Back in 1974 I met the finest gun stock maker I will ever know. I was a young musician playing in Myrtle Beach, SC and I popped into his gun shop for some ammo, and me and' the ol' lady were completely mesmerized by his knowledge, charisma and Southern charm. Two years (and another woman later-what became of the last? Phukked her out!) I was playing on Hilton Head, so I went to visit Mr. John M. Boltin again.
His stocks are in demand by Pentagon flag officers, Arab Sheiks, captains of industry, etc., and when I met him he had a two year waiting list. And frankly, I didn't know what quality work was until I saw his hand carved rifle stocks. The wood blanks run in the thousands before he ever touches them with a chisel or checkering tool.
During the '76 visit John took our wives and me out to his 200 yd shooting farm to try out his beautifully stocked Ruger NO. 1 in 7mm Rem Mag.
His shooting bench was under a corrugated metal roof and when it began to rain the "girls" got under to stay dry-until I touched off the first of John's hand loads. The WHOOMPH that hit their faces scared them so badly that they stood out in the blinding rainstorm to get away from that damned rifle's fearsome muzzle blast and air pressure disturbance!
I swear, I thought the gun was going to come apart mah dam self, but modern falling block rifles (like Japanese Brownings and American Rugers) are lauded as the strongest actions made, and, the mythology is that they'll hang together after others have splintered into homicidal, crowd maiming slivers.
Anyway, I pulled my second shot (and I called it) but even with the flyer the 200 yard 3-shot group fit easily under a silver dollar! (a feat I never attempted to match with my .243 WIN or .30-06 SPRINGFIELD calibers. All my later bench work and attempts at one hole groups were at 100 yards)
Ever since that day I've wanted a single shot falling block Ruger NO. 1, and now, 40 years later I finally have one.
Because of my health I no longer shoot any stout recoiling belted magnum rifles, and I even avoid pistols such as the .50 cal Desert Eagle because of the unpleasant effects for days after shooting even a single round.
So, when I popped into a Delaware gun shop and saw a Ruger NO. 1 in excellent condition chambered for the "poodle shooter" .223 REM cartridge I pounced on it.
I had the shopkeeper order and mount a new, LEUPOLD 3X9 scope (and remove the fixed 20X LEUPOLD scope that was on the gun) and I *joined a PA gun club just to have a place to fire the rifle. (Delaware is a shotgun hunting state except for landowners who meet certain requirements and who wish to shoot their own nuisance groundhogs, so finding a range to shoot centerfire rifles (think DUPONT) without a waiting list was a challenge. The state has a single indoor 50 meter bunker with dreary lighting and low paid and hostile employees and it has failed the EPA airborne lead test. The state keeps it open anyway to accommodate the gangsta nig...I mean, African Americans with their Tec 9s and AKMs) " IMA NIGGA WIDDA NINE, UH HUH DAT'S RITE!"
Because my rifle was previously owned the seller didn't know the rate of barrel twist, so I bought several boxes of ammo starting with the heaviest bullets, 62 grainers. Those bullets went through the target sideways leaving slots instead of holes, which is known as "keyholing". So, I packed up and went home to call Ruger.
The rifle was manufactured in 1994 (the bore was perfect and neither the stock or scope showed evidence of ever being fielded or thoughtlessly handled, for that matter) and it had a 1 in 12 rate of twist. (Ruger now chambers this caliber with a 1 in 8 twist to stabilize the heavier bullets)
For my next range session I took 40 grain and 55 grain bullets and I kept my fingers crossed. Both bullet weights cut three shot groups that I covered with a dime! (The 40 grainers left a two hole-three shot group and the 55 grainers were a 3 hole cloverleaf)
SO, if the rifle shoots affordable 55 gr 5.56mm ammo as well as the expensive HAWG KILLER .223 REM hunting cartridges, I'll be one cheerful puppy! After all, a militia rifle shooting accurate and cheap FMJ ammo would suit me perfectly, especially if you can tell what I aim at by what I hit!
The simple fact is, humans are much easier to neutralize than game animals, and the type of bullet at high velocities is not much of a worry for experienced riflemen like yours truly. and, hostile combatants who stop non fatal .223 rounds are often disinclined to stay in a skirmish, so killing power is a secondary consideration. (factor in shock, blood loss and fear of The Grim Reaper)
You know what I mean, my fellow (and sista) 4nicators?
* (Securing range membership required me to collect three signatures from members, including one club officer to keep "unqualified applicants" out. None of my co-signers knew me but presumably, they verified the most important prerequisite just by looking at me and asking one question: "You don't like Hillary Clinton, do you?" "I can't stand that rotten broad!" I quickly replied.....;)
Poster Comment:
The above link is not the rifle I own but it's identical to mine. (click photos to enlarge)
And here is my new scope (matte finish-duplex reticle) The dealer listed the fixed power 20X Leupold scope that was on the rifle on a popular website and it sold so fast that it was probably priced too low! Despite its age the scope didn't have a flaw anywhere, and I let the new scope covers go with it (I bought BUTLER CREEK pop-open covers for my new variable optic) So, with the new, high quality photos, the authentic Leupold covers and the immaculate condition of the scope it flew away at $175. The final icing on the cake is, the rifle is equipped with a Timney Target Trigger and it's adjusted perfectly! I can only assume that the previous owner bought the rifle and tricked it out and then disliked its performance with heavy bullets or met with financial misfortune (divorce or prosecution for tax crimes) or, perhaps he died and the rifle was sold with his estate. The gun store is in the rich, rolling hills part of DE and I am still flabbergasted by the like new condition of the bore, the lumber and metal of this 22 year old rifle.
