Ruger No 3 question

[pacecars]

While I am not in the position to do any custom guns at the moment I have a question about a Ruger No. 3 rechambering. I would love to have a No 3 in .500 Linebaugh to go with the pistol. Could a .45-70 No 3 be rebored and rechambered?

[parallaxbill]

I don't know, but I wish Ruger had made the #3 even more of a poor man's #1 with even more chamberings than were originally offered in the #3.
Not intended to hijack, just a thought that popped into my old noggin.

[kevshell]

I picked up a Ruger number one in 375 h&h to be converted to 500 Linebaugh. I believe the rationale behind it was to get the barrel profile and sights that would work on the new barrel with minimal work. Lance Streets in Cody is going to do mine. You may want to give him a call.

[Encore64]

I doubt the original #3 Barrel has enough steel to bore out any larger than the 45-70.

The diameter at the barrel band would determine if it could be rebarreled.

The other option would be to remove the barrel band, reshape the forearm, then rebarrel to 500 Linebaugh...

[pacecars]

It will be a while before I am able to do anything but that is good to know

[potatojudge]

A call to JES would answer that one. I was surprised when he was able to get a pretty skinny tapered octagon barrel from 6mm to 338 without issue.

[Encore64]

I measured the muzzle diameter on my #3 at .650". If you remove the .510", that leaves .140" of steel.

That translates to .070" on each side.

I can't say if all #3 Barrels are the same diameter...

[magnumwheelman]

I’m doing one in 480 Ruger… doubt the receiver will take a chamber that large

[Encore64]

The Custom Smiths regularly build #1s in 50 Alaskan. That's the same action as the #3. I don't think the receiver will be a problem.

The barrel diameter and how deep the scope base screws are set will make a difference.

This project sounds great and should be fairly easy. I believe it will likely require a rebarrel and possibly altering the forearm and barrel band...

[potatojudge]

The barrel tapers. If you're ok cutting off the barrel band, shortening the barrel will get you a larger muzzle diameter that might be more amenable to reboring.

I'd still want iron sights on a gun like that in addition to a scope.

[pacecars]

Would want the barrel band gone and redo the forend like yours Huey

[jfo4]

Are there any photos of the #3 builds?

I have a base gun Ruger #3 in .45-70 that may end up as a .500 Linebaugh stocked Mannlicher.

Walter K. cut the curl Q lever, shortened it more like a Dakota model 10.

I like the ball detent of the #3 over the lever "hook" of the #1.

~J.O.

[aciera]

I believe a 577 NE is okay he largest round that can be put in the Ruger Single