Need a little help 480 Ruger

M

M3845708Bama

Active Member
Son just got a 480 Ruger and sent a lee 476-400-rf to me to cast up some for him. Now just have WW as base alloy. Will this mold work in the 480 Ruger since is plain base. Anyone have any sizing info they have used. Kid is pretty good so I would like to get him started with best info and rounds I can. Thanks in advance for any info. We do plan to PC but have not even gotten a sizing die yet.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Why not?
People use WW in 44 mag plain base all day long and the 480 Ruger isn't going to be any higher in pressure.

For sizing I would shove a bullet thru each throat. Measure each. Size to .0005-.001 under throat size. A sized bullet should slip thru the throats with little effort.
 
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Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
44 mag pressure with a 300 gr bullet and H-110 would be about 38,500. a 400 gr bullet in the 480 with H-110 would be about 45,500 but at only around 1250 fps.

If your going to go for top end 480 loads I would heat treat the WW alloy to 18 BHN due to the pressures.
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
I don't have one but I am a big fan of the 480 Ruger.

treat it like a big 44 mag, run it @ 3/4 throttle and I bet he really enjoys it.
 
J

JSH

Active Member
Glen, whose front sight blade?

Mine runs pretty high and still needs to be addressed.

I ended up sizing .477
 
gman

gman

Well-Known Member
If it’s the Bisley you will need a taller front sight. I’m working with 2400 right now with a 390 gr bullet. I sent my cylinder to DougGuy and will be shooting it for the first time since getting it back. Will report back.
 
Grizzled Tom

Grizzled Tom

New Member
gman said:
If it’s the Bisley you will need a taller front sight. I’m working with 2400 right now with a 390 gr bullet. I sent my cylinder to DougGuy and will be shooting it for the first time since getting it back. Will report back.
Click to expand...

gman - it is the 4-5/8” Bisley SBH. I am shooting powder coated Lee 400gr cast bullets with H110 now, but really like the idea of switching to 2400 as I could use it universally with my .357 and .454. I also really want to switch to a ~400 gr bullet I can use gas checks with.

... and while I might be Bama’s boy, I’m not a Bama boy...
 
gman

gman

Well-Known Member
It’s known Ruger had problems rifling the 480 barrels. I’m hoping all that was solved by the time they came out with the 4 5/8 bbl.
 
gman

gman

Well-Known Member
I probably shouldn’t have stated it was well known. I’m sure Ruger didn’t announce it openly. Those that started getting the early 6.5 Bisleys had fouling troubles due to bore conditions. By eye the bored looked bright and smooth. With a bore scope you could see the chatter marks. Mine is not bad and hasn’t caused much heart burn. In an email response Ruger said they were looking at ways to improve rifling the barrel. They were only having problems with the 480. Not all barrels were bad. This was at least over one year ago probably longer. Personally my 480 bisley is a favorite.
 
Glen

Glen

Moderator
Staff member
I have a 6.5 Bisley .480 and have had zero fouling problems, but Ruger does have a history of having certain production runs that can be rougher than a cob.
 
Rick

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Ruger's got nothing on Marlin for bad bores. I've got (at the time) a brand new 94 45 Colt Cowboy and the bore through the bore scope looked like it was hacked out with a chisel from end to the other. Called marlin & they wouldn't fix it on their dime because I bought from the original owner that couldn't make it shoot, so I paid Marlin for a new barrel on a new rifle and the new barrel I got back was no better, possibly worse than the one I sent in. Been a safe queen ever since. I've been reading in Rifle Magazine where it sounds like "possibly" Marlin has their act straightened out. Tempted to buy a third barrel, just can't quite convince myself to call Marlin. Again.
 
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