Stainless No. 1 .243

[SLH]

I read on this site almost daily, have purchased a couple of items from the classifieds, but never post. Really great group here. My questions...

A friend of a friend has a stainless No. 1 in .243 Win, it has a laminated stock. I have not seen this gun, but he wants to sell it. I don't know anything else about it (barrel length, contour, etc.) I am going to look at it and hopefully purchase it. I just wanted to get a little info before I go. What variations were made, approximate value, etc. He says it is in perfect condition. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[rcramden]

Probably a B with 26" barrel. Not a real big fan of the laminate stocks. My .243B is blued/walnut and very accurate. A bit on the heavy side for a long still hunt but love it in the stand. I have a couple of grandsons that are reaching that age and may have to find another one. I traded a .25-06 V for the .243. I believe I paid $675 for the V.

 

[mike-c]

Greetings,

The stainless #1 is getting hard to find. I suspect it is worth about $800 from what I have seen on gun broker.

Mike 8)

 

[txpitdog]

I bought mine off this forum for $720 shipped, and it was NIB. I have also seen one sell on accuratereloading.com for 640 shipped. I recommend starting with a higher price, but I suspect it would need to come down. I liked mine, but it was heavy. I sold it after finding a LH 700 CDL 243, but I always wanted to rebore it to 6.5x284 or 257Wby. If it goes up for sale here, I will certainly be tempted.

 

[SLH]

Thanks for the replies, mike-c we are practically neighbors, I live outside of Broken Bow now, but grew up hunting in those mountains you live at the foot of. Really great place!

 

[Swampman]

I wasn't crazy about the stainless laminate until I bought one. It seems light and I really like it.

 

[picketpin]

According to Ruger it weighs about a pound more than the walnut version, based on the density of the walnut.

That makes it a fairly/needlessly heavy 243 in my minds eye. There are certainly advantages to the stainless/laminate #1. NONE/few of which translate to a need here in the dry Great Basin even in winter/fall.

They weren't widely popular, even given the advantages, thus they were discontinued. They weren't that popular NIB and long term with the exception a few few that are really rare don't look for them to go up much as used rifles either.

RWT

 

[Swampman]

Mine's a .45-70....I wouldn't sell it.