480 Ruger / Win 296 / Leadhead 355gr Gas Checked WFN: Any Load Data??

[Gary H]

Been looking. Any help? Saw "Steves" loading data, just wanted to see if I could find other sources.

Got this from Winchester:

"Gary,

Thank you very much for taking the time to contact us here at Winchester Ammunition. We are always glad to hear from our many friends and customers who share in the shooting sport.

Winchester does not have reloading information for the 480 Ruger, sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you again for contacting us here at Winchester Ammunition. If you should require additional information, do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,
Winchester Technical Department"

[TATER]

Only Data I have found is by Hodgdon.
I'm thinking about using the TiteGroup powder.

http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/index.php

[Gary H]

Perhaps I should have bought Hogdon, but I took a chance that I would find data on 296. I saw load data for Casull and assumed that I would find some for the Ruger. I'm sure in time, but seems like I'm drawing a blank on TFL.

[jjmorgan64]

you might want to try the Ruger forum
http://www.rugerforum.com/cgi-bin/cg...assCookie=true

[Gary H]

Thanks..just posted the question..nothing via search..

[Cody]

I too have a .480 Ruger and almost use Lead Die Cast Bullets from Cast Performance exclusively...

Try this link http://www.gunblast.com/Loading_the_480.htm

[Gary H]

Thanks Cody..that is where I actually started my interest in the 480.

[tex_n_cal]

Bear Tooth Bullets have a 370 gr bullet that they state was designed for the .480.

Hornady of course has both 325 and 400 gr XTP bullets in that size.

www.beartoothbullets.com

[Gary H]

I guess there was some truth in the warnings regarding reloading for a relatively new caliber. Well guys, I think I will start with the low numbers that Steve puts forward then chrono. Should get going in a couple of weeks and then I'll post the data.

[Jbar4Ranch]

My best load in the .480 to date is a 400 grain cast SWC cast in a cheapo Lee mould. I've also used an NEI mould that casts a 350 and a 440 grain bullet as well as Hornady XTP's in 325 and 400 grain weights. I like the Lee bullet for one simple reason, it has 2 crimp grooves, allowing me to seat the bullet out to approximate the length of the .475 Linebaugh. Using the lower crimp groove, I've worked up to 25.0 grains of Hodgdon's Li'l Gun, which is 4 grains over Hodgdon's recommended max with a 405 grain lead bullet, and proved to be an absolute maximum load in my particular revolver. Extraction was very hard at this level, and accuracy went to hell, so I backed off to 24.0 grains. Groups tightened back up and extraction was fine. The lowest I went was 22 grains, still a full grain above Hodgdon's max, but with more case capacity due to seating the bullet out to the 2nd crimp groove, pressures are significantly lower and accuracy was superb anywhere between 22.0 and 24.0 grains. The Lee bullet is unique to this load, don't try going this high with a normal seating depth!! Li'l Gun has a lower pressure curve than 296/110 and, taking this into consideration along with seating the bullet out, I think I can come very close to 475 Linebaugh ballistics with the same powder/bullet combination. Don't try to approximate 475 ballistics with 296/110!! You'll end up missing some fingers eventually.
Light conditions on the test day wouldn't allow my pre Model 1 PACT chrono to read, but Hornady's Web site claims 1337 fps with 21.0/Li'l Gun/405 gr. lead bullet in a 7 1/2" barrel, so I'm expecting at least 1350 fps from this load and am hoping to see 1400+.
Hornady cases and CCI-350 primers were used in developing the above load. Good Luck!

[Cody]

Where can I find 405 grain bullets for the .480 since I don't have the means to pour my own? I did contact Cast Performance and they told me that they used to produce them but their molds went to hell as the fellow put it. He told me that they had more molds on order and the guy went to say that they expect them in 3 weeks. This has been 2 months ago if not longer and I still see no mention of the 405 grain die cast on their website.

[Jbar4Ranch]

BRP markets a 395 grain lead SWC. I can't find a Web site for this company, but here's an address and phone number.

BRP High-Performance Cast Bullets
Roger Barnes
1210 Alexander Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
1-719-633-0658

Here's a site with a list of dozens of bullet/ammo sites: http://www.shootguns.info/ammo.htm

There was also a good article by John Taffin in the September/October issue of American Handgunner, pp 58-61, with a lot of loads he developed. Pretty conservative loads for the most part, but it's a good starting point.

(edit) September/October 2001 issue, that is. Sorry 'bout omitting the year.

[Cody]

BRP markets a 395 grain lead SWC. I can't find a Web site for this company, but here's an address and phone number.

Thanks for the tip to another source of bullets. Have you had an opportunity to try this bullet from Cast Performance 375gr. LFNGC? I picked up a container of Lil'Gun according to Hodgdon's website they mention pushing this bullet around 1530 fps(it has been awhile since I looked at their website but I know it was 1500 plus. I am trying to develope a Grizzly Bear round for mountain carry. While here in the Northern Cascades we don't covet nearly the Grizzly population as you do in the Northern Rockies there are reports from State Biologist that we have half dozen or so just South of the Canadian Border.

Cody

[Jbar4Ranch]

The only bullets I was able to try in the 480, before I had to txfer possession of all my guns due to a divorce straight from hell, were the 325 & 400 XTP's, 350 & 440 cast, and the Lee 400 cast.

My observations on the Hodgdon's Web site are that their velocities are quite a bit greater than what we are going to obtain in the real world. Probably they are using an unvented 7 1/2" test barrel in a universal receiver rather than an actual revolver for their testing. Using this method, they don't get a pressure drop from the barrel/cylinder gap, hence higher velocities that you and I won't be able to safely achieve. They have a 370 grain lead bullet listed using a max load of 26 grains of Li'l Gun @ 1539 fps, I didn't see a 375 listed.

Extrapolating data from Hodgden's site, I would expect my Lee 400 grain, second crimp groove/24 grains Li'l Gun/CCI-350 load to hit 1450-1500 fps, but I don't think it's going to be that high... It will be interesting to find out for sure one of these days.

In a 7 1/2" barrel, Li'l Gun is a great powder, maybe the best, in this caliber up to about a 400-420 grain (lead) bullet weight, but I found that H110 gave me higher velocities with the 440 grain lead bullet than I could obtain with Li'l Gun.