Whats the best source for Barnes XPB 275 gr in 480 ruger. I had a box that came with the SRH I purchased 2 years ago and finally got around to loading them up. They are very accurate! Midway has them $20 for 20 rounds. Is that as good as it gets?

That price sounds like about what I would expect. You might try eBay. Occasionally you can get lucky on bullets like that there.

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You might try eBay

I usually try to watch it close. I suppose I could always plink with something less expensive and hunt with the Barnes. For those using the Barnes XPB, how do they perform on hogs and whitetail?

I shoot them out of my 500 S&W and they are great - very accurate and while I cannot comment on their effectiveness on hogs, they are devastating on whitetails. Even on big deer I have never had one go more than about 15 yards. The have the 275gr 480s for 17.43 per box at Midsouth.

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The have the 275gr 480s for 17.43 per box at Midsouth

Thats probably as good as it will get. Im going to try them in my 500 also! Thanks!

I'm thinking about the Federal Vital-Shok 275 gr Barnes factory .480 load (1350 fps) for use as a self defense load when in camp.

Can anyone comment on that choice against 2-legged walking-talking varmints? The CorBon load (1650 fps?) just seems too hot to me. I really don't want to pack a second "man sized" pistol in camp. I would probably load a couple of chambers with the Barnes rounds, and the rest with 400 gr cast handloads for large animal protection.

Still don't have a gun to shoot it out of though ;( I'm waiting for an Alaskan.

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

I had the same general concept in mind with my 500 Linebaugh. I have the Barnes X bullets but no load data yet. A recent Handloader magazine article mentions 1200 fps as lowest expansion level. I'd consider a 400 grain cast bullet at 800 fps as a self defense load too. Plinkers in these revolvers are about as good as it gets in some "lighter" calibers like conventional .45 Colt or .44 Special, neither of which has made me feel unarmed while out and about.

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A recent Reloader magazine article mentions 1200 fps as lowest expansion level.

I think that is probably a little high. I received some (very) basic reloading data for the .480 Ruger cartidge (275 gr Branes) and the minimum recommended load is 22 grains of H110 for 1031 fps (7.5 inch barrel). I don't think they would be recommending a load that wouldn't expand.... but I may be off base here.

John Davies
Spokane WA

I finally took the time to look the Barnes XPB bullet up in Handloader 244, December-January 2007, page 50. Some of the velocities required for expansion included: 250 grain .454 Casull requires 1,050 fps, 275 grain .460 S&W requires 1,400 fps, 275 grain .500 S&W requires 1,200 fps, 325 grain .500 S&W requires 1,200 fps. The two lowest number were for 185 grain .45 ACP requires 720 fps, 225 grain .45 Colt requires 900 fps. No specific mention of the .480 Ruger. With the wide variety of applications, picking the right bullet, not just the caliber is apparently the right choice.