Load data for the Lee 400gr in the .480

[kciH]

I was wondering if anyone here has any load data for the Lee 400gr bullet in the .480 Ruger. I am not looking to push these too hard, about 1000 fps, so most of the available data doesn't do me much good.

Thanks.

[475/480]

Hi,
If you have some WC680/AA1680-20.0-22.0gr or Blue dot-14.0-16.0gr will do the trick.This is in a SRH 480 7.5" bll.

Sean

[BABore]

Check out Hodgdon's website for their data. They have Titegroup listed for a 400 gr, I believe. You could also try 2400. The starting load should be in your ball park. I've used WW231 with a Lee 325 gr GC bullet, but never a 400 gr. You might also want to visit http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthr...eads.php?Cat=0

Look in the older threads in their cast forum. There's a thread from Paul H. on the 480 and his loadings.

[44man]

For a hunting load I use 23 gr's of 296 and for plinking and light recoil, 8.5 gr's of Unique works nice.

[kciH]

Thanks for the info, gives me somewhere to start. I don't keep any Unique on the bench, but I've got a lot of 1680 so I'll give that a try. I'm shooting this out of a 5" RB so I expect a bit of velocity loss as compared to the SRH, especially since it's only really about a 4" barrel when you take into account for the compensator.

[Beaverhunter2]

I looked long and hard for this type of info. I should have known I'd find it here!

The Blue Dot and Unique loads listed above will be my first loads with my own cast boolits.

Thanks to all who share their knowledge!

John

[Glen]

The 480 Ruger does very well in the 1000-1100 fps range. For details, check out:

http://www.lasc.us/480Ruger.htm

[Whitworth]

That's a good write up, Glen. The author figured out exactly where the .480 fits on the food chain. I bought one when they were just introduced and even with those junk jacketed bullets of 325 grains, I still harvested a couple of hogs with it........a 400 grain bullet is perfect!

[Beaverhunter2]

I read that article back when I was trying to decide which hunting handgun to buy! It was one of the ones that led me to my choice- a 7 1/2" SRH in .480. And I couldn't be happier with my decision.

John

[Whitworth]

It is a great round, and my favorite handgun platform. The .480 is misunderstood though. People make the mistake of looking at muzzle energy to judge a cartridge's effectiveness and many people cite that the .44 mag can nearly generate as much muzzle energy and that the Casull produces a lot more -- not to mention the energy figures of the new Smith & Wesson offerings, but they are missing the point -- .475 caliber, and 400 grains -- that's a hard combination to beat! Okay -- I'll get off of my soapbox now!

[44man]

AAAAHHHH, energy!
I had my eyes opened a LONG time ago. I was lapping a .58 Minie' mold for a friends musket. I would cast and try, lap and cast again until I had a perfect fit in the muzzle. Trouble was that last one popped in and I could not get it out. It went all the way down and a screw would not budge it.
We were in my basement at my cheap 2X4 bench. I removed the nipple and dribbled a small amount of black powder in the hole and put the nipple back in. I capped it and held the muzzle close to the 2X4 leg of the bench. It went pop and I could feel the slug go past my hand on the barrel and hear it as it traveled. When it popped from the muzzle it buried itself full depth in the 2X4, a good inch! That darned thing would have gone half way through a person.
What the velocity was I don't know but you might have out run it.
I would not want to get hit with it. Now step it up with 60 gr's of powder, slow, big and heavy and devastating to anything it hits out to over 1500 yd's.
I will take big even if slow, over anything under a .44 in a revolver.