Hamilton Bowen on new 5 shot Rugers

[Markbo]

.44 man wont like this but everyone else should
http://www.classicarmsjournal.com/factory-five-shot-ruger-single-actions/

[jrayborn]

wow, well done Mr. Bowen.

[Nocturnal Stumblebutt]

Marked to read later on my computer screen

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Good read i have a Ruger Rough Country rear sight on the way looking forward to putting it on my SBH

[C. Latch]

Nice, but I can't afford one.

What I really want is to be on a list to get the first takeoff barrel when someone buys one for a custom gun base.

I would LOVE to have the 6.5" barrel to refit to my .45 Colt. Take one thread off to allow the cylinder gap to be tightened up and I'd be thrilled with it.

[Beagle333]

Good read. The tracking number shows that my .480 should be here tomorrow! :bigsmyl2:

[Lloyd Smale]

wonder why he didn't address the question that's probably going to be the most asked by owners to him. Can the 480 be safely punched out to 475?

[paul h]

The Ruger cylinder is too short for a 475 linebaugh. 1.75" vs. 1.80"

If you want more from your 480 it's easier to just get a custom mold made for a long nose bullet

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/3/4/4/344100033/844100033_4F457815F3FED409FA5A9BDDBFE64661.JPG

400 gr @ 1300+ fps isn't quite a 475 linebaugh, but IMHO close enough.

[Love Life]

I've been eyeballing one of them 454's for some time now. I have missed having a 454 ever since I sold my Model 83. Hopefully Ruger makes them a standard catalog item.

[flint45]

Saving up for a .480 I like those revolvers.

[Blackwater]

Thanks for a great link to a great story by a great gunsmith.

[runfiverun]

I like how he mentioned Dick but not his first revolver which has the same grip angle as [and really resembles] the new ruger.
it come in 450mag, 45 colt, and 45 win mag.
you just swapped out the cylinders.

[Lloyd Smale]

never gave that a thought. Figured theyd make a cylinder the same length as a 83 FA gun for the 454 so it could use longer nosed bullets. I do agree that the 480 is a very powerful gun loaded up to the max as it stands.
The Ruger cylinder is too short for a 475 linebaugh. 1.75" vs. 1.80"

If you want more from your 480 it's easier to just get a custom mold made for a long nose bullet

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/3/4/4/344100033/844100033_4F457815F3FED409FA5A9BDDBFE64661.JPG

400 gr @ 1300+ fps isn't quite a 475 linebaugh, but IMHO close enough.

[paul h]

Ruger 480 blackhawk and super redhawk cylinder is 1.75", the FA 83 is 1.78" and the custom smiths make their five shot cylinders 1.80" long. That's why when Jack Huntington started converting mdl 83's to 475 linebaugh (prior to Freedom offering the chambering) mold manufacturers had to shorten the noses on their .475" molds as prior to that everyone was using 1.8" long cylinders and molds with noses 0.4" from the canalure would tie up converted FA 83's.

The 454 casull case length is 1.38" and most 45 molds have noses short enough to function in Ruger 1.75" cylinders w/o tieing up the guns.

And yes even with standard .475" cast bullets the 480 will push 400's 1200 fps which is going to handle NA under most circumstances.

The round on the far right is a 460 gr WFN (too much of a good thing). I don't recall who I sent them to but @ 1100 fps from the 480 it was tested at one of the Linebaugh seminars and penetrated to withing 10% as deep as the best 475 and 500 loads, and out penetrated most other loads tried. As I recall (left and right in photo below) 38" in wet newsprint in one test, and 10+" wet newsprint and 2+" bone in the other.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/evefiles/photo_albums/6/0/5/605102271/790102446_E694F7AB8CF06937E17554D03A00F87B.jpg

[Gibbs44]

As if I didn't already want one, thanks Hamilton Bowen.

[Markbo]

If 400gr @ 1300fps is not enough for you, you need to just step up to a .500 S&W or .500 JRH and shoot some 700gr loads at 1200fps in a 4" gun. When your carpal tunnel subsides and your retinas reattach come back and tell us why the .480 aint enough. Yeah the one that shoots clean through Bison. Bison!!!

Nobody needs more. Its purely macho bragging after that.

[paul h]

If I ever find my 480 lacking, I have the perfect solution. A 500 Jeffrey rifle, 600 gr @ 2400 fps. Powerful handguns are great, but they pale in comparison to what a powerful rifle can do.

[9.3X62AL]

If 400gr @ 1300fps is not enough for you, you need to just step up to a .500 S&W or .500 JRH and shoot some 700gr loads at 1200fps in a 4" gun. When your carpal tunnel subsides and your retinas reattach come back and tell us why the .480 aint enough. Yeah the one that shoots clean through Bison. Bison!!!

Nobody needs more. Its purely macho bragging after that.

I'm with you on this subject. 400 grains at 1300 FPS is 45-70 RIFLE country to me, but other folks feel otherwise, so more power to them (not such a great pun right there......forgive me).

"Need" stopped being a qualifier for my gun acquisitions long ago. I enjoy them, they make me happy. That's all they need to do.

[44man]

The .480 is a great gun and all you need. My friend had a Freedom that neither of us could handle until he bought the rubber factory grips. Seating a Lee 400 was right at the end of the cylinder so when crimping, I had to make sure brass was the right length and seat so brass was at the very top of the CG.
I designed my 420 gr to fit the Freedom too but I bought a BFR .475 because I could buy 3 for one Freedom at the price I got it for on sale. I shoot the 420 at 1329 fps, not much different from a .480.
I would love a new 5 shot Ruger because my boolit would fit it but my knuckle does not like a Bisley trigger guard and as HB said, works for most but not all.

[Love Life]

I much preferred the rubber grips on my 83 in 454 over the nicely fitted wood ones. Much better recoil management, and man did I put some cylinder gap burns on my pants leg with that hog leg!!

For those 454 Casull owners, how are you liking them?

[jmort]

"I put some cylinder gap burns on my pants leg with that hog leg!!"


​Better that than a finger. I have seen some gruesome photos of fingers and .460 S&W cylinder gap burns.

[Love Life]

"I put some cylinder gap burns on my pants leg with that hog leg!!"


​Better that than a finger. I have seen some gruesome photos of fingers and .460 S&W cylinder gap burns.

I did it intentionally. I wore a knee high heavy leather legging on my right leg. I'd sit leaned against something, right leg cross over with right ankle resting on left knee, and rest the revolver or butt on my right shin.

[jmort]

"I did it intentionally."

Did not mean to imply you did not realize the consequences of the cylinder gap. I assumed you were shooting Creedmore style. I should have been more clear. What is most unfortunate are the individuals who intentionally put their fingers in harms way.

[Love Life]

No offense taken here! I never did like the Creedmoor position. The Keith position is my favorite field position.

[alamogunr]

When I was about 18 or 19, I bought a S&W K22 as my first handgun. A friend wanted to shoot it so we went to a deserted place and I loaded it up and handed it to him. I didn't correct him when he supported the barrel with his thumb and forefinger. First shot he hollered and dropped the gun on the ground. He had a little line of small blue marks on his wrist where the barrel shaved lead as it moved from the cylinder to the forcing cone. Since I had never shot a gun that way, I was unaware of the consequences and couldn't correct him.

I guess I should point out that was over 50 years ago.

[Three44s]

The .480 is a great gun and all you need. ...............................

That's how I feel as well!

Viva the .480 Ruger!

Three 44s

[Whiterabbit]

wonder why he didn't address the question that's probably going to be the most asked by owners to him. Can the 480 be safely punched out to 475?


The Ruger cylinder is too short for a 475 linebaugh. 1.75" vs. 1.80"

400 gr @ 1300+ fps isn't quite a 475 linebaugh, but IMHO close enough.


never gave that a thought. Figured theyd make a cylinder the same length as a 83 FA gun for the 454 so it could use longer nosed bullets. I do agree that the 480 is a very powerful gun loaded up to the max as it stands.

Very interesting, I had never looked into this before. Even with the hodgdon data, filtering 400+ grain boolits and looking at absolute max loadings, there is basically (basically) no difference between 480 Ruger and 475 Linebaugh. About 50 fps at the max. Average high-speed loads seem to give an edge to the 475, but man they are so very close.

I can't think of the 480 as the 475's little brother any more. Too similar. Pretty neat stuff.

---------

In general, looks like all the ultra-big bores are loaded to about the same: 400 grains, 1300 fps. With 100 fps wiggle up and down. Only goes over that by going to a longer cylinder gun (BFR long frame or S&W X-frame). I like that alot. You have your power picked, just pick what boolit size you like best: 452, 475, 500, 510.

[ole 5 hole group]

Never owned a 480 and never shot one, but I do have two (2) 475 Linebaughs and I can tell you that the 480 is indeed the little brother of the two - just not a baby brother. If you go by reloading manuals it may not look like much of a difference but if you want to push your reloads, as some do - then you can get 150 fps or a tad more and you can also enjoy the "tad" more felt recoil. That 475 is just plain "mean" when you get it up to speed.

I look at either one as being equal in a normal person's hand, as most will run 400 to 420 grains at 925 to 975 fps for good shooting & a pleasant experience at the range. Last time out with one of my 475's using elephant loads, a friend shot 5-rounds and handed the revolver back to me with a comment that he thought he was coming to the range for an enjoyable afternoon - not for self-abuse. I got the hint and opened up the box with HS-6 loads and we both enjoyed the afternoon.

[Markbo]

The biggest reason I went for this .480 is because I have a .475. A BFR with 4 7/8" barrel. The one thing I dont like about it is that it only shoots full house loads well...with the requisite recoil. I dont consider myself recoil shy at all but about 2 cylinder fulls of full power 420gr .475 and I get the shakes!

I am thinking that by comparison 380gr @ 1000fps will allow me more shooting time before that happens. And there is nothing in North America that I couldn't hunt with the .480. Well....squirrels might be off the menu. ;)

[Whiterabbit]

If I saw a squirrel that I thought I could hit with the BFR460.... I will be honest. I would probably have a go.

[Markbo]

Put a scope in rabbit! :D

[SSGOldfart]

I'm drooling over the 45long colt,but I'm going to have to research this idea a bit more!!:oops:

[9.3X62AL]

Like I said before, if this sort of recoil and bark entertains you, far be it from me to inflict my prejudices and feelings on anyone so minded. I detest killjoys--which is largely the mindset of those who would deprive us of gun rights.

I just don't enjoy getting my hands hammered any more. What was great fun at age 25 no longer provides the same joy at age 60. The 10mm is as much as I want in a bottom-feeder, and the 44 Magnum as envisioned by Mr. Keith (240 grain #429421 @ 1200 FPS) is plenty in a 4" N-frame S&W.

[Whiterabbit]

Like I said before, if this sort of recoil and bark entertains you, far be it from me to inflict my prejudices and feelings on anyone so minded. I detest killjoys--which is largely the mindset of those who would deprive us of gun rights.

I just don't enjoy getting my hands hammered any more. What was great fun at age 25 no longer provides the same joy at age 60. The 10mm is as much as I want in a bottom-feeder, and the 44 Magnum as envisioned by Mr. Keith (240 grain #429421 @ 1200 FPS) is plenty in a 4" N-frame S&W.

You can get a BFR in 22 hornet :) I very likely may in 20 years when carpal tunnel sets fully in and I have to give up the big bore game.

[Cornbread]

The biggest reason I went for this .480 is because I have a .475. A BFR with 4 7/8" barrel. The one thing I dont like about it is that it only shoots full house loads well...with the requisite recoil. I dont consider myself recoil shy at all but about 2 cylinder fulls of full power 420gr .475 and I get the shakes!

I am thinking that by comparison 380gr @ 1000fps will allow me more shooting time before that happens. And there is nothing in North America that I couldn't hunt with the .480. Well....squirrels might be off the menu. ;)


Question for you since you have the BFR 475. Will it take cut down 45-70 cases or will it only take 475 casings with the smaller bases?

[Markbo]

I do not know Cornbread. I have never tried a cut down 45-70 case as I have a good supply of .475 brass. Sorry.

[Cornbread]

I do not know Cornbread. I have never tried a cut down 45-70 case as I have a good supply of .475 brass. Sorry.

Thanks. I just wondered because my friend has a Freedom Arms 475 and it will only take 475, the 45-70 rim is a hair too big to fit it so I wondered if the BFRs had the same thing going on or not.

[44man]

Question for you since you have the BFR 475. Will it take cut down 45-70 cases or will it only take 475 casings with the smaller bases?
The BFR will take the larger cut down 45-70 brass. The Freedom will not.

[44man]

The biggest reason I went for this .480 is because I have a .475. A BFR with 4 7/8" barrel. The one thing I dont like about it is that it only shoots full house loads well...with the requisite recoil. I dont consider myself recoil shy at all but about 2 cylinder fulls of full power 420gr .475 and I get the shakes!

I am thinking that by comparison 380gr @ 1000fps will allow me more shooting time before that happens. And there is nothing in North America that I couldn't hunt with the .480. Well....squirrels might be off the menu. ;)
Barrel too short for the .475. You need more like a 6" or 7-1/2". The .475 is a stinking MONSTER with even the right barrel so you need to suffer with that thing. What possessed you?

[Markbo]

Not knowing in advance what a monster it would be obviously. A re-barrel has been considered. A LOT. :D

[dubber123]

Not knowing in advance what a monster it would be obviously. A re-barrel has been considered. A LOT. :D

My .475 is a 4-3/4", I won't be rebarreling mine, but I will say my brothers 6.5" BFR in the same caliber is MUCH more comfortable. I will shoot his one handed, I have never even considered doing that with mine with full loads.

[alamogunr]

Not a .475 but my FA .454 has a 7½" bbl. I had considered having it cut down. These last few posts have convinced me that I should not do that. The Linebaugh .475 has a 5½" bbl but I don't shoot it with max loads. At 73, all my max loads are behind me.

[Lefty SRH]

Wow what a cool article from a custom builder about a production revolver.

[Lefty SRH]

I have a Ruger Bisley .480 five shot on layaway and I'm excited to get it out when I can. I already enjoy my 9.5" SRH with the 428gr boolit I currently cast. It's very accurate.