Does Anyone Load 480 Ruger w/500+ grain Boolits?

[poletax]

I recently purchased 100 .475 FNGC that weigh 530 grains.
Does anyone have a starting load for these monsters?
Any help would be appreciated.

[PPpastordon]

poletax;
Sorry, I guess nobody does. But here are some appropriate questions for such a load.

1. How much space is left in the case after one of those "Big Boys" would be loaded? Is it like usual "H-110" kind of space in a big bore? Or more like Unique space? The amount of space has a lot to do with the powder used.

2. What will it be shot out of? A good five shooter would most likely be stronger than Ruger's six-shooter. There are also some rifles out there. An Encore barrel might be the strongest on the market today: And strongest is usually the best place to start with experiments!

3. What are your goals with this bullet? Are they realistic?
What accuracy do you expect? MOA is a bit much!
What velocity do you desire? Even 1000 might be a bit much!

Do not be discouraged. I would need visuals and some idea of how much case is available after seating. If I were doing this I would feel fine beginning with Unique and a 6 to 8 grain starting load (depending on case space and the firearm used). If I could not work to enough velocity with Unique? Hard to answer without knowing the space available behind (under) the bullet.
BTW; I am quite sure these are rifle bullets.

If you cannot get a better response, send me your phone # or snail mail me at:
Rev. Don Wilson
225 Knoll Circle, Apt. B
Crawfordsville, IN 47933

[44man]

I have been hanging back watching. I don't have a .480 but have the .475 and that is such a huge boolit I don't think I would even try it in my gun. I don't really see a use for it, velocity would be low and tractectory a joke.
I have gone as large as 460 gr's and they shot very well but not as accurate as around 400 gr boolits.
You don't have a whole lot of room in the .480 case with that thing.

[dubber123]

Some of your success may depend on the design, and velocities attainable. I shoot 440 gr. WFN's in my 475 from an LBT mold. At slower 800 fps. or so speeds, it shoots horribly, at 1,300+ it is my most accurate bullet. Apparently the heavy, flat, slug is unstable at slower speeds. A 400 grainer shoots great at 800. Just a suggestion. I like the heavy slugs too, but wondering why the interest in 500 grainers?

[Lloyd Smale]

what he said
I have been hanging back watching. I don't have a .480 but have the .475 and that is such a huge boolit I don't think I would even try it in my gun. I don't really see a use for it, velocity would be low and tractectory a joke.
I have gone as large as 460 gr's and they shot very well but not as accurate as around 400 gr boolits.
You don't have a whole lot of room in the .480 case with that thing.

[lar45]

What we'll need is the bullet length, loaded length and barrel length.
I have some 500gn cast boolits for my 470NE. They are 1.275" long with a .4" nose. This very big bullet in a relativley small case could get you into trouble if you're not careful.
I punched some numbers into Quickload. remember it's not load data, just a guess. The difference between 1.65" and 1.75" COAL is really huge in the pressure department.
so, 480 Ruger, 7.5" bbl, 500gn cast 1.275", 2400 powder.
!!!!!!!Not Load Data!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.75" loaded length.
12gns 864fps @ 22ksi
13gns 931fps @ 27.5ksi
14gns 998fps @ 34ksi
15gns 1064fps @ 42ksi
!!!!!!!Not Load Data!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.65" loaded length.
11gns 870fps @ 30ksi
12gns 947fps @ 40ksi
13gns 1045fps @ 53ksi
14gns 1100fps @ 70ksi
15gns 1180fps @ 95ksi
!!!!!!!Not Load Data!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You're 530gn bullets will be longer. As you can see, with the bullet loaded just .1" farther into the case the pressure can go from 34,000psi to 70,000psi with no other changes.

The best bet is probably to not go there.
But if you do, then try smaller steps in powder increments and watch the chronograph. You may not even see any jumps in velocity if the pressure goes way up.

[44man]

WOW, that looks dangerous as all get out.

[lar45]

The way to go about it might be with slower powders so you can't get enough powder in the case to get into trouble. Like maybe 5744, 4198 or Re7 ?? Should be able to get 900fps and keep the pressure under 30k with the right combination.
Post the info about the bullet length and loaded length.

As long as we're on the topic of crazy things to do.
I've been thinking for awhile now about shooting empty 45acp cases out of the 475 Linebaugh. They weigh about 87gns and might be able to get them well over 2000fps. Maybe up to 2600fps? talk about a huge hollow point!
I'll probably have to try this sometime. I can't see the 45 case being any harder than a lathe turned Barnes solid.
Maybe put a nice heave roll crimp on the 45 case mouth before loading to form a nose profile. ???
Anybody have any serious ideas as to why this could be very bad?

[44man]

You know how the guy on "dirty jobs" says "I can smell it now?"
You have started a new one---"I can hear it now!"

[poletax]

Thanks for the replies ,guys.
Back in the late '60s early 70s I had guys telling me how crazy it was to load .44 Mags with boolit weights over 240 grains.
Now adays it ain't nothing to load 310-320 grainers to accurate velocities.
OAL for the 480 Ruger cylinder is 1.756".A factory OAL is 1.617"
At the crimp groove to the bottom of my boolits is .683.
This leaves me around .500" powder room.
I'm gonna start at 13 grs. of 2400 and smidge it up from there.
I'll let the Brudder-N-Law light off the first one while I hide behind a tree.