Convert or to not Convert?

[mr.frosty]

I'm thinking of having my 480 Super Redhawk converted to 5 shot 475.
The debate I'm having is whether to actually have it done.
Also considering the 500 Linebaugh as well.
 

[Redhawk1]

The only reason I could see doing it is, if you really want to. I have owned the 480 Ruger for some time. It will kill just about anything you shoot with it, with a well placed shot in the right spot. Saying that, I also have a custom 475 Linebaugh. Shoot great and kills every bit as well as my 480 Ruger does, but with a lot more felt recoil.  The cool thing about the 457 Linebaugh, you can still shoot 480 Ruger's.

The cost to have the conversion done is not cheap, you could pick up a Magnum Research 475 Linebaugh for less, and have 2 guns. But it all goes back to what you want. If you want it bad enough, then do it. I like the idea of 2 guns myself. 

[SHOOTALL]

Just asking because I have never looked into it , can the chambers be recut to 475 LB ? I don't know if enough cyl. wall would be left but Rugers are built well .

[irold]

I have to agree with RH 1.   All three are great BIG gun choices. All three will bring down most anything in the lower 48 , As already stated , depends on what you want.

regards , irold

[mr.frosty]

The biggest reason I would have the conversion done is to cause I want to.
I new to hand loading so either round would be feasible to work up.
Redhawk, I'm mr.pepper on a few other forums and read quite a few of post on
conversions that yourself and several others have had done,especially the guy that owns
King Kong.
The only thing I see to gain by doing a conversion is roughly 150 fps and
more recoil depending on what load and so on.
Think I'll keep it like it is and find the load mine likes.

[Ken ONeill]

I think its a good choice to leave it as is. With 400 gr. bullets, the .480 steps right on the heels of the .475L.
Shootall: No, a new 5 shot cylinder needs to be made for safety's sake. Jack Huntington has converted SRH's to 5 shot .475L and .500L. for customers.

[Lloyd Smale]

heres my thoughts. the 475 is my favorite big bore round but the 480 is only about 200 fps slower then the 475 and to dump that much money into that conversion doesnt make much economic sense but then ive done things with sixguns that made even less sense. If it were me and i was to do it id step up to the 500 if you really want more power. The 500 can handle larger diameter heavier bullets and is a step up in power. If all you want is a 475 you can probably pick up a used bfr for less then the conversion will cost you and keep your 480. I have two 475s but to be honest there rarely loaded to a higher level then what is possible in your 480. A 400 grain lfn at 1100 fps will cleanly take any game animal in the world. Bumping it up to 13 or 1400 fps does little more the make your hand sore.

[williamlayton]

I have been considering the thought.
Avoiding the discussion of cost---keeping it too simply a conversion delima.
My thinking is to keep what you have and get the new on as a sepreate package/gun. In the long run it is not that much more and you have both.
Blessings

[mr.frosty]

That  is what I'm going to do...keep the 480 as is and look around
for one in either 475 or the 500 linebaugh. I keep hearing that Magnum Research
may be bringing the 500 JRH to their lineup.