I'm getting ready to order my Custom Revolver from Mr. Linebaugh and trying to finish with a few decisions. Im starting with a stainless Bisley. Still trying to decide between the .475 and the .500. I want a handgun that I could hunt any animal on the planet. I have owned a FA 475 and had no issues shooting and dealing with the recoil. I would like keep barrel lengh minimal with out affecting normal hunting distance accuracy or losing velocity. What would you put on your wishlist for this build?

I vote for the 500! There is just something about throwing chunks of half inch diameter lead bullets that weigh over an ounce each!

I had my custom gun done by Jack Huntington in the 500JRH with a 5.5" barrel and I LOVE it! I easily shoot it ten to one over ANY of my other handguns. (I think the 500L is actually slightly over the half inch diameter isn't it?? Can't remember off the top of my head.)

I don't know anything about the 475L, but I would think it would take any kind of game that the 500L would. Whitworth will chime in on this I'm sure. He and his book have been my go-to source for the big bores.

Regardless of which one you go with, I will highly recommend the bowen target sights. The guys on here recommended them to me when I did my custom, and I am very glad I listened to them.

The 500 JRH is a .500 bullet. I believe the 500 linebaugh is .511.
I would like a 480 Ruger of 475 Linebaugh. The 480 seems a little more doable.

Having both, I prefer the 475.

If you already have the 475, go for the original and have John make you a 500. I much prefer the patridge blade to the ramp as a personal preference.

I like the .475 better myself I have both as well as .500 JRH Bfr, the .475 is way cheaper to shoot thanks to Hornady. The JRH is the way to go on a .50 I think because there is so much out there in bullet selection. I had Jack Huntington build my .500 Linebaugh and it came out really nice. If I had it to do over I would have just had a .500 JRH built and been done, I think it's the best round for me

with a SS Bisley, definitely go with the barrel band, it adds a great look to the revolver. If you go with a 500L, you can shoot a larger variety of rounds thru it, from very mild to wild. Its a handloaders gun though, where there's a lot more factory ammo in 480 and 476L. Personally I would go with the 500

See, I'm the opposite. I have found they are both very versatile but I find the 475 more pleasant to shoot at all levels. My all time favorite as you all probably know is 14-15 grains HS 6 with bullets ranging from 385 to 425 in the 475. Just amazing shooting guns!

Glenn, what kind of velocity are you getting with that load? Is it a 480 level load, or .475?

I too prefer the 475. I've had the 500 s&w,500 jrh and 500 we

The .44 mag will and has killed every huntable animal on this planet and at one time was considered to be too much power for most shooters.
My how times have changed. If you want, and can shoot accurately, a.475 or .500 then by all means get one. But don't mistake want for need. I doubt any animal that is well hit with a .475 or .500 .44 .480 or warm loaded .45 and a good bullet will ever know the difference , dead is dead . I like the big bores too but after 5 or 6 rounds with my 12 in. 45-70 I lay it down and pick up something else for a while as accuracy degrades. The .480 about 12 rounds. So get what YOU want and can shoot accurately ,we owe that much and more to the game we hunt.
Not picking at you or poking fun in any way so hope you Don't take it that way. J.M.H.O. 6in barrel, barrel band, good grips, good sights.

its so nice to have such choices today,...you can't go wrong with any of them!-john

From a 5.5", the 385 and the 420s do right at 1100 with 14 grains. With the 385 and 15 grains, it does 1170. Sorry. Been away from civilization a few days and no service at all.

I have owned and used (and killed big game) with both the.475 Linebaugh and the .500 Wyoming Express calibers (that is a Freedom Arms round which gives up little to the .500 L, (maybe a few thousandths in diameter and a few hundred FPS).

I killed a nice mule deer buck as well as a doe antelope (not extensive experience, I freely admit) with the .500 WE in a FA Model 83 revolver; both were one shot kills with complete pass throughs. I also killed two mature bull elk in Colorado (a nice 5X5 and a great 5X6) with the .475 L in a custom built revolver by Rod.

Again, full complete pass throughs but not extensive experience.

But again, from my limited experience, as well as what I have read, I prefer the .475 if I only could have one.

Not for any "real" reason; but just because I am giving you my opinion here.
Most would agree that both create large enough holes without bullet expansion and have plenty of penetration power, so both will fill the bill.

Actually I believe that I heard from someone on here that the .475 is the leader of the two in penetration tests.

Gregg

The 500 WE that Gregg mentions is one I had also and regret selling but it went to a great home. It was an awesome sixgun but fell victim to the great selloff of 2008 to replenish bank funds from a very expensive move

I much prefer that gripframe to the bisley (I'm probably the only one in the world but its true) If I had the extra change when Gregg sold his, I would have snagged it in a heartbeat. Its one gun that I will definitely own again in the future. In my opinion, it gives up nothing to the Linebaugh and comes in a GREAT handgun!

The 475 is my choice but I love seeing when the 500 smacks a critter....WACK.....

I don't have any experience with either the .475L or .500L, but I seriously doubt you'd have any trouble killing anything that walks the earth with either chambering, as long as you put the bullet in the boiler room.

My sole experience with the .500s is a brief shooting session with an 8 3/8" X-frame when they first came out, and my father's newer 4" version. Both were more pleasant to shoot than I initially expected, but didn't fill a need more so than the guns I shoot now at the critters I usually hunt.

But you asked for opinions on options, so here it is:
1. 7.5" barrel---I find this the perfect balance of portability and handling in a hunting revolver.
2. Barrel band---just because it looks cool.

3. Polished cylinder and small parts; matte finish frame---no utility purpose here; it just looks cool.


Sage advice!

You'd have one heck of a thick barrel band front to back on a 7.5" barrel if you were going to mate it up to the ejector rod housing, even if you used the longer 5" ERH from the 10" guns. The classic Linebaugh is the only way I'd go personally. 5.5" with a banded barrel and patridge post front sight. When you see one, there is never a doubt who built it

Because I can't afford ALL of the calibers, I'm one who's apt to consider what calibers I already own as part of the decision. I own a 357mag that is a family heirloom, it will never leave me, so that is my starting point. Jumping calibers, a nice trio would be 357/44/475. But I could do equally well with a trio of 357/45/500. Again, it depends on what's already in the gun case.

My Linebaugh dream gun is a five-shot 45, blue, 5.5-inch banded barrel, patridge front sight, custom grips. A do-everything gun. From mild loads that my young boy could shoot to full-thump Elk loads. A gun I'd carry from now till the end. Hell, it's probably not cool to say that my dream is to have ONE GUN, but heck, it's my dream and I'm sticking to it.

And because a 45's not on YOUR wish list, I'd say 475. But I've still got that ol' 357 in the gun case for when I get too old for all that big-bore noise and kick. And it'll down the deer just fine.

I would opt for a different plan. I have a 475 Linebaugh, I would lean towards a Bisley in 38-40 or 44-40 , 5.5 inch banded barrel and a set of Dustin's grips.

Looks like a Stainless Bisley w/ dark French walnut grips, 5.5" banded barrel and John's front sight and the Bowen rear in 500L. Thanks for the input

One last question. What kind of finish on a stainless Bisley?

Blackened

Sent it off Friday. It's going to be a long year. I'm sure it will be worth the wait. On a side note. UPS rapes individuals shipping handguns. Ouch!

How did you manage to get J.L. to promise you only one year to finish??????? I am sending him a revolver in a couple of months and I don't expect to see for a few years. I hope you do get it sooner!!

I haven't heard less than 2yrs quoted in a long time with most reporting something like 3yrs.

I guess I'm in the minority in that I don't like banded barrels on sixguns. Make mine a full charcoal blue .500 with a 4¾" (not 5/8") octagon barrel, post front sight, 50-75% coverage rose & scroll, case colored hammer/trigger and ivory.

1 year?? I wouldn't have my heart set on that delivery date. Just forget about it and it will surprise you when it arrives.

Exactly!

I know it will be much longer. I assume about the time I forget about it I'll get a phone call to let me know it's ready. I'm sorta indifferent about the barrel band. I got it because I feel like this is one of the signature items Mr. Linebaugh is know for. If another smith was building the gun I probably would not have added the band. When it's ready I may drive out to get it and maybe take a buffalo while I'm out there. I have some time to plan the trip.

That would make for a very memorable trip!

The anticipation would kill me.

Well, you are getting your dream gun regardless of what size hole is in the barrel. I am sure it will serve you well. Now if I could only afford a dream gun. That would be a tough decision all around except for the base gun.....Ruger Bisley.

Amen to that!

Just wondering, why a bisley over a blackhawk or super blackhawk?

Personally, I find the Bisley handle handles recoil better for me. And it just feels more natural in the hand.

Saves one from having to find a Bisley grip, hammer, and trigger to fit it with. For me the Bisley controls recoil a lot better than the various "plow handle" grip frames. Some custom gunsmiths (Hamilton Bowen in particular) won't build a .475 and up without adding a Bisley grip frame.