Snagged a copy of the ’10 Ruger catalog at the local funshop yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find a new must-have offering: the No. 1 in .300 H&H. Ruger built a run of these guns this year, but they were part of the Craig Boddington limited edition series, which (A) cost more than I’d like to spend and (B) honored a guy whose writing I’ve never much cared for. I will, however, be ALL OVER a standard production gun at the usual price.
Ruger’s building ‘em right, too; the guns will be in 1-S Medium Sporter configuration, with iron sights and the traditional Alex Henry forend. The barrel’s listed at 26″, which will boost velocity a bit without making the gun too long or muzzle-heavy. Since the action of the No. 1 is so short, a 26″-barreled No. 1 is the same overall length as a typical bolt-action rifle with a 22″ barrel.
Given Ruger’s annoying history of waiting months or years before actually shipping a newly-announced item, I’m betting the guns might start hitting shelves a full year from now, at the soonest. I’ll be waiting.
If only they’d offer the 77 in 300H&H. That I would be interested in. One of my “one that got away” stories involved a Pre64 70 in 300H&H with a vintage steel Redfield scope for 800 bucks. Yeah, yeah, I know. should have grabbed as soon as I saw it..
They announced and advertised that earlier this year, then decided the action was too short and canceled it. Typical Ruger…