THE 480 ROCKS

[sixshot]

I have an elk hunt starting one month from tomorrow so I've been shooting my Harton 480 Bisley at least every other day & I'll do that right up until the bell rings.
Most have seen this gun before but I'll give a little discription again. Its a 5 shot gun, Alan opened the frame window, built an oversize 5 shot cylinder, installed a Douglas premium barrel, linebored the gun, tuned the action, added a Bowen rear sight, free spin pawl, custom Harton front sight, with a gold bar (real gold) custom barrel band, Belt Mountain base pin & also somewhat straightened the trigger.
Some times the triggers on these bigger recoiling guns can slap you a bit if the trigger has too much curl, this little addition really helps. Gun also has a set of Holly stocks.
Some have ask why go with the 480 when you can get a 475 & shoot both. My reply is, I've had a 475, wonderful FA gun. I wanted a custom 5 shot 480, if this gun won't get the job done I need something with tracs!
I can run this gun way up there if I want to with this oversize cylinder, no need, it has shot completely through bull moose with my load, actually this load has done it twice on moose, one shot each.
Lately I've been shooting 21 grs of 4227, Win. LP primer & a 385 gr cast HP slug. This load is hitting the steel plates so hard at 50 yds that many, many times it stands them back up, saves walking!
I want to take an elk with this HP slug, haven't used them in many years but I will next month.
I shoot standing with both forearms touching the fender of my truck. I've hit 23 of the last 24 plates at 50 yds with Callshot spotting.
My alloy is 70/30, that is 70% WW's & 30% pure lead, I'm guessing somewhere around 1050 fps, I'll chrono next week, but, it doesn't matter, this load will handle anything out there with ease.
This is my first 5 shots today. Yup, green Crocs!



Dick

[toroflow]

Very nice. Do you have close up pictures of that fine hardware? That's exactly what I want to build next. And one more thing, are crocs required foorwear in Idaho? I want to make sure when I pass the state-line that I have a pair at-the ready!

[Bowenbuilt]

Hey Dick! We need a little closer look at the trigger. A closer look at the whole gun wouldn't hurt my feelings either.

[callshot]

No, crocks are not mandatory, but you seldom see Dick in anything else. I do not have any and have never worn any. Let us know if they give you any trouble at the border. Sometimes they try to keep the undesirables out and in Utah. Steve

[whitworth]

Hey Dick, YOU rock!

[paul105]

Dick, what mold and alloy are using?

When I saw the title of this thread my mind played tricks on me and I read it as "The .480 Crocks".

Paul

[whitworth]

Sept 21, 2012 20:24:13 GMT -5 paul105 said:

480 Crocks".

Paul

He will NEVER live the Crocs down -- LOL! ;D

[subsonic]

Nice shootin!

Pics of that boolit too, if you got the camera out. Who made the mold?

[nolongcolt]

Good stuff! Nice gun, I too like the .480 a lot. The barrel shortening thread has me all heffered up to lop a couple inches off my BFR!

[zeus]

If its the mold I think it is, it's a custom mold that we had done for
Miha about a year ago. Set up to cast 385 gr HP and also has blank pins to cast solids at a little over 400 grains in the LFN style.

[Fowler]

Yup if a 480 wont do it I doubt the gain you can get in a 475 will make the difference. I know I have not bothered to put my 475 cylinder in my Freedom Arms in several years, probably 4000 rounds or more ago. Dick I dont know about the every other day thing with that gun, just carry that gun and leave the other toys a home. They will get over the disappointment...

[sixshot]

Guys, here's a little better photo of my 5 shot Harton gun, I think this gun is also shown in Whitworth's new book.......which I haven't paid for yet! Not sure if you can tell by looking at the trigger, its kind of subtle but really makes a difference if you are starting to get whacked a bit, nice touch Alan.
You can spin the cylinder on this thing, either way, put it down & change Croc's & it will still be spinning, amazing fit!
The bullet mould is a MiHa mould, made in Slovenia, I think thats south of Soda Springs somewhere (Russia) & is a marvelous piece of art. They just make fabulous bullets. I'm using the large set of pins & they drop at 385 grs unlubed. As Glenn said, without the pins they run maybe 405 grs. There is also a smaller set of pins, I'm guessing maybe 370 grs or so. I'll have to take some photo's tomorrow, I think I've shown them before but will do it again.
I'm not normally a HP guy but this one is going to earn its keep by whacking an elk next month. I'll probably swap the Croc's for something a little warmer, it can get cold in Idaho in mid October.



I use this shooting position a great deal when practicing, its much like the standing I mentioned earlier. On the mountain I substitute a rock or tree for the chair.


Not sure of the distance on this old photo, I think about 85-90 yds but not sure, it might show up in the photo. My buddy Brent used this gun & load to take a very nice bull moose 2 years ago.



Dick

[sixshot]

Oops, here's the other photo. Forgot, the alloy I'm using is my 70/30 alloy, thats 70% WW's & 30% pure lead. I've gave this out before but here it is again. We'll start at 1000 fps.

1000 fps===70% WW's & 30% lead

1100 fps===80% WW's & 20% lead

1200 fps===90% WW's & 10% lead

and then going down from 1000 fps

900 fps===60% WW's & 40% lead

800 fps===50% WW's & 50 % lead
For HP lead bullets I have used this formula since the 60's.

Remember, in the 1800's many million of buffalo, deer & elk were killed with pure lead, many from single action Colts at about 900 fps.



Dick

[Fowler]

And look at the hole it blows in the dirt bank behind the target! Ain't doing that with a .357...

[Bowenbuilt]

Thanks Dick,
I have just received my copy of Whit's book and I haven't gone far enough yet to see your gun in it. The book is a great read and the pictures are stunning. I know some people that get the tip of their finger bitten by the Bisley trigger, fortunately it has never bothered me nor has the trigger guard on the Bisley ever wrapped my knuckles as some have said. It seems the perfect grip for my pudgy hands. Thanks again for the extra pictures and text and I wish you the best of luck on your upcoming hunt. Hope you score a whopper!