NRA Show Scoop - #1 collectors ...

[bigbore45colt]

On Friday, at the NRA Show, Turnbull Manufacturing is going to formally announce that they have contracted with Ruger to produce up to 250 #1Hs in their proprietary cartridge, the 475 Turnbull. These rifles will be offered either in original factory specs (ie blued/walnut), for $1100, or with the full Turnbull color case and rust bluing treatment, for $1750.

I understand that Ruger has already built a small quantity of them so these should be available to the public by early summer. These will only be available through Turnbull and a very few select dealers around the country.

You can start ordering them right away to get in line for them.

http://turnbullmfg.com/store.asp?pid=33996

The 475 Turnbull is an amazing cartridge. It will launch a 400 gr Barnes TSX bullet at 2100 fps with around 4000 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. This will just hammer anything that walks this planet. The round has taken just about every big game in both North America and Africa.

Just thought you guys might want to know about this limited edition. I have already ordered mine.

BB45C

 

[Ruger1nut]

I got one of each coming. I have wanted to have one of these for quite some time

Dave

 

[chet15]

Sounds like a neat gun! Be sure to keep me up to date with any sn info!
Chet15

 

[RJ556]

Bigbore, along with your info scoop on the Turnbull #1's, did you reconoiter any info on the rumored 77/357?

 

[bigbore45colt]

I have heard that it is happening. I just don't know for sure if it will be announced this weekend.

BB45C

 

[sonvolt]

You know, I have to grin at this Turnbull/Ruger partnership. A few years ago I bought one of Cabela's limited run of No. 1 medium sporters in .45-70 with Turnbull case colors. I don't remember how many Cabela's had, but I searched all they had online and bought the one with the prettiest wood.

About a year later I was going to shoot it and was mounting up a scope when I noticed the quarter rib was canted - the barrel had been overtightened slightly, causing the rib to be at a cant (and thus the scope too). Easy fix (I thought) so I sent it into Ruger. A couple weeks later, I get a letter from Ruger customer service saying they knew nothing about these guns and would NOT service it because they rockwell tested the receiver and found it to be soft. I explained this was a run from Cabela's/Turnbull and that I assumed Turnbull got them from Ruger in the white. They claimed no one at Ruger knew anything about them but they would not work on the gun because of its soft case coloring.

I was beyond upset. To their credit, Turnbull offered to fix the problem for free as I'd been a customer of theirs for years, but I was intent on getting to the bottom of why Ruger wouldn't touch the thing and I wanted a full refund from Cabela's for selling me a "new" gun the factory wouldn't service. Best I could determine after weeks of phone calls was that Lipseys had taken a bunch of .45-70s and sent them to Turnbull who refinished the receivers, ribs and rings, then Cabela's sold them as a "special run." Finally, a guy at Lipseys actually gave me my purchase price and said he was going to keep the gun himself. I was glad to wash my hands of the experience but I'll always remember neither Ruger nor Cabela's would stand behind the gun.

So I find it slightly humorous now that Ruger has determined Turnbull's case colors are "hard enough" for them to get on board with. The whole thing left a really bad taste in my mouth (if you can't tell). Still love No. 1s though and wouldn't hesitate buying one of these Turnbull editions.

 

[luvs2hunt62]

I was talking to a local gun Bluing/refinishing company about refinishing one of my pistols and the subject of Ruger #1's came up. The owner told me he would not color case finish the #1 because the metal was too thin and it could soften the metal of the reciever

 

[luvs2hunt62]

I was talking to a local gun Bluing/refinishing company about refinishing one of my pistols and the subject of Ruger #1's came up. The owner told me he would not color case finish the #1 because the metal was too thin and it could soften the metal of the reciever

 

[picketpin]

Too Many!!!

While I "collect" #1s 250 is too many to spend money on. UNLESS it is simply just something you want and paln on owning and hunting with it which is a valid reason to buy one. Many production rifles in #1s were cataloged for years were produced in numbers well below 250. Nearly all the non cataloged short runs until receently (Lipsey) were made in runs of 100 or less.

I have no personal use for one to hunt with and would much rather spend my pennies on something that they made less than 100 of for essentually for the same money..

I'll hold to the original premis, that my father raised me with. Nearly ANYTHING deliberately manufactured to be rare and or collectible, is seldom rare OR collectable.

RWT

 

[four70nitro]

You can always send any of your No. 1's to Turnbull and have them color-cased, rust blued, and wood refinished......

 

[wunbe]

Does the case hardeniong process minherently soften metal?

wunbe

 

[sonvolt]

I'm far from an expert, but I believe the answer to that is that true case hardening provides a very hard surface, with an interior that is slightly softer, thus getting the best of both worlds - durability and resistance to cracking.

Color case hardening is slightly different and Turnbull's version slightly different still. My understanding is that Turnbull has perfected a variation of color case hardening that achieves maximum color (accentuated by the clear lacquer he applies to the surface) but he's not getting the pieces to the temperatures of the old style traditional color case hardening (like Colt still uses). The reason is twofold: first, the colors are more vivid his way, and second, he avoids part warpage which can be a real problem.

For instance, Colt will not (and has not) case hardened Single Action Army hammers for many years - they leave them in the white on the sides. This is because Colt feels case hardening causes too many of them to crack at their narrowest point (where a pin goes through). However, Turnbull colors these all day everyday with no problem.

Compare Turnbull's colors with Colt's and you'll see the difference. And this probably means that yes, Turnbull's color case hardened parts are "softer" than traditionally color case hardened parts, but I've had his work applied to several of my guns and have had zero problems other than the lacquer eventually wearing off in places.

 

[bigbore45colt]

I'm not a metalurgist so I can't comment on the impact of cch to strength of metal.

In terms of the #1 itself, it was brought to my attention today, by a true #1 collector, that this #1H has a 26" bbl, not the usual 24" bbl normally found on the 1Hs.

BB45C

 

[banjomule]

I sure hope this leads to a 1-H in 470 Nitro!

 

[banjomule]

Does anyone know much about the Turnbull cartridge?

From what i've gathered from other sites, the case is based on a 50-110 shortened to 2.2" and necked down. On Turnbulls website they claim 1900 fps for a 500 g bullet. That's only 100 fps lower than what the Barnes manual shows for the 470 Nitro, a cartridge that's a full inch longer than the Turnbull. If the Turnbull can honestly get that close, I'm going to seriously consider the plain rifle.

 

[Ruger1nut]

I have the 475 in a 1886 and have shot Bison and a Bear with it. Both were shot with a 400gr TSX. The Bison did one half circle and folded and the Bear never even twitched. It was dead before it hit the ground.

Any of the ammo I have seen chronographed is right at spec.

As Matt mentioned this is a very special and unique rifle. It is a 26" C weight barrel in the arguably the biggest cartridge Ruger has done to date in the Number One.

Ross you mentioned too many. I respectfully disagree. Though I admit I have been biased to Turnbull's cartridge long before it ever breathed life in a factory Number One, I hope they sell thousands. This is a rifle meant to be used and I hope it does get used lots. I will use mine for NY whitetail and this fall for Trophy Bison.

I do not think either of them are trying to make a "collector" gun. If it sells they will make more I would think.

As far as 470 vs 475.. I am not a PH an nor have I hunted Africa. I seriously doubt (based on animals I have seen shot with this round) that they could ever tell the difference between the two.

The collaboration between Ruger and arguable the finest American rifle ever made, chambered in a cartridge developed by one of Americas legendary craftsman, should be applauded.


Dave

 

[four70nitro]

One of the great things about the No. 1 is the fact that it doesn't matter how long the cartridge happens to be -- there is no advantage/disadvantage to a cartridge that is an inch shorter or longer......

Dave

 

[picketpin]

Back to the niche cartridge in a niche market. I'm delighted that you and others want one. I don't as I have no idea what I would shoot with it.

This is a WANT and that's just fine. If you want one, buy one but for anything a hunter is likely to hunt in North America it's probably more than need. Notice the word need, not want.

Of course part of it may be a simple difference in phylisophy, I'm not a proponent of BIG , relatively slow bullets.

I've killed more than my share of elk, the occassional moose and a few bears. Most with a #1 in 338 Win Mag with a 250 gr Nosler Partition or other similar bullet, Bear Claw, Fail Safe etc. Nothing has ever walked away from the encounter.

If I decide to shoot a buff it'll be with the same #1 and the same load.

It's a matter of personal preference and I'd rather spend THAT money on a non prefix "S" with scope blocks.

Ross

 

[Ruger1nut]

Ross I agree with 95% of what you are saying. As a matter of fact as of last fall I had planed on taking a very special 338-06 or 338 win 1S. I would have used a 250gr if I did my part it should have been game over.
Last trip I used a 9.3x74R and it worked well.

There are times I still think speed is king. Having said that, anything I have ever shot with a big bullet has gone down faster than a prairie dog on 40gr hollow point.

I have also found these guns to be much more pleasant to shoot than most 7mm-338 class magnum rifles.
The slow steady push is far less painful than the sharp whack some of these rifles give you.

I will shoot my 375 H&H or 475 Turnbull #1 much more than I would shoot a 300 win mag.

as far as that non prefix with blocks just let me know where she is... I will take good care of it until you are ready for it. :lol:

The non prefix and early 130 guns are in a class all their own. Not this gun nor any other since about 1976 will ever hold the same mystique. That does not mean I wont shoot the hell out of it!!

Dave

 

[El Numero Uno]

Just returned from NRA and want to get my nickels worth in on this new caliber/configuration. Some may be missing the point already noted that this is a 26" barreled 1H, the 1st time ever this has length has been made by Ruger in a 1H! And, it is a C weight barrel, with a .48 caliber hole in it.
I handled it and I will have one! Have no idea what I will shoot with it, but it has the weight and feel of a 1S.

 

[mike7mm08]

Really wish I had the funds for one of these. Wish I had not bought my 475 linebaugh #1 now. Oh well so many Rugers so little money

 

[Ruger1nut]

Mike I am in the same boat. I will probably be selling my 475 Linebaugh to help pay for one of these. I even just ordered a 475 revolver.

Dave

 

[mike7mm08]

I have a 480 SRH. I bought the #1 as a fun gun but also because of the huge stockpile of reloading components I bought super cheap for the 480. I probable have well over a 100 pounds of bullets that can be used in both the 480 and the 475. Dies are the same. All I had to buy were some cases for fullbore loads as I can use the 480 cases for plinkers have a thousand of those.So a paid for gun with dirt cheap lifetime supply of ammo beats the unpaid for gun that I have no ammo for.