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Post by Encore64 on Dec 19, 2014 19:50:45 GMT -5
Considering having a Super Redhawk 480 Ruger converted to a 5 shot 475 Linebaugh. Plenty of clearance so should be just cylinder and rachet.
Worth it or not? Your thoughts?
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Post by whitworth on Dec 19, 2014 20:03:00 GMT -5
I had this exact conversion done years ago on a .480 Ruger SRH, so I was able to retain the factory barrel. It was one of the most accurate revolvers I have ever owned. I killed many animals with that revolver. That said, the extra horsepower was nice, but I'm not sure necessary. I was able to push my chosen bullets harder than I would have been able to when it was a .480, but I have reevaluated things a bit over the years and think the .480 Ruger is good where it is. Don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic revolver that served me more than well, but I have a .480 SRH now that is lacking nowhere.
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Post by Encore64 on Dec 19, 2014 20:08:01 GMT -5
That's where I am at. It's one of the new Stainless finish SRHs with the bull barrel. I am torn between a bit more horse power or the extra round of the six round cylinder.
Figured a few extra opinions wouldn't hurt.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Dec 20, 2014 6:46:01 GMT -5
I have owned 3 .475 L's and taken a good bit of large game with them. It is one of my favorite cartridges for such hunting. Having said that, the .480 is right on the heels of the .475, and can be loaded to within about 100 fps of it. I would definitely not invest in such a conversion, considering it a waste of perfectly good bullet, primer and powder money.
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edk
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,107
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Post by edk on Dec 20, 2014 9:15:56 GMT -5
I have not owned either. However, I would like to offer something that is part observation and part question. I say question not so much because I'm expecting anyone to offer a direct answer but to admit I do not "know it all". While my background is not a that of a ballistician, I do have sufficient engineering and handloading experience to suggest there really isn't any practical difference between the two - maybe not even measurable in field conditions. Remember that in the same shooting platform, these two rounds can be loaded to the same OAL. Therefore using a modern hard cast bullet such as LBT's LFN or WFN, they can each bear the exact same weight bullet and the case retaining the same powder space through use of a custom bullet mold. True, they are subject to their respective SAAMI pressure limits of 48Kpsi (the 480) and 50Kpsi (the 475) with pressure the Linebaugh round being 4% greater however even under controlled laboratory conditions a 4% increase in velocity is only 40fps over 1000fps and a 4% increase in pressure does not typically net that kind of an increase with the relationship being nonlinear - that is one of diminishing returns. Now take the comparison out of the lab and into the homes of careful and experienced handloaders. Even with conscientious practices, the variation in components (primers, powder, brass, bullet hardness/friction), variation in loading technique (dies, presses, bullet pull, crimp) and variation in firearm (chamber dimensions, cylinder gap, fast/slow barrel), do we realize any velocity gain at all? Sure, statistically speaking there should be something but in two isolated instances with one being a forum member on the east coast and another on the west, the 475 shooter having the tolerances stack against him and the 480 shooter the opposite, are we so sure the 480 might not be the faster by a nose?
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Post by whitworth on Dec 20, 2014 10:26:45 GMT -5
Of course loading the .480 long (seating the bullet out to the same OAL of the .475 loaded with the same bullet) will net the same case capacity. That said, if you seat the bullet in the .480 where it was meant to be seated, the case capacity is significantly less. It will not in this instance, using the same powder, achieve the same velocities as the .475. I agree that in the field there is no practical difference as far as killing ability goes. The one area where the .475 excels over it's little brother the .480 is recoil potential. Start pushing a 420 up over 1,350 fps and the .475 is different animal entirely. I have killed quite a few animals with both cartridges loaded as they were meant to be loaded, and they both kill with aplomb. At this stage I have one .475 Linebaugh, a Blackhawk built by John Linebaugh, and I rarely loaded it past .480 territory. For one, it is no more effective terminally, and two, it's just a lot more pleasant to shoot at the tamer levels.
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shorty500
.327 Meteor
too many dirty harry movies created me!
Posts: 912
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Post by shorty500 on Dec 20, 2014 10:27:08 GMT -5
edk said it best. i purchased my 420g mold when the .480 1st came out. it cannot be crimped in a Linebaugh case and fit in any available revolver i know of. as cast in ww metal it weighs in @427g and has case capacity to hit 1350fps in the short ruger case. when built my 1st custom 5shooter i stuck with the short case and chamber because it all worked so well
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Post by Encore64 on Dec 20, 2014 12:00:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. I have a 475 LB BFR that is NIB. I bought it when I heard they were discontinued as a standard item.
There seems little difference in the 480 Ruger and the 475 LB. Seems logical to leave it as is.
Could even seat jacketed out with the help of my cannelure tool.
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