Well, 39, anyway...
I took my .480 Super Redhawk to the range for the first time today. Since I'm still rounding up reloading dies I made the trip with only factory ammo - 275 gr Speer Gold Dots, and 325 gr Hornady XTP's
One of the Speers could not be loaded, as the bullet was seated crooked, and would not chamber.
Velocity variation was significant over my chrono - and accuracy was not as good as the Hornadys.
The hornady ammo grouped better - when I did my part, which wasn't very often. The gun appeared to manage 1.5-2" groups at 25 yards, with the open sights. A scope would have likely shaved some more off that. Come to think of it, the new glasses I have on order might do the same.
For those who think the .480 was designed to be lighter recoiling revolver than the .454 - yes, it does kick a little less than the .454 in the SRH. I have previously fired a .454 with chrono'd 300's at 1620 fps. The .480 is still a handful, though. I fired the first 6 with no glove, but was soon grateful I brought my PAST glove. I'd have quit sooner otherwise from the whack it gives you in the hand.
Hodgdon says you can reach 1500 fps with 370 grain cast bullets - I may just take their word for it! 325's at 1325 fps are no puffcake!
I picked this particular gun as the worksmanship is quite good - the cylinder locks up as tight as any pre-war S&W or Colt, and the bore is like a mirror. I had no problem with fired cases sticking in the cylinder, as some have reported. The trigger is pretty good, breaking at four pounds SA with just a bit of creep.
The SRH .480 I like a lot - assuming I can eventually get it (and myself) shooting more accurately. You get 10% bigger(area) holes than a .454, penetration enough to shoot through anything I'm going to shoot with a pistol, six shots, double action, and easy scope mounting.
I took my .480 Super Redhawk to the range for the first time today. Since I'm still rounding up reloading dies I made the trip with only factory ammo - 275 gr Speer Gold Dots, and 325 gr Hornady XTP's
One of the Speers could not be loaded, as the bullet was seated crooked, and would not chamber.
Velocity variation was significant over my chrono - and accuracy was not as good as the Hornadys.The hornady ammo grouped better - when I did my part, which wasn't very often.
The gun appeared to manage 1.5-2" groups at 25 yards, with the open sights. A scope would have likely shaved some more off that. Come to think of it, the new glasses I have on order might do the same.For those who think the .480 was designed to be lighter recoiling revolver than the .454 - yes, it does kick a little less than the .454 in the SRH. I have previously fired a .454 with chrono'd 300's at 1620 fps. The .480 is still a handful, though. I fired the first 6 with no glove, but was soon grateful I brought my PAST glove. I'd have quit sooner otherwise from the whack it gives you in the hand.
Hodgdon says you can reach 1500 fps with 370 grain cast bullets - I may just take their word for it! 325's at 1325 fps are no puffcake!
I picked this particular gun as the worksmanship is quite good - the cylinder locks up as tight as any pre-war S&W or Colt, and the bore is like a mirror. I had no problem with fired cases sticking in the cylinder, as some have reported. The trigger is pretty good, breaking at four pounds SA with just a bit of creep.
The SRH .480 I like a lot - assuming I can eventually get it (and myself) shooting more accurately. You get 10% bigger(area) holes than a .454, penetration enough to shoot through anything I'm going to shoot with a pistol, six shots, double action, and easy scope mounting.
