Taurus Raging Bull .480 Ruger
What more can I say about the Taurus Raging Bull not already said in my review of the RB.454 Casull. It is a superb hunting gun. Heavy and big but that moderates the recoil from the big heavy bullets it tosses down range. Im way late getting this review to press. Ill offer no excuses or reasons and just say it happened and let it go at that. Ill offer my apologies to both Taurus and the readers for the long lag time.
Since I had no intention of using this handgun with scope while hunting I didnt bother to test it that way. All results are using iron sights and believe me if I thought the other RB shot well this one shoots even better. Some of the individual groups Ive fired with this revolver and the bullets Jim Lambert made up and sent to me make me think Im a young man again and can actually see the sights. Ragged one hole groups for me are hard to come by these days with iron sights as I just dont see well enough to do it regularly anymore. This gun has done that way more times than I have a right for it to.
If I could have but one hunting revolver this one would be it. Id sure hate to be so limited but this one will do it all. The 325 grain Hornady bullets make it seem like a mouse gun almost the recoil from this big revolver is so mild. Loaded up with 430s or heavier hard cast and gas checked and Id not hesitate to use it on anything that walks the earth today. Ive shot both of the Hornady XTP bullets in 325 and 400 grain weights plus the factory 325 XTP loads. All gave excellent accuracy and judging by the way the bullets mushroom in the clay banks behind my target stands Im confident they will perform well on game. The clay banks might not be a medium many are used to but I shoot into them all the time when both wet and dry and can usually tell by what the bullets do in it as compared to other bullets from other guns Ive used just what the on game performance might be.
Ive not used this revolver on game yet as I have had a real dry spell on deer hunting while it has been in my hands. Last season turned out OK but only with rifle and still no handgun shots were presented for an iron sighted revolver. Havent made any hog hunts lately either but did have it along and did use it to finish off one while hunting with Kendall down in south Bama awhile back. Shot was way long for an iron sighted revolver so was taken with a rifle and then the finisher was made with the RB.480. Turned the lights off rat now.
Ive carried both of these RBs in a Pistol Packaging Bandito holster now for a couple years and must say thats a fine combination. Comfortable for long periods and more than adequate power when the time comes for it.
So on to some specifics on loads fired. Not gonna make this all inclusive as Ive pretty well decided that really isnt worth the space it takes. Your results are gonna vary from mine anyway because youll be shooting a different gun and using different lots of components. Still it gives a good idea of what to expect.
Ive fired a bunch of the Hornady factory ammo with 325 grain XTP getting groups from as small as 1.1 to as large as 2.9 but the overall average of them all has been 1.75. Thats pretty close to what I consider my long term best these days with iron sights at 25 yards. Moving to 50 yards groups have more than doubled to over 5 as I just dont see well enough for that distances with iron sights anymore. Velocity average is 1315 fps taken 15 from the muzzle using an Oehler P35.
Reloads used either Hornady or Starline cases interchangeably. I could see no difference regardless of which I used. Primers were CCI-350s. So below Ill list only the powder, bullet and results. All are five shot averages at 25 yards unless otherwise stated. For the most part all will be five or more five shot groups from sand bag rest.
Hornady 325 XTP 27.0 H4227 2.5
Hornady 400 XTP 21.0 H4227 2.7
LBT 392 Cast 21.0 H4227 2.75
LBT 392 Cast 20.3 W296 2.3 @ 1150 fps
LBT 400 Cast 20.3 W296 1.50 @ 1201 fps
LBT 420 Cast 20.3 W296 1.45 @ 1163 fps
Hornady 400 XTP 20.3 W296 2.8 @ 1132 fps
Hornady 325 XTP 24.7 Lil Gun 2.2 @ 1264 fps
LBT 420 Cast 17.3 Lil Gun 2.4 @ 1089 fps
LBT 392 Cast 18.0 Lil Gun 2.1 @ 1125 fps
LBT 400 Cast 18.0 Lil Gun 1.8 @ 1109 fps
Hornady 400 XTP 18.0 Lil Gun 3.3 @ 1047 fps
Not all inclusive as I said. In all cases five or often as many as 10 five shot groups make up these averages. I worked with some other powders and bullets but the above is typical of the performance Ive gotten from this revolver.
I now have a Lee mould that is supposed to drop a roughly 400 grain LBT style plain base bullet. Review of that mould has been reported separately so data isnt repeated here. It is a good one. If you own a .475 revolver or Encore Id suggest you give it a look. I also have picked up another LBT style mould that drops them at about 430 and uses a gas check. These two bullets are what I cast and in addition to the two Hornady XTPs will make up the majority of my shooting with this revolver. Any and all will do for deer and hogs. The heavy LBT should so for anything that walks these days.
Visit the Taurus Web Site at:
http://www.taurususa.com/You can give them a phone call at these numbers:
Phone 800-327-3776
Phone 305-624-1115
Fax 305-624-1126
Product Specifications:
Model 480SS8M
Caliber .480 Ruger
Action Double
Capacity 5
Barrel Length 6.5 and 8.375 inches
Barrel Type Extra Heavy, Vented Rib
Weight 63 oz. (8 inch)
Sights Patridge Type Front, Micrometer Click Adjustable Rear
Firing Pin Floating
Safety Transfer Bar
Finish Blued, Stainless or Case Hardened
Stocks Santoprene
Features Ported Barrel, Dual Latch Cylinder Lock Up System, Optional Scope Mount
GB
