Ruger 480

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tahoe2

tahoe2

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Any 480 ownwers out there?? What's your take on recoil, handling (scoped or non), would you buy it again ?? etc... Somebody I know wants to get rid of one, and I'm looking for ballpark figures and overall customer satisfaction / or not !! This revolver has less than 500 rounds through it. Thanks all !!
 
Whether you reload your own ammo or not might be the biggest consideration. I don't think anyone is making guns in this caliber anymore, and it never really caught on, so ammo might not be around 10 years from now. Even if it is, you will probably have to find it online vs. the local Walmart.

As far as the caliber itself, I think it's pretty highly regarded for being a potent but well-behaved big bore. The vogue these days for large and medium bore handgun hunters seems to be a heavy cast bullet at right around 1000fps, and that is precisely what it does. Basically a .475 Linebaugh without the flash.
 
What particular revolver does he have in 480? I have a 9.5" SRH. I would prefer a 7.5" I think, but both are tanks.

It is an excellent hunting hunting caliber and sufficient to take just about any game in North America. It does have recoil (more than a 44 mag) and actually performs like you read in the gun magazines and so forth back when it was introduced. Do some searching and you will find articles written by the gun authors.

It fulfills the energy enhancement I wanted over my 41 mags. It would have been no different as far as the 44 Mag goes as well. (I just wanted something a little bigger.) The 480 is a good caliber and much deserving of better popularity and support than Ruger ever gave it.

Scoped or other sighting device is up to you. I have my SRH scoped (2x Leupold) and have not decided what I will do with my BFR. Many like the red dots which makes them quicker handling. If I were buying one 480 Ruger revolver today, I would buy the BFR. Magnum Research still makes them with the 7.5" being the most available.

Revolvers were offered by Ruger, Taurus, BFR, and I believe Freedom Arms.

I think the 480 Ruger is right at the edge of tolerable recoil for me. I can only shoot about 20 rounds at one sitting before I get the shakes. I would buy another one.... and I just did; a BFR in 475/480!

What is your experience shooting the true big bores?

Ammunition is fairly easy to obtain via online retailers but generally harder to find in gunshops. Relative to big bores, the Horandy 325 gr XTP's are a bargain. I think it will be around for a lot of years, but there is a rather small market niche for it as many buy the 454's (which has about 20% more recoil I'm told). If you buy, I would suggest you lay in at least a few hundred rounds fairly quickly and save your brass. You never know about future availability.
 
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I've been thinking more about a .480 again too. I love the Ruger Super Redhawk gray finish model. I've had two of the .454 versions. The last .454 I had wrecked a $350 Leupold scope. I sold it after that and have just started to look for a .480 replacement. I agree the Hornady ammo is the best price wise and it would be a great load to reload. Brass has starting getting expensive for it though. Gunshop price for a nice used one would be $600 and up. Cabelas Gun Library always has a few. Looking forward to a range report when you get it.
 
My Dad has a 7.5" Super Red Hawk in .480, put a Millett red dot on it. Gun shoots good, recoil wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be.

If you do get it and you want to shoot it a lot, reload, the ammo just isn't affordable when it comes to factory loads.
 
I got a 9.5" SHR on clearance from CDNN for a steal. I'm very happy with it. I enjoy the round enough I bought a BFR in 480.
 
You need to figure out what make and model your buddy is selling to determine price. Any make under $600 is worth looking at. The one hot. 480 is the Ruger Alaskan. Limited run and hard to find. Why you would want to set off. 480 from a 2.5 inch barrel is beyond me (a lot of bears around lately i guess)

As for the round itself, I am a fan. I found my SuperMagnum tolerance and it is the .480. I dont need the Linebaugh or a S&W .500 to push the limits of pain. Very cool cartridge and looking forward to reloading it.

The parent case is the 45-70 govt trimmed down I believe. This means there will be plenty of brass for the cartridge in the future. .480 will probably never end up on your local Walmart shelves, but it should be around 50 years from now. Good luck!
 
The .480 is a fantastic caliber.

I have a 7.5" SRH and would absolutely buy one again if given the choice.

My SRH has been scary accurate with the recoil being more than a full tilt 44 mag load but not at all unpleasant. I find that the recoil while stout seems like more of a push and less snappy....certainly less than a 454.

Another great advantage to the .480 is that it does not need to be run at 1400+ fps to get the job done. A 425gr slug at 1100-1200 fps is a massively hard hitter and WILL shoot end to end....the long way....through anything that walks on 4 of the 5 continents and probably 99% of what walks on the 5th.

If you don't reload, you will be pretty much stuck to Hordady's loading of 325gr XTPs. That load is so close to the .44mag that I don't think it offers any substantial advantage.

If you do reload then you are really in luck.
.480 brass can be commercially had now from places like Starline and in a pinch you could cut down .475 Linebaugh brass. Bullets are of the same diameter as the 475L and there are many many great choices available. The .480 really comes into its own when you start using bullets in and around 400gr. Under those conditions it has nearly the same penetration of a 475 Linebaugh.
 
I have a 480 and I reload so I have never shot Factory ammo

No Scope

It is a great round and recoli is lite.

Snake
 
I am seriously thinking about picking some new 480 Ruger brass (500 ct). It is fairly expensive, but I think it would be wise to have some brass even if you don't reload now. Probably will pick up bullets as well. Any suggestions over the 325 gr XTP's? I used to reload and then stopped. Need to re-kindle that hobby.
 
I really like the CP 425gr WFNGC or the Beartooth 420gr LFN.

The 400+gr bullets seem to be less snappy than the 350ish offerings and have have proven to be more accurate as well.

Run them over a healthy dose of H110/296 with a Win LPP and you have got a load that will run about 1100-1200fps and will shoot through dump trucks.
 
I get sickening accuracy out of the CPBC 425gr but prefer the 355gr Oregon Trail for most duties. Been wanting to try some jacketed pills at blistering speeds but haven't got around to it yet.
 
CPBC? In particular what does CPBC mean? Been away from this stuff, so I am not familiar with the Oregon Trail name either.

That's what happens when you stop reloading 20 years ago and not return.

Added: Cast Preformance... not sure of the rest.
 
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The .480 really shines out of a lever action rifle. 20 inches of barel exceed .475 Linbaugh velocities with a 400 grain bullet.
 
Well it was a 7.5" barrel with a Weaver 2x handgun scope, averages 2"-4" @ 100 yds off hand.
However I was too slow, he sold it to his cousin with 350 rounds for $850 bucks with dies.
All the ammo was handloads with various weight bullets. I never shot, it but I may get the chance later, I have shot a Raging Bull in 454 Casull.
 
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How many folks are using 45-70 brass for reloading.
Is the brass strength the same, I'm curious.
This seems like the cheap way to go if you have the patience.
At the least it seems like the 45-70 cases could be used for some pleasant shooting, paper punching loads running about 900fps.
 
Get brass from Starline,I thimk they make it. Cheaper than getting a lathe to turn down the rims on 45/70 brass.
 
As noted, a great round. Though I shoot 475 L's I load them to a bit below 480 Ruger levels. I buy the majority of my bullets from Montana Bullet Works, top quality hand cast bullets at very fair prices. I like their 385 gr LFN. A fellow handgunner from another forum cast me a number of soft (12 BNH) 380 gr hollowpoints that I hope to get out with over the holiday's.
 
Another 480 Ruger fan here. Mine is a 7.5" Grey Super Redhawk with Hogue grips. I saw mine for sale last summer for $550 and figured if I didn't like it, i wouldn't lose money trading/selling it down the road. Turns out I love it. The best way I can explain it, is a little less power than a 454, but it gives you a bigger hole and equal or better penetration do to higher bullet weights. The 460 or 500 might blow it out of the water, but they also had to be shot out of a much larger heaver handgun. Recoil isn't much more than a heavy 44 Mag.
 
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