What happened with the .480 Ruger?

Had to drag this old thread out!!

As many probably know, Ruger has finally built the gun (more or less) that custom builders have been making their living on for years. A Bisley Super Blackhawk in .480 Ruger and 454 Cassull!!

It would seem that Ruger has listened to the guys that are having these guns built. Now if they will produce some with 4 5/8" and 5 1/2" barrels I will be a happy man!

JW
 
Already have the .454 on order at a local shop.

Planning on chopping the barrel to flush with the ejector rod housing. Hoping that will put it at 4 5/8" like their typical Blackhawks. My current 454 is a freedom arms with 6" barrel. Haven't decided on the .480 yet as I already own a 475 Linebaugh BFR and am waiting on another .475 from John Linebaugh himself.

JW
 
Planning on chopping the barrel to flush with the ejector rod housing. Hoping that will put it at 4 5/8" like their typical Blackhawks.
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They have the much longer ejector rod housings like those from the old 357 maximums.

Jim
 
I missed the .480 and I've never had the pleasure of shooting it. Being a .327 fan, I've been frustrated by some of the same problems. It looks like both of these calibers suffered similar market problems when it came to execution. Introducing a new caliber takes a lot of work and I'm guessing Ruger underestimated it both times. While I'm excited (and relieved) to see new guns out in .327 this year, I'm flabbergasted that we still don't have a carbine.
 
Ruger has a much better feel for what will actually sell than any other manufacturer. They are the ONLY American gun manufacturer that is on solid ground financially. I doubt they made a mistake with either the 327 or 480. Both are niche rounds and I'd say at least 95% of those wanting one already have one.

Ruger doesn't make many mistakes. If they could sell enough to be profitable they would make them. But the market just isn't that strong with either chambering and that isn't likely to change. They aren't going to make the financial mistake of small runs of unprofitable guns just to keep a handful of customers happy.
 
One mistake Ruger has repeatedly mad is making a foolish design compromise in order to avoid an investment in tooling. With the .480 they neutered the.475 Linebaugh in order to get it to fit in their pre-existing frames. With the mini they won't invest in making it STANAG mag compatible.
Sure, we are talking about huge investments to make the change, but how many more of the two guns would have sold if they made the changes. Both are a novelty instead of being mainstream options.
 
The new revolver is super exciting to me. All these years asking for a factory 5 shot Bisley in .480. Oh yeah, I'll be buying one as soon as the .480's start to ship. I'm seriously considering ordering a .454 since they are already for sale and looking great. I'm not even that thrilled with .454 but a set would be nice!

I already have a .480 Redhawk Alaskan so that fills up the very short niche. I agree something in the 4 5/8ths range would be nice... but honestly it feels like looking a gift horse in the mouth right now.

I'm not quite sure Ruger is that great at giving us what we want. More like Lipsey's has done a great job buying special runs. Ruger refused to give us a .44 Special for years and years and then Lipsey got it done... they sold so well that Ruger made it a regular item. I actually think this 5 shot Bisley will be the same way. Too many hunters are going to want these. I expect we will see a shorter barrel at some point. Probably a longer one as well although word is that the .454 won't work with the Hunter scope mounts. Good thread on the Ruger forums showing a custom mount which will be sold for them.

Gregg
 
Good read going back 3.5 years! I was one of the few that purchased a SRH in .480 many years ago, 7.5" barrel. Fits my perceived needs well. I carry it in a holster while rifle hunting. Holster is unsnapped while on stand for close offhand shots that would require too much movement to get a rifle in position as well as pistol hunting at bow hunting ranges. In the rare opportunity to hunt or fish Alaska it would feel very good on the hip for close encounters. Does very well IMO for those purposes.

I do have the desire for a scoped deer pistol and having shot the .460, think that fits the bill nicely, not that the .480 wouldn't. Plus I like big booming handguns.

I do handload and have shot up almost all of my factory loads. My brother bought 500 starline brass and gave me 200. I will never run out in my lifetime. I have not worked up a load yet, however, I will likely work up something in the foreseeable future.

Regarding the case sticking issue, I found it to occur with the 400gr loads and not with the 325gr factory loads.

In all, I find the .480 to be a solid shooter without extreme punishment every time I pull the trigger.
 
I'm itching to buy the new Ruger in 480. It would answer some questions for me regarding the BH and these heavy hitters. I haven't purchased any firearms this year, so this works for me.
 
Ruger has a much better feel for what will actually sell than any other manufacturer. They are the ONLY American gun manufacturer that is on solid ground financially. I doubt they made a mistake with either the 327 or 480. Both are niche rounds and I'd say at least 95% of those wanting one already have one.

Ruger doesn't make many mistakes. If they could sell enough to be profitable they would make them. But the market just isn't that strong with either chambering and that isn't likely to change. They aren't going to make the financial mistake of small runs of unprofitable guns just to keep a handful of customers happy.
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jmr40, you are forgetting that demand, or "those wanting one", is flexible and dynamic. That's why companies advertise and innovate. The firearms market might be different but the concept isn't.

This thread started with a discussion of how Ruger biffed the marketing and we've had similar discussions in the .327 Club Thread. That marketing involves both who the advertising targets and how, and what specific models are being released for those target groups. This is complicated by the fact that it's a new cartridge and new guns, and coordinating those things is paramount.

Adopting a new caliber requires an investment on the part of consumers. While deciding to make that investment, many people--especially those who have seen novel cartridges come and go in the past--are going to consider market support and longevity. Having a variety of guns out or on the known horizon, covering different interests for different kinds of shooters, and having ammo on local shelves, all on day one, goes a long way in forging reputation. If that isn't the case, it multiplies the naysayers and can make consumers, shops, and other manufacturers squeamish in their own investments.

The bottom line is that if you're going to bring a new cartridge to an already saturated market and you really want it to be successful, go big or go home.
 
i own a 7.5" bbl. Ruger SRH in 480 Ruger, :D it's an awesome cal. and wheelgun, i do wish there was more market support and a Desert Eagle upper in 480 Ruger. :D
 
The 480 Ruger

My take is this the 480 is a nich cartridge,it doesn't quite do this and it does just a little more than that.And the nich is to small to sell very many.It is something that I would like to get someday but the reality is that it doesn't do anything that my 7.5" SB in 44 mag can't do.Yes it is a bigger caliber and it launches a bigger bullet faster but a 420 gr at 1400 fps don't kill them any deader than a well placed 310 gr 44 mag at 1250 fps.
There has been a lot of cartridges introduced in the last 8 or 10 years that have flopped because they just don't do it any better than what was already out there.As a reloader there is not much that I can't load up or down to fit my needs with the guns I already have.
 
My take is this the 480 is a nich cartridge,it doesn't quite do this and it does just a little more than that.And the nich is to small to sell very many.It is something that I would like to get someday but the reality is that it doesn't do anything that my 7.5" SB in 44 mag can't do.Yes it is a bigger caliber and it launches a bigger bullet faster but a 420 gr at 1400 fps don't kill them any deader than a well placed 310 gr 44 mag at 1250 fps.
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What you say is true and the 480 Ruger is a niche cartridge. You see it all depends on your "niches" and how it fits. It fits for me as the 475/480 is likely to be as big a handgun cartridge/caliber that I am willing to move to. I already mentioned why I purchased my first Ruger 480 SRH and it was specifically for deer hunting. Yes, your 44 could do the job, but the bigger diameter bullet does it better. It is pure opinion; dead is dead and all that stuff.

My niches in handguns are: 22LR > 38spl/357 mag > 40 S&W > 41 mag > 480 Ruger. You notice that there isn't a 9mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP, or 45LC caliber listed. This works for me. Frankly, for the last couple of years, the 22LR and 38spl is all niche I "need". Toss in the 41 mag for deer hunting if I decide to go.
 
It is pure opinion;
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Maybe ... but I do respect the likes of Linebaugh, Seyfried, Pearce, Prasac, and others that have been there ... and done that here in North America, and other places around the world... Not merrily an 'opinion'. Given their experience, I know what I would use if I was a handgun hunter and know what I 'do' use for SD in the woods. Call it an informed decision rather than opinion :) .
 
My take is this the 480 is a nich cartridge,it doesn't quite do this and it does just a little more than that.And the nich is to small to sell very many.It is something that I would like to get someday but the reality is that it doesn't do anything that my 7.5" SB in 44 mag can't do.Yes it is a bigger caliber and it launches a bigger bullet faster but a 420 gr at 1400 fps don't kill them any deader than a well placed 310 gr 44 mag at 1250 fps.
There has been a lot of cartridges introduced in the last 8 or 10 years that have flopped because they just don't do it any better than what was already out there.As a reloader there is not much that I can't load up or down to fit my needs with the guns I already have.
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^well 458winshooter the 480 is somewhat a niche cal, but it can make a biiger hole than a 454 and with recoil in the 44 mag range and fit 6 shots in a frame that a 44 mag uses, and for the handloaders it can be loaded to near 475 Linebaugh power and vel. levels.
 
I have a 454 Casull & the muzzle blast is definately more than a "normal" pressure magnum cartridge... I see buying 2 - 480's... 1st will be an Alaskan, which should be one of the best "bear get off me" guns made... 2nd will be one of the Bisley Super Blackhawks, just because it fits nicely between my 45's & my custom 5 shot 50 :)
 
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