Ruger No1 in 25-06

cmdc

New member
I like these rifles, and have one in 6.5x55 and an International in 7x57. I'm wondering if anyone has experience/opinions with/about one in 26-06, and if it would be overlap with what I already have.
 
Sure it's an overlap to some extent but you will fall in love with the 25-06. It's my favorite of all my overlapping choices.:)
 
You are adding a .257 to a .264 and a .284. I like my .25-06 but for a Ruger #1 why not stretch out towards a .223 or a .243? You could also go the other way towards a 30-06 or bigger. Lots of choices.
 
To my way of thinking, yes, it's an overlap, mainly to the 6.5x55, of course. But if you want it, get it.

My deal was, some years ago, I HAD to simplify on *some* basis, but I liked all my rifles, so one of the bases I came up with was "no odd-numbered calibers": Even numbers were OK: .22 cal, 24 cal, 26 cal, 28 cal, 30 cal, which also coincide (roughly) with the nice even names of 5.5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and 7.5mm. (Not really because .308, as but one example, is actually 7.82 under english/groove measure, and 7.62 under european/lands measure, but we'll pretend these are all rounded to the nearest 0.5 under land/euro measurement, which they are commonly known as, in fact)

So the oddballs had to go: .25s and .27s (6.2mms & 6.8mms). So I bid goodbye to my beloved .25-'06 & .270 win rifles. I kept .223, .243, .260 & 6.5x55, .280, and .30-'06.

I'm happy with my decision, though the .270 WSM and Nosler Accubond LRs in .277 made me briefly re-consider. But the .26 Nosler can scratch that itch if need be and still stay within my OCD-induced scheme.

Thankfully, I've decided to "round" my .375 HH mag rifle to being in the .38 cal & 9.5mm categories. I would lose sleep if I thought that this was a .37 cal or a 9.4mm rifle! :)

Technically, this may belong is the "General" rifles area, since it's single shot question.

I like those No. 1s and love the 6.5x55. Let me know if you sell. :)

[Sidebar: Actually, now that I think about it, I just realized that the 9.3x62mm cartridge is not named correctly. It's clearly a Euro cartridge, through and through (correct?). And Euro cartridges always used the land measurement, expressed in mm, which would be about 8.8mm, not 9.3mm. The groove is 9.29mm or 9.3, but that's the American or English convention! So it should be called the 8.8x62mm - what gives?]
 
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Thanks for the replies. I thought about the general rifle section after I posted here. My apologies to the moderators.

I realize it's an overlap, but I'm also curious to know how this caliber performs out of the No1. I agree that a .243, 30-06 and 9.3x62 or .375H&H would round things out quite nicely.
 
Yeah, what's the use or uses, and what all do you have?

The .25-'06 is a real screamer. It, along with .243 win, are the *perfect* chamberings for wide-open plains & desert hunting for pronghorn & mulies & coues deer and such, in my view, espec. the .25-'06. Well, and a properly-twisted 6mm Rem. But there's also barely a lick of difference between it and a handloaded-to-potential 6.5x55mm with similar weight bullets. Definitely some but not much, with .25-'06 have the exterior ballistic edge. And significantly faster than the factory 6.5x55.

So as usual, it comes down to terrain that you're shooting on, versus how much barrel life you want?
 
I was thinking that the .26-06 would reach out a bit farther than the Swede or the 7x57.

Nope, not really. You might be able to extend your MPBR a little, but in the grand scheme of things the better bullets in 6.5 & 7mm will allow you to extend the range of these rifles more easily. I love the .25-06 and any .257 caliber rifle, but the bullets kind of suck for any longer range work. The .257 calibers do make excellent hunting rifles, and in my experience kill game at normal hunting ranges extremely well.
 
"one in 26-06, and if it would be overlap with what I already have."

Yes it will overlap.

Now I have a counter question for you.

So?


Who cares if it does?
It's a #1 in a useful caliber.
What's not to like?
 
I have a #1 varmint in 25/06. I love the round, the gun and all things about it. I will rebarrel it someday (when I wear this one out) with a 4" longer barrel. The 24" that is on mine is just short due to the action, so why not make it longer and take advantage of it.

2506s.jpg


The #1 is in the back and see how short it is next to the Sendero (25/06 of course) in the front?
 
Completely without experience or expertise, I would go for it. I would, though, opt for the 26" barrel to maximize velocity. I note with interest that the search function at www.ruger.com does not turn up any .25-06 in any model. Welcome to the used market.
 
Ruger changes the chamberings in most of the No. #1 models each year, so you will have to find the right year and model in the used market, or find one thats been rebarreled, or rebarrel one.
 
Sure there's overlap, but so what?

Look at it this way, the .25-06 essentially tops out with 120gr bullets, and the 6.5Swede with 160gr. That's your difference, and a useable one, for some folks.:)

If you handload (and a serious rifle enthusiast who doesn't isn't serious, in my opinion), you could even get your Swede No.1 rechambered to 6.5-06, or load the Swede case up to 55k+ pressures (in the No.1) and get even more out of it.
 
get your Swede No.1 rechambered to 6.5-06

best idea yet, providing your barrel is long enough. 6.5-06 AI would be even better. I'd want at least a 24" barrel and ideally a 26" to get the most out of it though.
 
I've got a Swede 96 with the long 29"? barrel, and while I keep my loads well within the limits of the 1917 Carl Gustav it is amazing what it can do, at range, even with my bad eyes and open sights.

The right 6.5mm bullet shoots flatter than anything else (until you get to the long .30 cal match slugs) at equal velocities.

If you check the tables you find that with some bullets, the Swede actually shoots flatter at long range than the .30-06!
 
You guys are giving me ideas. The rifle in question is new, by the way, but since Ruger isn't chambering the No1 in .25-06 now, I have no idea how long it's been on their rack.

From your input it appears that the caliber does better with a 26" barrel.
 
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