The #3's are problematic, bad carbine stock, bad forend with band, I believe all three caliers had the same barel contour, I'd have little interest in owning one as is.... that said, I'd prefer the lever a hundred times over a #1. I had a Hornet for years and got it to shoot very wel. The guy I traded it to still ahs it, with #1 butt, altere forend, still shoots well.
Here is my much altered, very custom .30-40 Ruger #3 sidelever conversion in Namibia. I've been hunting with it every year for about 15.... there are a lot of pictures of this rifle in my Custom Rifles book.
