As I recall I paid ~$40/100 for hornady 480 brass. That was over 2 years and several thousand firings ago. I've lost about 1 doz cases to small neck splits, and few to screw ups on my part setting up the dies. I got the hornady dies, and had to pay full list price from Hornady, as they were the only ones in the country with the dies in stock when I got my gun.

I only shoot bullets I cast myself, and at ~$20 for 100#'s of lead, it's pretty cheep. I've never purchased factory ammo or jacketed bullets for my 480. I have several molds, but the Lee 400 gr works as well as any, and can be had for under $20. See if you can find a local caster to make you bullets, you may even be able to work out a deal purchasing the mold and sizer for him.

Do a search in the favorite loads forum for my load data and some info on the round. I'm a huge 480 fan!

I agree with,cast your own if you can, alot cheaper to shoot and if you need load data there is plenty available for all bullet sizes.And if you buy cast bullets shipping will kill you.As for factory ammo not many choices yet.
Sean

Speer also make ammo for the 480 in 275 and 325 grains (It might in 400 gr too, not sure). It make the bullets in those choice in the Gold Dot. Hornady aslo make 475 ammo. too I believe. You can get case from Hornady or from Starline. I have used the Hornady myself and the cases are very tough. You can also get cast bullets from Cast Proformance, Beartooth, Hunter supply and BRP (Cabela's aslo has a different brand I haven't tried in a SWC)for sure. Casting will cut down the costs and the Lee mold is inexpensive but they bulets dropped from them are great shooters. Reloading the caliber is a little bit more for the bullets than a 44 if you don cast but you are using almost twice the weight. The cartrideg is great. Look at Paul H loads in the section for your favorite loads as he ahs a bounch of data. (I fact follwing his posts gave me the extra incentive to get one) I am a great fan too . Here is some data of have did:

375 LBT LFN-GS 23.0 H110 1239fps
425 LBT LFN-GS 18.0 H110 1070fps
390 LBT LFN-PB 21.0 H110 1128fps
390 LBT LFN-PB 20.0 H110 1090fps

These were cast performance bullets

325 gold Dot 27.0 H110 1280fps
325 XTP 25.6 H110 1200fps
325 XTP factory 1310fps
375 LBT GC 23.0 H110 1240fps more recoil than 20.0 gra H110 390 LBT
375 Lbt 24.0 H110 1287fps

370lbt PB 24.0 H110
325 XTP 23.0-27.0 H110
425 LBT 18-18.0 H110
370 LBT PB 9.0 Win 231
390 PB 16.0 2400 Not a good load for me stopped that powder
400 Lee (from BBT bullets) 7.0 - 8.0 Titegroup powder
390 LBT 7.0-8.0 Titegroup

Titgroup is a great fun powder I loaded a box yesterday
375 10.0 Titegroup

400 Lee 19.0-21.0 Lil Gun
390 LBT 21.0 Lil Gun

This is Hornady load data

400 XTP 9 1/24 SRH 1.630 length


1000 1100 1150 1200 1250fps
Vith V110 15.3 16.7 17.3
2400 14.8 16.6 17.5
AA#9 15.2 17.0 18.0
Lil gun 15.30 16.8 17.7 18.6 19.6
H110 17.4 19.2 20.1 21.0
Win 296 17.9 19.7 20.6 21.5

325 XTP 1100 1200 1300 1400 1450fps 1500
Vh N110 17.00 18.6 20.3 21.9
2400 16.6 18.5 20.5 22.5
AA#9 16.4 18.6 20.8 23.0
Lil Gun 16.1 18.6 21.2 23.7 24.9
H 110 19.8 21.7 23.6 25.5 26.4 27.3
Win 296 20.1 22.3 24.4 26.6 27.7
IMR 4227 22.1 23.5 25.4


Kelly Brost from Cast performance gave me this data

390 grain H4227 17.0-19.0 grains 1012fps
370 grain H4227 17.0-20.00 805- 1032fps

findarticles.com http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0BTT/154_25/77824414/p1/article.jhtml?term=480+ruger this is the john taffin article with lots of data

Hope this helps


Hcliff