Which is the rarest caliber in a NO 3?

Help Support Ruger Forum:

vol423

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
57
Location
Greeneville, TN, USA
I've heard of them in .22 Hornet, .223, 30-40, .375 Winchester, 44 mag and 45-70. Which is the rarest? What are the relative values in today's current market?
 
Register to hide this ad
As has already been mentioned, the .44 Magnum is the rarest of the standard six catalogued No. 3 's. They sell in the $850-1,000 range if unaltered in 98% condition. I consider the .375 Winchester and the 30-40 Krag the next hardest to find and value them at $750-850. The rest aren't particularly difficult to find and I value them in 95% or better condition at $600.
No3001.jpg
 
.45-70s used to be common in great condition; people would buy one, shoot three factory rounds thru it, and sell it off or put it in the back of the safe. Kills on both ends! And the shape of the buttstock didn't help a bit.
 
I don't know how many (few) were made, but the onlyest .30-06 #3 I ever saw was accompanied by it's framed Factory letter - so you can be sure at least that one was made by Ruger. :)

.
 
I was part of the RCA Exhibit at the NRA Show in Seattle back in the early '90's. We did #3 Rifles. Leo Shuck, may he Rest In Peace, loaned us his .30-06 rifle. Ronnie Burke loaned us his "Viper" trainer which was a "rocket launcher" with a #3 action and short barrel that was chambered in, IIRC, a .30 Carbine tracer round.

We had several other "neat" #3's, including all the cataloged calibres, etc.

I thought our Exhibit was very nice. We had very minimal interest from the public.

Rats.

flatgate
 
Last spring, I missed a 44 Mag due to lack of funds. It sold for $400.
I am lucky enough to have a 375, 30-40, and a 223. I had a 22 Hornet that I traded for another project. Someday I hope to fill the remainder.

Dave
 
flatgate":2eoqbift said:
I was part of the RCA Exhibit at the NRA Show in Seattle back in the early '90's. We did #3 Rifles. Leo Shuck, may he Rest In Peace, loaned us his .30-06 rifle. Ronnie Burke loaned us his "Viper" trainer which was a "rocket launcher" with a #3 action and short barrel that was chambered in, IIRC, a .30 Carbine tracer round.

We had several other "neat" #3's, including all the cataloged calibres, etc.

I thought our Exhibit was very nice. We had very minimal interest from the public.

Rats.

flatgate

As is, sadly, often the case with excellent stuff that is not well understood.
 
I have a friend who swears the #3 was made in limited numbers chambered for 7x57 Mauser. He is not a Ruger collector type, but he did work in a gun shop for quite a few years.

Always wondered if he was right or if it was a mistaken memory on his part. He is not a gunshop commando, just an average joe/retired cop who hunts and fishs more than anyone else I have EVER known.
 
I think he is mistaken. I have never heard of this variation before even though it would be a wonderful choice of calibers for a No. 3.
 
I just bought six of them: 2 Hornets, a .223, .30-40, .375 and a 44 Mag. All are new, no box. Now all I need to do is find a .45-70 in like condition.
 
So I guess I should have bought that .44 Magnum #3 at the last local show for $550. Guy walked in with it and walked back out. Highest offer he got was $400.
 
mohavesam":2qdadpk1 said:
Those 375 Winchester No. 3's make one of the finest shoulder-guns for treestand hunting anywhere in the great lakes region!

:)

Good to hear. I bought one that I haven't shot yet. Put a Leupold M8 4x (that I got on a garage sale for $20) on it. Need to get off my butt and work up a load for this years deers season, before it's too late.

TDF
 

Latest posts

Top