So, is it silly to buy a FA 475 Linebaugh with the intent of

[tominboise]

So, is it silly to buy a FA 475 Linebaugh with the intent of shooting 480 Ruger ammo thru it?  How would the recoil be?  How is the recoil compared to a 45 colt loaded with a 300 gr bullet at 1250 fps, in a Ruger Bisley?  How about compared to a Super redhawk 454 casull?

[Lloyd Smale]

recoil should be simular. Nothing wrong with your idea the 480 is all the power you actually need for hunting anything. But if it were me and you handload id use 475 brass. You could do the same speed with less pressure and you wouldnt foul the cyl and prevent .475s from chambering.

[MS Hitman]

Please do not take this personally, but yes it would be silly.  The FA chambers are bored to a much closer tolerance than other manufacturers and as Lloyd stated shooting .480 rounds in a .475 chamber would cause residue build-up.  I load 400 grain cast bullets down to 850 fps.  This load is extremely accurate out to 100 yards in my revolver and is more closely compared to my .44 Specials in recoil.  Don't think anything around here breathing is goling to stop that bullet either.

The same weight bullet loaded to around 1150 fps recoils about the same as a heavy .45 Colt.  It is my opinion that 400 grain bullets are about optimum for the .475.  I find 300 grain bullets cause the recoil to become whippy, like the .454 Casull using heavier charges.

[Jamie45]

Tominboise, check the very bottom of the FA website page, factory installed options.  They sell a 480 Ruger cylinder for the 475 guns.  I think the idea is that you would get it as a second cylinder, but you might call them and see how much it would cost to have a 480 Ruger instead of a 475 Linbaugh.  My personal feeling is, if you are going to spend that much cash, get the way it suits your needs.  If you know you will only shoot 480’s (and especially if you don’t reload) get the gun in 480 Ruger.  If you do reload, get the 475 and follow MS Hitman’s suggestions for light loads.  Of course, option 3, if you have spare cash, is to get both cylinders, cover all bases, and have a really cool gun!!

[tominboise]

Thanks for the info.  I wasn't sure if the 475 and 480 were the same case length or not.  I reload anyway, so it should be a simple matter to download the 475 to whatever level works best for me.  If I go ahead with the buy, I will repost asking for load data for light loads......... :wink:

[bpjon]

Here's some load data from John Taffin for practice or fun loads for 44 Mag, 45 Colt, 480 Ruger, 475 Linebaugh and 500 Linebaugh.  

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_1_50/ai_110470557/pg_3

[TScottO]

I'm with Lloyd and MsHitman on this one. If you don't reload you really should when you get into these big guns.

Take Care,
Scott

[Golsovia]

The BFR is really quite tame with 400 grainers at 1000-1100 fps whether loaded in 480 or 475 cases. I have had some fun with 400s using Unique a powder that I normally think of as a wimpier type propellant. Pushing a 400 at any speed makes it sometimes more than a trifling object. It isn't bad on the back end though. The BFR is a lot more gun to hang onto which makes it tame things down a lot when the trigger breaks.