I have shot both and hunted with the 480 quite a bit.

Personally I have no need for the added HP of the 475 Line.

I fell in love with my current load for the 480 Ruger which is a 425 gr WFNGC over 20.5 gr H-LilGun. This load is good for 1175 fps and has dropped enough game within 20 yards of bullet impact to tell me this heavy bullet flat works.

I have never and will never find one of those bullets in game either.

I do not mind recoil, but I do not like to subject myself to the pounding of the 475 when I get all of the advantages of the big round in the 480 with none of the disadvantages, plus the handguns are 1/3 to 1/2 the price.

Do not get me wrong, you can not compare the Ruger SRH to a custom revolver or the Freedom Arms revolver, but most of us would be better served getting a SRH and spending the other $800 on bullets and powder and practicing alot.

Good Shooting!!

50

Looks like the 480 is being pushed to the max. On the 475, it'll go a wee bit more, but why would you. 475 loads are right at the thresh hold for even the most seasoned shooter. Going full blast is fun for a while but you're going to wear something out or break something outright.

Good point Fiftydriver.
Sean

I agree. There is another thing that must be addressed, that is the thin amount of metal between chambers for the SRH. For the hotrodding amongst us, you have absolutely no room for error. By now, the Ruger is probably loose as a goose with those hot loads. And don't tell me that SRH's are super strong, they ain't. My partner and I bought SRH's in 454 way back when and these things loosened with regular shooting. If the 454's will loosen up a Ruger, then the super hotloaded 480 will definitely do more in a shorter time period.

So whats the problem with this data and loads?

405 Grain LBT w/GC
H110 22.3 grains = 1328 fps @ 45,200 PSI Max

405 LBT w/GC
H110 26.5 grains = 1393 fps @ 48,500 PSI

4 grains more gets them only 70 FPS more, yet generates 3K+ more presure in a LARGER case? That aint straight. They're either pushing the 480 or babyin' the 475.

Does it say what guns were used for the testing?

Make mine a 5 1/2" Bisley, or better yet, and FA 83 with a 6" octagon barrel

Despite my aestethic prefernces for an SA revolver, I personally find that I can shoot the SRH better than I can an SA revolver. I have shot some good groups with Bisleys and FA 83s, but day in, day out, I can shoot the SRH much more consistantly accurately.

I believe that had I not been able to shoot a buddies 454 and 480 SRH, I never would have realized that it's grip frame is more adapt to my ability to shoot to the guns mechanical accuracy capabilities. It doesn't matter what the gun looks like, or how much the gun rag experts expound upon the design. If you can shoot the gun well, that is what matters.

I still wonder what my gun is mechanically capable of, and I wouldn't be suprised if the right load wouldn't print 5 into 1" at 100 yds. I'm simply not that good.

Here is some data that I have did with the 480 Ruger. This is a powerful cartridge itself. hope this info helps. Paul H also has some more of his data in the favorite load section if you a search there.

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


Good Luck

Hcliff

Again I would agree with your comments.

Many say they like the design of the single action revolvers because it allows the revolver to rotate in the hand under recoil.

Personally, I want that thing gripped firmly to my palm and fingers. This is the reason all of my Blackhawks wear rubber grips.

I do not want to have to readjust my grip after recoil if a second shot is needed.

About your comments that you feel the double action SRH design allows you to make a more accurate shot, I would also agree.

To me it seems this grip design allows a more vertical grip, somewhat like a vertical grip on a tactical rifle. This allows better and straighter trigger pulls.

This is extremely important in 1000 yard shooting and I would say even more so in handgun hunting.

The single action designs rotate my hand down more then I like. In fact I would say I am more comfortable with heavy recoil in the SRH then Blackhawks.

Again recoil is a relative thing that two different shooters will feel totally different.

SO for me if its a dedicated hunting revolver, it will be a SRH. If it is a pack revolver, it will be my 4 5/8" Blackhawk simply because it houses the most power/weight ratio that I care to subject myself to(45 Colt-360 gr WLNGC).

Good Shooting!!!

50

I forgot to post this:



Bullet on the left went through 38" wet newsprint before stopping, the one on the right went through 2" newsprint, 2-3" bone, and 9.5" newsprint before stopping. Muzzle velocity was about 1100 fps. Penetration was just slighlty behind the 475's 42-44". This was a 460 gr WFN gc that I cast from wheelweights and water quenched to harden. It was shot from a buddies 480 at the 2002 Linebaugh get together. I suppose if I'd had the mold made with the smaller meplat of the LFN, I would have gotten a tad more penetration, at the expense of a smaller wound channel.

I see pressing little need for any more power in a handgun. Not bad for using only 20 gr of powder, from a round that many consider not much more than a 44.

I've never heard of any failures of the SRH, certainly it isn't built as tightly as a FA, nor will it likely withstand the same level of loads. That said, mine is at least as accurate as an FA, 5 shot 1" groups at 50 yds, with every bullet I've tested. I even know of at least one 480 SRH that was reamed out to 475 Linebaugh. The guy said the gun held up to full power loads, but it was utterly brutal to shoot.

That is the important thing to remember with the 480, you have the weight and diameter needed, so don't push things. Sure you can push 400's to 1350, 440's likely to 1200, and the 460's to 1100 fps. That said, 21 gr of H-110 or Lil-gun will push a 390-400 gr to 1200 fps, make tight groups and not abuse your body. I can't see anything I'd hunt with a handgun, which includes moose, as needing more velocity with the bullets I use.