Took the 480 to the range

[Snapping Twig]

What a handful!

Even though I was lobbing 355g bullets (light for caliber) over 10g Unique (midrange load) it exuded horsepower!

This thing is a beast!

Here's a target, please note 6 rounds for upper and lower C-More targets.

Holes in the background are from sighting in after changing the front sight to a green fiber optic.

14 yards free standing.

Can't wait to cast up some 400g RNFP and as soon as my sizing die shows up, that's what I'll do.

I'll also make up some full power loads with 21g W296 or 26g 4227.

Why this round isn't more popular is a mystery to me... well maybe not, but it's only 150fps slower than a .475 Linebaugh with the same bullets.

Totally awesome hunting round.

400g .475 diameter bullet at 1200fps is equivalent to a 45-70, but larger diameter bullet.

 

[Big Stick]

Bout like getting hit with a 12 ga slug..... gotta be some recoil tho...

 

[yaktamer]

Friend of mine has one and I love it. All the handgun I imagine I'd ever need and much more comfortable to shoot than a .454 Casull.

 

[zzzippper]

You're a better man than me. I have that same beast. Too heavy to shoot freehand and bucks like a drunken mule from a bench. I don't believe I've ever hit paper.

 

[mikey460sw]

looks like we have another recoil nut!!! Welcome to the club!!!!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Truth be told, this isn't the only hard recoiling piece in the safe.

One that surprised me with the recoil is an original 629-2 Mountain Revolver. It feels about the same as this does.

Surprising to me because I have a 3" 629-2 that's ported and I've been shooting it since @ 1990 and using the same ammo - home cast 265g 429244 over 22g W296 - the three inch is pleasant compared to the Mountain Revolver.

That said, pleasant can mean many things of which stout recoil can qualify.

 

[30-30remchester]

I was with a friend harvesting a few bison and he used a 480 with factory 325 grn.? bullets to harvest a large cow. A classic behind the shoulder broadside lung shot was taken. Was a very cold day, and you could see the cows final breathes escape the entrance hole. The bison died like any lung shot animal. The bullet was recovered in the off shoulder perfectly mushroomed.

 

[Dan Christopher]

Actually that's pretty good shooting!

You are quite correct. The 480 is a fine cartridge which deserves a better following than it has enjoyed up to this point.

I believe it was just an unfortunate victim of the times. Had Ruger and Taurus not come out with affordable 454 Casulls...and had S&W not come out with the 500...likely the 480 would have been a lot more popular. Just speculating, though.

Nice gun and good shooting there!

 

[Snapping Twig]

Over the years I've been looking at custom Linebaugh single actions. I really like the EK gold bar inserts on the front sight for distance.

During that time, I came upon the .475 Linebaugh and something clicked for me. It was all the handgun you'd ever need for anything on the planet.

Harsh recoil made it like hot peppers in my mind, not sure I'd get along with it, but tempting.

Along comes the .480 and the ringing endorsements about reduced recoil and 90% of the Linebaugh in power.

Sold.

Living in California, there's an "approved" list - back door gun control.

So with Ruger discontinuing this revolver and the limited popularity, getting a full size original was not going to be an easy task.

A fellow in Southern California had this revolver up for sale for all of last year - no bites.

He removed it from the classifieds at CalGuns and moved on.

I found myself finally able to buy and looked for the listing, but it was completely removed.

I did some research and believed I found the seller and contacted him. He still had it and all the dies, brass and a few boxes of bullets.

We struck a deal, he shipped it to my FFL and now it's here.

I replaced the grips and the front sight and bought a 400g mould and sizing die for my 450.

This was the first time out, so things will improve as I dial it and myself in.

Very happy to have this caliber!

Some day I will have Linebaugh build me something, but for now this satisfies.

I have an original Casull .454 7.5", so I plan on a side-by-side to see which has the more pronounced recoil, but the Casull is a SA Bisley and it never seemed to be harsh on recoil, whereas a DA grip transmits more felt recoil, so we'll see.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

I have a .460 S&W and I like the fact that it can shoot .454 Casull and .45 Colt. I bought it from a friend and it came with 2 boxes of ammo. 5 rounds were missing from one of the boxes.

Firing it at night looks like a battleship ship scene from the Pacific.