480 Ruger questions

[Bazoo]

I have interest in 480 Ruger. Mostly cause I like the oddball stuff. I’ve never had the chance to shoot one though. My question is about recoil. Full power is going to be something more than 44 mag at full power, correct? What about reduced power? Let’s say at around 800 FPS. What kind of recoil is that comparable to? A 1000fps 44 mag load? 1200fps?

I’m thinking blackhawks and red hawks. I’m familiar with blackhawks so that would be better for me.

 

[.308 Norma]

You have to consider bullet weight as well as velocity. What I mean is, the Lee manual I have sitting in front of me lists several 44 Mag loads for 300gr cast bullets at 1000fps-1200fps. Yet most of the 480 Ruger bullets listed weigh up there around 400grs or better.
My Lee manual does list one 480 Ruger bullet that only weighs 325grs, but kicking that bullet out at only 800fps would be a really, really light load. Most of the 480 Ruger loads listed using that 325gr bullet start out at around 1100fps. The manual also lists quite a few 900fps 480 Ruger loads, but those are using 400gr bullets.
I'm glad you posted the question though. As I said in another thread recently, I too am considering a 480 Ruger, and for the same reason - I like "oddball" stuff. Your question forced me to look up what kind of recoil I'll probably be dealing with. In a Ruger with a Bisley grip frame, I think I'll be able to handle it, but if I can't, that's okay - I'll just turn around and sell the gun. I've done that sort of thing before and never regretted it - no matter how many "What gun(s) have you regretted selling?" threads show up on THR.

 

[Bazoo]

I know....I didn’t put bullet weight because I really ain’t sure what’s the standard for 480. I know 240-250 is standard for 44 mag though and that’s what I’m thinking.

For someone that has both, to quantify it I think will be easy.

 

[.308 Norma]

I know....I didn’t put bullet weight because I really ain’t sure what’s the standard for 480. I know 240-250 is standard for 44 mag though and that’s what I’m thinking.

For someone that has both, to quantify it I think will be easy.

Until your question (which is why I looked it up in my loading manuals) I didn't know that "standard" bullet weights for the 480 Ruger run between 300grs and 400grs either. So thanks again for posting the question - I learned something.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I like big bores and feel that I am missing out a bit by not having a 480 Ruger. That said, the bullet availability always concerned me. Not a common caliber and I don't see many bullet options out there. So, take that into account and plan as needed. Now, if you cast and are set there, less of an issue.

Not trying to talk anyone out of it as I have lots of odd things which aren't easy to feed at times.

 

[mavracer]

For someone that has both, to quantify it I think will be easy.

It's a lot more
I used 48 oz for both
A 240gr bullet at 1400 fps produces ~20 ft lbs of recoil energy.
A 300 gr bullet at 1200 is ~ 22 fl lbs
These are pretty standard factory 44 mag loads, I've shot that 300gr load a lot in a 4" Redhawk it's stout.
My 480 load is a 420gr LSWC at 1250 fps it produces ~38 ft lbs of recoil. In my 5.25" BFR. I rarely shoot more than a cylinder full or 2 cause it's a handfull.

 

[Riomouse911]

It's a lot more
I used 48 oz for both
A 240gr bullet at 1400 fps produces ~20 ft lbs of recoil energy.
A 300 gr bullet at 1200 is ~ 22 fl lbs
These are pretty standard factory 44 mag loads, I've shot that 300gr load a lot in a 4" Redhawk it's stout.
My 480 load is a 420gr LSWC at 1250 fps it produces ~38 ft lbs of recoil. In my 5.25" BFR. I rarely shoot more than a cylinder full or 2 cause it's a handfull.

Thats a lot of ooomph!

And the .480 Ruger was brought to market as a lighter kicking, heavyweight round since the .475 Linebaugh, its parent case, is a REAL hand-thumper out of a handgun. (I guess it could be almost be called a “.475 Special.”)

Stay safe.

 

[Bazoo]

Preciate the replies. Well how does a reduced velocity 480 compare? I’m thinking 800 FPS, maybe 300-320 grain bullets.

And of course I cast, there are folks that don’t?

 

[mavracer]

Thats a lot of ooomph!

And the .480 Ruger was brought to market as a lighter kicking, heavyweight round since the .475 Linebaugh, its parent case, is a REAL hand-thumper out of a handgun. (I guess it could be almost be called a “.475 Special.”)

Stay safe.

Yeah not really, Ruger wanted their name on a cartridge, it's really just a smidge more tame .115" shorter case and only drop from 50K to 48K pressure.
My load probably splits the gap as I'm sure it's under 48K but the bullet I'm using is way over spec OAL. Here are some pictured with my SRH.

 

[mavracer]

Preciate the replies. Well how does a reduced velocity 480 compare? I’m thinking 800 FPS, maybe 300-320 grain bullets.

And of course I cast, there are folks that don’t?

Well 300 to 320 @800 is less than what you can do with a 44 so it'd be less recoil. It also makes less sense to me.
If I want to shoot lighter loads I'd just shoot my 44 mag or 45 Colt.

 

[Bazoo]

My thinking is I’ll have an every day working load that gets shot mostly, and still have the full bore stuff when desired.

Also, I don’t have a 44 mag or 45 colt. Only a 44 special Blackhawk.

 

[mavracer]

Also, I don’t have a 44 mag or 45 colt. Only a 44 special Blackhawk.

Then it makes sense. IIRC Jeff Quinn had a nice reduced load using Unique. You can probably find it in the gunblast.com archives.

 

[.38 Special]

I never had good luck with light cast bullets in the .480 - and in fact rarely have had good luck with light cast bullets in any of the big bores. In the .480 I used Lee 400 grain molds for nearly everything, and for plinking used either Unique or Trail Boss. Eight and a half grains of Unique was good for about 800 FPS, I think (I'm at the office and going from a pretty old memory) and a case full of Trail Boss - roughly six grains - made for almost 700. Recoil, in the huge Super Redhawk, was completely manageable, well under typical .44 Magnum territory.

 

[Bazoo]

Thanks all.

 

[ms6852]

If memory serves me well, I recall shooting a .480 400gr bullet years ago. The recoil was less than the .475 Linebaugh and more than the 44 magnum. It felt like I was shooting my brother's 45/70 in a contender.