Added a Super Blackhawk Bisley 480 Ruger to the stable

[High Desert Hunter]

Looking forward to doing some load development with it. Planning on using somewhere between a 370 to 420 grain bullet at 1000 to 1200 fps.

 

[enysse]

Congrats, that is one powerful gun!

 

[ack]

I had one for Ak. sleeping in tent...Accurate.Shoulda kept it..

 

[High Desert Hunter]

It should compliment my FA 454 nicely, just waiting on dies, brass, and bullets. Of all the people I know, or have read, none have had anything negative to say about the 480 Ruger.

 

[sestoppelman]

I have a BFR in .480, great gun and cartridge. How is yours in the fit and finish dept? Lots of guys on another forum have had issues ranging from cosmetics to more serious problems. The worst I have seen is a bore that looked like it was rifled with a coarse grinding stone!! Several guys have sent theirs back for repair of one thing or another, a lot of bad grip fit issues., over use of red Loctite etc.

 

[High Desert Hunter]

Mine certainly has some cosmetic issues, the grips could have been fit better, there are tool marks and minor scratches, and one screw head is slightly buggered. I haven't had the chance to shoot it yet, if it shoots accurately, I doubt I will worry about it, if it doesn't, I will be calling Ruger and sending it back.

 

[High Desert Hunter]

Range report: Shoots high with the 412gr Hunters Bullets I loaded (some of the worst looking cast bullets I've seen), and the creepy trigger pull made shooting anything that resembles a group impossible, I was lucky to keep 5 shots in 4 inches. Best groups came with the starting load of 300-MP powder, they also shot the closest to point of aim. I had to adjust the rear sight as far right as I could get it without the screw falling out. By comparison, I also took my Bisley 44 Magnum, shot some 300gr Nosler over 2400 and my 429421 over HS6, it will put 5 shots into 1.5" or less at 25 which is the range shot today. I am going to load up the rest of these Hunter bullets, and see if I can improve some things, bent the trigger return spring which alleviated some of the creep, and I am going to skip the Unique loads which shot 5.5-6" high, but were very, very comfortable. Temperature was a chilly 43* with a Northerly breeze, cold by Southern New Mexico standards. I will decide tomorrow if this is going back to Ruger, it just didn't impress me, what I am afraid of is that it may be the actual bullet that is some of the issue.

 

[sestoppelman]

Did you measure the throats in the cylinder? If its a big difference between them and your bullet diameter (measured) that can cause problems. The sight thing I have heard of before all of it. Try some other bullets too, Hunters are probably allright but kind of a budget bullet I think. But most important is diameter being close and just slightly over throat size. You should be able to just push them thru each chamber with a little resistance, not too much. But if they fall thru and bounce of your loafers.. likely too small for the gun. A lot of the new SBH guns have gone back to Ruger for one thing or another. I didn't buy one as I have a BFR .480 and have no use at all for a .454! Keep us posted.

 

[High Desert Hunter]

The bullets are sized properly, the throats are .476, and I ran the bullets through my .476 sizer die, the issue is the bullets have bases that are rather jacked up, I cast my own, and 90% of the Hunter bullets would have went back in my pot. There was almost no leading, and likely if I decide not to send it back I will disassemble it and stone the trigger and sear as I have done in the past. I will for certain be buy a mold for this one and casting my own, just needed something to shoot prior to deciding on the mold.

 

[sestoppelman]

Sounds like you are well on top of it then. In my BFR the chambers wont tolerate a bullet larger than .475 dia else they wont fit in the chambers because a larger bullet puches out the case sides. I had bought some bullets from Cast Performance and the box said .475 but they actually measured nearly .477 and no way would they chamber. I called them up and asked if they could make bullets that measured what the box said and they said no, most folks want .476 or so regardless what the box said! So I found Rimrock bullets in MT and they make a .475 bullet that fits perfect. Jacketed are no problem of course. BFR said "we cut our chambers for factory ammo".

 

[High Desert Hunter]

Sounds like you are well on top of it then. In my BFR the chambers wont tolerate a bullet larger than .475 dia else they wont fit in the chambers because a larger bullet puches out the case sides. I had bought some bullets from Cast Performance and the box said .475 but they actually measured nearly .477 and no way would they chamber. I called them up and asked if they could make bullets that measured what the box said and they said no, most folks want .476 or so regardless what the box said! So I found Rimrock bullets in MT and they make a .475 bullet that fits perfect. Jacketed are no problem of course. BFR said "we cut our chambers for factory ammo".

Is your BFR the 475 Linebaugh/480 Ruger version? Or just a 480 Ruger? I will get this one to shoot, even if it ends up costing me a bit more money, I have long wanted a 475, and at times kick myself for not getting my Freedom Arms in 475 instead of the 454, but at the time I wasn't really looking to invest in new molds and dies and cases, I still had all of the stuff from when I owned a 454 several years back, live and learn, this one may be my chance to let JRH or Gary Reeder put a small stamp on one of my pistols, I do know that in the next few years, God willing I will be putting a small reddot on it to help my aging eyes.

 

[sestoppelman]

.480 only. Not many of them around I don't think. I lopped some barrel off to make it handier. Good shooter.

 

[High Desert Hunter]

Nice looking shooter! The 480 is more than enough hammer for me, if I need more speed to shoot a longer distance, I bring out the 454.

 

[High Desert Hunter]

I sent mine back to Ruger to fix some issues, mostly cosmetic, they did a good job and had it back to me in a little under 2 weeks.

 

[CAustin]

Heck of a gun! Should be able to take down mist anything with it!

 

[larry4831]

Does anyone have a load for the 480 Ruger using MP 300 powder? I want to use the cast performance 425 grain cast bullet. I found a load 24.2 grains but it is with the jacketed bullet and it only weighed 400 grains. Was thinking about using 23 grains as a starting point. Any suggestions?

 

[sestoppelman]

While the jkt bullet is lighter, the cast bullet usually runs at a little less pressure so you can often use a little more powder. MP 300 is said to be like W296 but I think it may be a tad slower if anything. I would start a little lower, whatever the manual says if it does, then work up for accuracy keeping an eye on anything that looks suspicious. You cant really use the old rifle pressure indicators like primers because of the lower pressures involved, so it pays to be cautious. If you start getting craters or real flat primers, you are probably on the ragged edge.

 

[D.M.V]

that's some serious fire power ! Bang !!!!

 

[larry4831]

While the jkt bullet is lighter, the cast bullet usually runs at a little less pressure so you can often use a little more powder. MP 300 is said to be like W296 but I think it may be a tad slower if anything. I would start a little lower, whatever the manual says if it does, then work up for accuracy keeping an eye on anything that looks suspicious. You cant really use the old rifle pressure indicators like primers because of the lower pressures involved, so it pays to be cautious. If you start getting craters or real flat primers, you are probably on the

The maximum load for a 400 grain jacketed bullet is 24.2 grains. So I was thinking about starting at 23 grains with a 425 grain cast bulletand keeping an eye on things from there.

 

[larry4831]

The thing is, you don't want to start to light or you have a chance of sticking a bullet in the barrel