Ruger No. 1 Rifle Variants: What Caliber Would You Choose?

Ruger makes ARs, 1911s and pocket pistols these days, so it's easy to lose track of some of its more traditional products, and I confess I'd lost track of the No. 1 single-shot rifle. The No. 1 has been around since 1966, and has been made in a profusion of calibers and configurations.

These days, Ruger is apparently following the Remington Model 700 Classic program of issuing just one caliber a year. This year's variants are: Light Sporter .222 Rem.; Varminter 6.5-.284; Medium Sporter .45-70; Tropical .375 H&H; International 7x57; and a Distributor Exclusive, offered by Lipsey's, also in .45-70.

These are this year's calibers; a new selection will be issued for 2014, and I am sure you have an opinion about what they should be, as I do. The beauty about having an opinion, of course, is you don't have to worry a bit about what the distributors want, what is popular overseas, or what buyers in different parts of the country demand. You also don't have to care at all whether it will sell.

So, in that blithe spirit, I offer my suggestions:

• Light Sporter: .250 Savage
• Varminter: .220 Swift


• Medium Sporter: .35 Whelen
• Tropical: .470 N.E.

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• International: 9.3x74
• Distributor Exclusive: .300 H&H

What are your suggestions? This is your chance to offer free advice to Ruger, and it'll be worth every penny they pay for it.