How To Rapid Fire With a Single-Shot (Ruger No. 1, .45-120)

How fast can you fire follow-up shots using single-shot rifles like the Ruger No. 1? The answer might surprise you if you use the method shown in this video.
With four T-1 IHMSA steel targets set up to accentuate the shooting action, I demonstrate a method of holding extra cartridges in my support hand to facilitate quick reloads and how they are fed one after the other.
As a bonus, 4 shots are fired at the same targets using a Rossi Ranch Hand chambered for .44 Magnum, showing it's accuracy potential at moderate ranges.
Slow-motion replays of the targets when hit are replayed side-by-side for the two cartridges, to give the viewer a sense of the power differential. Quite fun to watch.
DISCLAIMER: My videos are strictly for documentary, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Imitation or the use of any acts depicted in my videos is solely AT YOUR OWN RISK. All work on firearms should be carried out by a licensed individual and all state, provincial and federal rules apply to such. I (including KZbin) will not be held liable for any injury to yourself or damage to your firearms resulting from attempting anything shown in any of my videos. I do not endorse any specific product and this video is not an attempt to sell you a good or service. I am not a gun store and DO NOT sell or deal in firearms. Such a practice is heavily regulated and subject to applicable laws. I DO NOT sell parts, magazines, or firearms. These videos are free to watch and if anyone attempts to charge for this video notify me immediately. By viewing or flagging this video you are acknowledging the above.
Fair Use: In the rare instance I include someone else’s footage, that is covered in Fair Use for Documentary and Educational purposes with the intention of driving commentary and allowing freedom of speech.

[@Leverguns50]

You’re pretty fast with that single shot, good job

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks Leverguns!

[@DMX-PAT]

Slow is steady, steady is smooth, smooth is fast.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

This is true!

[@wcookiv]

Nice, I don't hear a good new one often at my age.

[@davidstrickler6570]

Special forces moto.

[@28ebdh3udnav]

Remember, be more afraid of the guy or girl with only one gun, they likely know how to use it compared to others

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Heh. Yup! I like that saying.

[@bastianhutagalung6206]

It's great to see you shoot. I have a single shot pcp rifle but still use 4.5 caliber air rifle pellets. It's nice to be able to learn from someone with experience. I hope I can improve my shooting skills. thank you sir for the video

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Best of luck Bastion and I'm glad you liked the video.

[@auntiefiat9769]

Really impressed with your shooting with the Mare's Leg!!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks.

[@johnl8026]

Great to see the skill involved with this Classic, as I am looking into the .450 Bushmaster version at Randy's Hunting Center in BadAxe Michigan! Is such a pretty gun, done in stainless steel with wooden stock.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Glad to hear you liked it. Best of luck with your new rifle!

[@jeanmorin3247]

Ouch! -- Good demo. Very fun to watch! Thank You.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

You're welcome Jean. Funny thing about it was, I expected to be sore afterwards (or black & blue on my shoulder the next day), but had no such effect at all. It really makes a difference, shooting from the prone position, where your body can move back to absorb the recoil.

[@mnrodriguez]

Excellent job with that single shot rifle. I just bought a Henry single shot in 5.56...very accurate rifle. Thank you for the presentation!!!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

You're welcome Manny! Have fun with that Henry. I didn't know they made a single-shot like that.

[@fermoer3814]

Gee, that .45-120 is a stunning looking rifle!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Glad you like it Fer Moer. If you'd like a closer look at the rifle and its history, I have made this video on the topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKrIp3mEqLNleqs

[@fermoer3814]

The Way to Native Chronicles , I am going to have a look at it right now, thank you.

[@williamharris1302]

Ain't you just the smartest M-F that ever lived.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Well, I guess I'm just like my regular viewers that way.

[@RustyKnucks]

Dang the dude packs a punch

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Heh. Yup!

[@WesternReloader]

Awesome video sir

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks Pierce.

[@paulsimmons5726]

45-120/535g at 1600’/second, I can’t see many animals needing a follow up shot! Great demo!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks and, yeah, that's what I try to "aim" for!

[@RonSpomerOutdoors]

Try opening the lever while the muzzle is still up from recoil. Let the brass fall out. Then tip down as you drop in the new round. Should speed things up a bit.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks for the suggestion Ron, that sounds like something for me to try in the future. It might be somewhat inhibited by that tang-mounted peep sight blocking the long case from exiting all the way though.

[@RonSpomerOutdoors]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles Ah, hadn't noticed the tang sight. That could complicate matters. Years ago Don Allen of Dakota Arms told me of one of his customers who would challenge a bolt-action shooter to a speed race. 7 rounds downrange the fastest. He usually won. I believe his system was to hold two rounds in his lead hand, additional in a butt stock cartridge "belt." He'd lever the spend shell during the recoil climb, drop the fresh round on the muzzle drop, raise for the next shot and so on. The bolt operator would beat him to 5 shots, but then as he fumbled to get the last two in, Mr. Single Shot's Model 10 Dakota would pull ahead for the win. As for me, I try to never need a second shot, which is rather the point of these sweet handling falling block single shots in the first place, isn't it? Cheers!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

@@RonSpomerOutdoors in the case of using my .45-120 cases ($$$), I really don't want to be flinging them around in the bush when reloading, so even more incentive to make it count on the first shot! ;)

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

@@RonSpomerOutdoors I just watched your falling block video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqXc55pa5qNpdk. Nicely explained and demonstrated. Another difference in our techniques: I find holding the extra cartridge in your fingers works much better if you hold it with the bullet end pointed up, instead of down. That way there's no twirling around required when you go to feed it in.

[@HillDogTV]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles a quick dremel will sort out the safety catching on the brass.... not done it myself but others do @Ron Spomer Outdoors

[@yunassaxer7119]

great gun!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks Yunas.

[@czed7515]

Seen people do something like this with single shot shotguns and it's crazy how fast some of them are.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Yeah, with some practice, I'll bet you could get pretty fast at it. I've heard some say you can easily match a bolt-action's rate of fire.

[@daltonagre]

Here in Brazil, I watced this video.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks for coming by Dalton!

[@terrymattson3587]

Thanks for sharing, I’m a #1 owner and fan. I’ve hunted with the H&r as well

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

You're welcome Terry. And Merry Christmas!

[@norbertodisummo5022]

Nice, whats the most you ftlbs difference you can inspect from a 45- 120 to a 45-70 using smokeless or black powder Woukd like the most hammer for asian water buffalo. On a single shot H&R. I WILL custom chamber if my research on action pressures can handle.thanks

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

I only use smokeless, so I can't say much about what to expect with black powder, except to say black will be a less powerful load. If you're H&R is a break-action, it won't be able to handle as high a pressure as my Ruger No. 1, so you have to be careful.

[@tonyolsen1766]

A,,,NOW Year rockn the 45-120, Awesome youtubed Ruger #1 THANK YOU ,,GOD BLESS

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Congrats Tony! The fun now begins. Are you set up for reloading too?

[@madcapmagician6018]

45-120 can you get commercial loads or do you have to make your own?

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

I have to make my own. The cases are still manufactured though.

[@gj1234567899999]

What would you consider to be the superior single shot design in terms of speed of fire and mechanical reliability? Ruger 1, martini Henry, or Remington rolling block?

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Good question. Having never shot a Martini or the others, I can really say for sure. The Ruger is exceptional in terms of mechanical reliability but, when it comes to speed, it does have one drawback: Ejected cases collide with the tang-mounted safety button, which disrupts their movement out.

[@gj1234567899999]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles thanks for the answer!!!

[@tonybrannen1740]

Really cool.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks Tony! Glad you liked it.

[@Convexhull210]

I would love to get into competitive shooting but don't know where to start lol.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Competitive shooting is sure fun. The steel targets I used in this video are hold-overs from the days when I competed in "International Handgun Metallic Silhouette" tournaments.

[@Convexhull210]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles neat!

[@mdsuave13]

Why did you disable the ejector if you are just gonna toss the shells on the ground anyway? Just curious.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Just because, in 99.9% of instances, I won't be doing rapid-fire. This was a video made just to satisfy the interest of anyone who wonders if it can be done. Personally, the .45-120 cases are so hard to obtain and expensive, I don't want to take many chances losing any of them, so non-eject is good for me.

[@mdsuave13]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles thank you, that does make sense

[@paulcondie2520]

That's insane! I found your channel because if my interest in the no#1. Was also on the fence of what caliber to look for when I acquisition a new to me#1. 45/120 is me all day long!!! If I can find one at a descent price! Lmao

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Glad to hear that Paul. One thing I should mention though: Ruger does not make No. 1's chambered for .45-120. That means, in order to have one like in this video, you need to have a gunsmith convert it for you. For anyone wanting to learn more about that process, I have made the following video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKCmfIOrhdZ0jsU

[@paulcondie2520]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles gotcha, I must of misunderstood you, thinking they only chambered it in that round for a special run. Thanks for the info. Most of my guns are the harder to find ones or not so normal if you will. I will say always loved my Rugers so I want one bad! Lol

[@CRD-hi6vk]

Do you sell pouches like the one you’re wearing on your belt? I would like to have a cartridge pouch for 308 or .45-70 cartridges. I’ll be hunting with single shot rifles this year.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Actually, no, I don't make them for sale. The stuff I make is always just "one of", when I need something specific. There's pretty much nothing on the market to carry .45-120 cartridges, as I'm sure you know. I have some videos showing how to do this kind of leatherwork if you're interested though.

[@stevebledsoe71]

Good greif that thing hits like a tank.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Heh. That's the way moose like it!

[@brianve7jyd943]

Real niceSir

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks.

[@RMCbreezy]

Why did you disable your ejecting mechanism?

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Yes, I did. 45-120 cases are expensive, so I like to keep my spent cases under control.

[@trigerfingers1911]

What type and how did you mount a peep on your Ruger No 1?

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

It's a Lyman peep sight Mark and it is bolted onto the area where the tang safety used to be. You can get a closer view of the rifle here if you like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKrIp3mEqLNleqs

[@geob0324]

And just in case a .45-120 isn't enough, you can get a .458 Winchester in a Ruger Tropical RIfle and knock those turkeys into the next county.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Actually (as a reloader I know this), the .45-120 cartridges I use can be loaded to exceed even the .458 Win Mag. I just choose not to (partly for not desiring/needing that much recoil and partly because I prefer to use lead bullets I cast myself). But thanks for the suggestion.

[@Hutzjohn]

turkey with a 45-120 is as much fun as chipmunk with a 45-70 🤣

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Heh. Yeah, but all shooting is fun, isn't it?

[@Hutzjohn]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles YES

[@stevenlawson9460]

Good vid good info that's the same method my dad taught me when I was a child I hunted with a single shot shotgun I in turn passed it on to my kids

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

My first shotgun was a single-shot too. Eventually cracked the stock on it, so bought the double-barrel I still use now.

[@stevenlawson9460]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles I made sure both my kids had single shot shot guns they are out on their own and have their shotguns with them they are not into guns and hunting as I am but they are armed

[@Elkhorse]

Good shooing!

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Thanks.

[@RoswellNative]

Yer buddy kicking 45-120

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

It sure does that.

[@constrictorguywilson2071]

Yessaaa

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Yee haw! ;)

[@lazydragonslayer]

Look up Michael Silka.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Where does one find .45-120 brass these days? Starline makes .45-100 but nothing longer that I know of.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Norma makes really good 45-120 brass. That's what I use.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles Ah okay. I didn't consider Norma. Thanks!

[@cs-vf2de]

you better than I

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Time to practice then, huh? ;)

[@cs-vf2de]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles ya, I think Ill stick w/ fishing for now.

[@jakespottedhorse]

Single shot=1 shot 1 kill

[@mlazarus5388]

A little different approach to loading. Barrel up for the round out, barrel down for the next round in. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4O3mZRqeKlogbc

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

That's some nice shooting Mike. In the case of my rifle, I have removed the spring in the forearm that causes the cases to eject, so there's a difference in our extractions too. By the way I timed your first 4 shots and they came to 40 seconds. The 4 shots in my video were fired in 30 seconds. Holding the cartridges between the fingers of your hand on the forearm can help, I think.

[@mlazarus5388]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles very helpful. Thanks

[@wingersfan]

why on EARTH do you want to shoot a single shot rapid fire? You miss the entire point of a single shot my friend.

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

Because some people (31,000 views on this video) would like to know, is all. Cheers!

[@ChitFromChinola]

In case your first shot didn’t kill the grizzly.

[@wingersfan]

@@wcookiv I don't think people are buying Ruger #1s because they are affordable.

[@wcookiv]

@@wingersfan The CVA Scout comes in 45-70 government for $650 CAD. That's a very affordable 45-70.

[@jacobdiejude124]

Ah yes “way to native” presented by white men

[@TheWaytoNativeChronicles]

"White man" married to "native woman" for 45 years, on the way to native (in a sense) in many ways being explored by this channel, hence the name. Not explicit in every video, mind you.

[@jacobdiejude124]

@@TheWaytoNativeChronicles your a really funny guy

[@tanksouth]

Jacob …why so racist?