Working on a custom Ruger #3 in 480 Ruger

[magnumwheelman]

... dang forum member Encore got me thinking outside the box, on my 480 Encore barrel thread... suggesting a Ruger #1 instead...

well I have a Ruger #3, & a new spare .475" blued steel barrel blank... I'm not a huge fan of the 22-250 cartridge ( the custom caliber my #3 came to me in ) the #3 was available in 45-70 originally, so I can't really see why my rifle couldn't be switched to 480 Ruger caliber... if, my local smith with whom I have a Ruger 77 getting switched to 7 X 57, wasn't way over due, & admitingly having problems, I'd consider doing it there

any complications I may have missed with the caliber change???

any suggestions for a builder, who might take on this project???

whould it be sacrilidge to have it plated or coated in one of the more rust resistant silver alloys ( the reciever has turned plumb, with the factory finish )

[potatojudge]

If your current barrel profile allows, I'd 100% have JES rebore and rechamber it rather than paying for a barrel swap.

He turned my 14 twist 223 No 3 into a 357 Max and it's great.

Reminds me I have a No 1 with a heavy octagon barrel in 6.5x55 that's just too heavy to enjoy hunting with. Need to have JES make it a 16 inch big bore one of these days. Problem is I already have No 1s in 45-70 and 500 AK so there's no gap in performance I need to fill. 

[magnumwheelman]

Thanks, thats an option...I think the profile of the 22-250 Barrel is too light to bore to .475…. right now, I'm trying to figure out if I'm better off recutting the ejector, or if there is a factory one that would fit??? I just started out by looking at same brand shell holders for reloading, compared to the 480 Ruger shell holder 45-70 is different, 30-40 Krag is different, 44 Mag is different... I’m guessing the 22-250 ejector that is in the rifle ( knowing the builder ) is likely custom, so I may be best off, just cutting it to fit a 480 Ruger rim if possible

[potatojudge]

JES will recut the ejector. He did on my Max.

[jpw480]

not sure if he does chambering of 480 but rj renner does work on #3's

[magnumwheelman]

It’s on… anyone else have a 480 Ruger #3???

I’m going to have my machinist welder buddy taper / rough profile the PacNor tube I have ( it’s a 1.5” pipe right now ) then the semi local gun smith shop, that did my 7X57 Ruger is going to do the work… I spoke to the smith that will be doing the work… just need to be patient, as the son / new owner of the shop ( his dad died recently) is putting all custom work behind regular repairs It’ll just take a while, his work looked great, he just doesn’t have control of his work schedule, but I’ll be having him do the barrel install, and conversion work, as well as final profiling

I’m currently undecided if I blue it , which the shop can do, or get it back, and have one of the silver alloy coatings put on, after the conversion work is done… if I decide on silver, it’ll definitely be getting some nice dark walnut woodwork, probably some nicer wood if I decide to blue it… will be doing a #1 fore end to eliminate the barrel band

Actually pretty excited about having a 480 Ruger in a Ruger #3

[Encore64]

I think it's a fine choice. I've always wanted to do one in 25-20 WCF.

Keep us posted...

[Encore64]

My brain goes into overdrive when I contemplate projects like this. Unique ideas among the forum members is what makes this forum the best.

The rim on the 480 Ruger is smaller than the 45-70, so fitting will be no problem.

Besides, the #3 is the same action as the #1 and I have the latter chambered in 475 Linebaugh.

There was a great Gunblast article about the #1 shooting 480 Ruger Loads. It's impressive to say the least.

[magnumwheelman]

I’m thinking 20 - 22” barrel… the barrels look shorter, and balance that way, because the falling block action is so much shorter than a bolt or semi has to be… will need to check the length of my tube … I think it’s about 22”, which would make a 20” barrel which is going to look pretty short, but should be plenty long, for 480 Ruger cartridge

[Encore64]

A 22" Barrel sounds perfect. Anything more and you may well loose velocity.

My 475 Linebaugh #1 has the rare 22" where most of the later models went to 20".

[magnumwheelman]

Blank is 24” so perfect for a 22” barrel and an interesting point, there was no barrel band on the fore end when I got the rifle, but the original #3 fore end was cut for one… I had and extra 10-22 barrel band laying around, and it fit perfectly… but still think if I change out the wood, that I will go to a #1 fore end, that is not shaped for a barrel band

[magnumwheelman]

Ruger #3 with plumb reciever... doing custom work on this... reblue it to match the rest of the work ( new barrel ) or leave the plumb color???

[kevshell]

Aug 22, 2022 6:12:32 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

Ruger #3 with plumb reciever... doing custom work on this... reblue it to match the rest of the work ( new barrel ) or leave the plumb color???

If it were mine I reblue everything. It would annoy me later left in plum. But that's if it were mine....which it's not.

[magnumwheelman]

That's actually my feeling too... but if it were sacrilidge or??? obviosly wouldn't be stock anyway ( isn't now ) so doubt it would decrease it's value...

[harveylogan]

Building the custom, IMO, It will always be worth more than a #3,,, but it really doesn’t matter, because one has to part with the item to realize the gain, and who does that.

One of my favorites is my #3 in 44M (22” barrel)
Aquired a #1 in 44M (20” barrel) when they came out, wondered which one I would like better, I still prefer the #3.
The #1 with the 20” is a stout rifle.

I have the #1 in 475L with the 22” barrel, love it.

Who said 2” doesn’t matter ? 😳