I have shot a 6.5" Taurus Raging Bull in 480 Ruger. It gets higher velocities than my 9.5" Ruger Super Redhawk. One gunsmith, John Gallager, suggested there was a bit of over barrel length involved and the 6.5 inch barrel may just be "just right" for the 480 Ruger cartridge. If I didn't have the other two revolvers, this one would certainly catch my eye. An old friend had such a conversion done on a Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt, a fine revolver in its own right. He liked it. The Ruger NM Blackhawk stainless in any caliber 40 caliber and above is a fine all around hunting piece. I love my little plinker, a 7.5 inch NMBH Bisley, blued, in 44 Special, only 250 grains at 1200 fps or 180 grain JHP at 1300 fps.
As to 480 Ruger loads, slower powders at near maximum listed charges close the gap between barrel lengths. 400 gr WFNLBT 21.0 gr Lil'Gun 1170 fps, 17.5 gr 2400 1009 fps. The Taurus is really a 5.5 inch with one inch compensator, so a little more velocity might be expected in a true 6.5 inch barrel.
Last edited by Carson; 09/06/15.
