is 1000 fps achievable in a 475 linebaugh 7 1/2" bfr with a 500gr bullet? yes no faster slower? anyone here shoot real heavy bullets in the 475 linebaugh? just trying to get above .3 in sectional density and you need around a 480gr pill to do that

I believe LAR has a 500 gr .475" mold. The only experience I have is with 460 gr in the 480. A 7 1/2" 480 will push a 460 gr 1100 fps, a 475 would likely be able to hit 1200. Assuming you loose another 100 odd fps going to 500 gr, then yeah, 1000 fps seems reasonable for 500 gr in the 475.

I wouldn't be so hardpressed to have to exceed a .3 sd. I think there's a point of diminishing returns. Once you launch a heavy enough bullet to get consistant exits, the only way to increase killing power is to up velocity. I'm thinking the 475 is at it's best with 440-460 gr @ 1200-1300 fps.

thanks for the info paul...may all your gun-karma come back to you in the form of trophy game and tight groups

Boom... After doing some rough extrapolation from some Taffin data, it looks like you'll max out around 1050fps with a max load of W296. In all seriousness though, if you're looking into the BFR, go with the 45-70. You'll get the SD you're looking for AND be able to launch 500gr pills faster that 1050fps.

Also of note... The BFR in the 45-70 / 450 Marlin is a 43,500psi gun. Same frame, same barrel, same cylinder, just different headspacing techniques used for the different cartridges. Load the 45-70 BFR up to full potential with a moderately fast rifle powder, H4198, Re7 and let 'er rip. Try the 525gr pile drivers from Beartooth http://beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/21

I assume you've already seen these since I've noticed your appreciation of the 45-70. They should leave the 475 Linebaugh crying in the dirt They've got an SD of .358!! With 4198, I would seriously bet you can get 1200fps with a 525gr out of the 10" barrel.

m.c., just too damn big unfortunately for my practical sidearm ideal, i love the idea though. i have been wrestling with it for a while. if i want to use a 45-70 i will use my guide gun. i think the 475 linebaugh and 50 linebaugh are the best bang-flop for the size that would be a good beltgun.

Boomstick-You mentioned in your post the BFR 475..If you go to there sight the weight difference between the 7.5 inch 475/480 and the 7.5 inch 45-70/450 is 1/2 a pound aka 8 onces..Not much I would say and I agree the 45-70/450 Marlin would be the better choice.

Jayco

8 oz. and 2 1/4" in overall length. the 475 linebaugh bfr is pushing it for me in size i feel

I've always considered the 45-70 length BFR to be a "hollywood" gun (same as dessert eagle) ie a great impressive looking thing, but a poor choice for real world field use.

I don't think you'll find many folks that carry an iron sighted revolver on their hip and tramp over hill and dale after game and shoot offhand choosing such a gun.

An extra 8 oz is a big deal when shooting offhand. If you're shooting off the bench, well, whats the point, might as well have an encore in 470 NE and win the mines more powerful contest. BTW, I know someone with a 470 NE encore pistol.

The BFR in 45-70 also comes in the 7.5 inch just like the 475 does(Non-Hollywood).Why step up from the 44-Mag then.Garrett cartridges has some very impressive 44-Mag loads.Here is one of Garretts that didn't quite make it the whole 4 feet+ through the stump.


What is enough for a handgun?

Jayco

What is enough for a handgun?


475 linebaugh i think

I agree with Paul, you're getting to the point of diminishing returns at 500 grains. I shot a cow elk at 70 yards with a 400 grain Speer Gold Dot loaded to 1275 fps. The bullet broke her left femur and stopped under the hide of her right shoulder. Fair penetration in anyone's book I would dare say.

475 Linebaugh-I have 4 mould close to 500gr.
Ballisti-cast 460,500,530gr LFNGC
Mountainmolds 480 WFNGC.
The 480gr has a noselength of .500",this is designed to fit SRH 480 Ruger,Max velocity 1100 fps.
I have a Reeder 475 Linebaugh Maximum (Cylinder Length-2.2"),using 475 Linebaugh cases with the 500gr loaded out to the first lube groove (NL-.500")I can get around 1100 fps
But like a few of the guy's said you don't gain much in power,in fact accuracy suffers because the barrel's twist is NOT designed for such a heavy bullet.

Sean

I'd forgot about the accuracy issue. In my 480, the 460 gr WFN will shoot accurately at 1050-1100 fps, ie 1" 50 yd groups. That did disprove the gunscribe mantra that WFN's won't shoot at below 1200 fps. That said, another 480 shooter was testing my 460 gr WFN's launched @ 1100 fps and found that at around 175 yds they started flying wild. The 400 gr LFN's @ 1200 would fly true as far as you'd want.

o.k. so 460 is about the max bullet weight but 420 to 440 is better for a heavy weight from what i am getting here @ 1200 to 1300 fps

sectional density...

420 .266

440 .279

460 .291

480 .304

the 460 with a good meplat should be great

275 SWC, 310 LFN, 400 Lee, 400 XLFN, 460 WFN.

Pick your poison

i think 460 is my poison, maybe 480

thanks for the visual, like the meplat on the 460 who makes that one or do you make that one? how far out can the bullets be in the bfr? anyone know?

stick,

If you're going to play with the big bore revolvers, you'll be dollars and flexibility ahead if you get into casting. You can get started at a pretty reasonable investment if you use as much Lee stuff as possible. I've used the 400 gr .475" lee mold since it came out, actually I have one of the prototypes, and it's a good one. I also just got back from the range and was able to put some of the new lee 325 gr bullets down range, good stuff as well.

As for the 460 gr, I make that as well as all my bullets. I had ballisticast make that mold by sinking their WFN cherry a bit deeper for the longer/heavier bullet. Now that mountain molds can make a mold just as good for 1/2 the cost, I'd go that route. You wouldn't have the long gas check shank, so the bullet could be a tad shorter for the same weight, a good thing.

Not sure how long the BFR cylinder is, on the 480, I have to seat the 460 gr so it crimps in the first lube groove, seated to the canalure the gas check gets into the case where it is thicker and swells the case so it won't chamber. Thus I don't think a 475 L gains much on the 480 with that bullet, as you'll have about the same powder capacity either way.

thanks for the info...i like the way i can design my own mold with mountain molds...what is the optimal velocity for penetration, i seem to gather 1300 is the magic number with a wfn, what say you?

I've yet to see anyone who can answer the velocity question, but bullet weight seems to win out over velocity. I'm quite content with 1200 fps at the muzzle, couple inches high at 50 yds, dead on at 75, and a bit lower at 100, can't ask for more from an iron sighted sixgun.

My 460 gr bullet @ 1100 fps from a 480 was tested a few years back at the linebaugh summer get together. Penetration in wet newsprint was 38", which was within 10-15% of the best 475 and 500 loads that year, equal to some, and better than the lighter bullets.

Not only is the mountain molds online design software cool, but you get a mold that casts as well as any, a bullet that shoots as well as any, and you get your design vs the mold makers interpretation of your design.

paul...what are the advantages of the 50 linebaugh over the 475? it seems they penetrate the same and the 475 is way more versitile the only advantage is to use heavier bullets, the more common .510 dia but the advantages seem to cancel themselves out with more frontal area at a slower speed. i guess there is bragging rights of frontal area bigger dia and your pinky goes in the barrel easier but i dont realy get it. maybe some here who have one can explain. i am convincable to the 50 l being better i just need something to be convinced with.

The 500 is the largest dia you can get without having a class III destructive device. The 500 was the first linebaugh design, meeting the goal of what's the biggest we can make using available brass. Then 348 win brass dried up, so something else was needed, and the 45-70 was shortened to 1.4", necked up, and walla, the .475. In the years subsequent to the creation of both rounds the 475 has become the more practical choice, especially helped by the introduction of the 480 ruger.

I see the 475 and 500 Linebaughs in the same light at the 44 mag and 45 colt. They will each do what eachother offers with equal aplomb. That said, I've always fealt that bigger is better if you can handle the recoil.

What is all this fascination with extremely heavy, extremely powerful, big caliber hard lead slugs??? Seriously, I think it's getting a bit out of hand. I used to subscribe to the monster masher theory. Bigger is better, right?!?! I've use my 45 Bisley with everything from 250gr JHP's to 345gr LFNGC and damn near everything in between. Sure, I've only shot whitetail with them, but I can tell you that the heaps of powder, pounds of lead, and horrible recoil is mostly wasted. These bullets plow through damn near anything!! I've even gone out and tested on the slow and lighter side of bullets too. Even a 250gr SWC at 1150fps still goes through 3 feet of wet phonebooks and whistles through deer like they're going out of style. All these new big bore, 475, and 50 caliber wheelguns shooting 400, 500, 600, and even 700 grain hard lead slugs are soooooo specialized. You really only need them for hunting the largest North American game... Brown bear. Take it to Africa??? No way!! After spending that kind of cash, a handgun would be my last choice. And for dangerous game, that's just a "Garrett" stunt. What's everyone's fascination with 50,000+ psi wheelguns that burst ear drums, bruise hands, pound bones and shoot through 50 head of game??? Sounds like alot of trouble, pain, and money to have a wheelgun that's three times as big as it should be (with the exception of a few). I wonder how many 150 pound deer will be shot with a 500 S&W this year???

Hello,
I just talk to the inventor of the 475 and his standard load is 24gr of 296 with a 420gr bullet. I think he said the load was running 1150.
John

i just figure if i am going to use a wheel gun i want a big load or i would just hunt with my glock. it is more a mental thing and preference and not rational at all. how many things in my life are rational is becoming an endangered species. its a want and not a need.

although i would love to hunt deer with this

quote:

Originally posted by ManCannon:
What is all this fascination with extremely heavy, extremely powerful, big caliber hard lead slugs??? Seriously, I think it's getting a bit out of hand. I used to subscribe to the monster masher theory. Bigger is better, right?!?! I've use my 45 Bisley with everything from 250gr JHP's to 345gr LFNGC and damn near everything in between. Sure, I've only shot whitetail with them, but I can tell you that the heaps of powder, pounds of lead, and horrible recoil is mostly wasted. These bullets plow through damn near anything!! I've even gone out and tested on the slow and lighter side of bullets too. Even a 250gr SWC at 1150fps still goes through 3 feet of wet phonebooks and whistles through deer like they're going out of style. All these new big bore, 475, and 50 caliber wheelguns shooting 400, 500, 600, and even 700 grain hard lead slugs are soooooo specialized. You really only need them for hunting the largest North American game... Brown bear. Take it to Africa??? No way!! After spending that kind of cash, a handgun would be my last choice. And for dangerous game, that's just a "Garrett" stunt. What's everyone's fascination with 50,000+ psi wheelguns that burst ear drums, bruise hands, pound bones and shoot through 50 head of game??? Sounds like alot of trouble, pain, and money to have a wheelgun that's three times as big as it should be (with the exception of a few). I wonder how many 150 pound deer will be shot with a 500 S&W this year???

I've found one of the biggest sticking points when discussing various calibers on forums are when folks have the attitude that all I hunt is whitetails and I can't understand why others do things differently than I. Many folks hunt other species, in other states, and other countries.

While no doubt a 44 mag or 45 colt is a great round against a nominal 200# whitetail, they start to come up a bit short when one goes after larger game, and in NA, larger game consists of elk, bison, muskox, moose, and the great bears.

A 44 mag or 45 colt launches a roughly 300 gr bullet 1200-1300 fps, the 475 and 500 Linebaughts launch a roughly 450 gr bullet 1200-1300 fps, which makes them an honest 50% more powerful. For thost that can handle them, they offer enough power for the larger species whereas the 44 and 45 are starting to run out of gas.

I know a few folks that have taken moose with a 44 mag, and they just weren't impressed with the performance. It's just enough when everything goes perfect, but in the real world, you just can't count on perfection.

If you can't afford, can't handle or just don't want a bigger gun, no problem, just don't disparage those that can and do.

Amen!

No one else is paying my powder and lead bill, so I'll shoot what I please. I am one of those who has hunted in Africa and taken game which I felt a .454 was better suited than a .44 Mag. I took the .454 only because my .475 wasn't ready for the trip. I've taken deer with my .475 and plan to do so with my .500 Linebaugh when I get it back from John. I also plan to use one or both of my Linebaugh revolvers for a stopping gun next time I get back to Africa and hunt dangerous game again.

The cylinder on my 475 BFR is 1.846" long, this encloses the case head. So it looks like a .4" nose is a reasonable max length.
I have a 500gn mold for my 470NE, the 90% nose is 1.086" long with the gascheck on.
Looking at quickload it seems that with 2400 I should be able to get about 1150fps with it.
They measure the barrel length on the BFRs from the front of the frame. So my 6.5" bbl is actually 7 1/8".
I remember one of the early articles about the 475 when Ross Seyfreid took an Elephant with it. It was a frontal brain shot that dropped the bull in it's tracks. they found the bullet about 2' into the neck after going through the skull. I don't remember which bullet he used, it was probably either a 380 or 420gn hard cast.

I think if you are looking for a great rifle handgun package, then think about the Puma in 480(they come in stainless) and then one of the handguns in 480 or 475. Like the SRH or BFR or Raging Bull. I would want to see if Taurus has worked on the cylinder bolt unlatching problem before I bought one though. It does on my 454 with 350gn loads doing 1350fps.

I have a 10.5" BFR in 45-70. I have launched 405's to 1750fps. I have also pushed 500's past 1500fps. It is NOT fun to shoot at that level. It is controllable, I've still gotten 1.5" groups at 50yds with it, but it almost got away from me on one shot.

The 4" 500S&W feels real good and balances well. Once I get a holster for it, it should pack fairly well. The Trigger on this thing is absolutely PERFECT. No creep, not too heavy, crisp... I would not change anything about it if I could and had $1000 just to spend on the trigger.

What's the max cartrige length for the 480 SRH? Can it be loaded to 1.8" If so, you should be able to get the same powder capacity as the 475.

dont neglect the take down carbines from wild west guns in 45-70, 500 S&W, and 454 casull. any of these with a matching wheel gun would be a comfort in the big game brush. I'm sure there will soon be a 460 S&W carbine offering

LAR,

I'm pretty sure the SRH has a 1.8" cylinder. The long 400 gr shown in my pic has a .51" nose, so add the 1.275" 480 case and you get a 1.785" round.

The one thing I have found is shootability goes out when loading past 480 levels, at least for me. I know one guy re-chambered his 480 to 475 Linbaugh NOT RECOMENDED! and he said the gun could take the loads, but his hand couldn't.