.480 Ruger Bisley Recoil

[Quick Draw McGraw]

So... I recall hearing from several resources that the .480 Ruger was much less recoil than the .475 Linebaugh and the .454 Casull. Now I've never fired a .475 Linebaugh, so I have no frame of reference there. But I really feel the .480 Bisley O bought has quite the recoil. Compared to my .454 Casull SRH, (different gun entirely, I know), I feel thatain difference in recoil is that the .454 is faster and snappier. It doesn't feel like more recoil to me. But it feels like a more violent version of the same recoil. Admittedly, I do think the .454 is much harder on my hand and wrist.

What do you guys thibk? Also, for those of you who have experience with the .475 Linebaugh, how does it compare?

[nolongcolt]

Have no experience with the Linebaugh but did have a .454 Model 83 for a while. It kicked harder than I like with upper end loads and thus didn't get shot much, later sold. My BFR .480 (only) is to me much more manageable even with top end loads and factory rubbers. It kicks, no doubt but not punishing like the .454 was.

[Quick Draw McGraw]

Apr 24, 2016 17:33:29 GMT -5 nolongcolt said:

Have no experience with the Linebaugh but did have a .454 Model 83 for a while. It kicked harder than I like with upper end loads and thus didn't get shot much, later sold. My BFR .480 (only) is to me much more manageable even with top end loads and factory rubbers. It kicks, no doubt but not punishing like the .454 was.

See, that makes sense. My .480 hits hard, but my .454 beats me up. There's something about that cartridge that makes it recoil hard, fast, and nasty. I think it is the roughest recoiling gun I own. And when I shot some 360 grain loafs from Underwood at 1,425 FPS? Most painful recoil I've felt with the exception of full power .500 S&W Mag. loads.

[dougader]

It's my wrists that can't tolerate recoil well. Actually, it's the snap upward and twisting that gets me, even after one shot.

Full power 454 is not for me. I have yet to fire full power 480 and, frankly, don't know if I ever will. I've seen the game taken with the 480 at about 1000 - 1100 fps and don't see the need, either, to go full tilt.

With the 480 I'm fine off-hand, but off the bench the upward snap gets my wrists again. Something about standing up, supporting the weight of the gun primarily in one hand, makers the gun recoil straight up and my whole arm absorbs and rises with the recoil; no "snap" on my wrist. YMMV.

[princeout]

I shoot both 480 and 475. With top end loads there isn't a lot of difference to my hands. SAAMI max pressures aren't all that different either. Seems like only 10% or so. I'll look later when I'm home.
Tim

[Alaskan454]

Perceived recoil from my 480 Blackhawk is more than my 4.75" FA 454. It's the grip shape for me, I need to grip the 480 just right or it can beat up my knuckles.

[elvaquero]

I went to the range years ago with a neighbor who brought his 454 along. I forget what make the gun was. I fired four out of five rounds and had to stop. I have small hands and wrists for a man my size and even with a two-handed hold the recoil was too much. I didn't see the need for it for myself, in a carbine, certainly. Never shot the 480 but it seemed that with the larger diameter bullet the recoil would be more tolerable. I'm not curious enough to borrow a 480 to find out. I am satisfied enough with the versatility of the 44 mag/spl that I own five revolvers and two rifles in that caliber.

[BRASF0311]

Here is the recoil of the 480 in the Super Redhawk. I find it more pleasant than the 454 I shot with similar weight bullets.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vErAskQ63eM

[nolongcolt]

Gun weight has much to do with it of course. I don't know what the new Ruger weighs but my BFR .480 is around 55 oz. if I recall.

[bulasteve]

The 480 is meant to be a useful and managable step up from the .44mag., for hunting. I think it nails that niche nicely. I've shot one 454 and it was a SRH. My thought at the time was the recoil was violent ! Tough on the wrists. I haven't pushed any limits yet with my BSBH and like most I'll have to try at least a few cylinders full just because, and for when the nephews come over to play. For reference, in the 44mag SBh I grew up with, 300gr bullets tend to run according to others data, 1200-1300fps.. The 480 with the 325XTP can easily match this without breathing hard yet due to that extra weight and diameter, be a solid step up in terminal performance. According to Rugers listed weights, my 44SBH goes 48oz and the 480 BSBH goes 50oz.. I'll say the recoil is quite the same. If you will be searching for more, I'd suggest going up in bullet weight but staying at these velos. I know, preaching to the choir here, sorta. My next loading adventure in the 480 starts soon. A bunch of the 385 gr HP's inbound now. The ones in the 100 count sample pack move my scale to the tune of 394grs, as PC'd.. I'll admit, one of those 440gr bullets on a pile of 110/296 still seems kkkinda scary !

[whitworth]

Most of us were introduced to the .480 Ruger in the forgiving Super Redhawk. Upper end .480 loads are indeed harsher in the Bisley in my humble opinion. Though only 2,000 PSI separates the SAAMI max of the .480 from the .475 Linebaugh, that additional 150 to 200 fps that can be had from the .475 is a considerable step up in recoil over the .480. But yeah, the .480 kicks when loaded with 400 + grain bullets with a heavy charge. There's no denying that IMO.

[sixshot]

Like many of you I've owned all 3 calibers & when comparing full power loads the 454 can be brutal. I had the 10" barrel FA & it shot like a laser but the recoil with full snuff loads was a real tiger. Same with a FA 475 that I bought new from Wayne Baker for my trip to Africa. I only shot full power loads in it & could only manage a few cylinders full a day, maybe 3 times a week without developing a flinch. It took a great deal of concetration on my part to shoot it well. I could do it but I had to keep the round count down.
I've had 4 of the 480's & all of them have been easier to shoot, one was a SRH, one was a Tarus & the other 2 were Bisleys, one being a custom by Alan Harton. All of these could easily be shot for 2-3 hours of quality practice without any "gun" fatigue.
Not sure at my age I could shoot a marathon like Whit but for my needs 100-150 yds is no problem & I've done it many times. I believe recoil goes up at a rate of about 3-1 over velocity, if thats true you can see at the upper levels that the big bullets will wear you down in a short time & when you develop a flinch it can become a serious problem. Long live the 480 Bisley!

Dick

[Markbo]

I find the .454 way snappy compared to the hard shove of the .480. Like a hard kiss from woman tbat missed you.

[paul105]

My experience has been with the Premier Grade 475 LB in a Freedom Arms Model 757. Bought it used back in 2007, got what I thought was a good deal -- $1,400 IIRC. Then proceeded to spend over twice that amount in components shooting it. Shot mostly 400gr at 1,150 fps (pretty much .480 Ruger), but would always end a shooting session with several cyls of 420gr WFNCs at 1,300 fps.

One day while shooting the .480 Ruger load, I was interrupted by a regular who wanted to chat . After 20 min or so, he left and I resumed shooting. First shot I gooseegged my forehead. Forgot that I had loaded the 420s/1,300 just as the local arrived. Never had anything like that happen with the .454 which I bought in the late 80s. Never shot anything heavier than 300gr at 1,600 fps in the .454 (6" FA83).

So, as Whitworth and Sixshot said above, increased velocity increases recoil disproportionately.There's a big differnce in recoil between 1,150/1,200 fps and 1,300/1,400 fps with 400gr + Bullets. Probably much less in effect on target.

Paul

Paul

[contender]

I can echo a lot of what has been said here. I currently own a SRH in 480, a SBH in the Bisley 480, and a FA in 454. I have shot a 475 but it was long enough ago to where I can't recall a good comparison to the ones I own.
However,,, I too have found that moderate loads in the 480 are more of a pushing recoil, vs. a snappy recoil in the 454. I don't do a lot of the top end loads as I see no "need" for them.