Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 480 Ruger vels

Spent some time this weekend with my Ruger Bisley in 480. Love the gun. I shot 375 and 400 grains LBT style bullets with gas checks. I was running 2400 and H110. I thought my velocity was a bit slow. Max loads topped out at 1200 with the 375, 1125 with the 400. This gun has a 6.5" barrel but think those may be a bit slow. Recoil was entirely manageable.

What's vels you guys seeing with your 480s running max loads?

Have yet to shoot any of mine. Any particular reason you chose gas checks?

I load mine generally "slower" than 1100 fps - on purpose - often closer to 1000. For what I use it for (hogs), I don't really need more. A slower moving, BIG bullet is what I like. I've shot the factor Hornady stuff which is much higher velocity, and occasionally load mine faster, also. I also load 375 and 415 grs, mostly. My handgun is a Super Redhawk, though, with 7" barrel.

Mike

I handload 410 grain hardcast and intentionally keep the velocity down between 1000 and 1100 fps. Plenty to do anything I want from a revolver.

Just didn't want to deal with any leading issues.

You didn't list what charges you're using, but your velocity seems reasonable, variances in the chamber and barrel/cylinder gap can easily account for +/- 50 fps. Leading shouldn't be an issue with a properly fit cast bullet and a decent lube.

My 7 1/2" SRH clocks ~1200 fps with 390-410 gr cast over 21 gr of H-110 lit with a CCI 350. I can increase charges a touch past 23 gr before extraction starts to get sticky, and while I haven't chronoed the load a buddy was firing a similar load out of his SRH and it clocked North of 1300 fps. Worth noting is that extra 100-150 fps comes with a massive increase in recoil. Factory Hornady ammo is slightly sticky so I gauge that as max pressure loads for my gun, and it's an early SRH which was known to be slightly sticky with factory ammo. The 21 gr load drops cases right out, and I can't imagine anything I'd hunt with a handgun that would require more than 400 gr @ 1200 fps.

Here are the loads and vels from this past weekend:

400 gr WFNGC

H110 - CCI 350
21 gr - 1016
21.5 gr - 1072
22 gr - 1063

2400 - CCI 300
19 gr - 1045
19.5 gr - 1084
20 gr - 1122

375 WLNGC

H110 - CCI 350
24 gr - 1133
24.5 gr - 1176
25 gr - 1182

2400 - CCI 300
20.5 gr - 1120
21 gr - 1170
21.5 gr - 1236

I can't explain the decreased vels on the 400 gr H110 - 22 gr load but note the last 1/2 grain on the 375 didn't gain much velocity over the next lower charge. All vels from a 6.5" barrel and measured 15 feet from the muzzle. I'd note the H110 loads in both bullets gave better groups. I shot a couple 1.5" (gross) groups at 25 yards with H110. The other anecdote - I found the H110 loads easier to shoot than the 2400. I've noticed that before with larger caliber revolvers.

The last time I chrono'd any was with 355 Oregon Trail over a charge of Lil'Gun, which was 24gr, IIRC. I think they averaged around 1300 fps out of a Super Redhawk with Hornady brass. Velocity variation was not so good, and the Hornady brass tended to stick. I have one of the Bisleys in .480 now, and will probably try some loads using Starline, and maybe either Enforcer or AA#9.

H-110 typically gives me the best accuracy with magnum revolvers. Scoped from the bench my 480 groups 1/2" at 25 yds with 400 gr cast over 21.0 gr of H-110.

I'm surprised at the lower velocity with the 22.0 gr charge, but I have seen that with H-110 when trying to push a 310 gr warp speed in the 480, 2400 was a better powder for that endeavor. You might want to try a stiffer crimp and see if that has an effect on velocity.

I'd have to dig up my notes but as I recall 19.0 gr of 2400 with a CCI 300 produced ~1100 fps with a 390 gr cast vs. the 21 gr of H-110 producing ~1190 fps. I've also heard that new Rugers are slower than the older ones and many are hard pressed to break 1100 fps with 400 gr cast. 1" of barrel should only drop the velocity 25-30 fps in my experience.

I've mostly used Titegroup with my 480, because I had a good supply. I see in my notes I've used 340 gr cast from Missouri Bullet Company to 1000 fps, 415 gr for Cast Performance to 1020 - some sticky extraction here - and gone the "other way" using Trail Boss to push a 375 gr cast to 600 fps - just for grins and giggles.

I like the 480 because it can move a 400 gr + weight bullet at the speed I normally load my .44's to with lighter bullets, and do it easily.

OR, you can use Max P. level loads to go after elephants (or at least water buffalo!).

Mike