If I recall years ago when ruger first started chambering the 480 ruger in revolvers they said the 475 also shot in it much like 454 and 45 or 38 and 357. Ruger is again chambering in 480 built there is no longer the caveat 475 linbaugh. My question is am I remembering correctly and has anything changed that buying a new redhawk in 480 would not take the 475 as before (assuming my memory is correct).

Other way around. The .475 Linebaugh has a 1.4-inch case while the .480 Ruger has a 1.28-inch long case. You can fire .480 ammo in a .475 but not the other way around. The only two production revolvers chambered in .475 Linebaugh are the FA 83 and the BFR.

The 480 is a "Special" to the 475 a "Magnum". Kind of.

The Ruger #1's in .475 Linebaugh will also obviously accept the .480 Ruger. The Ruger Super Redhawks though, will only take the .480 Ruger. Why they didn't just standardize the Linebaugh is anybody's guess. I thought about rechambering my SRH to accept the Linebaugh, but most people refuse to machine the super high strength stainless used in the .480's. I guess I could get Bowen or someone like him to maybe make a 5 shot .475 cylinder for the SRH. As best I could tell, the factory cylinders were gonna be marginal in length for the .475.

The .480 will drive 370gr WFN well over 1300 fps, and will shoot through anything in North America, so it's very adequate. Kind of annoying that they didn't make the #1's match the SRH's though.

Ok thanks for the information I was wondering. My memory must be somewhat screwy.Perhaps the #1 was what I was thinking of.

Shoot, I load my 475's to a fair bit less than the 480 Ruger load. Plenty with 370's at 1100 fps I am sure. I have some nice 370 gr HP slugs that Dick Thompson cast for me that I am really wanting to try on a big critter. That, unfortunately, will be at least s few years off.

If you want your 480 to be a 475 give Alan Harton a call right there in Houston. He will do it right.

Here's my .480 SRH turned .475 Linebaugh via a 5-shot cylinder by Jack Huntington.

Nice - is the 5 shot cylinder the same length as factory?

L - R
357 Mag
44 Mag
45 Colt
480 Ruger
475 Linebaugh
500 Linebaugh