Ruger No 1 value

Have a Ruger No 1 220 swift 1v 1980 4 digit serial number around 95% going to take it to a gun show and need a asking price it also has a bushnell 3200 elite scope?? Thanks

Take a look on GB if you haven’t already but I’d guess somewhere between $800-1k if you want to move it. Lots of folks slap on high asking prices and they just sit.

It'll bring what it's worth to the right buyer, otherwise it'll bring less than you probably want.

The No 1 in .220 Swift wasn't all that common, so if it is mint condition with the box and tags it would have some collector interest.

The .220 Swift is a great varmint caliber with the usual 40 to 55 gr varmint bullets. However, the Ruger No. 1 and M77 in .220 Swift uses a very traditional 1-14" twist barrel so bullet weight needs to stay at or below 60 grains. That's a bit of a turn off to modern long range shooters. Most of them would buy it based on an assumption the barrel needs to be replaced - and then they'd put a 1-10 twist heavy barrel on it, launch 90 grain bullets out of it and be very happy.

1980 is also smack in the middle of the Wilson barrel era and accuracy was spotty for the Rugers with the Wilson barrels. A Ruger No. 1 with a good barrel will be a solid 1/2 to 3/4 MOA rifle in .220 Swift. With a bad barrel it'll start walking shots almost immediately. Someone familiar with Ruger barrel history and the ups and downs in accuracy will also assume it needs a new barrel and offer accordingly.

.220 Swift is also a barrel burner when it is loaded hot. Even with factory loads accurate barrel life is around 2000 rounds. Load it hot and it's going to be around 1500. Back off a 200-300 feet per second and you're looking at 3500-4000 rounds. So round count and how its been loaded matters. Since a buyer doesn't know they'll usually assume the worst if they plan to acquire it as a shooter.

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Based on recent sales, a No. 1 Varminter in .220 Swift in excellent condition with a decent scope from that era will bring around $850. Probably not what you are hoping for. A dealer at a gun show is going to offer you maybe 60% of that to leave room for carrying costs and some profit, so around $500-$525 including the scope.

With better than average wood, excellent condition, a near perfect bore and a barrel made after about 1991-92, a No 1 in .220 Swift in excellent condition will bring $950-$1000. Again a dealer at a show will give you about $550-$600 for it, plus maybe a bit more for the scope, so maybe $625-$675.

In minty condition a post 1991 No 1 with nice wood will bring maybe $1250 if you find the right buyer. Since a dealer at a show has to find the right buyer you'll get about 50% of the retail value - again about $600-$650, plus a bit more for the scope, so $675-$750.

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So $500 at the low end to maybe $600 from a dealer.

If you find a private buyer who wants it for his own use then $800-$850 is a fair price and a reasonable expectation.

If you can prove it shoots sub MOA 5 shot groups, has a stable barrel as it warms up, and has no noticeable throat erosion, then $1000-$1100 is a fair price.

I'd take a look at Gunbroker for the best price estimate, but as pointed out, you aren't going to get top dollar from the dealers. I'm always amazed at guys walking around and expecting dealers to pay retail for their guns or getting upset when they receive what they think is a "lowball" offer. The guys sitting behind the tables are there to make money.

Had one of these in 220S and could never get it to shooter my requirements... but I am meticulous and expect a lot from my Varmint calibers. Number 1’s are easy to find and unless you find the right guy, it will be a tough sell above say $600. Might as well sell without the scope because it brings little value to the deal.

Depending on condition, power and accessories that scope is worth $400-700 by itself! I had 16x and 20x and sold the 16x for $350 and the 20x for $550 with factory carry case 10 years ago.

Ivan

It may be best to take the scope off and I think that would yield a little more bang.

diyj98 said:

I'd take a look at Gunbroker for the best price estimate, but as pointed out, you aren't going to get top dollar from the dealers. I'm always amazed at guys walking around and expecting dealers to pay retail for their guns or getting upset when they receive what they think is a "lowball" offer. The guys sitting behind the tables are there to make money.

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If someone wants something close to top dollar at a gun show, he or she will have to put a for sale sticker on it and walk around where so other attendees can see it. Sometimes it works even without a sign. I bought a pre-64 Winchester at a show a couple years ago and was offered $250 more than I paid for it before I got to the door. It had been sitting at a table cluttered with AR-15s and AKs and was I suspect just over looked by prospective customers who are not generally the AR or AK type.

Otherwise the only reason to sell a gun at a gunshow is to turn it into quick cash. The same applies with a local gun shop. They'll offer you 50%-60% of their expected retail sales price. They have to cover the overhead (rent, utilities, staff, insurance) and they the money they pay you tied up in the gun until it sells. That all adds up and a 100% margin does not equal anything close to 100% profit.

Sellers can get around 80% of the market value by selling through a local gun shop on consignment. With that approach the shop doesn't have to tie up it's money in the firearm until it sells. It's just taking a commission for the space to keep the firearm in the rack, show it, and sell it.

Not all shops are interested in that approach as a consignment gun is competing with their new and used inventory, but if you price it right so it will sell quickly instead of sit there for months or years, the odds are good that a shop will work with you.

The other option is to list it on-line. That will get you 100% of market value, minus sales and listing fees and minus fees to an FFL to ship it to another FFL. Not all FFLs will receive firearms from a non FFL as that can create or lead to a number of problems. Depending on the type of handgun, the shipping cost for an FFL can also be significantly lower, and in general a business pays less to ship with a business account than a private individual. So at the end of the day, your shipping cost as a seller ends up being significantly higher - and one way or the other than comes out of the final price you get. Those accumulated costs and fees can make a consignment sale more attractive than an on-line sale.

Ivan the Butcher said:

Depending on condition, power and accessories that scope is worth $400-700 by itself! I had 16x and 20x and sold the 16x for $350 and the 20x for $550 with factory carry case 10 years ago.

Ivan

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The Elite 3200 was a nice scope, but most bring $75 to $300 at most on Ebay. But like you said, the power will make some difference.

You are correct, I was think of the older real long 3200 series from the 60's and 70's There is no way anyone in their right mint would pay good money for an Elite!

Ivan

Completed auctions on Gunbroker shows five completed for a Ruger No. 1 in 220 Swift. High was $1250 with only one bidder. The low was $640. Other three hammered at $794, $799 and $987.

I'm a fan of 220 Swift but I'm probably in the minority with most opting for the 22-250.

I just picked up a Ruger No 1 in 22-250, already have a 220 Swift, in a local shop for $850 that came with a Leupold target scope.

I picked up a No.1V in 223 Remington made in ‘04.... 1:12 twist.
Paid $700 to the door 2nd day air last Summer from GB.
Pulled the washer out of the hanger/barrel and it favored the 55g to the 45g when I first shot it.
Will mod it properly and see what’s left of the barrel.
Decent wood.

The snub is an ‘80 in 458 WinMag.
Weaver T36 on the V with offset rings.
A 22-250 would be nice as well.

Ivan the Butcher said:

You are correct, I was think of the older real long 3200 series from the 60's and 70's There is no way anyone in their right mint would pay good money for an Elite!

Ivan

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Yes, the old Redfield 3200 and 6400 series scopes. I've owned a few over the years.

But I'm a fan of the Bushnell Elites. 3200, 4500, and 6500 were all good scope with the 6500 being a fantastic scope for the money.