Author Topic: The 480 Ruger (Read 8500 times)

Redhawk1 · « **on:** February 03, 2011, 02:57:26 AM »

How many other handgun hunters feel the 480 Ruger is one of the most over looked rounds for handgun hunting?

I have been handgun hunting for over 35 years, and I ave jumped all over the spectrum on handguns for hunting.. I started with the 357 Mag and deer hunting, then to the 41 Mag and followed by the 44 Mag. Which I shot for many years. Then came the 454 Casull, I just had to have one. I over looked the 45 Colt, for many years, don't have a clue as to why, but now it is one of my favorites as well. The last 10 years I have looking into the 500 mag, 460 mag and 475 Linebaugh. Then I grabbed a Ruger Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger.

I shot it and killed a few deer and hogs with it. Sold it when I was hot and heavy into the S&W 460 and 500 mags. Now I have been looking back to the 480 Ruger. The round itself is a very good round, I have found some very accurate loads, and started shooting the 480 Ruger once again as well as the 475 Linebaugh.

The thing I found about the 480 Ruger is, it makes a nice big hole and the recoil is just as manageable as the 44 Magnum. To me as a handgun hunter, a big hole lets out a lot of blood and with a well placed shot, the animal dies quickly and blood trailing is made easy.

So how many of you like the 480 Ruger?

drdougrx · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2011, 04:10:12 AM »

Count me in! I'm really lov'n mine. I haven't blooded it yet but I suspect I will sometime this year. Currently playing with 325gr deepcurls and will be getting some Cast Precision 370gr WFNGC. Only complaint is that the front site is too low for heavy boolits ... but have new one on order.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2011, 08:26:16 AM »

Quote from: drdougrx on February 03, 2011, 04:10:12 AM

Count me in! I'm really lov'n mine. I haven't blooded it yet but I suspect I will sometime this year. Currently playing with 325gr deepcurls and will be getting some Cast Precision 370gr WFNGC. Only complaint is that the front site is too low for heavy boolits ... but have new one on order.

Check out Montana Bullet Works, some great bullets at a great price.. I am using 400 gr. LFNGC as well as some 400 gr. WFNCG.. Shoots great out of both my 475 Linebaught using 480 Ruger cases.

Just ordered some 325 ge and 375 gr. LFNGC to play with.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2011, 09:38:35 AM »

I don't even own a 480 ruger and I agree with you. On paper, I love this round. The problem I think it suffers from is, it appears to be placed someplace in the middle of a 44mag and the 454. However, great apeal to the hand loader, percieved as a ammo hostage to the non-hand loader.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2011, 10:40:27 AM »

Cabin4, you may very well have something there. As I see it, the 480 Ruger will be like the 41 Mag. There will be a group of people that hold on to this round, hoping one day others will see the true worth of the cartridge.

It may very well be the between cartridge for the 44 Mag and 454 Casull, but in my opinion it is a better cartridge. Don't get me wrong, I still have a 44 Mag, 45 Colt and a 500 Mag, but for me the 480 Ruger and 475 Linebaugh have the edge in my book over the above listed rounds. The 480 Ruger alone can take anything in North America, but the added power of the 475 Linebaugh gives you the extra power when, and if it is every needed or wanted!

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2011, 11:20:26 AM »

I like it and take up for it any time I see someone putting it down. I don't hunt anything that requires that much killing power but I'd trust it to hunt anything I'd do after what a handgun.

Tiapan64 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2011, 03:33:21 PM »

I love the 480!! Was my first foray into the bigbores. I have the Raging Bull in the 480 and the S&W in the 500. I use both for hunting wild boar here in Texas where I live and Both do it fine. The 480 is iron sighted and is more accurate than I. The 500 is scoped with an Ultradot Matchdot also more accurate than I. Love the 480 for the big hole and mild recoil compaired to the 500 with mag loads. I reload and these 2 are really nice to tailor. I use 400 grains in both and both are sledgehammers on pigs.

Tom W. · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2011, 04:11:51 PM »

I foolishly traded mine..... and still regret it.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2011, 04:29:38 PM »

I like the 480 so much I purchased 2 boxes of ammo and I don't even own a gun that will shoot it! Figure that out....

I did have plans to buy one. Long story short, It has not happened and likely won't anytime soon.

drdougrx · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2011, 03:48:04 AM »

Oh Oh Redhawk.....I also love the 41mag (having a bisley built) ... and the 480ruger....need psychological evaluation....

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2011, 04:33:42 AM »

Quote from: drdougrx on February 04, 2011, 03:48:04 AM

Oh Oh Redhawk.....I also love the 41mag (having a bisley built) ... and the 480ruger....need psychological evaluation....

I had a blast with my 41 Mag as will, it was a Blackhawk, and I took a lot of deer with it..

ronben · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2011, 04:41:55 AM »

I must like them... I have 4.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2011, 05:44:28 AM »

Quote from: ronben on February 04, 2011, 04:41:55 AM

I must like them... I have 4.

Are they all the Super Redhawks?

ronben · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2011, 07:18:55 AM »

They are. An Alaskan, one cut to 4.5", and 2 7.5". I have a 2x and 4x leupold for them. I bought the second 7.5 when they quit making them for a spare.
They shoot quite well.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:58:25 AM »

I should of jumped on one when they quit making them. I regret getting rid of mine. But I have 2 of the 475 Linebaugh's and shooting the 480 is not a problem at all.

DEGOLDCUP · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2011, 12:18:16 AM »

I love the 480 Ruger too. Got a SRH 7.5 incher topped with a B&L 2X. I let some of my friends shoot the gun and they are amazed by how "light" the recoil is for the power generated. It is definitely an underrated round.

temmi · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:46:20 AM »

You are Correct...

The 480R is one of the most over looked and underrated rounds ever produced.

While it has “lost the race for the biggest fastest handgun cartridge in production… it ability as a hunting round is suburb.

While I have taken exactly zero (0) animals with my 480R… My son has taken several hogs without any problem.

BUT… excellence does not always ensure success in a hunting cartridge, as attested to by the 480R

I for one believe it is a winner… more so if you handload.

1911crazy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2011, 11:52:51 AM »

I think the ruger 480 is second to the overlooked 41mag being first as a forgotten great caliber that never had its shine in the lime light and never gained popularity.

I also find tht ruger discontinues guns/calibers before giving then a shot at catching on too. I'd like to also have a redhawk in 480 ruger, 357mag and in 41mag too. Or a redhawk with a 9 1/2" barrel too. I emailed them about it too but will we ever see those calibers offered again i think not. CZY

BTW/OT but interesting; I emailed mcdonalds once too about there menu and what they ccould offer us thats different. I suggested a angus steak with cheese/onions like there 1/4lb cheddar burgers. They told me they don't take advise nor listen to there customers or consumers. So why should a gun manufacturer be any different? Gee why are our sales way off lately?? Don't expect to shove something down our throats that we really don't want. The car manufacturers are finally seeing that now with the camaro and the mustang returning right?? Why did they disappear?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2011, 12:13:59 PM »

Quote from: 1911crazy on February 08, 2011, 11:52:51 AM

I think the ruger 480 is second to the overlooked 41mag being first as a forgotten great caliber that never had its shine in the lime light and never gained popularity.

I also find tht ruger discontinues guns/calibers before giving then a shot at catching on too. I'd like to also have a redhawk in 480 ruger, 357mag and in 41mag too. Or a redhawk with a 9 1/2" barrel too. I emailed them about it too but will we ever see those calibers offered again i think not. CZY

BTW/OT but interesting; I emailed mcdonalds once too about there menu and what they ccould offer us thats different. I suggested a angus steak with cheese/onions like there 1/4lb cheddar burgers. They told me they don't take advise nor listen to there customers or consumers. So why should a gun manufacturer be any different? Gee why are our sales way off lately?? Don't expect to shove something down our throats that we really don't want. The car manufacturers are finally seeing that now with the camaro and the mustang returning right?? Why did they disappear?

A 5 shot 480 Ruger in a Blackhawk or Redhawk would of done well..

cnTndr85 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2011, 01:42:48 PM »

Another 480 fan here, I've had a 7 1/2" SRH since they first came out and have been wanting a sts. 5 1/2" SA 480 ever since, I've finally grown tired of waiting for one so I just shipped my FA 454 to Reeder for a conversion....I will have my sts. 5 1/2" 480 SA before too much longer.

Mark

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2011, 01:55:01 PM »

Quote from: cnTndr85 on February 08, 2011, 01:42:48 PM

Another 480 fan here, I've had a 7 1/2" SRH since they first came out and have been wanting a sts. 5 1/2" SA 480 ever since, I've finally grown tired of waiting for one so I just shipped my FA 454 to Reeder for a conversion....I will have my sts. 5 1/2" 480 SA before too much longer.

Mark

Both of my 475 Linebaugh's are Reeder conversions.. One is a Blackhawk, and one is a Redhawk, both 5 shot's...

1911crazy · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2011, 07:13:05 AM »

Ruger seems to offer new stuff then take it away, i guess when the sales slow down. But down the road i maybe interested in a 480 ruger redhawk too. There revolver calibers and barrel lengths seem to come and go away even faster than they arrived, yet the rifle calibers last for eons. They just don't give people a chance....(buyers). I'm buying new S&W's now in 41mag / 357mag since i can't get the new redhawks in these calibers. For the bigger calibers when i'm ready i'll go to magnum reseach BFR i guess. CZY

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2011, 12:22:42 AM »

Allways thought it was the best ballanced big bore round going. Never owned on though as ive never been excited about the guns it came in.

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2011, 08:51:04 PM »

Last summer I picked up a Ruger SRH in 480. It belonged to a good friend who passed away and the family needed some money. To be honest it was one of the best things I had done. I owned a twin in 454 but I could not shoot it well. This gun is a different story. For me it is very shootable. The recoil isn't as sharp and jarring as the 454. I carried it this year in NH while bear hunting. Although I did not see anything, I was confident that it was up to the job.

300winman · « **Reply #24 on:** February 11, 2011, 09:33:22 PM »

Add me to the list of people who wished they bought one but never did. Always saw one when I was just looking, and never when I was ready to buy.....

Cabin4 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2011, 04:33:39 AM »

How do you believe the recoil of the 480 in a 6.5 would compare to a RSBH in 44 mag with the darn long bbl?

Tom W. · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2011, 08:36:36 AM »

There isn't much difference. I believe the .480 is a bit milder, or at least not as sharp. More of a boom than a crack. And is a LOT easier than the .454....

nomosendero · « **Reply #27 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:36:21 AM »

Quote from: Redhawk1 on February 08, 2011, 12:13:59 PM

Quote from: 1911crazy on February 08, 2011, 11:52:51 AM
I think the ruger 480 is second to the overlooked 41mag being first as a forgotten great caliber that never had its shine in the lime light and never gained popularity.

I also find tht ruger discontinues guns/calibers before giving then a shot at catching on too. I'd like to also have a redhawk in 480 ruger, 357mag and in 41mag too. Or a redhawk with a 9 1/2" barrel too. I emailed them about it too but will we ever see those calibers offered again i think not. CZY

BTW/OT but interesting; I emailed mcdonalds once too about there menu and what they ccould offer us thats different. I suggested a angus steak with cheese/onions like there 1/4lb cheddar burgers. They told me they don't take advise nor listen to there customers or consumers. So why should a gun manufacturer be any different? Gee why are our sales way off lately?? Don't expect to shove something down our throats that we really don't want. The car manufacturers are finally seeing that now with the camaro and the mustang returning right?? Why did they disappear?

A 5 shot 480 Ruger in a Blackhawk or Redhawk would of done well..

Yes indeed!!
I'm sure Ruger knows more about marketing than me, but it appears that many folks (like me) that like this type of cartridge also like single action revolvers. I think if they had also offered a 5 shot Bisley & had someone sell a good heavy cast load (hard with Hornady bond) I believe the sales would have stayed high.
I have been looking at the BFR, but decided against it because they don't offer a Bisley. I am looking at a new 480 of some kind, may be a 475 of course.

sniper2u00 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 13, 2011, 03:59:46 PM »

I'm also a fan of the 480! I picked up a SRH 7.5in. 6 shot shortly after they came out. I have never regretted it! I put a 2x scope on it and it's a great combination.I would like to try some hard cast threw it but picked up 3 bags(250ct@ $33. a piece) of 325gr.hp. Blemish bullets @ Mid-South a few yr back.They make great whitetail thumpers

Bisley 45 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 21, 2011, 02:15:18 PM »

Since this is my first post, I want to say hello to everyone, and think this is a very fine site. I thank a Ruger Bisley in 480 would be the gun! Bet they would sell alot of them. Ruger probably never will.