I have one and I like it but I am not head over heels over it. It is just a revolver that shoots a heavy bullet around 1200 fps from a 71/2 inch gun. Mine does this with a 425 gr Cast Performance bullet. The 454 Casull will push a 415 gr at least 1300 from a 43/4 inch gun. An Encore 454 I have with a 12 inch barrel will do close to 1600 with the same 415 grainer and 1330 with a 525 gr cast .458" bullet sized to .452". The 480 is a good gun alright but as I say I am not overly enthused with it like some are. Should be a good deep hole drilling machine though.
I am sorry to say Paul that I haven't got mine,..Yet. But it is the next one on my list. I have heard from people whose opinion I trust that it is an excellent round with just that little bit extra. I have got to the point where I don't really need wrist busting recoil just to have the biggest, baddest one around. I trust my .44, in fact I took my deer with it last year. But for elk, that .480 will be just the lttle bit extra. Slim
I shoot one of the Ruger .480 cals. So far I have only been able to buy 400 Hornady XTPs locally and am not overly in love with them. Seems like a good caliber tho. Must admit it won't take the place of the .44 - just yet.
I have a Thompson Center Encore with a 10" bbl. This is my first year to deer hunt with it, so I can't tell you how well it works at knocking down game. I can tell you I sent a few bullets through the same hole at 50yds. It seems to have good accuracy so far. Having a hard time finding lead bullets for target practice. If anyone knows where I can find some, let me know.
grjanuary2@yahoo.com
Posts: 130 | Location: Central U.S.A | Registered: 21 December 2001
My 480 Ruger is a FA 475 with a 480R cylinder. I have been plinking with the 480 quite a bit lately. One particular plinking load that I really like is with 375 grain LFNGC and 20 grains of H4227. It is extremely accurate in my gun and it is very very mild in recoil. It is truly a fun big bore plinking/targeting load for me. Cheers! Ming
Posts: 1002 | Location: Midwest USA | Registered: 01 September 2001
I considered getting a .480 Ruger cylinder at the time I ordered ny .475 from Freedom Arms. However, I know just load 8 grains of 231 behind a 400 grain cast bullet and still have a load that will kill anything I care to shoot with it. Bullet does a little over 850 fps from a 6" bbl. This load is really nice to shoot.
In my opinion; the .480 Ruger is okay, but will never be as versatile as the .454 Casull. It appears to be a good round provided shots are kept under 75 yards or so. Past this, trajectory will get to be major consideration. I have seen the photos of John Taffin's bison he killed with a .480. I believe it will be at it's best when using 325 grain bullets, given the powder capacity.
All in all, a nice round, just the victim of a great deal of advertising hype.
I haven't been following the gun mags, so I can't comment on the advertising hype. I have had a 480 SRH 7 1/2" for just a bit over a year, and have put ~2000 rounds through it from 310 gr to 460 gr cast, oh yeah, a few round balls and 45 acp cases as well.
To my mind, the 480 strikes a good balance point, it fires large dia heavy cast bullets at reasonable speed, and in my experience with tremendous accuracy. It also does that without producing excessive recoil. I've fired many 454's, 475's and 500's, and can honestly say I can't handle the full patch loads in them. On the other hand, I find the 480 doesn't produce much more recoil then a 44 mag, but I believe it is capable of noteably more killing power.
Yes, you don't need a 480 for whitetails, and the 454 can shoot a little bit flatter, and produce slightly more power, and then there are the 475's and 500's that can do much more.
I do find the comment that the 480 is best with a 325 gr as quite curious, my thoughts are a 400 gr cast @ 1200 fps is the best all around load in the 480. I keep debating getting a 350 gr WFN gc mold made, as that bullet @ 1500 fps would be an impressive deer round, but alas, I don't have that many opportunities to hunt deer.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
Paul, I'm shooting the 480R 71/2" SRH......so far all I've shot are the 325gr XTP factory loads, just got a couple of boxes of CCI 325gr Gold Dots to try,also got a set of Hornady dies and some 400gr Gold Dots. I'll be going to cast bullets soon,dont you use the Lee 400 gr mould? How do you like it? Mark
Posts: 414 | Location: Western NC | Registered: 07 April 2002
For around $250, the 480 R cylinder is well worth it. It's like having an extra gun when you have two cylinders with one frame. I don't believe in the notion that you cannot shoot the 480R in a 475L chamber but I wanted an extra cylinder just for fun. For some reason, my 480R cylinder shoots much better than my 475L cylinder. My FA 475 also very picky about different loads and it only seems to shoot well with a very heavy load. My 480R on the other hand would digest almost any load with a precision output. Anyway, you can always send the gun back to have another cylinder linebore chambered. Have fun. Cheers! Ming
Posts: 1002 | Location: Midwest USA | Registered: 01 September 2001
I have not found a load that fails to shoot real well, i.e. around 1"-1.5" at 50 yards. Takes some concentration on my part, but the gun will do it. This is using both the heavy loads as well as reduced. A plus for me is that both loads shoot to the same point of impact at usable ranges. I agree about shooting .480s in the .475 cylinder. However, most do not take the care to really clean the chambers.
I just elected to use the reduced loads for plinking and keep some full power stuff if need arises. This way I don't have an extra cylinder to worry about keeping up with.
Are you guys scoping your revolvers, or iron sight-shooting?
Paul... I've come across only one such Ruger up here, a few weeks ago. The guy was loading fatory ammo in it (he wasn't shooting, but using it as bear insurance, since we were heading down the coast, where a few bears live, searching for ivory). He didn't say much about, nor did I ask him anything of it. A nice round, and revolver. ~~~Suluuq
I just recently purchased a 7 1/2" SRH in .480 and so far I think it's great. It picks up where the .44 leaves off, and it's not too bad on the palm I haven't scoped it to see what kind of groups I can get with it, but then again, it's my bear insurance, so I don't need to be driving nails with it. I'll scope it later when I get into handgun hunting, as I think the 325gr XTP Mag will do wonders to a deer, and the 400gr Gold Dot should take care of an elk. I'll let you all know how she performs if I get within 25 or 50yds from any varmint or other various and sundry rascals.
Posts: 264 | Location: Big Sky Country, MT | Registered: 12 October 2001
quote:Originally posted by contender85: Paul, I'm shooting the 480R 71/2" SRH......so far all I've shot are the 325gr XTP factory loads, just got a couple of boxes of CCI 325gr Gold Dots to try,also got a set of Hornady dies and some 400gr Gold Dots. I'll be going to cast bullets soon,dont you use the Lee 400 gr mould? How do you like it? Mark
Mark,
I actually have one of Lee's prototype 400 gr molds, and yes it's a good one! I had a 390 gr LBT mold, but sold it after getting the lee. I'd paid $100 for the used LBT, and sold it for the same $100. The Lee is just as accurate, and I've launched it down to 600 fps with unique, all the way to a little over 1200 fps with H 110. My buddy was using Lil gun to push the 400 gr Lee 1350 fps from his 7 1/2" SRH
Check out the favorite loads section for my 480 data. I've got some more mild loads to try with the 400 gr, but haven't had any time to try them out. I'll also be getting some Lil gun to see what it'll do with the 400 and 460 gr bullets.
Suluuq,
I've gotten my best groups with a scope and used it for load work, as I feel it is required to really ring out the loads and see they're accuracy potential. I but prefer to carry it with irons. I can shoot ~3" groups @ 50 yds with irons, but scoped have shot 1" groups.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
Seems most prefer the hard cast in the 480, but how does Hornady's 400 gr. HP/XTP's perform? Been thinking about trying them in the 480, and the 300 gr. in my 44 SBH.
Also since I don't have molding equipment, and have just now got started in reloading. What about good quality "Store Bought" hard cast? Are these worthwhile, without sizing to the specific gun?
I have never shot a jacketed bullet in mine, so can't help there.
I did shoot some locally made commercial cast, and they worked just fine, in fact they were the first bullet my buddy used to get 1" 50 yd groups. As a note, we shoot scoped off the bench, but w/o paying attention to what chambers are used in the cylinder. If you really want to ring out the accuracy of loads, a scope is a huge asset, as I can't shoot well enough with irons to find out the potential of a load. With a scope, I see groups shrink and grow with changing powder charges.
My gun has not been the least bit sensitive to bullet sizing, I've shot .475", .476" and .477" bullets, and all have been accurate with little to no leading. If you have a choice of size, I'd try .476" Cast Performance, Beartooth, and maybe Leadheads will have a decent selection. I'd start with a ~400 gr weight.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I picked up my 7 1/2" Super Redhawk on Saturday. What a dream!!! I had my S&W scoped 629.44 and my 45 Ruger Colt bisley out to compare. The 325 gr XTP factory 480 had a little more felt recoil in the hand than the 44 with the 300 grain handloads, which was expected. But the suprising thing was that the 45 Colt Bisley had more recoil with the 325 LBT I was shooting. The Bisley had more muzzle jump. Most likely from being lighter. The felt recoil in the hand palm was a little more severe. I think this is because of the cusioned grips on the SRH vs the Bisley. The Bisley for may hands have pinched my middle finger knuckle at the middle joint making it not a fun gun to shoot with the heavy loads. The double action grip of the SRH seems to be better for the way I hold a revolver with my hand shape (Short fingers with wide palm).
As for accuracy I got 1 1/2" for 4 shots at 25 yards. Iron sights first time out. Three of those were all touching with one a possible flyer or inaccurate chamber.
I can't wait to start handloading it. Paul has some intresting loads to try. I highly recommend the 480 to anyone who wants more power. I seems to have so much potential. The heavy bullet is what makes it unique. The 454 has a sharper kick. On of my deer hunting partners has on in a SRH.
Now I have to get my reloading stuf and set out my chrono
HCliff
Posts: 305 | Location: Green Bay, WI | Registered: 09 September 2002
I can relate to the bisley recoil comment. I don't recall if I posted it in the favorite loads thread or not, but I got a chance to do a direct comparison between the 480 SRH 7 1/2", and a 475 Linebaugh bisley 5". I was shooting a 390 gr @ 1170 fps, and he was pushing a 410 gr @ 1250 fps, IMHO, those loads would be indestinguishable on game. However, to my hands, the 475 fealt to have double the recoil, and was, for me, unshootable. I've found the 480 on the other hand to be at the limit of my shootability.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I did some chronoing loads this week end. I tried two powders that i had. H110 and Lil Gun. I found out that Lil Gun has higher velocities that H110 in some cases.
Conditions: 60 degrees, VERY windy and partly sunny. Chrono 5 ft from muzzle
325 XTP Factory 1331 fps accurate 325 XTP 23.0 grains H110 1305 fps 325 XTP 25.0 grains H110 1355 fps 325 XTP 23.0 grains Lil Gun 1289 fps 325 XTP 24.0 grains Lil Gun 1380 fps 325 Gold Dot 26.0 grains Lil Gun 1428 fps very accurate, most recoil 325 Gold Dot 26.0 grains H110 1289 fps accurate 370 Cast Preformance LBT LFNPB 24.0 H110 1270fps less recoil than factory 370 Cast LBT 22.0 Lil Gun 1289 fps
All loads were in new or once fired Hornady case with Federal Mag primer. Loading done on Dillon 550 with Hornady Dies. A few of the bigger charges were hand weighed out (the powder bar would load that heavy of a weight, and I was too lazy to change it out)
I will have to try some of these again. While typing this I realized that 1 grain more Lil Gun jumped up 91 fps. 2 grains of H110 jumped only 50 fps. Both powders are very clean burning as is the factory ammo. I spoke to Hornady and they use AA#9 in tha factory loads. This will be another powder to try. The load data I used was from Hornady (They sent me some. Very nice People!), Speer, and Cast Performance
I have been very impressed with the 480 so far. I will need some more work at the bench. I have found that my gun seems to run slow compared to some data.
Other additions is maybe a Wolff Spring kit and some decellerators grips
HCliff
Posts: 305 | Location: Green Bay, WI | Registered: 09 September 2002
I got my 480SRH in March of last year. I'm not impressed with the 325gr factory load. Mine throws 400gr LFN's at 1300fps with 20gr L'il Gun and 310gr. LFN's at1000fps with HS6 or Unique. These 310's are pussycats to shoot. Both Bullets shoot 1.5 in At 50yds.(scoped) Both Dennis and Paul H were very helpful in getting me started back then. Thanks guys! I'd have to say the 480 is threatening to knock the 45 colt off my favorite caliber ranking.
Mark
Posts: 37 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 16 October 2002
I must agree about the factory loads. The 45 has went down a rung on my ladder also. My brother called last night and he is going to borrow my 629 44mag and I am taking the 480 SRH, the 45 bisley is staying home.
Are the 310 you speaking of the style that Paul H has from his custom mold? I have looked and the smallest commercial cast I could find was 355 grains. I have the 480 bug because of the handloading aspect. There is just so much potential over the factory loads. I got an email a couple of days ago that IMR is developing some 480 data also.
Hcliff
Posts: 305 | Location: Green Bay, WI | Registered: 09 September 2002
If you're looking for a lighter bullet, BRP now lists a 335 gr. LFNGC. I've got 200 of Paul's 310's sitting on the bench, but haven't gotten around to loading any of them yet. I don't have to work next Friday, so weather permitting, I'm going to try and get a bunch of shooting in.
Posts: 269 | Location: Missouri, USA | Registered: 11 March 2001
I must agree about the factory loads. The 45 has went down a rung on my ladder also. My brother called last night and he is going to borrow my 629 44mag and I am taking the 480 SRH, the 45 bisley is staying home.
Are the 310 you speaking of the style that Paul H has from his custom mold? I have looked and the smallest commercial cast I could find was 355 grains. I have the 480 bug because of the handloading aspect. There is just so much potential over the factory loads. I got an email a couple of days ago that IMR is developing some 480 data also.
Hcliff
Posts: 37 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 16 October 2002
Oh crap! I guess it will take a while to learn how to use this board. Hcliff, Yes these were from PaulH. I'm trying to find a mould to cast these. I may get a Lee 400gr mould and machine off one lube groove and see what weight it comes out to. For the cost of a Lee mould <$20 it won't hurt to give it a try.
Posts: 37 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 16 October 2002
The lee with a single lube groove out to be in the ~320 gr range, and is certainly the cheap way to go. All you have to do is take off the sprue plate, mount in a mill vise, and take a fly cutter to it. The lee in its 400 gr trim is a very good bullet, and casts spot on at .475" so you don't even need a lube sizer, just tumble lube and shoot. My most accurate 310 gr loads have been unsized and tumble lubed.
You could have balisticast make you a mold like mine, but it would set you back $95 for a two cavity.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
Thanks Cannon and Mark9. Last night I loaded up the opposite end of the spectrum - 425 LFN with H110. I shot these with a starter load two weeks ago and it was accurate. Up it to 19 grain if my memory serves me (not at home to check records).
Posts: 305 | Location: Green Bay, WI | Registered: 09 September 2002
Hey Paul! Those 310's I got from you were from a Ballisticast mould then? I've been looking for a mould to do this since your bullets went down range! The Lee route looks like the way to go. If you get a chance to try L'il Gun under the 400's, let me know how you like it. I'll send you some load data I got with L'il Gun in my SRH. Mark
Posts: 37 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 16 October 2002
I have a sample of the lee 400 and the 310 gr balisticast, and the lee with a single lube groove looks like it'll be about the exact same length as the 310 gr. One note, my lee 400 is a prototype mold, so the production ones may have a slightly different configuration of the lube grooves, but I don't think so. Also the lee has dual crimp grooves, so you could use the rear crimp as an additional lube groove. I know folks like to bash lee molds, but I have no complaints about them. I suppose I should just buy one of the lee molds and modify it, then sell my 310 gr balisticast mold. When I got the lee 400 gr, I sold the 390 gr LBT mold I had, I'd rather sell a $100 mold to fund 5 $20 molds anyday
I haven't tried lil gun w/ the 400's yet. I know Dennis did, gee must have been over a year ago, and he was getting 1350 fps. I remember being at the range, looking over at him shooting, and seeing the gun coming back like a 475, then I looked at his chrono and knew why! No thanks, I'm content with 400 gr @ 1200 fps, if that won't kill it, time for a big rifle.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I have quite a few .475 molds Ballistic cast lbt rcbs and the lee and in my .475 the lee is the most accurate bullet with 27 grains of 110 it shoots one hole groups around an inch.
quote:Originally posted by contender85: Paul, I'm shooting the 480R 71/2" SRH......so far all I've shot are the 325gr XTP factory loads, just got a couple of boxes of CCI 325gr Gold Dots to try,also got a set of Hornady dies and some 400gr Gold Dots. I'll be going to cast bullets soon,dont you use the Lee 400 gr mould? How do you like it? Mark
Posts: 1404 | Location: munising MI USA | Registered: 29 March 2002
I have a sample of the lee 400 and the 310 gr balisticast, and the lee with a single lube groove looks like it'll be about the exact same length as the 310 gr. One note, my lee 400 is a prototype mold, so the production ones may have a slightly different configuration of the lube grooves, but I don't think so. Also the lee has dual crimp grooves, so you could use the rear crimp as an additional lube groove. I know folks like to bash lee molds, but I have no complaints about them. I suppose I should just buy one of the lee molds and modify it, then sell my 310 gr balisticast mold. When I got the lee 400 gr, I sold the 390 gr LBT mold I had, I'd rather sell a $100 mold to fund 5 $20 molds anyday
I haven't tried lil gun w/ the 400's yet. I know Dennis did, gee must have been over a year ago, and he was getting 1350 fps. I remember being at the range, looking over at him shooting, and seeing the gun coming back like a 475, then I looked at his chrono and knew why! No thanks, I'm content with 400 gr @ 1200 fps, if that won't kill it, time for a big rifle.
Paul, I've tried those boomer loads, but I've backed off a bit. L'il Gun works at the slightly lower velocities better than H110/296 IMHO.
Mark
Posts: 37 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 16 October 2002
Interesting ballistic information you guys have. I see there is a load shooting a 370 grain at 1250fps this gives 1284 FPE, the 44 mag with a Garrett 310 hardcast bullet from my 7.5" Redhawk did an honest 1350 or better! That gave 1254FPE. It was an easy load to shoot and was deadly accurate. I know what the Garrett load and the XTP's could do to game as I shot a ton of big game with my .44 magnum. I can only begin to imagine what the bigger diameter bullet would do!
I no longer pack that big Ruger around, I have settled for a gun that I can actually carry easily. I have a 4" barrel S&W mountian gun in 44 magnum. With it I'm shooting 240 grain Jacketed hollow points at 1250 for about 850FPE. Sounds pathetic when compared to these loads! I have seen so much game killed with handguns in my life that I know what they can do in the right hands. I had some great hunts with my 44 redhawk but it's just to big to carry in a holster and packaround on pack trips. I suppose the puny 240 grain bullets will have to work for me.
What does the .480 do out of a 6" barrel? does it even come in a 6" barrel? TIA
Posts: 1261 | Location: Rural Wa. St. & Ellisras RSA | Registered: 06 March 2001
For a 6" 480, you'd either have to get a freedom arms, or send a Super Redhawk to a gunsmith to have it shortened. I've discussed shortening my 480 several times with Jack Huntington, and he quoted $100 to shorten the barrel, re-attach front sight, and bead blast the barrel and cylinder. Ruger uses a "paint" which makes it a bugger to modify the gun and match the finish. I discussed the two tone look with Jack as a way to get around the ruger finish as well as not needing to re-finish the whole gun.
I would expect a 6" 480 to give up at most 50 fps over the loads I've quoted. Which means you can drive a 400 gr 1150 fps easily, and based on what my buddy Dennis got using Lil gun, you should be able to hit 1300 fps. I'd personaly stick to the 1100-1200 fps level, the gun will still be very shootable, and will punch a decent sized hole through anything I'd hunt with a handgun.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
Yesterday I had my SRH out and was getting 1120fps with 21.0 grains of H110 and 390 LBT PB. This was comfortable more than the 375 LBT GC with 24.0 or 23.0 grains H110. What I thought was intresting is that 425 LBTs had a low extreme spread. Either I reloaded those better than everything else (most likely not, all did at same session) or that they are so deep in the case it burns the powder very efficient. 425 at 1075 recoils alot less than it sounds. Pleasant.
I would like to know if some one has found a good front sight to use on it when using the iron. I don't shoot well with the red ramp front. I took a black marker to color over the red and my groups shrank. On my 629 I used the black patridge with gold bead and liked that.
Hcliff
Posts: 305 | Location: Green Bay, WI | Registered: 09 September 2002
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif){kind=icon}
![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif){kind=icon}
I haven't scoped it to see what kind of groups I can get with it, but then again, it's my bear insurance, so I don't need to be driving nails with it. I'll scope it later when I get into handgun hunting, as I think the 325gr XTP Mag will do wonders to a deer, and the 400gr Gold Dot should take care of an elk. I'll let you all know how she performs if I get within 25 or 50yds from any varmint or other various and sundry rascals.![[Eek!]](images/icons/shocked.gif){kind=icon}
