Ruger #3 in 22 Hornet

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LittleBigOz

Bearcat
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
22
Location
North Alabama
I'd appreciate any info you can give on my Ruger #3. Caliber is 22 Hornet. Serial number indicates it was made in 1976. The stock is unlike any I've seen on other #3s. The buttplate appears to be factory. A few photos are below.
Questions - Is this a factory stock? If so, how many were produced? What is the gun's value?
Thanks in advance.
22hornetforeend.jpg

22hornetlibertyrollmark.jpg

22hornetnumber3.jpg
 
The barrel inscription is the dead giveaway that is was made in 1976. The buttstock is factory that has been checkered. The scope mounts are Buehler, I believe, and the forend is either a factory one that has been reworked, or completely custom/aftermarket.
Nice gun - how does it shoot?
 
Thanks. It shoots pretty well. I usually shoot 20 shots at the same bullseye when I go to the range, and it keeps them all within 2.1 inches using the 35 grain Vmax and 10.5 gr of 2400. I read other posts on the Hornet which lead me to conclude that Lil Gun may be the powder of choice.
 
or Rem 6 1/2 primers. I have a 77/22 Hornet that shoots very well with 13.0 grains of Lil Gun and RP brass with Rem 6 1/2 primers, any bullet will work because Lil Gun does not develop high pressure and you can not get enough in the case to go over pressure.
 
I have found that using match primers improves the hornet accuracy over the reg primers.
 
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