480 Ruger

" Ruger makes the BFR frames for Magnum Research"
Pinetree castings is supposed to be an industry leader. They have the ability to make some very high quality products. That doesn't mean everything tat comes out their door is equal. I used to go with the "made in the same factory" argument, but then I started working in manufacturing. The same operator working on the same machine in the same factory working for the same company can make junk parts for one customer and beyond belief high quality products for another customer during the same shift. I've seen things like using regrind from client As order on client Bs order b/c client A demands all virgin input b/c they make a product renowned for lasting twice the norm and client B doesn't care as long as their product can make it off the showroom floor before falling apart. Even when the regrind from A wasn't quite the same material as what client B requested. Not my current employer.

I have A 460. If Ruger had gone to the expense of lengthening the frame to fit a 480 linebaugh I probably would have gone that route. I just find shortening a base cartridge in order to make a new cartridge innately offensive. Why would I want more options instead of less. Yes, I understand the increased R&D costs, but it is one of those things where if you can't do it right then don't do it at all.
 
I agree that the SRH should have been made in 475 Linebaugh versus 480 Ruger. But the 480 Ruger is really an excellent cartridge that does exactly what Ruger intended it to do or be. The problem was that pesky 454 Casull was chambered in the same revolver model.
 
22-rimfine, im glad you understand the 480 Ruger for what it is, cuz most folks like to argue that it is a .475 Linebaugh "Special" which it is not.
 
I think Ruger missed the boat with bot their 454 and 480 chamber3ed revolvers. I believe if they had introduced either one or both in a 5 shot Bisley grip Single Action, the sales would have been high enough to keep them from ever dropped them from the production lines.

In Super Redhawks the recoil is painful for many shooters because of the hump in the grip frame. Neither was ever super popular because of that fact.
 
Wyosmith, the recoil from my 7.5" .480 Ruger SRH doesn't bother me, and mine has the old Ebony colored wood insert grips on it too, but i do wear shooting gloves so that maybe why i don't feel the recoil as much, and a funny thing is my shooting buddy swears i can do a DT with the 480 SRH.
 
I wear shooting gloves when shooting either the SRH or BFR in 480 Ruger. I dislike the hump on the Ruger SRH frame and had to adjust my grip a little lower to make the gun more comfortable to shoot for me. But it still eats my dinner. The BFR does not (within reason, ie #rounds fired more than 2x the SRH). I have the 6.5" BFR which seem to be harder to find than the 7.5". I recommend this poor man's big bore a lot.

Shooting either always gets a lot of attention at the range. Which is why I prefer to shoot alone. Like pool, I like to practice alone.

If Ruger made a SA in 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh, I'd have one. I think they should have found a way to build one. Perhaps they have some sort of non-compete agreement with Magnum Research?

This is as "big" (caliber) as I am willing to go with a revolver. I have to admit the 500's are appealing however. I just know I wouldn't shoot it much and these aren't collector pieces, you shoot them.

For regular big bore shooters, I know this will make them chuckle. But I finally bought a RCBS Rock Chucker Single Stage Press, and hope to start reloading the 480 Ruger this coming year. I go through stages where I shoot a lot and then the guns sit for months without even been handled. You really need to shoot the hand cannons to develop any reasonable amount of proficiency with them. That's why I didn't even consider the BFR for hunting this year.
 
Last edited:
I don't disagree the 480 does exactly what they wanted, I just wish they left options open. If there wasn't a .475 they wouldn't have an issue.

What if they made the "360 Ruger" GP100 that was a cut down 357 magnum. Very few people push the 357 GP100 to its limits with any regularity or for any purpose other than fun at the range. Still, what would your facial expression be if they announced that new model? I get the "new frame is totally restarting development and basically the cost of a new gun" bit, but in the long run it was a marketing disaster. I would buy a 475 and shoot the ruger rounds if anything.
 
And which one came first?
See, going one way makes sense, but going the other way is foolish.
Let me put it another way, what if there was no 454 Casull. What would you think of a company who tried to introduce a new commercial cartridge in between the 45LC and the 460 SW? The 454 is a great round and is likely more popular than the 460 and may even stay that way, BUT if the 460 was out first it would but a big damper on the 454 as someone tried to establish it as a viable product.

THe .41 Ruger, coming to a store near you NEVER.

You can argue that I am wrong, but as far as I know this it the ONLY thing going against the round. Magnum pistol shooters generally prefer it to the other major players and Ruger has spent plenty trying to support it over the last ten years. Introduced shortly after Bill Ruger died, so development likely started on his watch. I have never been impressed with he companies marketing while he was at the head.
A 485 Ruger, slightly exceeding or even just matching the 475 would sell well, even with the new magnum competitors.
 
The one thing you are forgetting or ignoring is the concept "how much is enough?" Not everyone wants a hangun that shoots 460 or 500 S&W. But there is a small fraction of the shooting public that likes the bigger is better approach. As you said, it is hard to market something that has "less power", but on the other hand, the 475 Linebaugh was primarily a custom gun or Freedom Arms offering prior to Ruger introducting the SRH in 480 Ruger.

The 38spl has been making a resurggence in popularity because of the concealed carry market. Many who buy 357 mag revolvers, don't even shoot 357's in them other than as a novelty because of "how much is enough".

Many would like to see a 41 "Ruger" or special brought out and most of these people are the same people that like 44 Special vs 44 mag due to the reduced size of the firearm.
 
Originally posted by 22-rimfire:

The one thing you are forgetting or ignoring is the concept "how much is enough?" Not everyone wants a hangun that shoots 460 or 500 S&W.
Click to expand...

....and the truly "Big Bores" are not for everyone. They are mostly purpose specific, meaning they are not the "jack of all trades, master of none" like .45 Colt and/or .44 mag. Most that get one and then decide they don't like it, do not have a purpose in mind other than wanting to have "the biggest and baddest". If this is one's justification, they should stay home.
 
I have the 460 and will probably not shoot more than a box or two of full boat loads out of it in myy life. The very minimal extra cost to get it over a 454 is certainly worth it. I would be surprised if 357 mag has ever outsold special. People still buy mag guns though. The point isn't that the extra is needed, but considering the cost why not leave the option open? If I am going to spend north of $1000 on a set-up $100-$200 to give me .more options is worth it.
 
Both my oldest son and I have one

He has taken hogs... I have only shot paper

We shoot Speer 325 Soft point


Snake
 
22-rimfire wrote:

"I wear shooting gloves when shooting either the SRH or BFR in 480 Ruger. I dislike the hump on the Ruger SRH frame and had to adjust my grip a little lower to make the gun more comfortable to shoot for me. But it still eats my dinner. The BFR does not (within reason, ie #rounds fired more than 2x the SRH). I have the 6.5" BFR which seem to be harder to find than the 7.5". I recommend this poor man's big bore a lot.

Shooting either always gets a lot of attention at the range. Which is why I prefer to shoot alone. Like pool, I like to practice alone.

If Ruger made a SA in 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh, I'd have one. I think they should have found a way to build one. Perhaps they have some sort of non-compete agreement with Magnum Research?

This is as "big" (caliber) as I am willing to go with a revolver. I have to admit the 500's are appealing however. I just know I wouldn't shoot it much and these aren't collector pieces, you shoot them.

For regular big bore shooters, I know this will make them chuckle. But I finally bought a RCBS Rock Chucker Single Stage Press, and hope to start reloading the 480 Ruger this coming year. I go through stages where I shoot a lot and then the guns sit for months without even been handled. You really need to shoot the hand cannons to develop any reasonable amount of proficiency with them. That's why I didn't even consider the BFR for hunting this year."

well as i said 22-rimfire, and i as posted before you understand the 480 Ruger for what it is, and maybe Ruger did have a non-compete agreement with Magnum Research, anyways the way you have to look at the 480 Ruger as a magnum class caliber.

the 454 Casull is a super magnum cal. the 45 Colt Ruger Only is a magnum class cal. the 460 S&W is a ultra magnum class cal. the 475 Linebaugh is a super magnum class cal. as stated before, the 480 Ruger is a magnum class cal, as is the 475 Wildey. the 475 Linebaugh Long is considered a ultra magnum class cal. the 50 AE is consider a magnum class cal. both the 500 S&W Special and 500 Linebaugh are considered to be a super magnum cal. the 500 S&W and 500 Linebaugh Long are considered to be ultra magnum cal.
 
If you ever handle a 6.5", you'll swear its longer because they measure the barrel length from the front of the frame, not the forcing cone.

A reader in Shooting Times "letters section" (Feb 2014 issue) calls the SRH in 480 Ruger Ruger's greatest feat fitting six cigar sized holes into their cylinder of a standard frame sized gun.
 
Reviving Old Thread

With the shot show going on, I was crusing Ruger's website and both the SRH and the Alaskan are no longer listed/cataloged in 480. I was waiting to actually see an Alaskan in 480. Oh well. :mad: Any thoughts folks?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top