Ruger #1 questions

[DocHunter]

Originally posted by 270man
Dochunter (and anyone else who wants to comment),

I don't own a Ruger #1 but am getting the itch. One thing bothers me about this type of action, and I wonder how you handle it? When deer hunting with my bolt rifles, I normally have cartridges in the magazine and only chamber one when I am near game or on stand. Seems to me that the Ruger #1 should be carried with empty chamber for maximum safety. Otherwise, it must be carried in a ready-to-fire condition. Which method do you use, and why? IMHO, this is only an issue with big game hunting when the hunter is sometimes on the move.

270man

I usually only chamber a cartridge as you do when in my stand or when anticipating a possible shot as in still-hunting. I use a stock-mounted cartridge holder to hold a few extra cartridges at the ready, but as most of us know, that first or only shot is really the one that counts. The gun does have a safety easily reachable with your thumb behind the action, but again we should all know to never rely on a mechanical safety.