.480 Ruger Brass Questions

[nicholst55]

I'm seriously considering a five-shot Blackhawk in .480 Ruger. The problem is finding brass. Both Hornady and Starline are backordered on it. Starline says they will make their next run when they have a sufficient quantity backordered.

I figure that in 5-10 years, you won't be able to buy .480 brass at all - unless Ruger reintroduces the Redhawk in it and supports it this time. I figure that the alternatives are to either shorten .475 Linebaugh brass (assuming it's still available), or form .480 brass from .45-70 brass.

Has anyone made their own .480 brass from .45-70 brass? I'm wondering how much hassle it would be. Am I overlooking another source for brass here?

[nicholst55]

I was directed to this thread on the Single Actions forum:

http://singleactions.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reloading&action=display&thread=2622

It doesn't look difficult at all; perhaps a bit tedious, though...

[Pepe Ray]

AYK the original .475 Linebaugh was formed on Winchester 45-70 cases.
When someone ( I disremember, Casull or FA) decided to make revolvers in .475, they negotiated with a ctg maker to produce a case with a smaller rim to better fit there cylinders. This naturally progressed into the 480. program for others.
If your going to have a custon BlkHk ,there's no reason to design it around the 480 brass rims. Use the 45-70 dimensions and have more flexability in scrounging cases.
Pepe Ray

[DLCTEX]

Midway and Midsouth both have 475 Linebaugh brass in stock, but neither have 480 Ruger.

[bobke]

check here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx?Keywords=480+ruger

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=158409628

bookmark this site and guns america. check often, things turn pretty quickly. i actually picked up my 475 brass at bass pro in san antonio, of all places. it sat there alone on the shelf for months just begging me to buy it. did, and gun followed. how things work sometimes.

[Bill*B]

Last I looked, Graf & Sons had .480 brass in stock.

[Whitworth]

AYK the original .475 Linebaugh was formed on Winchester 45-70 cases.
When someone ( I disremember, Casull or FA) decided to make revolvers in .475, they negotiated with a ctg maker to produce a case with a smaller rim to better fit there cylinders. This naturally progressed into the 480. program for others.
If your going to have a custon BlkHk ,there's no reason to design it around the 480 brass rims. Use the 45-70 dimensions and have more flexability in scrounging cases.
Pepe Ray

It was actually Jack Huntington that turned the rim down and shortened the case a bit to make the .475 fit in the limited space of the Freedom platform......and it became the commercial spec for the cartridge.

I personally would make the gun a .475 Linebaugh. There is no shortage of available brass, it runs only 2,000 psi more pressure (SAAMI spec) than the .480, and the .475 can be loaded down to .480 levels easily. No sense in making .480 brass. JMHO.

[dubber123]

Well, Whitworth pretty well summed up my thoughts. The .475 downloads super easy, and is extremely accurate even at the reduced levels. Factor in the option to "load big" and it looks like the better idea. That said, I would surely buy a factory SBH in 480 if Ruger would sell them reasonably. They have the tooling to make just such a beast, I don't know why they don't.

[475/480]

Actually the 475 Linebaugh runs up to 55 ,000 PSI. The 480 Ruger is set at 48,000 PSI .
I know its a small difference but it is greater than 2 K.

Sean


I personally would make the gun a .475 Linebaugh. There is no shortage of available brass, it runs only 2,000 psi more pressure (SAAMI spec) than the .480, and the .475 can be loaded down to .480 levels easily. No sense in making .480 brass. JMHO.[/QUOTE]

[DLCTEX]

I am liking the Tarus Raging Bull in 480 Ruger. It's a five shot and the muzzle brake makes it more pleasant to shoot than a Ruger Blackhawk in 44 Mag. I had years ago.

[Viper225]

I was on Midway a couple days ago looking at 480 brass. I had seen the note on Starlines site.
Midway is listing a delivery date of 3-13-2010 on Starline 480 Ruger. Buy 500 rounds and you should be set for a very long time. It is not like you loose it in the weeds out of a Single Action.

[Whitworth]

Actually the 475 Linebaugh runs up to 55 ,000 PSI. The 480 Ruger is set at 48,000 PSI .
I know its a small difference but it is greater than 2 K.

Sean


I personally would make the gun a .475 Linebaugh. There is no shortage of available brass, it runs only 2,000 psi more pressure (SAAMI spec) than the .480, and the .475 can be loaded down to .480 levels easily. No sense in making .480 brass. JMHO.[/QUOTE]


The SAAMI spec is only 2,000 psi apart between thetwo cartridges (48,500 vs. 50,500 if Ican recall correctly). I don't know anyone loading their .475 that hot. My brass falls out even pushing 420 grain bullets at 1,350.......

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got a couple 475s so if i was to do another custom it would be a 480. there is a small advantage to the smaller case for downloading and it could be made with standard lenght clyinder which would make it a tad lighter. Plus its differnt.