Rod's post in this forum stimulated me to ask for your advice. I am planning on sending a Bisley in 45 Colt to him for use in building me something in 475 caliber. My primary reason for wanting something in 475 is "I do not have one in that caliber." I also do not have a specific need for one.

My current plan is to get both a 475 Linebaugh & a 480 Ruger cylinder made for it. While I understand that I could shoot the shorter cartridge in the longer cylinder, I prefer not to do that. Beyond the above specs, I have no concrete plan. Thus, here is an opportunity for your input.

I am undecided on barrel length --- thinking maybe of 5 1/2 or 6". It will likely wear a J-point sight.

I am not into "fancy" guns, rather I much prefer function over appearance. However, a new set of grips might also be nice.

The use for this revolver will mostly be "holding my safe close to the floor" and shooting the metal targets on my range. I do not anticipate hunting huge critters. However, it will likely get to go on our annual exotic hunt in South Texas. Thus, the normal range for its use will not be greatly in excess of 100 yds.

Let me hear from you.

I wouldn't worry about the Linebaugh cylinder unless you just want a Linebaugh, the 480 will do nearly anything the 475 can, at least to 100 yards. I like a 6" barrel. Is it a blued gun or SS? Ivory grips look sweet on a blued gun, ebony on a SS.

I am sure Rod can make you happy. You need nothing for the .480 once you have the .475.
Why not a BFR in 7-1/2" for the gun? If you want 5-1/2", just go to the .480 alone.
Will a J point take the recoil?

The .475 makes the .480 obsolete as far as I am concerned. You can always load it down to .480 levels. I am not a .480 hater -- quite the contrary (bought my first .480 in 2001)-- but there is no reason to have two cylinders IMO. You can shoot the shorter brass safely in the .475, even though there really is no need.

I have learned that you don't have to push a chunk of lead to 1600 fps to kill a critter. I can comfortably push a 325 to over 1300 in the 480 and that will giterdun for me. Why beat yourself up.

So will a 420 at 1,300!

I have FAs in 50 AE (with WE cylinder ordered) & 454s with 7 1/2" bbls. Since I do not plan to scope this one, I thought a shorter barrel might be nice. I have a blackhawk in 327 mag with a 5 1/2" bbl that I like for my pickup gun. I also have a M97 in 45 Colt with a 5 1/2" bbl that I really like to carry. Thus, I was considering a shorter barrel on a "banger."

The suggestions about not getting both cylinders is interesting. However, then I would need to decide which one. If I were getting only one cylinder, I would lean toward the 475 rather than the 480. It could be loaded to 480 velocities and still have the potential to do more if it were ever needed. My standard mode of operation is to develop one load that shoots well in a revolver and then load only that load for that revolver. Thus, the sights do not require adjusting & the trajectory is always the same. If two cylinders were used, the sight might need to be adjusted when the loading was changed. For me that would be a negative.

Thus, I would like for you to continue the discussion of which one --- 475 or 480.

BTW - the bisley is blue.

I presume that the J-point will take the recoil. FA sells mounts for it for their revolvers and I understand that it will take the recoil of the 454.

Relative to the 2 cylinder discussion, I should use my own experience as a guide. I have a M97 with I bought for Roberta several years ago in 32 H&R. It is a lot of fun. However, I had Bob make a 327 cylinder for it. Since I put that cylinder in the revolver, the 32 H&R cylinder has not been used. That would likely be the case with this one. One cylinder would wind up left in the safe.

Touche'


But even at 1100, a 420 will raise some hell ;-)

Given that I love my 480R.

If I were having a new gun made and did not have any investment in the 480R I would just get the 475L.

They are very close and do overlap a bit.


So why get both.... It will save you a lot of brass.

Snake

If you're going to put a micro red on it then an inch or so of barrel won't matter one way or the other, go for what's easier to carry. I also don't think there is a heck of a lot of difference between the 480 and the 475 but the inherent value of the gun will be higher with the 475. I'd go with a 5.5 475.

My vote is for the 5.5" .475 - maybe some Holly grips on it and a deep bluish purple finish...wait, that sounds like my .45!

I have a 6" FA Linebaugh that'd pair well with the JPoint - as for recoil-hardiness, I believe Gregg runs one on his 500WE.

Whichever way you decide to go, congratulations! Gun projects are fun!

Good to hear about the Jpoint. Mount systems have been the most problem with heads up stuff.
Back to a Freedom .475 and I do not want arguments nor am I bashing the gun. I have made them shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards.
Twist is slower so lighter boolits work best, around 350 gr.
Cylinders are short and I have many boolits that will not fit.
Heavy boolits need seated deep so the case capacity is reduced. That approaches .480 capacity.
Heavy boolits will not be as accurate because the slower twist will not make them stable. Reduced case capacity limits velocity that longer boolits need.
If you want a .475, look at the BFR. ANY boolit will fit. Twist is faster for heavy boolits. The gun weighs more so recoil is better.
I have a 420 gr boolit that will fit the Freedom but it will not be stable. I have shot many 1" and under groups at 100 yards with the boolit from the BFR because of the 1 in 15" twist rate. I can do that with a Freedom but I must lighten the boolit.
Understand that the lighter boolit is fine and works for anything that walks the earth.
Freedom, fine, 460 gr boolits---NO.

I'll be building his with a 1:18 Pac Nor barrel which I've had good luck with and the Bowen cylinders I use are plenty long enough for whichever bullet he may want to use but I agree for a factory gun I like the BFR's.

Gregg's J Point is actually on the 475 I built him now and the specs are similiar to what wtroper is wanting.

That sounds really good

WTROPER Im not sure why you are going to spend the money on something that special and not use it much,Ive had a 475L in a BFR that shot great was very accurate but was like feedin a bull,components are quite expensive if you like to shoot alot and I do,a 454 is a sweet gun and also a tight 5 hole 45 colt would be more reasonable for components and would probable see alot more use,Im saving my pennys right now to have Rod do one for me.

Dave,

I do not know why I want to do it. It makes no sense. I have 454s, 50s, 45s, 44s, 41s, etc. I do shoot quite a lot on my little range, but the ones that I have swing the targets very well.

The only justification that I can come up with is ---- IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT! (You & the others on this site) I read all of the wonderful things that various members accomplish with their 475s & 480s, and I do not have one. I am like the little kid that sees his friend with a new toy. I want one too.

In addition, I read about Rod's work. I have been a FA addict for years. I have sent him a couple of jobs to do for me (triggers & actions) and I am adequately impressed with the results. I am going to try one of his custom builds. I will not be satisfied until I do. However, my greatest fear is that I will really like it. That could spell disaster for the bank account. LOL

Thanks a lot to all of you.

This post is about the accuracy of the Freedom Arms 475 with heaavy cast bullets. I had to post these photos, after reading comments about FA accuracy w/heavy bullets, of my 100yd groups with 425gr WFNGC and 440gr WNGC cast bullet ammo. They have a listed velocity of 1300 and 1325FPS. The 440gr WNGC had 3 bullets measure 1 1/2" CxC at 100yds. The 425gr WFNGC had 3 bullets make a 3/4" hole at 100yds. Maybe my gun has a bad barrel

Naaa....you are just lucky.

yup, I agree. I have of lot of bad barrels on my FAs.

Well wt thats as good a reason to get one as there is,I bet you will enjoy the heck out of that cartride,and I believe Rods the guy to make it.

my FA barrels are really bad, they shoot really accurate and sub moa at 100 and they're shooting a 454 so they must be really bad.

To set the record straight, I now have JPoints on both my Rod's Custom .475 L and my FA Model 83 .500 WE; as well as an Optima 2000 on my custom Ruger SBH .44 mag.







WTRoper, stay strong and have Rod build you the .475 L with a 5.5" barrel! And outfit it with a JPoint!

LOL!

Gregg

Sorry Gregg I thought you pulled it off the WE when you put it up for sale.

Awful....terrible.....send them to me -- spare yourself the agony.....

No prob, Rod. I have not really "bit the bullet" hard enough yet to actually try real hard and sell it, so I have not yet pulled it. The only place I have it listed is here in the classifieds. I am still not sure if I want to see it go away, unless someone gets real serious about buying it.

That is super. I can't argue over that.
It might have been the individual gun but we tried many heavy boolits with poor luck but a lighter boolit was fantastic.
My BFR hates a light boolit and just starts to shoot with 400 gr.
I have many .475 boolits and molds but most will not chamber, they stick out the front and the Lee 400 is right at the end. I need to seat to the very top of the crimp groove.

430man, Thank you for your good words....I also have the same LOA problem when loading a .475cal. 405gr Keith bullet for my FA`s 475Linebaugh. Have to seat and crimp bullet just below the shoulder....