Just purchased some Buffalo Bore ammo for my .480 Ruger (SRH). The ammo has 410 grain hardcast bullets rated at 1200 fps. Has anyone here used this load in their .480 or any of Buffalo Bore's ammunition? Just curious, as I want to try it out on some hogs next weekend.

Thanks in advance.

Whitworth

I don't know if that load is sufficient for hogs. Really big hogs that is.
A 410 gr bullet at 1200 is pretty weak when it comes to actual power.
I would reconsider my choice when it comes to the 480 Ruger and try to get a better cartridge.

Me_Plat -- I've taken a couple of fairly large hogs with my .480 using factory Speer Gold Dot ammo using a 325 grain jacketed soft point at a rated 1350 fps. It was quite effective on a shoulder shot on a particular hog, entering behind the shoulder, taking out both lungs, and breaking the off-shoulder on the way out. The round I believe is effective on fairly large game. Lots of people are big proponents of the heavy hard cast bullets, I haven't used them and am simply curious as to the effectiveness of these heavy bullets at that speed.

Whitworth

Being lucky with a cartridge doesn't mean a whole lot.
The 480 Ruger is a fairly weak round that falls flat in the power department.
I feel there are better rounds that are more big game capable.

I don't think this is about luck. The shots were good, the bullet did what it was intended to do. Are there more powerful rounds? Absolutely. Lots of guys hunt with .41 and .44 Magnums which are tick less powerful than the .480. I also hunt with a .454 Casull (also an SRH), and do quite a bit of hog hunting here in Florida with my .416 Rem bolt-gun. So if power is the real issue, none of us would be messing with pistols as even the king-of-the-hill .500 Smith "only" generates 2500 foot-pounds of muzzle energy (plenty to take much big game if properly placing your shots). In rifle terms (my .416 generates 5100 foot ponds at the muzzle), they're all weak, but that's not my point as I really enjoy the challenge of handgun hunting. Have you done any hog hunting? What is your weapon of choice? Just curious.

Whitworth

Personally i think that it is unfair to the game to use a gun that has very little power. We owe it to the game to us a powerful firearm when we are trying to take an animal's life.

That is the reason I use a 458 win Mag whenever I am squirrel hunting.

But to be safe I carry a 32 H & R Mag with a 3 inch barrel as back up if the 458 fails me.

Did you really think that Buffalo Bore load would give any problems on hogs?
Now if you shoot him in the left rear foot to try to kill him it might. In that case maybe a handgrenade may be the best for the job.

You see, Me_Plat, we do have something in common, except for squirrel I believe that my .458 Lott is a better choice than the Win Mag -- you've got to have that couple hundred more fps to guarantee stoppage on a rampaging squirrel trying to protect its nut...

In all seriousness, I have never used Buffalo Bore products and I simply want some opinions, particularly with respect to hard cast bullets.

Now, what do you hunt hogs with?

Whitworth

As far as handguns go I have taken several with a NMB w/4-5/8" barrel using a hardcast 300gr bullet. I have also taken a couple with a 500 S&W Encore using a 400gr hardcast bullet.

Both of these rounds do an excellent job on hogs. These hogs weighed in the 250-350lb. range.

I shoot a similar handload through my 480. Accuracy has been steller with a 390 gr LFN, 400 gr Lee and 400 gr LFN. I would dismiss the commments of the other poster that such a load is week. IMHO, it is sufficient power for any animal I'd hunt with a revovler. The power level is on par with the black powder 45-70 rifle loads, and they certainly there share of game.

JLK -- how fast were you pushing these loads?

Paul H -- no doubt, I've taken some game with my .480 and have not found it lacking. I'm moving into a different load than what I have used in the past and am simply sceptical. That .475-caliber bullet makes a nice large hole. The .480 really is a nice round.

Whitworth

I use two of the BB loads in my 475 Linebaugh. the lower velocity one is just great for NY whitetails and the hotter load should drop just about anything I will ever shoot at.

I want to use it next year on Moose or Bison if I get the chance.

i use there 45 super and 444marlin and also 41mag i really like there ammo and never had a single problem with any although i've only fired about 800-900 rounds of buff bore ammo

Still haven't tried the Buffalo Bore ammo on an animal, but I did try them out at my local range and was pleased with the accuracy. Did go hunting weekend before last but only shot one hog and that was with my rifle -- hopefully I will get the opportunity to try the .480 out with the Buff Bore ammo this coming weekend. Will keep you all posted. Thanks again for the inputs.