Ok,I just got the Rare and already discontinued Ruger Alaskan in 5 shot .480..IF I dont convert it to 500JRH,I will contemplate letting Jack (JRH) in just lengthing the chambers to accomodate the longer and more powerful 475 Linebaugh...This is a quick and inexpensive increase in "Horsepower" (Like Nitrous!)...So,what will I gain if I do this??

Look at all the reloading data, you are talking about a max of around 200 fps from most of the data I have seen. My 480 Ruger is going to stay a 480 Ruger, I don't see a need to change it. I did it to my 480 Ruger Encore barrel, and I am still wonder why. Other than all the other stuff I had done by Gary Reeder, I just added the 475 Linebaugh to the mix. I just have to see what it was about.

Also call Danny Reed about the holster, you wull like his work.

The .480 is a great round for anything we need so why go to a .475? The advantage is you will widen the window to find accuracy. Doing a lot of work with the .480 had me running out of powder space or getting high pressure before a boolit came into it's own.
Some are happy with factory loads or just have one boolit mold that shoots good but I have many molds that I made and it makes it easy to get each to shoot the way I want them to.
Did I tell you I love the .475?

What you will get is a bunch more recoil. Going from 1200 fps to 1350 fps or so with a 400 + grain bullet is a pretty sizeable increase in kick. It's like stepping up from a .458 win mag pushing a 500 grain bullet at 2150 fps to a Lott pushing the same bullet at 2300 fps. You seem to cross a recoil threshold. I'm not complaining as I like the recoil and in the case of my .475, I couldn't be happier with the accuracy we have been able to attain with it. Tom, the more important question is: why not?

Ruer has already discontinued the 5 shot .480? WHY? I understand the issues with cylinder wall thickness associated with the 6 shot version, but wasn't aware of any issues with the 5 shot model. I had thought I might eventually pick one up, but it looks like I missed the boat...

DGR -- some of the originals (6 shot) had some extraction problems and this was a machining issue. The 5-shot was short lived. I called Ruger and asked for an explanation and they cited that it was a "marketing decision". I don't think they were selling enough to justify building them.......unfortunately.

Thanks Whitworth, I kind of thought it was probably something along those lines. It just seems odd that the .44 and .454 Alaskans seem to be doing well and the .480 not so. At any rate, it certainly is a shame, as it would have made a fantastic platform for a .475.

DGR -- you are right, it would have made a great platform. I considered it as well, but the 5-shot cylinder was just a rumor when I had my 6-shot .480 SRH converted with a 5-shot cylinder.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
What you will get is a bunch more recoil. Going from 1200 fps to 1350 fps or so with a 400 + grain bullet is a pretty sizeable increase in kick. It's like stepping up from a .458 win mag pushing a 500 grain bullet at 2150 fps to a Lott pushing the same bullet at 2300 fps. You seem to cross a recoil threshold. I'm not complaining as I like the recoil and in the case of my .475, I couldn't be happier with the accuracy we have been able to attain with it. Tom, the more important question is: why not?

Is the accuracy that much better in the 475 Linebaugh over the 480 Ruger? My 480 is a tack driver.

It is when the handgun has been built and put together correctly and by hand. That is what I contribute the accuracy differences to, more so than a caliber issue. Plus, I have a particularly accurate load that I am using. They are both inherently accurate cartridges. Both of my .480s have been really accurate, but this .475 will shoot way better than I am capable of.

Thanks Whitworth, I got my Encore barrel back from Gary Reeder, the 480 I had him re-chamber to 475 Linebaugh. When I get back from my bear hunt, I will give it a try.

Just got in and looked forward to what was waiting here for me ...There are pros and cons,as with everything....But the "Why Not" from Whitworth says it all ....Cost isnt a factor as it is a simple ream job (Hey,will the 460 Smith fit?-Just kidding! )...Well,this way I will have more power and Braggn' rights Unless I just spend a few more hundred and "go all the way" with the 500JRH and "Make a Bigger Hole"! Well,it hasnt got here yet,but I already have some lil grips coming for it! Thanks Guys

I am sure you will decide soon enough as to what you want. But the 480 will put a big hole in what ever you shot also.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I am sure you will decide soon enough as to what you want. But the 480 will put a big hole in what ever you shot also.

But it'll have a lot more muzzle energy as a .475 Linebaugh than a .480....... By George, Redhawk1, you're starting to sound like me!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
I am sure you will decide soon enough as to what you want. But the 480 will put a big hole in what ever you shot also.

But it'll have a lot more muzzle energy as a .475 Linebaugh than a .480....... By George, Redhawk1, you're starting to sound like me!

Yea I know, but we don't want to go there..lol

If it were mine, I'd leave it alone. You have a pretty rare handgun, since the 5-shot .480 wasn't produced for very long at all. You don't gain much from going up to a .475.

Tom, I agree with the Sarge...why waste a good collector gun for just a bit more power? While you might be content with this conversion for some braggin, I would just as soon take it off of your hands for a reasonable price and preserve it...so I can have some braggin rights for a different reason.

Woody

Give it to me Tom, so that I can rechamber it!

Would a heavily loaded 480 not be the same as the 475 since a 5 shot cylinder can stand the increased pressures of the hot-rodded 480 load? Would there be much difference between the two?

There's not really enough case to get the velocities that the .475 can get. There is only 2,000 psi pressure difference between the .480 and the .475. There really isn't a "need" to push the .480 fast as it will get the job done on virtually all game. The 6-shot cylinders had no strength issues. The extraction problem was a machining issue.

Woodrow..I like your style...leave it alone and Oh,by the way,sell it to me! There are some good points here guys....Its value is better left untouched and really,the extra 200fps isnt going to make a huge difference and I am sure with cast bullets,it will go through and though any American game,incl Bear and Bison...With the Hornady factory 400gr XTP's,it should make a impressive entrance and exit hole and do Alot of damage along the way(Has anyone chronied those in a Alaskan or similar short barrel?)...and,after all,I have Jack doing me a Super Custom Old Vaquero 5 shot Birdshead SS with now a 2 1/2" Octagon Ribbed Banded Barrel! and we have chroneid the 500JRH with 425s at 1250 with no problem from another Alaskan conversion I had(sold) ...So,as it stands I may leave it alone,just custom grips (Eagle Secret Service ones) ....(Whitworth,what would you charge to ream out the cylinders? )

Please post a pic with the custom grips when you get them on...BTW, does anyone know roughly how many 5 shot 480 Alaskans made it thru before production ended?

Will do....I heard the other day that is it was 25,but thats hard to believe....if so,I will be a Rich man!

Cabelas had a 6 shot for sale for $799

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/community/gun...829_ruger480_whe.jsp

I saw a couple six-shots at a gun show in Florida a week ago in the $600.00 range.......

I got a 480 SRHK 6 shot when they first came out, and my feeling is the overall length of the cylinder is the same whether in 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh. That is why I got Mr. Lee at Lee Precision to do a double crimp bullet mold, rather than a single crimp. His engineer's original design had the crimp location too long for the FA 475 Linebaugh, and too short on the longer 480 SRHK cylinder. Cheaper to just get a bullet that takes advantage of the long SRHK cylinder(cannelure tool for jacketed), and still use the 480 brass. In fact, I had some bullets that were longer overall length using 480 brass with the right bullets, than some 475 ammo we had. I guess if you don't handload, then I guess rechambering to a 475 Linebaugh might be an option. Another plus with the factory 480 chamber, is smaller case for better target practice loads!

A .480 with a 400 + grain bullet at 1,200 fps is plenty, really. Buffalo Bore has a 410 grain WFN load that does 1,200 fps from my 7.5-inch barreled .475 and it is hell on game.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
A .480 with a 400 + grain bullet at 1,200 fps is plenty, really. Buffalo Bore has a 410 grain WFN load that does 1,200 fps from my 7.5-inch barreled .475 and it is hell on game.

Whitworth, I need to pick one gun, and just play with it. I have too many choices, and it is hard to decide which one I should use on my hunts.

Sometimes having more than 1 or 2 hunting handgun is a pain in the back side. I think if I had to narrow it down to 2 calibers, I think I would go with the 480 and one of the 500 cal's.

What do you think.

Send the extras to me and you won't have any trouble deciding.......

Tom,

Money aside, as Redhawk and others have said; you are just not going to gain a tremendous edge with the .475 over the .480 for use on most North American game. I would, as Finn Aagard stated, chose the larger of the two clubs if going after grizzly bear or African game that would eat me. Heck, I'd just opt for the .500 Linebaugh in that situation.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
Send the extras to me and you won't have any trouble deciding.......

How did I know you would say that.

Yea it is fun having a bunch of handguns, it was just easier when I only had a few. But I still love them all.

And with the the performance levels being so close among the big bores, it makes a decision harder to come by.

How is your new 510 GNR coming along?

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
And with the the performance levels being so close among the big bores, it makes a decision harder to come by.

How is your new 510 GNR coming along?

It shoots like a dream, I am using the lighter side of the loads in the 1100 fps range. The accuracy is extremely good. George and I are going out tomorrow afternoon to do a little shooting before we leave Saturday for Maine.

After shooting 250 rounds out of the 510 GNR I think I have found a round I really like. The 510 is probably going to be one of my favorite guns I own.

I can't think of a much better way to get it started than taking a bear with it.

I agree, that would make it even more special to me.

George is going to use his S&W 500 Mag. He has yet to take anything with it. I hope he get one with his handgun.

Best of luck to the both of you.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
Best of luck to the both of you.

Thanks Hitman.

will it increase the power of your gun? without a doubt. But do you need it. the 480 is an excellent killer allready and the loads i usually hunt with in my 475 are 480 level loads anyway. Sure its nice to have the option of bumping them up if i ever have to hunt something dangerous but with my budget i doubt that will ever happen and if i did even those loads would probably take care of it. Dustin linebaugh killed his grizzly with 480 level loads and it i did fine. If its what you really want go for it. Your alaskan is never going to be some high dollar collectible gun and even if it does it wont be in your lifetime anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by Lloyd Smale:
will it increase the power of your gun? without a doubt. But do you need it. the 480 is an excellent killer allready and the loads i usually hunt with in my 475 are 480 level loads anyway. Sure its nice to have the option of bumping them up if i ever have to hunt something dangerous but with my budget i doubt that will ever happen and if i did even those loads would probably take care of it. Dustin linebaugh killed his grizzly with 480 level loads and it i did fine. If its what you really want go for it. Your alaskan is never going to be some high dollar collectible gun and even if it does it wont be in your lifetime anyway.

Yes indeed! Dustin's load I believe had a muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps, and I am sure it was moving quite a bit more slowly at the 176 yard mark when it drilled that grizzly!

I'd say go for it. You can still shoot .480's, and gain a slight power advantage.

Just remember, when Smith started chambering the model 60 for .357 mag., folks were asking why? A 2" barrel just aint enough for a mag. Well, out of a 2" barrel, a .38 Special really aint so much so.