Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns New Ruger Bisley's in 480 questions

I'm really interested in acquiring one of these pistols. I'll likely sell my BFR 475 L to fund the Ruger. A couple of questions:

1. Anyone that has received one of the new 5 shot Bisley's - could you drop me the name of the LGS you ordered yours so I can get one ordered. My LGS are a bit vague on receiving one even though they are listed as a Lipsey distributor.

2. What velocities are you getting from the 6.5" barrel? I shoot alot of 325 Speer from my Linebaugh. I also have a good load with 425 WFN lead. I'd be interested in knowing the vels from any 325, 400, 420 grain bullets you guys are getting. Judging from 480 internet data, I run my Linebaugh at ~ 480 levels - 1450 for the 325 and 1200 with the 420. I get sub 2" accuracy out of both loads.

Thanks.

bw, Not 100% sure, but I don't believe the 480's are arriving to the distributors just yet, so you may not get any feedback on load development for them. They were said to be about 4 weeks behind the 454's.
Check out Gunbroker or one of the other online sites to maybe hurry up the process, just be prepared to pay a bit more.

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.

Gunbrokers for buying. But unless you feel you need a Bisley you are already ahead with the BFR. Stock, they are a much better revolver than the Ruger.
If you would like a sort of Bisley grip send the BFR to Mr Huntington and he will reshape it and made custom grips for it.

To part with a BFR .475 is blasphemy. There is no better.
If you want a Ruger, find a way but keep the BFR.

You're loads/velocities are fine and will work on any animal.

Thanks guys. I'll call Lipsey's on Monday. I'm mostly trying to deal with pawn shops........

Carson - thanks for the info. Thats about all the velocity I need in 480 slug.

I do think the BFR is a better gun. I've been considering getting the barrel chopped to a more reasonable 6 - 6.5" and getting a better front sight. It is accurate. My BFR is the only handgun I've shot that I can hit paper plates at 100 yards using open sights and some type of field rest.

Now you guys are causing my to re-think this............

If you are not in a rush I can bring both my BFR 500 JRH and the Ruger 480 Bisley on one of my trips to Crossville next month if you want to handle and shoot both before deciding. The BFR has the modified grip on it.

I would not go Ruger if I had a BFR. They can be tweaked to suit too.

Ed..gotta say that is one of the nicest looking BFRs I have seen....

Bob

I've seen that before - who did the work?

snow - I'm not in any hurry and would like to both see your modified BFR and shoot the 480. I live about an hour from Crossville and would gladly make the drive. Let me know when you get in and settled.

Thanks.

i want one of the new Rugers bad but I'm with the guys that say keep the BFR, while i havent had my hands on a 475 all the BFR's ive handled had better fit and finish than Ruger Blackhawks. Blackhawks are darn good guns for the money but BFR's are a better gun.....

Checked with a local Lipseys dealer last week about ordering one. They told me Lipseys had none available and they can't order one until they are showing as "available". Best I could do is get on a "wish list", whatever that is.

Not real encouraging, but we'll see what happens...

I'm on the "wish list", too, also "whatever that is." I told my LGS I'd take whatever they can get first, .480 or .454. Each is the right choice for slightly different reasons. Compared to other options, neither is a wrong choice.

Tom

I have one of the 480's but really on the fence about getting a 454. Already own a Bisley 45 Colt with the 5.5 inch barrel and it will run pretty hot loads.
Still, the 454 would give me two revolvers that are almost an identical match. And a stiff 45 Colt load would be a pussy 454 load so brass would last forever.
Maybe when the price drops below $700 I'll think seriously about the 454 and sell the 45 colt.
Decisions decisions

A Bisley 6 shot 45 Colt makes a lot of sense to me. No problem to do 325-335 hard cast 1350+ fps. The six shot is also lighter.

I'm struggling to justify the 480 with the only reasoning being that I've wanted this exact configuration for years Already have a Bisley Vaquero (large frame) 45 Colt and a FA 454, either which duplicates the uses of the 480 for me.