I shot my FA 475 for the first time today.
First I shot 10 rounds of Buffalo Bore 420gr/900fps loads. Recoil was very mild.
Then I shot 5 rounds of Hornady 400 gr XTPHP.
Recoil about like a 44 mag. Then 5 rounds of Buffalo Bore 350/ 1500fps, very "snappy" but not painful. Then I fired 5 rounds of 440 gr extra wide nose/1325fps. I "gritted" my teeth, curled my toes, made sure my health AND Life Insurance was paid up, and touched off the first round.... I WAS STILL ALIVE.
The recoil of the 440 grainers was not as snappy as the 350 gr, but they did rise up a little bit more.
I shot several more of each load getting a final sight in of the 350 grain loads, and knowing where to turn the rear sight to get a sight in of the 400/440 grainers.
My brother who has a couple of 44 magnum revolvers shot the 475 also.
He shot 3 of the 420/900fps, 3 of the Hornady 400 gr HP, and 2 of the Buffalo Bore 350 grainers. After that he said he was DONE.
Even after we drove home he was complaining that his wrist hurt.
So, I think that a very experienced 44 Mag/hot 45 colt shooter would not have any problem with the 475. However it is too much for a "new" magnun shooter for sure.
The 440 grain Buffalo Bore loads were the most accurate by far. All shooting was done offhand at 15 and 25 yards, as that is all this range allowed.

I have been in e-mail contact with Tim of Buffalo Bore and I must say he is a great guy.
His ammo is first rate.
IDAHO BEARS LOOK OUT.

The Buffalo Bore 420 grain avertised at 1350 fps clocks 1420 fps out of my 6" 475 Tim's loads usally are faster than claimed very good hard cast bullets and accurate I am glad that you are enjoying your 475 I own three two are built on ruger bisley frames and one Freedom Arms.The 420 grainers will take anything from Deer to Alaska's great Bears I received my first 475 in time for hunting season in 1987 and was luck enough to take both Moose[53"] and bear. GREAT round

N E 450 No2

Ain't it a big blast! Evidently, both you and your brother held the revolver tight enough not to wear the front sight on your foreheads. Recoil can be very exhilarating to say the least. I don't know how big your hand is but I'm finding that if the flare and corners of the grip were rounded off judiciously, it helps in gripping the gun a bit easier. A bit like what Gary Reeder does with his Bisley conversions. Dude, you're hooked now.

I have found the lighter bullets cause my ,475 to recoil more like a .454. A 400 grain bullet loaded from 900 to 1100 fps is pleasant to shoot and most effective to boot.

MS

Have you ever experimented with a "wadcutter load" with the 475? There are days when I'm off when I go to the range and maybe a low weight and low recoiling load that shoots to same POI would be beneficial.

MS Hitman,
I agree, the 350 gr Byffalo Bore loads were quite a bit more "snappy" than the 440 gr buffalo bore loads.
I really thought the 440gr loads would be near unbearable. Their recoil was not that bad.475 Guy, I found the 420 gr 900fps loads very comfortable to shoot. When I start reloading for the 475 I am going to try to find a 420 gr load around 1050fps that is very accurate.

I could not find any 475 factory ammo today so I bought 2 boxes of Hornady 480 Ruger 325 HP/XTP, so I can do a little "plinking" at some Wyoming prairie dogs in a few days while enroute to my Idaho bear hunt.

I have not played with a wadcutter load for the .475 yet. I have to change out the front sight blades when changing bullet weights, so an all-around sight setting will be difficult. The .45 ACP hulls I shoot as projectiles are 7" lower than the 400s at 25 yards. Heck of a JHP at 1900 fps out of the muzzle, but no good unless the revolver is sighted in for them.

NE

Very few shops carry 475 Linebaugh ammo. The loads I'm referring to are the 420 grainers @ 1400 f/s or so. When you light off one of those, you know you unleashed something.

First chance I get I am going to try some of Buffalo bores 420 grain loads, both the Long Nose and the Long Wide Nose, as well as start reloading.

For you guys monitoring Tony's adventure, Sunday morning I was with him when he flipped a Wyoming prairie dog at 80 yards with the .FA /475. Lest you marvel at the shot; please consider, our prairie dogs are the size of German Shepherds.....
(but, man!; that little Texan can sure operate the bolt on that Blaser .223. I thought he was shooting semi-auto a few times.)

I had a great time hunting Prairie dogs with john in WY.
The 223 Blaser performed great. I shot the 475 a bit, some at PD's and some at rocks. Also shot Johns 454 FA with the 4 3/4" bbl.
The recoil is about the same. We shot some rocks a litle over 100 yards. It is suprising how accurate the FA revolvers are. Can't wait to get back up there.

I must have missed your original post....which one did you get, barrel length and grips wise that is. If I had to do it over again I would have tried the .475 instead of the .454. The Premire Grade .41 that I do now have is more than enough gun for my uses.

Anyone who has not seen NE shoot is missing something. He is a 101% dedicated shooter and hunter and I was proud to be his shooting partner for many years before I moved from Texas....Bob

Hi Bob,
I got the Premier Grade 475 with the 6" barrel.
I changed the sights to FA's Express sights.
I like the feel and the handiness of the 6".

My .454 was a 6" and the .41 I now have is a 6" MagNa-Port...both have the black Micarta stocks. I like the balance much more than the 7.5"....although I have shot my friend's 4 5/8" and if his gun had been equiped with the black Micarta stocks I would have traded. For resons unknow my stocks had a different bushing and could not be switched....I am happy with the .41 however.
So are you going to take your elephant with the .44 or .475?...or one with each and forego the doubles....

Bob

I will be taking the 475 to Zim next March.
I will use the 420 LFN from Buffalo Bore.
I met with Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore In Idaho while on my bear hunt. He stated, and I think I agree that this will be the best penetrating of his loads.
I have some of them and some 440 gr loads and will do a test, just for my own satisfaction.
I will try to shoot some other game as well in Africa.

I will shoot a pig or two and will also use it on my Sept Idaho Bear hunt.
I will take it on my WY elk hunt, and If I can get close enough will try it on elk with the Speer 400gr SP Buffalo Bore load.

I am going to reload for it as soon as I can find some bullets.
I also need to find some gas checks so I can load up some shotshells for snaks rabbits grouse etc.
I need to get busy.

If you are looking for .475 cast bullets, castperformance.com has 425gr and 375gr WFNGC also beartoothbullets.com has 385 LFNPB and 420gr WFNGC.
Before I started casting my own bullets I used 475 bullets from both companies and they are well made. I have load data for the 475 Linebaugh with these bullets if you need it.Hornady makes gas checks and a Doctor in Louisiana(gatorchecks) makes them also.

Sean

475/480
Thanks, I would like your load data.

Hi,
I could not find your email addy in your profile,If you would ,send me an email I will send data.This is in Exel format.

Sean

When ordering most of these bullets, you have your choice of plain base or gas-checked.

Which cast bullets have ya'll found to be the best Cast Performance, or Beartooth. I think Buffalo Bore uses Cast Performance.

My FA prefers Cast Performance w/gas checks. I've also found that H-110 and 296 do equally well in the high performance range.

I was really hoping to see an elephant fall to your favorite M29 4" that you took to Africa last time...
Also email me when you get the tape of your last hunt for me to see...I am still waiting as are several friends...

Bob

Bob
I was looking foward to using the M 29 on elephant... but I could not pass up the deal in the FA475. I am going to try and find the time to get some copies made and send you one.
I felt like a side brain on a cow was doable with the 44. I think the 475 is ok on a bull side brain and maybe frontal on a cow.
I will give it a test when I get to Zim if the hunt goes good.
I do feel better with the 475 on a buff.