Okay, I've got this whacky idea ricocheting around in my skull... I recently got a new .480 ruger chamber reamer. Bought it specifically because I'd like to have a hills'n woods, small, single shot carbine for general use.

So, I ask you guys a bunch of questions:

1. What action would you prefer for such a rifle? Any suggestions as to where to find one?

2. Which makes of brass/bullets would you use for killing everything from dragonflies to deer (especially vicious, charging, rocks)?

3. Any special features you'd recommend, quirky or not?

Thanks for sharing your ideas/beliefs, perversions.

An action from a Ruger No.1 or a Browning High Wall could be used to make a stout little carbine with classic styling. Wouldn't do anything the same rifle in 45/70 can't already do out of the box, but it would a little more interesting.

Thanks. I really don't want a carbine which will do even as much as a .45-70 out of the box. I am looking for something which can be lighter and even more trim, without it becoming a pain, either physically or in any other way.

Had been considering a No. 3 conversion, but would really like something smaller and lighter than that, but definitely do NOT want a T/C Encore or Contender.

Maybe a low-wall? Are there any "mid-size"Martinis out there? What else might be smaller than a No. 3 but still work?

AC... Rebore or re-barrel a .45 Colt Browning Low Wall...There seem to be more .45 Colts on GunBroker than .357 or .44 mags.
I have one each in .45 Colt and .357 mag....they have the same outside barrel dia....half round/ half oct. and a tang with a tang site..24" barrels...

Low Wall

I have handled those Brownings in 45LC and 44 Mag. They are nice.

Hate to say it AC, but one of those would meet your needs right out of the box.

I would like to have one in 44 Mag.

Interesting project. While not a ss, I'd thought about using a moison nagant as a 480 carbine. Maybe one of these days I'll get to it.

While a slender carbine might be a nice idea on paper, the 480 just might come back hard enough to warrant something more than a featherweight. Based on what I've seen the 480 do in a revolver, I'd predict an 18" rifle would push 400 gr bullets 1500 fps easily, possibly 1700 fps. Thats midway between 45-70 bp loads and 45-70 marlin loads.

Paul -

I don't believe that amount of recoil would bother me in a properly stocked gun. I commonly shoot .45-70 loads propelled by 59 grains of 4895 out of my lever gun from the bench without any suffering. Am also used to shooting the .450 Ackley Mag, .404 Jeffery and others from light sporters at the bench. Find them not at all bad when out walking around with them. And this is going to be a "rattle about in the bush" rifle, not a primarily bench use gun.

For this one, I plan to make not a bare-bones feather-weight carbine, but one with a nicely sculpted Mannlicher-style full stock. If I find it too much for me (the only person who will be shooting it), I will just lighten the load level.

Basically, I am interested in a short, handy, moderately-heavy-bullet "punkin-roller", using cast bullets. About to carbines generally as a .38 Long Colt chambered 1891 Navy double-action is to .357-bore double action pistols as a genre. I don't care whether I get all out of the case that some other folks might. That kind of high-intensity fodder doesn't fit in the planned use. I'm really trying to create a .475 bore equivalent in intensity to the old .310 Greener.

Thanks for the info, though. I have never seen a .480, either being fired, or sitting somewhere unfired. I just happen to have the reamer, so think I'll use it at least once before I die.

Best wishes,

AC

Your could get a Thompson Center Encore with a .475 Linebaugh carbine barrel. You can also shoot .480 Ruger in it. I know because I have one. Fun rifle to shoot.