.475 draws blood

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coyotehitman

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It was big gun day. I broke out the Desert Eagle and 475 Linebaugh Monday with some stout loads to sight in and prepare for my trip to Alaska. Things were going well until I let one of the other patrons shoot it. Despite being told to hang onto it, it jumped up and bit him in the forehead creating a good sized gash, then got dropped (luckily only suffering a small ding). Anyway, 20 rounds into it I called it quits with the Linebaugh. There is just something about having an expensive revolver dropped that makes your day take a 180 degree turn. I don't think I'll be as willing to let the next guy experience the Linebaugh.

Anybody have any favorite loads for the 475 in grizzly country?
 
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You do have to hang onto those big bore revolvers until you get used to the recoil. Nobody likes a gash in the forehead. Steel and skin/bone aren't a good mix.

Wander over to Handgun Hunter Magazine forum for your 475 loads. Since I have little practical experience I won't make any serious recommendations. But the experts are there every day.
 
I felt bad for the guy. You could see the confidence drain out of him as the guys gathered to see what had happened. His man card took a hit too when the guy he was with told him he better stick to his 9mm. I'll check out that site, thanks for the info.
 
Sorry to hear about the ding in your firearm. I've let many folks shoot my .460 X-Frame and it has yet to hit anyone in the head, nor have they dropped it. This includes women and my youngest son when he was 13 and weighed 95 pounds. All worked their way up to it with .357s and .44s and I was sure they could handle it before they were allowed to shoot legitimate .460 loads. Your friend needs his man card pulled.
 
There is just something about having an expensive revolver dropped that makes your day take a 180 degree turn. I don't think I'll be as willing to let the next guy experience the Linebaugh.
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I know what you mean. Personally, unless I knew they were familiar with the big sixguns, I wouldn't let anyone shoot it.


Your friend needs his man card pulled.
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Well, there's a significant difference between a 4½lb S&W .460 and a 43oz .475.
 
CraigC said:
Well, there's a significant difference between a 4½lb S&W .460 and a 43oz .475.
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Yes there is. But that pound and a half it is not the reason a grown man hit himself in the head and dropped the firearm. If it is, then there is a problem with the firearm itself and the cartridge it is chambered for. I don't believe the fault was with the gun. I believe it was the fault of the shooter and his inability to control the gun. Odds are it probably woulda happened had he been shooting an X-Frame. You are welcome to differ.
 
I believe it was the fault of the shooter and his inability to control the gun.
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I agree but if you've never fired a 2½lb .475, you probably don't know what to expect. Obviously a gun that recoils less and is double the weight is less likely to be a problem. Grown men who grew up shooting .44's and .45's often have trouble mastering the .475 with full loads. That is, 430's@1350fps.

What loads were you using when your 13yr old son was shooting your .460 and what was the barrel length?
 
CraigC said:
I agree but if you've never fired a 2½lb .475, you probably don't know what to expect. Obviously a gun that recoils less and is double the weight is less likely to be a problem. Grown men who grew up shooting .44's and .45's often have trouble mastering the .475 with full loads. That is, 430's@1350fps.

What loads were you using when your 13yr old son was shooting your .460 and what was the barrel length?
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If someone knows this about their gun, and I'm sure the OP did, why would someone let a person unfamiliar with heavy recoiling firearms fire their admittedly expensive, heavy recoiling gun?

Why are they not instructing them properly first as to what to expect?

Sounds like two lessons were learnt, and an unfortunate ding earnt.
 
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the 475 linebaugh is built on a single-action bisley frame. that design is meant to rotate in your hand when fired. the s&w double-ation frame design is meant to push straight back into your hand.

the recoil of a 36 ounce single-action revolver shooting heavy loads (325 grain bullet at 1275 fps) will imbed the front sight into your forehead if you hold the weapon with anything except a very firm grip.

i have been shooting that load in my 36 ounce ruger blackhawk (45lc) for thirteen years, now. i have only stuck the front sight into my forehead one time. that is the last time i will hold that pistol like a 357 magnum!

the frame design is what does it. oh, i still shoot that load. six shots and my wrist is toast.

so, i fully agree with craigc. hold on to that gun, and let people know the consequences if they don't.

murf
 
CraigC said:
I agree but if you've never fired a 2½lb .475, you probably don't know what to expect. Obviously a gun that recoils less and is double the weight is less likely to be a problem. Grown men who grew up shooting .44's and .45's often have trouble mastering the .475 with full loads. That is, 430's@1350fps.

What loads were you using when your 13yr old son was shooting your .460 and what was the barrel length?
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The loads were 300s @1850 fps. Just an average load from the 10 1/2'' barrel.



murf said:
the 475 linebaugh is built on a single-action bisley frame. that design is meant to rotate in your hand when fired. the s&w double-ation frame design is meant to push straight back into your hand.

the recoil of a 36 ounce single-action revolver shooting heavy loads (325 grain bullet at 1275 fps) will imbed the front sight into your forehead if you hold the weapon with anything except a very firm grip.

i have been shooting that load in my 36 ounce ruger blackhawk (45lc) for thirteen years, now. i have only stuck the front sight into my forehead one time. that is the last time i will hold that pistol like a 357 magnum!

the frame design is what does it.
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So you both are saying it is the fault of the gun and/or the caliber it is chambered for that resulted in the head knockkin'? I guess I can understand it a bit since I too prefer the grip angle and recoil from DAs as opposed to SAs when shooting the big boomers. But I still ain't blamin' the gun, sorry, but, the shooter was a wuss, not just to hit himself in the head, but then to drop and damage a firearm that didn't belong to him. IMHO, Man cards are not a given....they are earned.
 
There are so many things wrong about handing a gun of that power to a rookie. And I mean rookie to the challenges of heavy recoiling handguns. First, you should have had him watch you shoot it, in detail, and explained what you expected of him if he still wanted to do it. Second, shooters generally ease into power levels, and had you had medium or lower powered loads, you could see what he could handle on the way up. I have fired the .475 Linebaugh and .500 Linebaugh, at John Linebaugh's ranch. He did explain a few things to me about the handling of the guns before shooting. I currently own a S&W 500 snubnose, and most who have seen me fire it have little interest in abusing themselves with it. Those big guns are not for the faint of heart, or weak of commitment, as you discovered.
 
Always blame the gun and not the shooter. Isn't that what the politicians do? :D

Years ago, my little sister shot my python (357 mag of course) and the gun just about lifted over her head. She almost dropped it. I told her to hold on tight. Like it was said, you need to work up to the recoil levels the big boomers can deal out.
 
Well, thanks for the critiques. Still no pet loads listed, though.


The gun now has some character. When I see the ding, I'll remember the look on his face and get a chuckle. He's not hurt and I've come to the realization the gun is a piece of metal, an expensive one, but its not the end of the world.

Yeah, I own a 500 Smith and other big bores. The Linebaugh is a different handling animal.
 
But I still ain't blamin' the gun...
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We're not "blaming" the gun but you're talking about an 82.5oz (5.2lbs!) behemoth with a muzzle brake and we're talking about a 43-45oz sixgun with more punishing cartridge. Dude, you have to know that it ain't the same, far from it.
 
Coyote;

Before I'll make any suggestions as to a .475 Linebaugh load, I'd like to know what platform you're using.

900F
 
The .454 Casull will give your forehead a front sight imprint, also, if you don't hold onto that puppy.
Having someone drop my gun would be like them scratching the paint of my car, or groping my wife. I would be furious.
I used to want a Casull. Then, I shot one. I'm perfectly happy with .44 mag and .45 Colt +P.
I'm even happier with .44 Spl
 
CraigC said:
Dude, you have to know that it ain't the same, far from it.
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I know dude. It's why I like the X-Frame and prefer it over other hand cannons built on a smaller lighter frame. Main reason I always figured the .454 never caught on like other hand cannons in different platforms.....they are just brutal to shoot. Never understood the philosophy of having a firearm platform that is brutal and dangerous even in the hands of an experienced shooter, rifle or handgun, unless it truly is needed(as in dangerous game) and there are no other viable platforms out there. Yes, my X-Frame is a behemoth, but it ain't ever kissed and left anyone with a permanent mark when shot. Even women and small children. Some folks think that extreme recoil and pain are a ticket to their man card....as the subject of this discussion found out, it is not. To me, puttin' lots of holes in a small space downrange is. A firearm that is pleasant to shoot and easy to control makes that much easier. JMHO. Others are free to differ.
 
Yes, but that's not really relevant. Lots of folks shoot these monsters and it has nothing to do with machismo or masochism. The difference is that between what is really a light stockless rifle that needs a bipod and a sling and a big bore that you can carry comfortably on your hip all day. Because it is the same size and weight as a .44Mag. Inexperienced shooters shouldn't be shooting .475's anymore than you hand a 12ga with slugs to your 100lb girlfriend. Problem is, a lot of men think that because they have nuts they can handle anything and are determined to learn every lesson the hard way. In this case, it involved stitches and a scratched up sixgun.
 
I got a S&W XVR 460 just because I wanted one.
Mine's the 8 3/8 barrel, which is really a 7 1/2, the rest of the length is the compensator.
And it is a heavy sucker, right at 6 pounds with the scope and loaded.
At my age it's mostly going to be blasting holes in paper at distant targets.
It sure is fun to shoot, but spendy with factory ammo.
Reloading is the only way to go.
 
Linebaugh's concept was to put the best knockdown in the most portable package. A compromise, of course, and strong recoil is the result of the guns being easier to carry all day. I went with the snubbie .500 X-frame S&W, which is still about 56oz empty. That is a half pound heavier than a 6.5" S&W Model 29 .44 mag, and noticieable on the hip. ALL of the other X frames are heavier, and not that portable. I get the snot kicked out of me with the snubbie, but it delivers .475 or .500 Linebaugh ballistics in just a slightly heavier weapon, at about half of the pricetag, and with the extra weight, is easier to manage the recoil with those comparable loads (which are reduced .500 S&W loads), and cheaper to reload, due to brass and component availability. The Linebaughs are beautifully crafted, and much easier to pack than the X frames, but harder to shoot. BUT, they are not designed for plinking all day. They are special purpose-hunting or dangerous game defense pistols.
 
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