.500 Linebaugh - Any current owners?

[Hanzy4200]

I'm pretty new to magnum revolvers with my experience being limited to hot .44 mag loads. I'm considering a .500 Linebaugh. I want a fun magnum and something a little unique. When it comes to components like molds, gas checks, dies, ect, are they typically difficult to find, especially now? I know Starline has brass. For any of those who own one, are you happy with your purchase?

[Elmer Fudd]

Call John or Dustin Linebaugh and ask them.
LBT makes moulds for .510 bores the same as any other. I doubt you will be happy with any other mfg, other than NOE, Accurate, etc. John recommends LBT.
Checks direct from Gator or Sage's sells Gators.
Niche calibers often have limited production runs, as opposed to having them in stock all the time. Not a lot of demand in the huge bore revolver realm.

[Targa]

Very cool on the .500. I almost did the same thing but went with the .475 linebaugh because at the time components were a bit easier to find with more options.
Just know that If you haven’t handled one, the BFR’s are borderline comically large guns.

[lar45]

Here's mine, built by John Linebaugh.
5 1/2" Stainless, Octagon barrel, Ebony grips. Absolutely love it.

[Rug480]

That's a beaut Lar

Hanz, if you can find one snatch it up, was going to get a bfr 500L myself but availability is nil now.
If going for one of the full custom Ruger platforms, I regretfully have not had the pleasure yet but understand they are on another level.

I had a 500jrh which is practically the same as the 500L, full tilt loads from that puppy were the only thing I've shot that has drawn blood for me but it was a plow handle with ill-fitting grips. I hear the new bisley grips take all the fuss out of the big bores.

Components can be hit or miss, if you cast and can get your hands on dies and brass your golden. If you don't cast, maybe look into the JRH as that's based off SW500 specs and a ballistic twin of the 500L.

Good luck, big bore cannons pull you in and won't let go.

[Hanzy4200]

That puppy is sweet! I'd love one on that level, but I cant justify the funds. They ran you what, $3.5K?

[444ttd]

i can't afford a custom revolver in 500L, so i bought a 23" MGM encore barrel.

[skook]

Hanzy,
About 10 years ago I was at a Linebaugh seminar in Cody, and John walked by and asked if I wanted to shoot his personal gun. Of course you don’t pass on an opportunity like that.
I already had a .475, and up and down the shooting line I had been watching guys split gloves, break grips, and bruise knuckles. So as I was lining up the sights with that beautiful brassy 500 Linebaugh that he carries, I gritted my teeth and flexed my elbows to be prepared for what was sure to be bone jarring recoil.
You guessed it, John’s personal gun apparently shoots mostly mid-range loads of 1000 fps or less, and it was a ton of fun to shoot!
John grinned at me and explained some of the reasons why he preferred both the .500 as well as the shorter barrel lengths, and how the combination was both pleasant to shoot and super adaptable.
Since then I’ve picked up a couple, and the 4 3/4” length with midrange 900ish loads has become my go-to gun for hiking and plinking. It shoots mostly Unique @ 10-13gr depending on the bullet, easily holding minute-of-rock/stump/rabbit.
Now, instead of just shooting a cylinder or two of boomers and being put away, these beautiful little guns have gone through thousands of cast loads, and I keep one holstered right on to my day trip belt pack.
Brass seems to last forever, casting your own bullets (300-480gr) keeps costs down, and you can’t beat the feeling of how those big 50’s load and shoot, always knowing that anytime you want you can load that cylinder up with “heavies” ��
Russ

[lar45]

I think John uses HS-6 in his moderate loads. One thing to remember is that the 500 Linebaugh is not a high pressure cartridge like the 475 is. The 475 operates at 50k, while the 500 is either 28 or 30k(memory is not what it used to be, sorry). Somebody wrote a book on Big Bore Handguns and mistakenly listed the 500 Linebaugh as running at 50K.
At one of the Seminars, John had a bulged cylinder on display at the sign in table from someone trying to run the 500 too hot.
One of the nice things about shooting the 500 is that it doesn't ring your ears like the 475 or 454, or even a hot 44 mag will do.

[Hanzy4200]

I got one! Only regret is it is a 7 1/2" barrel. I would have preferred the shorter, but the price didn't make sense. $1,100 for mine, $1,500+ for the shorty on GB. I already ordered brass from Starline. Now I need to fine dies, GC's and a mold.

[Targa]

Congrats on the gun. I would probably order these Hornady dies https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011021424 and then look for a mold with the biggest meplat as possible deserving of the sludge hammer that thing is..

[Three44s]

I do .44 Mag and .480 Ruger. I am very “invested” in HS 6 powder as well!

If I had a .500 I would settle on my favorite revolver powder there in a heart beat.

Three44s

[buglump]

I'm pretty new to magnum revolvers with my experience being limited to hot .44 mag loads. I'm considering a .500 Linebaugh. I want a fun magnum and something a little unique. When it comes to components like molds, gas checks, dies, ect, are they typically difficult to find, especially now? I know Starline has brass. For any of those who own one, are you happy with your purchase?

I purchased the Magnum Research BFR with Bisley grip and 5.5 inch barrel. Had to put Hi-Vis sight on front because of old eyes and had it stacking 450 grain hard cast one on top of the other until past Friday when the thing locked up. Will not cock. Cylinder will spin, loading gate opens but the gun will not cock. With less than 200 rounds put through it I am hoping this is a rare fluke. Of course Magnum Research had already closed for the day when I called so I've got an email request in to see what my next move is. Wish I had went with a John Linebaugh, Reeder or Clements on my Blackhawk frame. Would have cost a little more but I've been shooting it since 1982 with heavy .44 mag loads with no glitches. Bought this BFR to carry when I run away from home to Grizzly country and now even if they fix it I'm not going to have the confidence to carry for protection.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Sounds like maybe the hand or transfer bar is hanging up on something . Check it out yourself.

[Targa]

Did your base pin walk out on you buglump? Look at the bottom of page 14 of the BFR owners manual. I did not have mine set correctly on my BFR and it locked up the gun.

[reloader28]

Accurate makes a very nice mold. I use the 51-450C.
Johns load of 16gr HS-6 runs 1030fps in my 5.25" Blackhawk. 1050fps with a mag primer.
18.7gr 2400 is 900fps
30gr H4227 and a mag primer runs 1170fps and will wake you up but not unbearable

[white eagle]

i can't afford a custom revolver in 500L, so i bought a 23" MGM encore barrel.

I have the same set up only a 22" barrel
just took a black bear with mine
it's devastating
I do want a revo but just can't afford the price

[Iwsbull]

I have the Accurate 51-450B (drops about 460 with my mix) and the 51-480RP ( drops a bit over 490) in a BFR 7 1/2” a nice light load that is very accurate at 100 is 14.5 of HS6 with the 480.

[Hanzy4200]

Old thread of mine, but it popped up! I ended up having Tom at Accurate cute me a two cavity mold. Cavity #1 is a 350 SWC and #2 is a 500 gr FN. The 350 is decent, but the 500 gr is a tack driver. I'm shooting these mostly around 1,050 fps with Unique. The hottest I've shot are with a stout charge of W296 getting 1,600 fps. Those are serious loads in a 3.5 lb gun. I don't know what goes much beyond those, but I think they are my limit.

[Iwsbull]

Agree, I much prefer the HS6 loads to the H110, unless you are wanting to conserve primers if that is the case then they last longer when they are touching off copious amounts of H110.