Marlin 1895RL 480 ruger / 475 Linebaugh

[NYH1]

I'm thinking about getting this rifle. All the ballistic's I've found are from a "7 inch barrel" in a pistol. What kind of ballistic's will I get from rifle with an 18.5 inch barrel?
From what I've seen and read with the 44 Mag. If you go from a pistol with a 6 inch barrel to a rifle with 20 inch barrel you gain 1.5 to 2 times the "energy", is this the same with the 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh?

[Blackhawk44]

While not owning a 475/480 or a ballistic calculator, I'd use the 44 mag as a guide.  I've never calculated energy since terminal performance has more meaning to me than paper ballistics.  That said, the 44 gains about 300-350fps.  The bigger bores should be close, but may not gain as much as you would think due to bore expansion or the bigger the bore the less gain.  Still you have a very major gain - controllability!

[Jim n Iowa]

I am really new to levers, but I happened on to a 1894P marlin that had never been shot. Traded in by one who received as a gift and not into levers. I was  in search of a 480 lever. My ? is a 480 that much more gun for game as in hogs, black bear than a 44mag? Since they no longer make the 1894P I will hold onto it, just wondering if I want the 480 bad enough. Wives can count long guns, its the pistols that confuse them.
Jim

[myronman3]

i dont have a 480, but here is how i see it as a reloader.   the 480 will handle a heavier bullet than the 44.   400 grains seems the standard.   with the 44, the heaviest i have is a 310 grain; the heaviest i know of is garrett 330 hammerheads (designed for redhawks only).  my 310 gr. chambers in my 44, i dont know if the 330's would.   i dont know what kind of velocities one might get form a 480 lever; but that 400 grain bullet should at least be doing 1100 - 1500 fps?   comparable to 45-70 power, in a shorter cartridge.    
  considering that these guns are designed as close range weapons, i dont know how much more lethal the 480 might be.   but it definately uses a bigger hammer to pound the nail.   given the price of components, though, i will stick with my 44's.

[WhelenMan]

I think of the .480 basically as a .44 Mag and a half.  I know it's not quite there, but it's pretty close. The .480 Ruger will do very near 1200fps with a 420gr lead bullet from a ported 5" barrel (really about a 4" barrel).  I've got a 10" Encore barrel coming in the mail in .480 Ruger.  I'm a bit leary of the recoil that pistol may produce with full power loads. It will be interesting to see the velocity in a 10" barrel with no barrel/cylinder gap.  You should never judge the .480 by the factory loads, the 325gr Hornady loads are quite a bit below the pressure the round is specified for, and handloads will do quite a bit better. I'm very disapointed that both Marlin and Winchester punked out on this chambering.  I would rather have either of those than a Puma, but I've got my eyes open for one now as it does not appear there will be any forthcoming from Marlin or Winchester.  Don't you love it when they catalogue non-existant firearms?  At least Ruger eventually produces firearms after they introduce them a few years in advance.

[TScottO]

You might ask Lloyd Smale over in the single action froum about this. He would probably know right off the bat.

I know from a 6" 475 FA I'm getting 1350fps with 410grWFNGC. I don't know what kind of pressures the Marlin will hold but just guessing, 300fps will be on the low end of gain with 12-14" more barrel.

Be Safe,
Scott

[Lloyd Smale]

bad news and bad news. Marlin never made that rifle at least ive never seen one. They had them cataloged for a bit but i dont know of anyone thats gotten one. Ive got a custom one being built on a 94 marlin and thats the other bad news i still havent got it so i cant tell you what the velocity is. But bottom line is that i shoot cast bullets and to me its a waste to shoot them over 1500 fps anyway. It just cause bullet failure. But my idea is a hard hitting mild recoil load that will push a 400 at about 1300fps which is close to factory 4570 ballistics out of a real compact rifle. The marlins that were cataloged were on 336 actions and to me that defeats the whole purpose. You might as well buy a 4570 guide gun which is capable of a lot more power.

[WhelenMan]

I've located a Puma, but it only has the standard sights and a 20" barrel.  I'd really like the hi-viz sights.  The 20" barrel may be a better idea than the 16", I"ve never had a lever gun with such a short tube so i've ne point fo reference.