Ya, the 480 is a pistol cartridge, but I bought a Model 94 in 44Mag 2 years ago and I love it! My question is this; what is an honest chronographed load for the 480 Ruger(factory 325 gr Hornady) out of a 20 inch tube gonna be moving at? I know that my 44Mag is doing around 1700-1750 fps out of a 16 1/2 inch barrel. I figure the energy and KO factor would be pretty high for the 480. Would make a bad-ass bear defense gun.....

[ 02-27-2003, 10:22: Message edited by: CampX ]

Camp-x,

I can't speak for 480 Ruger, but I know the Legacy 92 in 454 Casull is a bear buster with the proper 300 + gr. bullet. Paco Kelly of GunBlast.Com has done some write ups on handgun rounds being used in rifles. I have a Stainless 20 inch barrel Puma 92 in 454 Casull on order (should be here Fri/Sat). I will be able to pass on information on how this rig performs in the near future. My dealer said this model of Puma 92 is a brand new model in Stainless with Hi-Viz sight / 20 inch barrel. Should be interesting......... You should, according to Mr. Kelly gain 250-350 fps in performance. The 454 Casull upper pressure limits are 60,000-65,000 psi. Not sure what the pressure limits are with 480 Ruger, but should impressive also.

ck, I am also contemplating one of the Pumas in .454. Let us know how yours turns out!! Thanks!!

(I saw on some board recently that Win. has decided NOT to make a .480 M94....)

[ 02-27-2003, 19:34: Message edited by: eldeguello ]

I've never chronoed a 480 from a 20" closed breach barrel, but my 1/2 edumacated guess from similar pistol rounds is, you gain 100 fps going from a 7 1/2" revolver to a 10" closed breech barrel, and gain another 30 fps/in, so I'd expect an extra 400 fps over pistol loads. This should put the factory loads @ 1700 and change.

That said, where the 480 really shines is with heavy hardcast bullets, and what you should be thinking about is a 400 gr cast bullet @ 1600 fps.

Guys...............No Stainless Puma 92 454 yet............It's seems that my dealer has a little shipping ISSUE........Note to self: Never ever pay a dealer before he has the product..................Let him fork out the money first. So with that said............If and when I get this SS 454 Puma, I'll let you guys know how it goes.........

OK, the 454 stainless Puma is here........Went and shot 20 rounds of factory Win. 260 gr. stuff with the chronograph. I can say this : The factory did a great job with the sights, it was right on the money. Recoil wasn't much for a 6 lbs. rifle even from the bench.

Today was a lousy day for sunlight so the chronograph wasn't working up to snuff, so couldn't tell what I was getting for speed on these 260 gr. rounds.......All in all, I'm impressed with this rifle. I put together some 300 gr. Hornady XTP/MAG loads with 30 gr. of W296. Will post the results later.

[ 03-14-2003, 10:07: Message edited by: CK ]