480 Ruger, Missouri Bullet Company 340 Grain, Ramshot Enforcer

[Necessary_Nutrient]

I have worked what I believe is a usable load for the .480 and thought I would share it to get feedback from other 480 loaders or for anyone interested in getting started with these quality Hi-Tek Coated bullets. Enforcer powder and these bullets are generally available at this time, Large Pistol Primers is another matter.

MBC Website data for the 340 Grain RNFP.
.475 Thumper - Hi-Tek
.476 Diameter
.475 Linebaugh, .480 Ruger
340 Grain RNFP-Flat Base
Brinell 18
Bullet OAL .824 +/-
For Vicious Critters
Hi-Tek 2-Extreme Coating



I based the load on the load outlined below from the Western Powders 8.0 Manual. Hogdgon Reloading Center Data now contains Ramshot and accurate powder data (the image below is current as of 05/10/23 from the Hodgdon site). The following adjustments should be noted:

• The MBC bullet is Hi-Tek coated but is NOT a gas check bullet
• The actual weight of the MBC bullet is 347 so I am applying the generally accepted principle that you can use heavier bullet load data for a slightly lighter bullet of similar type and profile.
• Case used: Federal
• Primer used: WLP
• Powder used: Ramshot Enforcer
  
• COAL used: 1.631, slightly longer than listed but this fit the crimp groove perfectly

I felt the need to flare this pretty significantly, could probably back down a bit



Finished rounds:
RCBS crimp on left, Lee Factory Crimp Die on right. The bullet coating seems very durable if you're careful and they look great!



The best of a few groups for the selected load of 24.1 Grains is #4 on right.


Velocities and STD out of a Ruger Redhawk 7.5:



The load label itself:



Overall notes:
I was looking to push this bullet as hard as I could, this feels like a practical maximum in my revolver using these components. This is a fairly hot load but doesn't seem to cause any undue pressure signs and while the revolver gets dirty pretty quickly, the cases drop out freely enough and the primers look like any hot factory ammo. Recoil is very heavy and it's a handful to run these over a bag. Really makes me wonder what a full-zoot 475 Linebaugh might feel like if you could actually get close to their published data out of an 8" barrel of nearly 1600 FPS out of a 355 grain bullet pushing 2000 Ft/Lbs!

The average velocity of all strings was 1353 fps for a muzzle energy of just over 1400 foot pounds from these 346 grain coated lead bullets. This is about 40 percent higher energy than I usually see for a max load of H110 over 240 Grain Jacketed Soft Points in a 44 Mag of the same barrel length.

 

[sparkyv]

Nice pics and great results. Thanks for sharing, Necessary_Nutrient. Man, you've got that 340 grainer humming! I have pushed the 320gr MBC 45 Slammer WFN .452 18BHN to just over 1,400fps, so I can testify to the very good performance of these excellent MBC projectiles...at least on paper.

Is the Lee FCD the collet version? That's the type of crimp die I prefer in my big bores.

I too, am finding acquisition of LPPs spotty, at best.

 

[murf]

Great write-up. Have you checked for powder position sensitivity? Should not be a problem with that much powder, but you never know with those big volume cases.

luck,

murf

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

Thanks for the feedback!

Nice pics and great results. Thanks for sharing, Necessary_Nutrient. Man, you've got that 340 grainer humming! I have pushed the 320gr MBC 45 Slammer WFN .452 18BHN to just over 1,400fps, so I can testify to the very good performance of these excellent MBC projectiles...at least on paper.

Is the Lee FCD the collet version? That's the type of crimp die I prefer in my big bores.

I too, am finding acquisition of LPPs spotty, at best.

Yes, this is the link from Midway. Seems like a cheap and effective tool for reliable crimping, I do two steps anyway in these big rounds.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101683339?pid=639791

Great write-up. Have you checked for powder position sensitivity? Should not be a problem with that much powder, but you never know with those big volume cases.

luck,

murf

That hadn't occurred to me but I don't think it's an issue with 480 and 24 grains. I don't think the charge is quite compressed but I doubt there is much room in there at all and the shake test produces no audible powder "swooshing" as it does in many factory loads.