Is it worth loading for a 480 Ruger?

[ballman6711]

I have a Taurus chambered in 480 Ruger and have been on the fence for awhile about reloading for it. I'm not sure if the cost of the dies and shell holder would be justified vs the cost of factory loaded ammo.

I can get the dies and shell holder for about $90 right now. A box of twenty rounds is anywhere from $30 to $40. I have the appropriate powder and primers stocked, and some brass as well, but would probably buy a bit of brass which would increase my cost. I could load the first box of twenty for about $20 including the cost of the new brass, the second loading would bring my cost down to about $10 for twenty rounds.

My problem is that this gun has probably had 100 rounds put through it in twenty five or thirty years, and may not get that much in the next twenty years. And I still have about twenty five rounds left that I bought at $17 a box.

What would you do? Jump in and load it just to do it and enjoy it, or buy factory ammo knowing you may never recover the cost of the dies?

Thanks,
chris

 

[adcoch1]

I would buy dies. I have a thing about having loading stuff for all the cartridges I shoot even if I don't intend to load them. I always seem to wander into loading at least a few cartridges for everything. That said, if you find a deal on ammo, you could just stock up a hundred bucks worth and call it good if you really don't intend to shoot it much.

 

[MikeInOr]

When I load for an expensive round like a magnum round I find I shoot the gun much more often. Only you can figure out if the finances will work out for you. I will say I enjoy some of my magnums more when I produce my own low power rounds.

For cartridges I don't shoot often I have saved decent money by picking up used dies from places like ebay and gun shows.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

If you're only into reloading for the savings, it's hard to justify the expense. Most here reload to be able to tune their own loads to their guns. Some love to experiment. And some for the satisfaction of having control the process. Based on that, I would start looking for dies. I'm currently investing in dies for some heeled bullet rounds. The dies will cost more than I would have spent on ammo in my lifetime. But I will shoot more, experiment, and develop my own loads.

 

[TTv2]

I think the question has to be asked of why do you not shoot this gun more? Is it the price of the ammo, the recoil, or because you would rather shoot something else?

If it's the latter and you don't depend on the gun for protection from big, dangerous animals, then the gun really has no purpose for you and you may want to consider selling it. One reason I love the Ruger .45 Colt revolvers is they can be loaded very hot to near .44 Mag power, but also shoot cheap, low recoil .45 ACP. IMO, it's all the power I'll ever need from a handgun.

If it's ammo price or recoil, then yes, reload. You can do it cheap and you can make low recoil loads that are more fun to shoot.

Also, $90 for dies/shellholder sounds like you're looking at getting some expensive dies that you don't need. If all you plan to load is a few hundred rounds a year, the Lee dies will work fine and you can get them for under $40. Bullets you can get lead ones for $.31/round, just can't load them to super high velocities.

IMO, if it's a revolver case, it's worth reloading for.

 

[blue32]

Wouldn't reload unless you could get it under .30/round. Even if you put 100 rounds through it in the next year you'll never recover the cost.

 

[iShoot17]

Also, $90 for dies/shellholder sounds like you're looking at getting some expensive dies that you don't need.

^ I completely agree. If you’re in no hurry, search the used market. Surely you can get a used set for under $40 shipped to your house.

I say reload it. But then again, I enjoy reloading as an additional hobby, not as a cost saver.

Lastly, I personally dislike the “cost per shot” perspective to justify an approach. I’m sure there are more than a few people on here that have firearms they bought, shot a few rounds through, and it has sat in the safe since. Why people don’t look at the cost per shot to justify having a new firearm, but do look at the cost per shot to reload for said potential firearm, is crazy talk! (Not saying this is specifically you, Chris, just saying it comes up frequently here!)

Not to mention - potentially selling the revolver + dies down the road will help you recover your costs in full. Allowing you to essentially rent a set of dies for a period of time, for free!

 

[buck460XVR]

Since you claim you only need the dies and shellholders, I assume you already know how to reload and already have everything else you need. Since you've owned the gun for "twenty five or thirty years", you already know the answer.

 

[Targa]

Forget reloading for it, sell that gun and get something you’ll shoot more..

 

[Catpop]

I reload for every pistol cartridge I own, 22LR and 380 excepted. I only shoot boolits. I only conventual lube.
I do it for many different reasons:
1. When TSHTF, I want to be able to keep on shooting. Powder, primers and bare lead are kept in stock for this reason. The rest I can make if push comes to shove! 38-40 comes to mind.
2. I shoot more by making my own ammo as evidenced over the last 50 years! I’m very frugal, some might even say tight! 357 comes to mind. (In excess of 200k)
3. I shoot for competition, but only against myself. I strive to become a better marksman. 45 acp comes to mind. I just love the way that old 1911A1 cycles kinda like an old dot matrix printer which I quickly labeled as a corn shucker!
4. I hunt and there is nothing that takes the place of taking game with a round you personally made-and tested! 44 mag (and again 357) come to mind.
5. I carry for self defense against 2, 4 and no legged vermin both on street and when working in the woods. 9mm and 38 spc come to mind.

——I could go on But most of all, there is nothing more relaxing and satisfying than working up and testing new loads! It’s my place of refuge from the world!
If I couldn’t reload, I probably would just eventually stop shooting— heaven forbid or allow as the case requires.

Buy the dies and never look back!
Jmho!

 

[jaguarxk120]

Just because you own a 200mph sports car doesn't mean you drive it 200 mph
all the time.
The same go's for the 480, or a 44/357. Right now I'm loading some wadcutters into 357
case's, that way I do not have the carbon ring in my chambers from 38 special brass.

 

[WestKentucky]

I reload everything I shoot. I would have bought dies within a month of buying the gun. Only things I don’t reload are 22lr and 12ga, but if I ever get back into small game hunting I will start loading 12ga as I have recently started loading for 20ga and 16ga.

The way I look at it is this, I load it and I know it’s quality, available, and affordable. Once I have those boxes checked I’m inclined to shoot more, especially if I can make ammunition that is more enjoyable than factory ammo. 480 is pretty stout so I would probably load it at around 45 Colt power levels and shoot more.

 

[ATLDave]

I can get the dies and shell holder for about $90 right now.

You can get dies and the shellholder* for a little over 1/3 of that cost. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020799378?pid=309958

*Lee die sets come with the shellholder.

 

[Bill M.]

Certainly reload for it. Get some trail boss and a bunch of coated bullets and shoot it a lot.

Or don't.

I look for any excuse to reload. I might like it better than shooting.

 

[ballman6711]

Thanks for all the replies! Very much appreciated!

I just started loading about two years ago, and load almost all of my 45acp, 38spcl and 357mag. Some loads are light, some are full power. I'm not sensitive to recoil, I just enjoy shooting my 1911 much more. And a lot of indoor ranges I've been to wouldn't let me shoot it because they were afraid of the backstop getting knocked down, although I have a range now that will allow shooting it.

I reload because I enjoy making and shooting my own ammo. So I think you are all correct that if I load for it I will probably shoot it much more.

Think I'm going to start searching for a good price on dies. Thanks again everyone!

chris

 

[edwardware]

I have a Taurus. . .
I can get the dies and shell holder for about $90 right now.

I would back off the solid gold dies, and buy a set for $30 (Lee or used). The difference will buy your first box of bullets.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Buy what you like, but I like to buy the best dies I can afford. Cost more, yes quality better, I think so.
And I like better tooling on my bench.

 

[ATLDave]

Buy what you like, but I like to buy the best dies I can afford. Cost more, yes quality better, I think so.
And I like better tooling on my bench.

That's fine, there's no wrong way to spend your own money, but the idea that a set of dies for a 480 costs $90 is silly if the person is hand-wringing about the cost of reloading. That's like a person who has no car handwringing about the expense of a Mercedes E-class sedan.

I use Lee dies as my default. If there's some reason I need/want to upgrade a particular die, I do it. But about 95% of the time, there's no benefit that I can detect.

 

[jaguarxk120]

You can get a set of RCBS dies in 480 Ruger for $51 from Midway right now.
To me the extra cost is worth it.

 

[Havok7416]

You can get a set of RCBS dies in 480 Ruger for $51 from Midway right now.
To me the extra cost is worth it.

The OP also said he needs a shellplate. I'm not sure what press he uses but that would add $30-40 to his cost.

To the OP: 480 Ruger is a caliber I would certainly reload for. It's uncommon enough that the savings would be apparent within a relatively small production of ammo.

 

[ballman6711]

Thanks Havoc, that's what I was kinda' thinking.

I load on a Hornady LnL single stage, so don't need a shell plate, just a $10 shell holder.

And the RCBS carbide dies at Midway was what I found as well, along with a Hornady custom grade seater with the sleeve. I like those as they help me seat my bullets straight.

I've been on the fence since I've been out of work for about two months and just last week got a part time job. Still looking for full time work, but I think that will happen soon.

Thanks again all.

chris

 

[Antihero]

The 480 is about 17 years old, so probably not 25-30 years old lol

 

[ballman6711]

The 480 is about 17 years old, so probably not 25-30 years old lol

May only be 17 years old, my memory isn't what it used to be, lol! I do remember buying it shortly after the the cartridge came out.

chris

 

[WestKentucky]

Does Hornady still do a thing where you get free Hornady bullets if you buy Hornady dies? Might make it worth the extra few dollars to buy the more expensive shade of red.

 

[Varminterror]

My problem is that this gun has probably had 100 rounds put through it in twenty five or thirty years

Considering that the 480 Ruger was only created 17 years ago...

If you’re not shooting the revolver, don’t load for it.