Ruger's Big Bores: The 99/44 Deerfield & .45-70 No. 1

Guns Magazine, May, 2001 by John Taffin

Approximately six years after the introduction of the Deerstalker, Ruger brought forth their first big-game rifle, the Model No. 1. By using a single-shot design, Ruger was able to provide a compact rifle with a longer barrel than a bolt-action rifle. In fact, with comparable barrel lengths, a Ruger Model No. 1 is approximately 4" shorter than a bolt-action rifle.

The Model No. 1 has been offered in many calibers and variations over the past 35 years, but none quite captures the imagination of the big-bore enthusiast like the .45-70.

To operate the Ruger No. 1, you simply move the lever forward, the block drops, and the chamber is exposed to insert a new cartridge. A sliding shotgun-style safety rests upon the tang, and it's easily operated by the thumb of the shooting hand.

All of Ruger's No. 1s are fitted with genuine walnut stocks and are available in Light Sporter, Medium Sporter, heavy-barreled Varminter, Tropical, and very nostalgic, Mannlicher-stocked International versions. List price for the Ruger No. 1 is $774, $20 extra for the International Model.

New this year, we also have stainless-steel versions with weather-defeating laminated stocks. The stainless-steel versions sell for $820. At first, these prices may sound high, but not when compared with the price of either an imported or domestic Sharps single shot.

In testing the Ruger No. 1, we tried a vast array of both factory- and hand-loaded .45-70 ammunition. This included jacketed bullets in 300, 350 and 400 gr. weights, as well as 400 and 500 gr. cast bullets. Very few rifles would be able to handle such a wide variation of bullet weights and muzzle velocities with such success.

Admirable Performance

The Ruger No. 1 .45-70 proved capable of placing all bullet weights in groups of 1" for three shots at 100 yards. A rifleman should have no problem precisely placing his shots at reasonable ranges, whether the quarry be small deer hunted with 300 gr. Bullets or large bear, moose or elk with the heavier 400 to 500 gr. Bullets.

Factory loads from Buffalo Bore, CorBon and Garrett, and handloads with Hornady, Northern Precision and Speer jacketed bullets, as well as cast bullets from Beartooth, Meister and Oregon Trail, all shot very well.

While the Ruger Deerfield .44 Mag. semi-automatic rifle is basically a small deer and black bear carbine, the Ruger No. 1 .45-70 is capable of easily taking any animal that walks. For deepest penetration, it would be very hard to beat Buffalo Bore's 430 gr. hard cast LBT bullet at a muzzle velocity of more than 1,900 fps. That is a lot of power from a very compact rifle.

One of the great assets of the .45-70 is the vast array of bullets, both jacketed and cast, available to reloaders. Among these are jacketed bullets from Hornady, Northern Precision and Speer in weights of 300 and 350 grs.; as well as cast bullets from Beartooth, a superbly shooting 405 gr. gas-check design; Meister's 405 gr. plain base bullet; and Oregon Trail's new 500 gr. bullet with four grease grooves. The latter is a most welcome addition to the machine cast bullet offerings and is also offered in both 350 and 400 gr. weights. Beartooth's gas-checked bullet brings out the best accuracy in the Ruger No. 1, whether driven at a traditional 1,300 crushing 1,600 fps.