreeed and straight english shotgun style rear stock of pretty wood. The caliber is 7mm BR.d Ruger says the serial # inidcates the original action was made as a 44 mag.

I like it so much I had a 6.5x55 Swede built modelled opn it.

wunbe
 
Personally, I've owned several No. 3s---am down to two now---a like new 44 Mag with box---probably only 200 rds or less fired---and a No. 3 that was 223 and was converted to 454 Casull by gunsmith Dean Wilkersen. What would I like to see? A walnut stocked (shotgun style buttplate with good recoil pad) stainless in 454 Casull! Yeah, I would buy one!
 
wunbe said:
I have a Ruger #3 custom "lunch bucket" gun that I understand was built by factory staff. It has as a bandless, Schnabeled foreeed and straight english shotgun style rear stock of pretty wood. The caliber is 7mm BR.d Ruger says the serial # inidcates the original action was made as a 44 mag.

I like it so much I had a 6.5x55 Swede built modelled opn it.

wunbe
Click to expand...

Sure like to see photos of those rifles, Wunbe!
 
Chances for a #3 are indeed slim. Ruger has cut down so many #1 models already so they can stay in bussness. Besides there are so many different
items that that should be changed on the #3 that would further compete with the #1. Hence all the different conversions on the #3 to make it more like a #1. If you want a #3 and then request many changes to make it like a #1, then you might as well start with a #1.

I have a #3 that I rebuild to look like a #1, and this rifle is a most outstanding
accuracy performer with hand loads in 375 Wichester. See if I can digf out a picture. The last 3 shot group I shot with the rifle went into 1-3/4" at 250yards. This is a screamer group. I had no camera to take a picture of the group but I had a witness. The load was 39.0gr of H322 225gr Hornady Moly plated.

PICT0121.jpg


Repaired and recheckered stock which was brocken through the pistol grip.

IMGP0217.jpg
 
Klondike Mike.
It is perhaps possible to turn a #3 into a 20g shot gun, would be expensive me thinks. H&R makes a nice single shot 20g you can get for cheap. All made in USA.
 
I like it. The original No. 3 is good. Great, actually. One of the all time classics.

I have this idea of buying a couple of pieces of really highly-figured French walnut or maybe Circassian, and having them duplicated to meet the exact contours of the stock No. 3 furniture, right down to the barrel band and the metal buttplate. Then I'd post photos here and tell all you guys it came that way from the factory; I just got lucky and landed one with great wood. Keep watching; it may happen!
 
Gatling,

I am glad to send you a picture --it's my screen saver by the way -- but I cannot post picts to these sites no matter how hard I try. Terminal cyberstupidity at work. PM your email addess and I'll send it to you there.

Regards,
wunbe
 
RJ 56
Here is what you can do with a Handi if you don'like the looks of one. The below is a 257 Roberts with an octagon 24" barrel. All parts are origuonal H&R
reworked, rebored, and refinished. It looks not all that bad for a homemade job. All you need is a bit of that green stuff.
The rifle shoots 3 shots into a 1/2" with 100gr bullets.

Hand0001.jpg
 
Never say never as Lipsey's will take the ball and run with it! Wouldnt be too hard to make a select caliber of a couple thousand rifles in a #3 as tooling isn't a problem in a Ruger with their manufacturing methods, is it?
picketpin said:
I hate to burst anybodies bubble but, there are NOT going to be any new #3s.

The answer to 22LR? According to sources at the factory, they would never do it on the full sized action. Downsizing the action and chambering it in ANY rimfire, "Isn't going to happen in your lifetime".

I have 5 rifles that started life as #3s but they all became custom or semi custom #2s along the way, with #1 or custom barrels and #1 wood. Most and soon ALL will have had the rear of the lever modified to follow the contour of the butt stock. I could check with records but I'm pretty sure two were 223s and 3 were Hornets.

I like/prefer the way a #3 action locks up in the action rather than inside the trigger gaurd bow like the #1. I have to admit, that's the ONLY thing I like about the #3. ;-( Oh, I liked it when they were cheaper than #1s so I could buy them for the action. So I guess that 2 things. :-)

Ross
Click to expand...
 
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