New 48 spl

[TTv2]

It’s a .475 Linebaugh Special...,

.480 Ruger is a great cartridge. Too bad it’s not more popular.

Yeah, from what I see the .480 is the largest practical caliber in a revolver as the .500 is so large it requires an absurdely large revolver and the .460 S&W is so high in pressure it also needs a huge gun. Not saying the Super Redhawk/Blackhawks are small, but my gosh, they're not the size of the X frame.

 

[silvermane_1]

Yeah, from what I see the .480 is the largest practical caliber in a revolver as the .500 is so large it requires an absurdely large revolver and the .460 S&W is so high in pressure it also needs a huge gun. Not saying the Super Redhawk/Blackhawks are small, but my gosh, they're not the size of the X frame.

^Exactly, and Chuck Hawks did a review of the 480 Ruger, and the "Special" moniker is not applicable to handloads, only "watered down" factory loadings when it comes to being a/the .475 "Special" moniker. IMHO the 480 Ruger is the most underrated "big bore" caliber commercially available and being produced currently.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The folks in the know are quite fond of it and right now at least it is a pretty well kept secret.

Anyone who is big into handgun hunting has heard of it though and that is/was its only market.

There have been quite a few more guns than people realize that it’s been chambered in though many are no longer in production. Of course the Super Redhawk and a few low production Lipseys 5 shot Blackhawks but also the Taurus Raging Bull comes to mind as well as the Puma/Rossi 92 rifle. That would be a fun rifle to have. Ruger also chambered a No1 rifle in .475 Linebaugh. And there was/is the BFR.

 

[gotboostvr]

Yeah, from what I see the .480 is the largest practical caliber in a revolver as the .500 is so large it requires an absurdely large revolver and the .460 S&W is so high in pressure it also needs a huge gun. Not saying the Super Redhawk/Blackhawks are small, but my gosh, they're not the size of the X frame.

There's the 500JRH, it's on cut down 500mag brass at a lower pressure. The small frame BFR is occasionally chambered in it and I believe Redhawks and 5 shot Blackhawks have been modified for it.

There's also the 500 Wyoming Express which uses belted brass that's in about the same class.

 

[MaxP]

Yeah, from what I see the .480 is the largest practical caliber in a revolver as the .500 is so large it requires an absurdely large revolver and the .460 S&W is so high in pressure it also needs a huge gun. Not saying the Super Redhawk/Blackhawks are small, but my gosh, they're not the size of the X frame.

There are other .500s that fit the same confines of the .480 like the .500 JRH. The most “logical” of the half-inchers.

 

[MaxP]

There's the 500JRH, it's on cut down 500mag brass at a lower pressure. The small frame BFR is occasionally chambered in it and I believe Redhawks and 5 shot Blackhawks have been modified for it.

There's also the 500 Wyoming Express which uses belted brass that's in about the same class.

Not occasionally chambered, but actually one of Magnum Research’s best sellers. The cartridge was originally designed to fit the limited space offered by the FA 83 and actually has a smaller rim then the .500 Smith. The dedicated brass produced by Starline reflects this. However, BFRs are cut to accept both rim sizes so you can use cut-down S&W brass.

 

[22-rimfire]

If you are looking to buy a 475/480, there is no question that I would get a BFR or go custom. These calibers use the short cylinder which has been one of the reasons I favored them over others like the 460 S&W. But as always, it depends on how you want to carry the gun, your intended use, and the kind of hunting you are most likely to use it for.

 

[earlthegoat2]

BFR is on my shortlist. Don’t know if I will ever figure which cartridge to get it in though.

.454, .475/.480 or .500JRH.

 

[22-rimfire]

On paper one of these would make an effective self defense critter gun say in Alaska. But they are all beastly frames and I personally don't want to lug one around other than for hunting. I suspect any of those calibers would work for you. Go 480/475 or 454 if you aren't going to hand load.

 

[MaxP]

On paper one of these would make an effective self defense critter gun say in Alaska. But they are all beastly frames and I personally don't want to lug one around other than for hunting. I suspect any of those calibers would work for you. Go 480/475 or 454 if you aren't going to hand load.

If you’re talking .500 JRH, the revolver size is the same.

 

[22-rimfire]

I thought so with the .500 JRH, but not very familiar with it and didn't want to mention in a thread.