It seems like I am seeing more posts on the .480 Ruger.
It is coming back like the 10mm did?

I been looking at the 45LC, .44 Mag, .454, and now the .480 Ruger.

Well, I just shot a Zebra and record book Wildebeest with a Super Redhawk, so, you can guess what I'd vote for...

I purchased a ruger SRH over the winter, while doing some research on it I read that it had 80% of the 454's power with half the recoil.It is a great round, it pick's up where the 44 mag and the 45L.C. leave off.

Welcome Aboard Northkid.

It is a great round. Really, it isn't THAT far of from a 475. You do your part and game won't know any differance.

Thank you TCMan!!

I been lurking for a while. This is a great place for handgun hunting info.

You can load mild to wild with the .480


The nice thing is you can load a very heavy round and don't need the high fps speed to move them.

The .454? NA
The .44 Mag? Na
The .480? Ya!!! ?

I have a raging bull 480 that has taken several deer and mucho hogs!!!It is a great round and you won't be sorry.
Welcome aboard!!

Yes... I believe the .480 Ruger IS getting more "popular,"
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due in part to this website.

JMHO

I do believe there is a resurgence. I am not sure how big but there is definitely a renewed interest in that caliber. I like the caliber well enough that I am planning to sell my Ruger SRH in 454 Casull.

I have been looking for an all around handgun for hogs, bear, deer. The .480 seems to fit the bill.

I think the 480 has had a little bump in interest since the 500 & 460 Smith novelty has slowed/worn down a little. Guys don't like or need the wrist snapping power of the two top dogs and the 480 fits the bill. Is it enough interest for the bean counters at Ruger to bring it back..... I doubt it. But the cartridge is a great big bore and should be around for a while with the diehard hunters.

I know my 480 will never be sold!!!!

I have been thinking long and hard about a 480. I would have to have one custom built as there are no Single Action ones on the market.

Actually, you can get an FA and a BFR in .475 Linebaugh. You can load it light and then you will have a .480 in essence. I don't know that I would go through the trouble of building a custom in .480 when the .475 will fit in the same basic space. And I have nothing against the .480 as I have owned a couple and I bought one of the first runs in an SRH when they were made available.

I don't know who actually came up with this claim about the .480 having 80% of the power of the .454. If we are measuring velocity of factory loads, the .454 wins, but when it comes to putting the hurt on a large animal, I will take diameter and bullet weight over speed potential. The .480 undeniably makes a larger hole.

Just note, Freedom Arms says not to chamber a 480 cartridge in the 475 cylinder. They make a drop in cylinder for the 475 if you wish to shoot the 480 cartridge.

Possibly so that they can sell you another clinder?? Am I being too cynical?

It's an age-old practice to shoot .38 specials through a .357 or .44 specials through your .44 mag. Same thing applies to the .475 and .480. Just make sure you clean it well afterwards.

Im sure that is mostly the case, with some concern over liability. You forgot 45LC out of a 454 Casull.

Just a quick thought...Can you get factory 480's?

Yup, Hornady, Speer, Buffalo Bore, and Grizzly all offer ammo for the .480 Ruger.

Cool. I have one on my list, but it changes with the weather(that's alot in OK).

I shoot 480 ammo in mine when the urge strikes.


The 475 can be loaded to any power level desired. There are a number of mid range loads for the 475 as well as Hornady's 400 grain at 1200 FPS which is a 480 level load for the 475

Yes IMO the 480R is more popular... In fact I found this forum searching on "480 Ruger + Bison"

I have a Ruger SHR with the 7 inch barrel and my oldest son has one with a one 9 1/2 inch barrel.

My son is the one that introduced me to this round.

I Handloaded for both of us and he is planning to use his rho for bison this December…

It seems that the 480 caught on just as Ruger dropped it… How Ironic

No. But it's loss is a shame.

It just seems strange to me that you see so much chatter about the 480, it just won't go away. For years shooters kept asking for a 44 special, Ruger didn't think it would fly but look at it now, they have sold lots of them.
When I had Alan Harton build my 5 shot 480 I kept getting ask, why not just go with the 475 & load it down....I didn't want a 475, I've had one, used it in Africa & it was great but I can shoot anything on the planet with my 480 with the right bullet & thats why I had it built. My loads normally run around 1100 fps, I can go much higher with this 5 shot gun but big cast bullets always exit, why punish yourself.
I just hope Ruger reads about all this interest in the 480, I'm sure they've done some testing along those lines.

Dick

I guess if I wanted a 475, I could get an FA or a BFR. But I really would like a blued 480. I never handled a BFR with the short cylinder so I don't how they feel compared to a Ruger or an FA for that matter.

I purchased my .480 SRH earlier this year from Gallery of Guns. NOS I guess.

I love it!

Congrats on the purchase, TimBob! The .480 SRH is a great piece. What length barrel did you get?

I just recently got a .480. Gonna try it on Wisconsin bears this fall!

It will do just fine. My son just shot a buffalo with my Raging bull 480 with actory 325xtp's. He put 3 rounds in it and 2 were complete pass thrus. I find the 480 to be very accurate and a pussycat to shoot compared to some of my other guns.

ya know, i hate the fact ruger kills guns and never gives them a chance to catch on. it's a great caliber. here's the deal. people lose the fact that the .44 mag is a very very powerful handgun, it's capable of very handily, not barely, killing anything that walks. the 480 offers more power in the same package and is very very shootable. what's not to like? just that ruger can't stick with anything. congrats on the purchase. beautiful gun.

I wouldn't count the .480 out just yet......

good, maybe you know something we don't.

if Ruger wants to give the .480 new life, they should consider getting rid of that grey finish on them. lol

You know, that finish came about accidentally in the tumbling process. I actually like it -- it's different and very durable.

Hey to each his own I suppose. lol
They could offer different barrels, lengths and (you won't hear me say this often) take a page from S&W, and offer it in a black and silver color combo like the bone collector model. anyway, that's my 2 cents...

That finish was one of the things that really attracted me to the 480 SRH. I love it's appearance. I could live with a flat black or gray Duracote type finish or Parkerizing too.
It's ironic. My favorite handgun/catrridge combo (7.5" 480 SRH) and my favorite long gun/cartridge combo (Marlin 1895M (Guide Gun) in 450 Marlin) have both been discontinued. Guess I have lousy taste or just don't know what really works

I would love to see Ruger produce a bisely hunter in 480 ruger. That would be a nice hunter!!!

You know you can get a new .454 SRH in plain old stainless now. They look good too!

i'd like to choose a couple barrel and finish options and i love that grey finish

yes they do! I almost got one in January but went with the "plain old stainless" .44 instead. lol