My "Back from Gunsmith" Ruger #1

Rockrat · Jun 18, 2014

Thought you might enjoy this. Just made it back today. Nabbed the wood from my 416 Rem as the stock wood from the 375 H&H wouldn't fit on the forend as I had a "D" weight barrel put on. With the big hole thru the middle, it should be OK, and seems to be.
Now to start working up loads. I have some 385gr Rem HP's and a couple of cast bullet moulds to try, from 385 gr to 440 gr.

rangerbob · Jun 19, 2014

RR, when the 500 first appeared, I shot a few rounds in other folk's revolvers and even loaded some downloaded ammo for a couple of clients. I soon purchased a H&R Handi Rifle in 500. I just knew that, in a rifle, it would be a pussycat, noting that while it was a handful in a revolver, putting it in a rifle would tame it down. I was wrong! The H&R recoiled much worse than my usual 45-70's in lever guns. Of course, in a #1, one can load it until one's arm says that's enough. Bob!

Jimbo357mag · Jun 19, 2014

What makes a bigger hole than a S&W 500Mag? ...Nothing!!

dfletcher · Jun 20, 2014

rangerbob said:
RR, when the 500 first appeared, I shot a few rounds in other folk's revolvers and even loaded some downloaded ammo for a couple of clients. I soon purchased a H&R Handi Rifle in 500. I just knew that, in a rifle, it would be a pussycat, noting that while it was a handful in a revolver, putting it in a rifle would tame it down. I was wrong! The H&R recoiled much worse than my usual 45-70's in lever guns. Of course, in a #1, one can load it until one's arm says that's enough. Bob!

I have a fair number of large bore "rifle calibers" that I shoot out of a T/C Encore pistol - 45/70, 405 Winchester, 375 H & H, 350 Rem Mag, etc. The recoil always bothers me less out of a handgun, I suspect because you can to a certain extent "limp wrist" the pistol through recoil.

dlhredfoxx · Jun 20, 2014

Now that is just bad-azz! Rockrat, can you tell us more about the rifle? A Ruger #1 in .500 S&W takes 1st prize in the badazzedness category for sure! Range report needed, badly!

Rockrat · Jun 20, 2014

Was origionally a stainless/laminated 375 H&H. Sent it out to be re-bored, but origional gunsmith said that pin holes in barrel were too deep and he couldn't do it. Had him send it back and it sat on the shelf. I shoot alot of cast bullets, but on the board I frequent, we call them boolits to differentiate them from jacketed bullets. Been watching the work of a gunsmith called "Goodsteel". PM'd him about the job and sent it to him. He put a Green Mountain barrel on it in "D" weight, instead of the "C" weight barrel the H&H had. Figured the big hole in the middle would make it light enough.
Tim modified the rib for the D weight barrel and put on the front sight. Really wanted a stainless one, but none to be found.
Got it back in Thursday, now to get some ammo loaded after I get some more brass. Will let you know how it performs.
Been thinking of this conversion for about 3 years. Now its finally done.