480 Ruger worth getting?

[CraigC]

I have never shot an animal with a handgun...

Yes, that's obvious. I'm always baffled how folks who have never hunted with a handgun could argue with those who do. You've never done it, MaxP has written books on the subject.

...but if I were to go bear hunting, a handgun would be my last choice. I would probably use something like a .375 H&H Magnum or a .458 Winchester Magnum rifle.

Don't impose your limitations upon others. The handgun it more difficult to master but terminally, it gives up nothing but range to big bore rifles. The .480, for instance, would shoot completely through a mature grizzly with the right bullet.

By your logic, the .480 Ruger with its .475" diameter would do more damage than a .454 Casull with its .452" diameter bullet? Nevermind that the M.E. of the Casull is significantly more.

Which leads me to the final point. Yes, nevermind the energy! Kinetic energy is a meaningless number and we'd all be better off if they stopped printing that crap in books, manuals and magazines. There is no more useless measure of a big bore handgun's effectiveness, period. It places far too much importance on velocity, the most rapidly diminishing factor, too little on weight and none on diameter. Which leads folks like yourself to believe a lot of crap that just isn't true. Yes, the .480 would produce a larger wound channel than the .454.

Sorry but your posts on this subject are just rife with misconceptions and misinformation. The AK47 nonsense doesn't even earn a response.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

The .480 Ruger SBH isn't going to do anything that the .44 Magnum SBH can't besides be .480 Ruger. Also the ammo is more expensive and less available that .44 Magnum. Get it if you wish, but it's not going to do anything more for you.

That is a foolish statement. I own and have hunted with all of them and the 480 is twice the hammer of a 44mag. Much bigger hole and a heavier bullet traveling the same speed or slightly more than the smaller 44 bullet.

If I'm in bear country I'd dang sure take a 480 over a 44mag.

And you can post all your data about energy etc etc but I've killed deer with them all and yes the 44mag will kill them just fine with proper placement but a 480 flat out puts them down. How many have you killed with a handgun?

 

[22-rimfire]

...Which leads me to the final point. Yes, nevermind the energy! Kinetic energy is a meaningless number and we'd all be better off if they stopped printing that crap in books, manuals and magazines. There is no more useless measure of a big bore handgun's effectiveness, period. It places far too much importance on velocity, the most rapidly diminishing factor, too little on weight and none on diameter. Which leads folks like yourself to believe a lot of crap that just isn't true. Yes, the .480 would produce a larger wound channel than the .454.

I suspect the 454C may be better at longer range than the 480R (beyond 100 yds kind of range). The wound channel will be larger with the 480 as CraigC says. To me that likely means it would kill more efficiently. Hot 454C's are brutal to shoot as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I have them all and would keep the 480 over a 454,460, or 500. I do like the 44mag because it will get the job done and much less recoil but the 480 IMO is the best overall big boy when it comes to compromise of recoil, noise, and performance.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO the 480 doesn't offer much more than the 454 Casull but if you want your own gun I see no reason not to buy a 480R. If it were me though I would buy a 475 Linebaugh instead in case you get the itch for more in the future. You can fire 480R ammo in the 475L or just load the 475 to 480R specs if you reload.

If you really like the 480R buy one, it will serve you well.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have them all and would keep the 480 over a 454,460, or 500. I do like the 44mag because it will get the job done and much less recoil but the 480 IMO is the best overall big boy when it comes to compromise of recoil, noise, and performance.

I agree. This is a rational kind of statement and it has taken years since the introduction of the 480 Ruger for most to see it/say it. The 480 does exactly what it was touted when it was developed by Ruger and Hornady for the Ruger SRH. MaxP and Craig have far more experience with the big bores than I do.

 

[Ed Ames]

But would I be better served with a 460 or a 500?

To add to my previous comments, since I didn't address this...

I have played with the .460, never messed with the .500. Most of my .460 time was with a 2.75" barrel X-frame, but I've also tried out the ~8" version.

I really wanted to like the .460 but I am apparently a wus. A moderate amount of practice would leave my hand aching, bone deep, for weeks. Keep in mind, I still continue to play with a .454 Alaskan whenever I have an opportunity, but I can leave the .460 to others without feeling like I am missing anything.

I think that the .460 has very specific uses amongst certain hunters and masochists, and almost no purpose outside of those groups. It wasn't particularly good as a .454/.45c because it wound up being huge, 5-shot, and you always had the chamber ring/case sticking thing in the back of your mind. For me, it was simply the wrong gun by a very large margin.

Bear defense is not one of the areas where I think the .460 shines. The Alaskan is smaller, lighter, carries an extra round, and if it isn't enough gun you need to make some different life choices.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I suspect the 454C may be better at longer range than the 480R (beyond 100 yds kind of range). The wound channel will be larger with the 480 as CraigC says. To me that likely means it would kill more efficiently. Hot 454C's are brutal to shoot as far as I'm concerned.

yes I give the edge to the 454 for longer ranges and the 460 is even way better but you pay the price in recoil and they are brutally loud so you can't hunt with them without hearing protection. At closer ranges I like the 480 and it's large bore creates more of a loud boom than a crack so I can hunt without additional hearing protection for just that one or two shots since I always have

I agree. This is a rational kind of statement and it has taken years since the introduction of the 480 Ruger for most to see it/say it. The 480 does exactly what it was touted when it was developed by Ruger and Hornady for the Ruger SRH. MaxP and Craig have far more experience with the big bores than I do.

I bought my first 480 soon after they were introduced and immediately realized it for what it was/is.

Even bigger ones have come along 460/500 but I still fall back to the 480 being a great combination of power and size.

I've killed a fair number of deer with a handgun and most of them have fell to a 480. I have had some bad nerve issues with my neck and arm in recent years so I have given up on handgun only hunting and just carry a 44mag for less recoil but if it were not for the health issues I'd still be shooting and carrying a 480 more.

 

[farmer pliers]

The 480 is a great balance of power, recoil and muzzle blast for what it delivers, it is on a large but manageable size frame. It wears the name of one of the greatest men to have been in this industry and I am sure that was done with extensive consideration. I have one in the SRH and appreciate it more all the time.

 

[MaxP]

I have been a fan of the .480 since inception and bought my first an SRH in 2001. I've killed a few head of game with one over the years. My chief complaint about the .460 S&W -- aside from the ear-splitting noise levels is the fact that the cartridge requires too much gun bulk to house. The case is a full 1.8-inches long. I also believe there are better .500s than the Smith in the .500 Linebaugh and .500 JRH which both fit in the confines of a more manageable revolver size. This is the biggest animal I've killed to date with a .480, a water buffalo in Argentina a few years back that was chronicled in NRA's American Hunter magazine.

The .480 is undeniably more effective on big animals than the .44 Mag.

 

[C-grunt]

I had a buddy in the Army that carried a SRH in 480. Had probably around a 5 inch barrel.

I really liked that gun. Recoil was not bad at all. It was significant for sure, but it didn't have that slapped in the palm feeling Id get from his 629 44 mag. Much of that probably had to do with the grips though.

 

[MaxP]

Just for perspective - .480 Ruger left, .44 Mag right:

 

[CraigC]

Here's another, the best of .44 bullets (355gr Beartooth) compared to one of the best .475 bullets (425gr CPBC). You can clearly see how much larger the .475's meplat is. Hollow base Black Magic slug on the right.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have been a fan of the .480 since inception and bought my first an SRH in 2001. I've killed a few head of game with one over the years. My chief complaint about the .460 S&W -- aside from the ear-splitting noise levels is the fact that the cartridge requires too much gun bulk to house. The case is a full 1.8-inches long. I also believe there are better .500s than the Smith in the .500 Linebaugh and .500 JRH which both fit in the confines of a more manageable revolver size. This is the biggest animal I've killed to date with a .480, a water buffalo in Argentina a few years back that was chronicled in NRA's American Hunter magazine.

The .480 is undeniably more effective on big animals than the .44 Mag.

The photo of the 480 and 44 mag is telling. The issue of revolver and cylinder size is very important to me even if the larger framed revolvers handle the recoil better. It gets to a point where a fast pointing carbine length rifle works just as well. So, to me there are "limits".

 

[MaxP]

A friend had to shoot a grizzly bear that was coming in on their moose kill as they were skinning it out. His rifle was propped up against a tree out of reach. Fortunately he had his .475 on his hip. There is a certain convenience that is undeniable regarding handguns. Plus, it's a truckload easier to take a revolver into your sleeping back with you. I agree that these big revolvers aren't for everyone, but the .480 just makes good sense. They really do kick considerably less then some other big calibers and they are really effective. It's a great round. Here is my Super Blackhawk in .480 Ruger. It's a hard combination to beat.

 

[Saggins]

I'd like to thank everyone for their thoughts and input. I feel confident about getting the 480 now, and it so happens a local dealer has one

 

[MaxP]

I'd like to thank everyone for their thoughts and input. I feel confident about getting the 480 now, and it so happens a local dealer has one

Excellent! I am looking forward to hearing your impressions of your new acquisition.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Oh just great, thanks a lot guys! Now I have an itch for a big-bore revolver, probably a 480R.
Just great!!! (or maybe a. 475 Linebaugh)

 

[stchman]

I assume people here that say kinetic energy is meaningless are speaking about the T.K.O. - Taylor Knockout Formula for big game.

A .480 Ruger round with a muzzle velocity of 1300fps and a bullet weight of 325gr has a TKO of about 26.46.

By using this TKO formula if I throw a 3(21000gr) pound rock with a 5 inch diameter 10 mi/hr(14.667 fps) it would have a TKO of 220.05.

Is my rock throwing 8.3X more effective than a .480 Ruger round at killing big game? According to the formula it is.

 

[RealGun]

It is a done deal, but taking another direction could have included a Redhawk in 45 Colt, anticipating exploration of "Ruger only" loads. That is my biggest cannon, and I too am not interested in anything more massive. I do want to shoot someone else's 460XVR though. A friend has one, and I have been bugging him to bring it out. He would need to charge per shot though $$$.

 

[MaxP]

I'm not a proponent of the TKO formula. You don't need an equation to choose a load or to know how it will work on large animals. No, muzzle energy is what you brought into this discussion at the outset. Muzzle energy tells you nothing about lethality. As I mentioned before, just about any .22-250 load produces (actually calculates because you can't measure it) more ME than even the hottest .480 load. So how does the higher ME equate to killing big game? It doesn't.

Nobody I know who hunts big-game (big meaning considerably larger than your average whitetail) loads their .480 with 325 grain expanding bullets. They will likely use a bullet in the 400 grain range at about 1,200 fps. Or a monometal solid in the 330 - 340 grain range. These things make a big hole by default. Expansion just hinders penetration when your projectile is moving at moderate velocities. We cannot achieve high speed with revolvers, so you have to work with what they have.

You should try handgun hunting, you might like it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yeah, most commercial .460 Magnum offerings will run you $2/round and on up. That is a bit of money.

 

[22-rimfire]

Only the Hornady stuff is relatively inexpensive with the 480. It is a cartridge that you should consider reloading your own after you shoot it a bit.

Yes to the 475 Linebaugh and then mostly shoot 480 Ruger in it. The extra power is there if you need it. I honestly don't need it, but I haven't shot anything bigger than a whitetail with it anyway.

The standard 325 gr works pretty well on whitetails.

 

[MaxP]

Only the Hornady stuff is relatively inexpensive with the 480. It is a cartridge that you should consider reloading your own after you shoot it a bit.

Yes to the 475 Linebaugh and then mostly shoot 480 Ruger in it. The extra power is there if you need it. I honestly don't need it, but I haven't shot anything bigger than a whitetail with it anyway.

The standard 325 gr works pretty well on whitetails.

Those 325 grain loads are perfect for whitetail. There are some boutique manufacturers that have great big-game loads for the .480 like Grizzly Cartridge, Buffalo Bore, etc. but it is always best to handload.

 

[stchman]

To the OP, when you get your SBH in .480 Ruger, we want pics and pics of targets you put holes in with that cannon.