Ever since firing my buddies 480, I've been scheming of ways to get my own. I sold my super blackhawk yesterday, and I picked my slightly used 480 up this morning.

The only downside so far is that the range isn't open til tommorrow, and worse yet, I can't find anybody that has reloading dies in stock. The gun is sans scope rings as the previous owner had modified them for his red dot, and will be sending a set of rings when he gets his 9 1/2" 480. The up side is my buddy is loading up 50 rounds for me to play with.

I plan on bringing the chrony, as my buddy has yet to clock his loads. I believe we'll be shooting a 330 gr swc, some 390 gr LFN's, and hopefully he'll load up some 310 LFN's from the mold he got yesterday. I'll provide a report as I get mine dialed in.

I've fired 454's, 475's and 500's in bisley's, FA's and SRH's, but to me, the 480 srh has been the most impressive of the lot. Ok, same buddy has a 6" FA 454 Alaskan Master Guide series limeted edition that is a very nice gun and I would like to have, but I don't think I'd ever have the coin for such a gun, a shop in town has a few and is asking $1800!

Now I just need to figure out how I'm going to carry this thing, I'm considering putting a sling swivel on the grip, and bottom of the barrel, and carrying it with a sling.

Midway has the dies, and brass, and bullets. I think all are Hornady. I've been Eyeing the same gun myself, let us hear how it goes.

I agree with BigBores, keep us posted. I have always wanted to know why people would go with a sling instead of a bandolier holster. I like my holster for my Encore so it is not loose and banging around. Let me know. Let us know. SlimL

Bigbore,

Midway may list them, but they are out of stock, as well as everybody else. I guess I'll just have to wait, oh well, will give me time to cast up a goodly supply of bullets. I'll report back after I shoot it at lunch today.

I'll start another thread to discuss what I consider the 480 has to offer.

I shot it, and I like it!

Considering too much cafeine, and too little sleep, I have no idea what the accuracy potential is, the 330's my buddy loaded didn't do well on paper, but when I put the 8" plates up at 35 yds, and shot off hand, it was blam, plink, blam, plink, blam, plink, blam, plink, blam, plink.

I also shot the 390's, they were clocking 1150 fps from my gun, and 1200 from his. Actually my iron sighted group wasn't much bigger then his scoped group at 25, and 2-3".

I can't wait to scope it, dial it in, the shoot it, alot! I'm also looking forward to shooting lots of 310 gr LFN's, and am hoping to find a 700-900 fps load with them.

Paul,

That sounds really good to me. Keep the load work going, and by the time I can get one, you'll have all my work done for me! LOL. I never was any good with a pistol scope though. Make mine open sights please.

I'm lucky too, my buddy got his 480 before mine, and has been doing quite a bit of testing with the bullets I'm casting, so it should reduce my load work.

My plan is to get a 310 gr load @ 750 fps for plinking, same bullet at 1200-1300 w/ 2400 for smaller critters, and the 390 gr @ 1200 fps for big stuff.

I see that there are some round ball molds in .490", a bit big, but they ought to run through the sizer for a football shaped plinker.

Man.... I can't wait till I get my .480 Ruger!

It looks to be a great weapon!

Death Merchant

Over on the HANDLOADING section theres a post requesting .480 reloading data, its been unanswered for a few days. Can you guys help the poster out? It's "Red Mule" and its his first post.

FN

Paul: I should be getting my .480 next week. After checking Midway's Web site against their catalog, they showed they had a lot of the gear in stock. I ordered a box of Speer 400-grain .475 gold dots (50 for $10.19 on sale), a box of 100 Hornady cases and Hornady Titanium Nitride dies -- all in stock as of today. I hear John Taffin lists something like 86 loads for the .480 in the current issue of either Guns or American Handgunner, by the way. Also, Hodgdon has a bunch of load data posted on thier site now. I'll be loading and shooting by the end of next week, I hope!