Author Topic: 480 Ruger: what's the verdict? (Read 1458 times)

Questor · « **on:** September 09, 2004, 05:41:38 AM »

I think it's a great idea (although I don't own one). It's been long enough for owners to form an opinion about the guns and the ammo. What do you think? Has it been a good hunting tool for you? Do you prefer it now, or do you prefer other cartridges in your revolvers?

New Hampshire · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2004, 11:36:48 AM »

Ive had the opportunity to do some informal shooting with a .480 SRH. Honestly the cartridge offers me nothing the old stanbys already do and at half the cost. But as a reloader Im always willing to tinker with something new :grin: .
Brian M.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2004, 12:03:15 PM »

I hunt nothing and likely never will hunt anything that requires the smashing power this round offers. Having said that I still like it better than the .454 Casull which also is way more than I need. It has a place with me and likely will have for a long time. I really like it. But really a .44 Mag or .45 Colt is plenty for my real needs.

But my RB is soooo accurate. But then so is my Bisley .45 Colt.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2004, 12:37:53 PM »

unlike Greybeard i like em big. But i do agree with him on the .480 being a better round then the .454 Im basical a cast bullet shooter and the .454 wont do anything i cant do with a ruger .45 with cast bullets if you need more power you need a big diameter bullet!

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2004, 01:18:53 PM »

Didn't say I didn't like them big, just that I didn't NEED it big. :eek:

I really do like my .480 RB. Very accurate and like you said those big heavy bullets NOT velocity are what you need when you step up in power. Still I'll do darn little hunting for other than whitetail deer and hogs plus a few exotics and for those the old .44 Mag or my Bisley .45 Colt are really plenty. Still the .480 will see use just the same.

If I didn't reload and cast bullets both it might not see very much tho.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2004, 11:52:21 PM »

theres wisdom in your thoughts Bill. For 95% of all my hunting i could do fine with one of my .44s and .45s and there usually what i grab. As a matter of fact the biggest game ive taken with my .475 is a hog and the biggest with the .500 so far is a spike horn whitetail

Going to fix that next month and shoot a buffalo with it though. But when i grab a gun to go hunting its usually a 4 inch n frame or a ruger SA in .44spec or mag or a .45 colt and most of the time its loaded with a cast bullet at about 1000 fps and theve never let me down.

Catfish · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2004, 02:57:41 PM »

Just my 2 cents, but I don`t mind the recoil of the .454, I`ve got a Ruger and a Rageing Bull. As for the .480 it reall doesn`t offer me anything I haven`t already got. My next handgun will probibly be a .500 Smith. That said, went I carry a revolver deer hunting I usually take a single action .44 mag., which is far more than you need for deer anyway.

mr.frosty · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2004, 07:47:56 PM »

I like mine gonna shoot some if the rain holds off long enough

Tom W. · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2004, 08:10:38 PM »

Me too, Me too. If I ever get outta that sawmill, and the hurricanes go another direction...

mr.frosty · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2004, 12:42:58 PM »

wonder what a 480 or 454 does to a hurricane? :shock:

Smokem · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2004, 06:38:34 AM »

I had a choice of either the .480 or .454. I went with the .454.
1. It will shoot 45LC
2. It will shoot full power.454 loads
3. I did not own a .45LC
4. The.454 fires both, now I have the best of both worlds
5. I can reload from mild to wild

My .454 will probably not see an animal larger that a black bear. So the full power loads are not necessary for me. But if I ever get the chance to go to Africa I know I will not need to buy a gun. I do believe that the .480 is a great hunting caliber for North American Big Game.

Just my $.02

Rmouleart · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2004, 07:06:41 AM »

The 480 is a in-between cart, in-between a 44mag and a 454 Casull, I prefer the 454 Casull, a great hard hitting big game cart, shoots very fat using heavy bullets, well for a revolver I'm talking, If I ever get drawn for the moose lottery, I will be using a scoped SRH 454 Casull 7 1/2, I would not attempt this with any cart less than the 454 Casull, this is were you do need the power for deep penetration, not saying a well constructed 45LC or 44mag load could not do the job, but I rather have more than less power when it comes to very big game animals, the 454 Casull has its place, a great big game cart, the trick is to tame the load so that you can control it LOL. My best load using Hornadys 300gr XTP in front of 30gr W296, Remington 6 1/2 sm primer, Lee factory crimp. Good to go. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

dawei · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2004, 07:16:59 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

SNIP...........

But my RB is soooo accurate. But then so is my Bisley .45 Colt.

GB: is "RB" for Raging Bull or Ruger Black Hawk?

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2004, 12:58:42 PM »

RB= Raging Bull. I have two in .454 Casull and .480 Ruger.

I also have two Rugers total in my house. One is my SS Bisley .45 Colt, an Accusport limited edition gun. The other is the newer 77-17 which may or may not be able to earn its place and stay. So far it's not earned a place with groups of 1.2" and 1.7" at 100 yards. If that's the best it does it will be traded and I'll be back to one Ruger.

Folks who down play the .480 in comparison to the .454 just honestly do not have a clear understanding of how handguns work and kill game. When applied to heavy or dangerous game the way to go is heavy hard cast bullets. When you want to "up the power level" you do not up the velocity, you up the size of the hole in the barrel and the weight of the cast bullet you send down it.

The .480 will run 325s to about the same velocity as does the .454 in pressure tested safe loads. BUT where it shines is where the .454 Casull ends. I know of no one using bullets heavier than about 370-380 grains in it. That's really where most start with the .480. I don't even load lighter than 400 grains and prefer the 420-430 grain bullets.

If I were going to Africa tomorrow on a handgun hunt using a revolver the .480 Ruger chambered RB would be going with me with 430 grain hard cast LBT style bullets. The .454 would go ONLY if I needed a back up in case the .480 conked out on me. In that case I'd have either the heaviest load offered by Buffalo Bore or COR-BON for it in the bag.

TScottO · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2004, 01:38:58 PM »

You can compare penetration of lower end 475 Linebaugh loads to 454 Casull loads here:

http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/penetration_test.htm

This gives a clear picture of penetration but you also have to figure the size hole produced along with the difference in Meplat.

Questor: The 480 is an excellent round and one worth having if you want some thump. However I prefer these types of loadings in a single action.

Be Safe,
Scott

Rmouleart · « **Reply #15 on:** September 15, 2004, 05:08:37 AM »

First of all I was not trying to downplay the Ruger 480 at all, just giving my thoughts about the the comparison in my point of view, when I state the Ruger 480 is in the Middle of the the 44mag and 454 casull, I'm talking they are very closely related in power, using there preferred bullets, I just prefer more power,the Casull suits me fine, recoil for me is not a problem, I'm a good sized guy and seem to control the recoil with out problems,Maybe just use to it, the 454 Casull has been around a lot longer than the Ruger 480, reloading the sky is the limit, not for the 480 as of now. The 454 Casull has taken every big game in africa, thats saying something, I think that that alone proves the 454 Casull is a heavy hitter for big game. I also think the 454 Casull is much more versatile for the seasoned big game hunter, but as I always say, to his there own;) I can understand the recoil factor as well, I do know of a few folks that have ported there 454 Casulls, and have stated a good reduction in mussel flip, more straight back kick. I'm looking into the Magnum Research 450 Marlin revolver to match my guigegun. I just love big bores and enjoy shooting them. good luck to what ever you choose for a revolver any one should be fine. If you really want to see the true performance of the 454 Casull, try it in a Puma Lever action, then you will realize what I meant about relatively flat shooting for such a stout cart using big heavy bullets with in its range of shooting. The 454 Casull in a 20 inch rifle produces 30-06 energy levels. Pretty impressive from a pistol cartridge! Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

Hcliff · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2004, 03:20:22 AM »

The 480 had been a great accurate round., It has replaced my 44 and 45LC as the primary hunting arm. It make bigger holes. The factory ammo from Hornady is ok but I don't think you get the full effect of this round. It high point is bullet weight, the 325 grain factory load is a bit better than a factory 44 load, but it the field you will not see a difference. The handloading with heavier cast is where this shines. The thing I don't like is that lack of choice of factory ammo. I think that this could be the set back from this round, maybe it will take a little more time to catch on , look how long the 454 was around before it became a normal household name. The 480 with hot loads can be a bit much for an unseasoned shooter. Another disadvantage is the 480 guns are bigger than some 44 or 45LC models. If I am somewhere where I am going to carry a handgun right (to have with more informal targets, opportunities, etc. not as a primary hunting arm) now my 45 Bisley get the nod. Over all I love the round. 44 vs 45 vs 454 vs 480. Well most of the difference is the shooter behind the gun.

Hcliff