Comparing 480 and 475

[AxeHandle]

Quick look at 480 and 475 at Hodgdon. Pretty much a 110-130 fps increase for 25% more powder. About to scope my 7.5 inch SRH 480 and see what it will do..

Bullet weight Powder Powder weight Velocity FPS Pressure PSI
480 325 H110 27 1518 44,900
475 325 H110 33.5 1626 47,400
480 400 H110 20.5 1258 46,600
475 400 H110 25.5 1330 43,900

[45MAN]

AXE: THE MISSOURI BULLET 340gr THUMPER IS AN EXCELLENT BULLET FOR THE 480

[sixshot]

It's just amazing what these big calibers will do with good 340-400 gr bullets. I shot a Wart Hog in Africa with a 370 gr LBT solid in my FA 475 going about 1250 fps & it was like hitting him with a bowling ball. I've taken bull moose with the same bullet in a 480 going 100 fps slower with almost the same results, down & out in 4-5 seconds. Those big bullets don't need major velocity to work wonders, the big, wide bullet is the magic wand making it happen & you don't have to punish yourself with top end recoil to get the job done.
Things don't look real bright for the 480 right now but I would much rather shoot one than the 475 myself, old age I guess. Gaining that last 100 fps or so is a steep uphill climb in recoil for a small increase in horsepower. Big, wide bullets just get the job done without top speed & punishing recoil, that makes for better accuracy.

[bigbore5]

Everyone talks like the 480 is already gone. Reminds me of the way everyone used to be about the 44sp, 41mag,38sp,45 Colt, 10mm, etc.

[messybear]

Hopefully someone will pick up the pace with components for this caliber soon

[AxeHandle]

Seems like it was a 475 bore revolver that led me to a Magma Master Caster, multiple bullet molds, a Star Sizer and size dies. Then there was that plethora of once fired 480 brass I stumbled upon too.

[cas]

Nov 26, 2023 18:52:29 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

Everyone talks like the 480 is already gone. Reminds me of the way everyone used to be about the 44sp, 41mag,38sp,45 Colt, 10mm, etc.

So you're saying we should be able to but brass again, if we just wait 40 years?

[lockhart]

Or just make it from 475 brass, which IS available!

[gnappi]

Nov 29, 2023 14:53:15 GMT -5 lockhart said:

Or just make it from 475 brass, which IS available!

 I did with 500 pieces, and I feel guilty :-) 


The down sides of buying .475 from Starline and cutting it down is it inflates the perception of the .475's popularity and deflates the need for making .480. After all if fewer bought .475 and crabbed about no .480 maybe they'd put the .480 to the front of the line? 

[cas]

Nov 29, 2023 14:53:15 GMT -5 lockhart said:

Or just make it from 475 brass, which IS available!

That's the problem with "just"s, they add up quick. I already have WAY too many justs when it comes to guns, shooting and loading, and eventually I JUST don't want to do them anymore. lol

[shorty500]

Ballistically there’s little difference and typically even less on game. Years ago I lusted for a Linebaugh due to serious reading of various well known gun scribes.
My first .475 projectile firearm only came with the Ruger SRH in .480. I quickly purchased a mold that dropped a 427g flat nose which maximized the cylinder capacity of said SRH. Case volume wise etc etc I was with the original molds and case capacity of early .475s. Velocity exceeded 1300fps using w296/h110 etc etc. Performance was stellar but way overkill for a poor machinist/gunsmith that’d never make an African safari.

[Fowler]

You know 15 years ago a gentleman decided I needed his FA 475 with an extra 480 cylinder for it and made me a deal I couldn’t refuse. I ran the 475 cylinder for a year or so and wore out that first 100 pieces of brass.

I found a listing for 480 brass and bought 4-500 pieces and have run them for years now. I bet I have cases with 20+ loading through them.

I acquired another stock of 750 +/- once fired brass for when the first batch gives out if it ever does.

Now the funny thing is I haven’t had the 475 cylinder in the gun in 13-14 years I bet and I don’t see a reason to change that.

Now had I not had the second cylinder with the gun I would have just bought 1k Starline cases back when you could readily get them and have shot everything in that brass. Spending the money on a second cylinder doesn’t seem logical for me. But I got the 480 brass long ago and here we are.

So the 480 does all I ever want to do with the gun, yeah the 475 can do a little more but the 480 goes well beyond what I consider to be enjoyable shooting so the 475s advantage is lost in me.

Guess that says all I can about my opinion of the 2 cartridges.

[bearskinner]

“OVERKILL IS UNDERRATED!”

[bigbore5]

John Linebaugh said there's no noticeable difference between the two on game. I'll believe the man who would know.

[sixshot]

If your 480 loads aren't getting the job done with full penetration then you probably need a 475, if it is then........