Anyone use the 480 Ruger for hunting. Searching for premium 44 mag ammo the last two days and it's mostly been sold out or "on back order" but there is plenty of 480 ammo available on the net. I'm not a fan of the Super Redhawk platform and I never felt the need for the super magnums but the 480 is looking pretty good.
480 Ruger
- Thread starter Noreaster
- Start date
I have one and I love it. Some call it the poor mans big bore. I would agree since I'm poor 
Recoil is similar to what you'd get with a .44 mag but the knock down power is much better due to it's ability to fire heavier bullets more efficiently.
I think if you get one you won't be disappointed.
Recoil is similar to what you'd get with a .44 mag but the knock down power is much better due to it's ability to fire heavier bullets more efficiently.
I think if you get one you won't be disappointed.
22-rimfire
New member
I have a SRH in 480 for about 10 years now. It was actually my first Ruger centerfire handgun. I had a Mark II (22) prior to that gun. A GP-100 was purchased next.
Last year I purchased a 6.5" BFR in 475/480. It is so much more pleasant to shoot than the SRH. My suggestion is to find a 6.5" BFR and skip the Ruger SRH. I wish it had a bisley frame, but it is just fine the way it is.
Factory ammo is not that hard to find in the well stocked sporting goods stores. The 325 gr XTP will certainly do the job on a whitetail. You don't have to wonder if you need solids for whitetails with that caliber.
Hornandy has stopped loading the 480 with 400 gr XTPs (or I read such and don't see them for sale any more). The are available in the 475 Linebaugh load they offer.
If you get the SRH in 480, put the Hogue decelerator grips on it. It is much more comfortable to shoot. I honestly feel the factory grips just plain suck for that gun although the feel good in your hand until you shoot the gun.
Last year I purchased a 6.5" BFR in 475/480. It is so much more pleasant to shoot than the SRH. My suggestion is to find a 6.5" BFR and skip the Ruger SRH. I wish it had a bisley frame, but it is just fine the way it is.
Factory ammo is not that hard to find in the well stocked sporting goods stores. The 325 gr XTP will certainly do the job on a whitetail. You don't have to wonder if you need solids for whitetails with that caliber.
Hornandy has stopped loading the 480 with 400 gr XTPs (or I read such and don't see them for sale any more). The are available in the 475 Linebaugh load they offer.
If you get the SRH in 480, put the Hogue decelerator grips on it. It is much more comfortable to shoot. I honestly feel the factory grips just plain suck for that gun although the feel good in your hand until you shoot the gun.
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I hunt with my 480 Ruger Super RedHawks.
Ammo Availability??? I have never fired a factory round through either of mine. With around 300 pieces of brass, and 3 bullet moulds, I should never have an ammo problem.
The very first thing I do with a Super RedHawk, is replace the wood insert factory grips with Hogue "Tamer" grips. The "Tamers" have a Smurf Blue Sorbothane strip down the inside of the back strap to soak up recoil. Originally they were offered from the factory on the Alaskan's. My brother just got a New 44 Magnum SRH, and it had the Hogue "Tamers" on it from the factory. NOTE: Some factory grips may be Hogue Rubber, but not the Tamer version on older models.
I really like the 480 Super RedHawk. They have a Quick Change front sight on older models. I change the front sight to a Marble Green Fiber Optic for back up.
As was said above, I swap the grips for Tamers.
A set of Wolff springs is a nice addition.
The Ruger is easy to work on.
I have a 30mm UltraDot Red Dot optical sight on my 9.5" one, in Ruger 30mm Factory Rings. I have the 25mm (1") UltraDot on my 7.5" version. The 30mm is much better, with a lot more field of view.
We set my brothers 44 up with a Weigand scope base, and a 30mm MatchDot II.
The UltraDot just has a single 4 MOA Dot size. The MatchDot II has multiple Dot Sizes, 2 MOA being the one to use in the woods hunting. So far the Match Dot II looks like a better choice. Not sure if it will fit between factory rings however. I need to measure my brothers and see if it will fit.
The load I am using at the moment is a 375 grain WFP Gas Check Mountain Mould bullet I designed myself with 70% Meplate. I am using 18.5 grains of Lil Gun with WLP primers. This is a 1200 fps load from the 9.5" barrel. Plenty Bad enough for any deer. I have had this bullet up to 1,414 fps. It is not a lot of fun to shoot that hot.
My advice would be to get a set of reloading dies, and some Starline Brass, and start reloading for the 480R. The 480 uses standard Large Pistol Primers. Magnums are recommended for some powders. It is pretty straight forward to load for. Think of a larger 45 Colt or 44 Magnum.
Reloading beats ammo not being in stock, not to mention $40 some odd $$$ a box of 20 for factory ammo.
Bob
Ammo Availability??? I have never fired a factory round through either of mine. With around 300 pieces of brass, and 3 bullet moulds, I should never have an ammo problem.
The very first thing I do with a Super RedHawk, is replace the wood insert factory grips with Hogue "Tamer" grips. The "Tamers" have a Smurf Blue Sorbothane strip down the inside of the back strap to soak up recoil. Originally they were offered from the factory on the Alaskan's. My brother just got a New 44 Magnum SRH, and it had the Hogue "Tamers" on it from the factory. NOTE: Some factory grips may be Hogue Rubber, but not the Tamer version on older models.
I really like the 480 Super RedHawk. They have a Quick Change front sight on older models. I change the front sight to a Marble Green Fiber Optic for back up.
As was said above, I swap the grips for Tamers.
A set of Wolff springs is a nice addition.
The Ruger is easy to work on.
I have a 30mm UltraDot Red Dot optical sight on my 9.5" one, in Ruger 30mm Factory Rings. I have the 25mm (1") UltraDot on my 7.5" version. The 30mm is much better, with a lot more field of view.
We set my brothers 44 up with a Weigand scope base, and a 30mm MatchDot II.
The UltraDot just has a single 4 MOA Dot size. The MatchDot II has multiple Dot Sizes, 2 MOA being the one to use in the woods hunting. So far the Match Dot II looks like a better choice. Not sure if it will fit between factory rings however. I need to measure my brothers and see if it will fit.
The load I am using at the moment is a 375 grain WFP Gas Check Mountain Mould bullet I designed myself with 70% Meplate. I am using 18.5 grains of Lil Gun with WLP primers. This is a 1200 fps load from the 9.5" barrel. Plenty Bad enough for any deer. I have had this bullet up to 1,414 fps. It is not a lot of fun to shoot that hot.
My advice would be to get a set of reloading dies, and some Starline Brass, and start reloading for the 480R. The 480 uses standard Large Pistol Primers. Magnums are recommended for some powders. It is pretty straight forward to load for. Think of a larger 45 Colt or 44 Magnum.
Reloading beats ammo not being in stock, not to mention $40 some odd $$$ a box of 20 for factory ammo.
Bob
silvermane_1
New member
shortwave, you do know that Ruger makes the BFR frames for Magnum Research don't you?, and i prefer my SRH to the BFR in .475 Linebaugh, cuz the SRH holds 6 instead of 5.
Jbar4Ranch
New member
I had a .480 before it was called the .480! 
22-rimfire
New member
I guess I do as well (5 vs 6). BUT, what are you going to use it for that it makes any difference what's so ever?
silvermane_1
I did not know this. Thought the frames were CNC'd by BFR.
Do you have any data for this?
I do know that the BFR 475/480 I currently own has a better fit/finish and most importantly, has a much smoother action then my SRH 480 had.
Far as the 5 v 6rds goes, by the time I fire 5 rds of the 475, the short break in dumping / reloading the cyl. is well earned. The 480 not as bad but I still don't complain about only shooting 5rds.
.Too, I use mine for deer hunting and have yet to be able to beat the recoil and be fast enough to get two accurate shots off at a deer. Gotta make that first one count cause the terrain here most likely will not allow for a second accurate follow-up shot.
Course I've only hunted with it for two seasons and have only taken two deer. One DRT and one ran outta sight over a hill about 35-40yds and dropped. Both hit with Hornady 325 XTP's.
FWIW, The current BFR I have in not a 6 1/2" but rather a 7 1/2" as I mis-posted earlier.
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Okay silvermane_1,
With a bit of research seems Pine Tree Castings located in Newport, N.H., a company owned by Ruger makes the BFR frames and possibly frames for Freedom Arms too. This company also makes castings for other industries as well.
Interesting read:
After going to above site, click on the little box that says "Click here to see PDF brochure" located about halfway down on the right to see the building and read the interesting info.
Thanks silvermane_1 for the info.
With a bit of research seems Pine Tree Castings located in Newport, N.H., a company owned by Ruger makes the BFR frames and possibly frames for Freedom Arms too. This company also makes castings for other industries as well.
Interesting read:
After going to above site, click on the little box that says "Click here to see PDF brochure" located about halfway down on the right to see the building and read the interesting info.
Thanks silvermane_1 for the info.
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silvermane_1
New member
shortwave, you're welcome, heck i didn't know that info until i did some research myself.
22-rimfire, i go shooting at pits in the mountains and is somewhat remote and prime bear country, and as the old saying goes, " the 6th shot might be the one that saves your life", that why i prefer the 6 shot SRH over a 5 shot wheelgun.
22-rimfire, i go shooting at pits in the mountains and is somewhat remote and prime bear country, and as the old saying goes, " the 6th shot might be the one that saves your life", that why i prefer the 6 shot SRH over a 5 shot wheelgun.
onlybrowning
New member
I've had a couple .480 ruger SRH's and currently have a BFR 7.5" .475/.480. I am one of the minority who prefers the Tamer Gripped SRH over any single action (Bisley included). I have found that the BFR has a nicely crowned barrel, tight action, good trigger and is very accurate. I like to be able to shoot both .480 and .475 Libebaugh too. YMMV.
