480 vs 500 jrh

[bula]

The OP, mentions being "intrigued" by the 480 4 5/8" BSBH. A sensible solution for many to fill this niche. Pie in the sky, foot lbs of ... nevermind. 

[98redline]

Either caliber will be effective but as previously stated, when it comes to defense as opposed to offense, more power is better. I have never read of somebody who had had to shoot a grizz in self defense wishing for a less powerful round or a smaller gun.

That said were I thinking about bear defense, particularly grizz or brownies, I would want something double action that did not require anything more than a trigger pull to get a shot off. I wouldn't want to think about having to thumb the hammer back with 500+ lbs of angry bear, bearing down on me.

I am a single action fanatic but the double action has a time and place and I think this is one of those instances.

[bula]

We all tend to plan for a successful outcome. Happy happy. A worst case thing is what we should be looking at. Charge starts from tooo close, gun under layers of clothing... you get knocked rolling and one hand will be trying to hold off what can't be held off.. 

[ldmay375]

Personally, I subscribe to the worse case scenario. I fully realize that by carrying the handgun or rifle for that matter; it is entirely possible that I would never be able to fire it.
Also thought if I were being chewed on, or had a break in the action, and still retained possession of the firearm; I had rather have it than be wondering if I had it, could I end the nightmare. So, I carry the extra weight.
I also believe, a handgun in the pack, under layers of clothing, and/or a rifle you cannot put into near immediate action with minimal movement are not very useful.
My revolver is usually exposed, occasionally there may be a loose rain jacket covering it. My rifle is in my hand, sling in pack, unless terrain dictates using both hands to move through ( that is a Semper Fi thing ).

Admittedly, a new revolver will have the “distressed” look after a season of brush travel and the regular normal rain. I also check my revolver and rifle pretty frequently for leaf/twig debris that might prevent function, bears or no bears.
Having respectable size revolver on my person more comforting than not when wrestling moose guts. False comfort, maybe.
I try not to get complacent and forget possible consequences when in bear country.

A close range, real dedicated charge, I believe game over before it starts. Shat can be in progress before you are aware of it.
Sometimes anything works, sometimes nothing works.
Better to have and not need, than need and not have.
I suppose, my minimum cartridge would be a 41 magnum. But, I have not carried smaller than a 45 Colt in many years. As the bore diameter increases, I believe so does the desired effect with proper bullets.
I hate to use the term, but I think the 480 is “good enough”.

Oct 30, 2020 12:13:38 GMT -5 bula said:

We all tend to plan for a successful outcome. Happy happy. A worst case thing is what we should be looking at. Charge starts from tooo close, gun under layers of clothing... you get knocked rolling and one hand will be trying to hold off what can't be held off.. 

[bigbore5]

I've never had a 480, but have had the 475 and 500 Linebaugh for around 30 years. Both on Seville frames. Never shot a grizzly but have used both on cape buffalo. Didn't really see much difference in them.

[junebug]

What ever you choose PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE with it and its holster as you will carry it. If you really need it there will be no time to think [now what do I do,how do I access the gun] only react and you will react as you train. If you always carry hip, and switch to across the chest carry for the hunt your first move will be to your hip, unless you practice differently,maybe costing you the precious seconds you need to survive. We talk caliber a lot but rarely of the practice needed. Practice with the cheap bullets but load the best you can find for the insurance gun, whatever the caliber.

[bigbore5]

I always carry cross draw. Always the one load in the one gun. From 22 to 500.

[kaytod]

Friends all.
I don't have any experience with shooting bears, or any animal with jaws and claws. I therefore defer to those who have. I have shot a lot of butcher steers, which will give us similar mass and bone structure, so here are my thoughts.

The primary prerequisite should be accurate application of the firearm. I tend to be of the opinion, that it should be the largest caliber/bullet that you can apply with precision. The secondary item is repeatability with subsequent shots. Which would be my goal in a situation regarding quarry with pointy appendages.

Perhaps we could be 450 AK to comment, as I believe he has a great story with bear and the 45 Colt. As memory serves me, the 45 Colt was in a Marlin ( makes a bit of difference with velocity but for cartridge example, I'll use it here ), the bear was a black bear. Bullets were 270gn cast, and after 10 rounds the bear had 18 holes. That is how I remember the story. Perhaps Frank could clarify, as it's been many years since I've heard it. The point being, even the 45 Colt with proper bullets, has sufficient penetration to handle such game. Once the shooter can pick the power lever he/she can apply with accuracy and do so repeatedly, then get an appropriate bullet that will do the job. Cartridges of greater horsepower will do little if applied around the edges of the game.

As for preferences between the 454, 480, 475 Linebaugh, 500 JRH and 500 Linebaugh, there is an advantage for the larger diameters and heavier bullets. However the 454 or 480 Ruger are no slouch. It can be had in both single action and double action revolvers from Ruger for a reasonable price.

Also, Reloading folks have a great advantage, we can tailor loads to a desired level of control for themselves or others, with major caliber guns.

As for me, to answer the OP's question, I don't think you could go wrong with the 480 Ruger. It's a great cartridge that is versatile and has plenty of power.

[Rimfire69]

Kaytod is correct.

[drycreek]

First let me say I’ve only seen bears a couple times in my life, one grizzly in Yellowstone and a couple blacks in the Great Smokeys. So take my thoughts with a full shaker of salt, but I have the same capacity for reading about bear attacks as anyone else. In my mind if you are attacked by a bear, one, two, maybe three shots are all you’re gonna get......if any. I think the best gun would be a .44 or larger with the heaviest tough bullet available providing you can get it into action quickly and hit where it counts. Unfortunately, you will probably not get much warning from what I’ve read, so the getting it out and getting off a good shot might become more important than what caliber and bullet weight you use. All I really know is that I don’t want to do the field testing.......

[flyingzebra]

I like them both.
I have two 500 projects and a 480 project on the bench and/or in the works currently.

For self defense around dangerous game, consider the double action revolver.
Redhawk and Super Redhawk are great platforms for a big bore 5-shot self defense gun.
They're strong, they're light, and they're handy - and they pack nicely.

[bigbore5]

I have had both versions of the big Rugers, plus the gp100 and sp101. I just prefer the single action as a big recoil platform. The 454 was ok in the Super, but alot more so in the fa. At least to me.
As I said in an earlier post, I have ordered a #5 bfr in 500 Linebaugh.

[98redline]

Caliber aside, this video is what convinced me that for defensive purposes a double action is my preferred choice.


If the hunter had to draw and cock the hammer that bear would have been much closer than it already was when the shot went off. If you needed to take a 2nd shot, could you slip cock strong hand only and get it off accurately? There was a thread way back in 2010 where Elmer Keith's book was quoted (singleactions.proboards.com/post/46982/thread) and seems pretty germane for this thread.

[bigbore5]

I routinely hunt boar behind dogs. Have drawn and stopped many charges over the past 35 years. I also hunt black bears. I've stopped 2 full on charges over the years. One from a 514 pound healthy male and the other on a 350 female a client had gut shot. When we were doing the exotic ranch growing up, I stopped a bison that was goring my dad with a 357. All single action Rugers except for the big bear. That was a 500L on a Seville.
Proper drawing of a single action involves cocking the hammer on the draw. Fire when sights align, then recocking as you come down from recoil. My spreads are about the same in the heavy recoiling cartridge no matter single or double action guns. What matters is my singles are what I have fired many thousands of times.
With mouse fart loads, yes a da is faster. But on heavy 44 and 45 loads, it changes for me. Over that there's no doubt I am as fast as a da, but far more ACCURATE, which is what counts most.
This is a hunting handgun. Not some compact backup piece for hiking or something.

[WARDOG]

98redline's posted video will make you pucker.
While I have not had any first hand accounts with grizzlies, I have had a dozen or so CLOSE, (within 15 feet) encounters with blackie sow's with cubs. Most of the time I see the cubs first. If I see a cub I am drawing / getting pepper spray safety off and getting ready for a fight with the sow as soon as she shows up. She always shows up.