45/70 bfr, 475 linebaugh, and 480 ruger.

[captain awesome]

Ok guys so I don't know a whole terrible lot about these calibers but I thought I remembered reading that the 475 linebaugh and the 480 ruger were trimmed down 45/70 casings. I have been looking at the 45/70 bfr for a while and wondered if you could fire 480 or 475 rounds through one. I would think theoretically it would, but I am curious if the bullet diameters remain the same and if the pressure rating on the cylinder for the 45/70 bfr is enough to handle the 475 or 480 rounds. If the bullet diameters are indeed different, could you load 45/70 bullets into 475 or 480 casings? I have been looking for this or a similar discussion on these rounds but found none. I think its an interesting concept, but I may be way off. I got the idea from looking at the 460's with their capability of firing 454 casull and 45lc.

 

[Fumbler]

The 45-70 and 475/480 are very different calibers. The 45-70 is primarily a rifle cartridge and the other two are primarily handgun.

Yes, the 475 Linebaugh and 480 Ruger are both made from shortened 45-70 cases (a whole lot shorter). The 475 and 480 are very similar except the 480 case is slightly shorter than the 475 and the rim of the 480 is also slightly smaller in diameter than the 45-70 and 475. The rim is smaller on the 480 because Ruger & Hornady developed the 480 cartridge so 6 rounds would fit in the super redhawk cylinder.

The 475 Linebaugh and 480 Ruger use 0.475" diameter bullets. The 45-70 uses 0.452" diameter bullets.

Nothing is interchangeable between the 475/480 and the 45-70. The 480 can be shot in 475 guns, but not the other way around.

Edited to add:
Max SAAMI pressure for 45-70 is 28,000 psi. The 475 Linebaugh is 50,000 psi, and the 480 Ruger is 48,000psi.

Edited again to add:
If you want a high powered revolver that can shoot softer recoiling loads, then the best thing you can do is buy a gun chambered for a big caliber and simply reload your own ammo.
If you reload then ammo will be cheaper and you can load it from cat sneeze loads all the way up to rip snorting forehead smacking loads.

 

[captain awesome]

Ok,
thanks for the info. I assume that the 45/70 casing tapers? I was under the impression it didn't but with that difference in bullet diameters.....

 

[fireman 9731]

45-70 bullets are 0.458''

 

[captain awesome]

Edited again to add:
If you want a high powered revolver that can shoot softer recoiling loads, then the best thing you can do is buy a gun chambered for a big caliber and simply reload your own ammo.
If you reload then ammo will be cheaper and you can load it from cat sneeze loads all the way up to rip snorting forehead smacking loads.

It seems as though my best option is still the 460. Also really wanting a 44 mag. you guessed my plan...... its the only way I will be able to afford to shoot my 500 s&w very much.

 

[fireman 9731]

Get the BFR.

Components will be cheaper and there is A LOT of room to work with in the 45-70 when it comes to reloads.

 

[captain awesome]

I haven't discounted it yet....I may end up with both. Kind of a matter of which one now and which maybe later.

 

[ArmedBear]

.45-70 is called a "straight wall cartridge" but it does, indeed, taper slightly. It was designed for the Trapdoor Springfield, and adapted to the 1874 Sharps, then various lever actions starting with the Marlin 1881, followed by the High Wall and other guns. These guns all lock the round in from the rear in one way or another, and don't rely only on obduration to hold the brass in place like a revolver does.

The other cartridges are actually intended for revolvers, and they are truly straight-walled. They work like familiar rounds like the .38 Special, but they're bigger. Much bigger.