SHOT SUPER REDHAWK480

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Tommy Kelly

Buckeye
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I took out my 480 super redhawk today and shot it a little. This is a 7.5" with magnaporting. I was using hornady 325gr ammo. I got this pistol from my son. He took the rubber grips and put a pretty set of fingergroove wood grips on it to replace the stock rubber with the wood insert grips that came on this gun. The recoil got a little rough on the webb of my hand after 6 shots. I may put the rubber back on and try it to see if it isnt easier on the shooter. I may put the wood on my gp100 instead of this one. I must just be a old whimp. But the BFR 475 linebaugh with rubber grips isn't nearly as bad as this 480 with wood.
 
I believe the single action is much more pleasant to shoot compared to any double action. My son had a super redhawk in .454 and even my heavy .45 colt loads were unpleasant out of it and were no problem out of my blackhawk, But maybe old and wimpy has caught up to me to
 
I don't know how to describe it. but the 480 with the magnaporting seem to recoil straight back into my hand and the wood grips are made thin with fingergrooves. Its like the magnaporting is holding it down but the straight back is strong. It's not that I'm recoil sensitive or anything. I have a 500 S&W 4" that I shoot and a 454 ruger alaskan and a 475 linebaugh in a BFR. all 3 of these bigger guns have rubber grips that came on them but none of them are as punishing as the 480 with the wood. And this was with the lighter bullet factory loaded. I'm glad I didn't take my reloads with the h110 at 22.0 gr behind the 400 gr. cast bullet. I'm sure it recoils more than these. I use these same bullets in my 475 in front of 26.0 gr h110. I have shot 700 grbullets in my 500 with less recoilthan the 480. I'm going to put the factory grips back on the 480 and try it tomorrow and see what happens.
 
Tommy Kelly said:
I took out my 480 super redhawk today and shot it a little. This is a 7.5" with magnaporting. I was using hornady 325gr ammo. I got this pistol from my son. He took the rubber grips and put a pretty set of fingergroove wood grips on it to replace the stock rubber with the wood insert grips that came on this gun. The recoil got a little rough on the webb of my hand after 6 shots. I may put the rubber back on and try it to see if it isnt easier on the shooter. I may put the wood on my gp100 instead of this one. I must just be a old whimp. But the BFR 475 linebaugh with rubber grips isn't nearly as bad as this 480 with wood.
Click to expand...

When I got my 7-1/2" RH in 480, I chronographed the Hornady ammo.

I got 1320 with the 325 gr. bullet, and 1185 with the 400 grainers.

The 325 gr. brass ejected freely, but the 400 grain brass was very stick on ejection.....actually requiring the ejector rod to be bumped on the bench to free it up.

The 355 gr. Performance cast load for me is 25.5 grains of 4227 for 1227 fps and shoots into 3" at 25 yards offhand....I don't shoot any handgun any better than that.

Recoil is brisk, but manageable. I did put a set of Hogue "tamer" rubber grips on after the first box of Hornady loads were fired. They help a lot, especially with protecting the middle finger from being whacked by the trigger guard.
 
Well, my 480 came to me with the factory stocks off,, and a set of Hogues already installed. I've never bothered to replace the Hogues. The 480 is definately a "heavier" recoiling handgun than most,, but it appears very managable to me. I've had a lot of fun shooting steel at 100 yds with mine,, just because I can!

After watching Lee Ermey (Gunny) do a show on the history of handguns,, and they showed him shooting a lot of different handguns,, I gained a lot of knowledge. The slo-mo video of him shooting the 500 S&W where the recoil caused his skin to "ripple" as he fired it,, was very informative on how recoil affects the body. It made me consider the things I need to do to reduce the recoil effect on my body,, as none of us are getting any younger.
Next,, watch the show "Top Shot" and watch the VERY slo-mo photography of the guns firing,, and the bullet impacts. A good study in trigger control, recoil management, gun reaction etc.
So,, I'll use whatever set of stocks that helps the heavy hitters seem a bit lighter.
 
Just out of curiosity, how is the recoil if factory 480 loads compared to hot 44 handloads such as a 240g slug over 24.5g of W296?
 
Donaldjr1969 said:
Just out of curiosity, how is the recoil if factory 480 loads compared to hot 44 handloads such as a 240g slug over 24.5g of W296?
Click to expand...

With that load I get 1376 fps on average in a 7-1/2" Redhawk.

The factory 480 loads produce noticeably heavier recoil than the 44 Mg and that load, even though I have better grips on the 480.

Again, the 480, while producing rather heavy recoil, is still quite manageable. Now if quick double action shots are the plan, then one had better practice it a bit before venturing afield in search of grizzlies to tame. 8)
 
Just for comparison sake I shoot 44 mag with 22.0 gr of h110 behind 300 gr cast bullets. the recoil of the 44mag load isn't bad at all. The 480 is easily double the recoil of the 44 load in felt recoil. I have a 454 alaskan and the recoil on it isnt bad either and I also have a 500 S&W 4" that I shoot and with the 350 gr loads the recoil is less and with the 700 gr cast bullets it's not much more than the 480 7.5" All my other bigger guns have rubber grips that came on them from the factory's. The 480 has beautiful wood thin fingergroove wood grips aftermarket but I have the rubber factory grips to put back on it. Maybe they will help the recoil.
 
Get yourself a set of Houge tamer grips. They are very soft through the back strap the web of your hand will thank you. My 480 is not ported and it was a bit painful with 325 factory loads. With the new grips it is still a handful to hang onto as the muzzle really climbs but most of the pain is gone. Other than the muzzle climb recoil is no worse than 44 out of a Smith 29 with wood grips. I loaded some real lite 480 loads with tightgroup and 325 grain speers. I am only getting around 900 fps but the recoil is less than a 357. Lots of fun to shoot and makes getting to know the gun way easier.
 
If I remember right you son is a fan of thinner grips than most. I've always felt that grip that are on the fat side are a little easier on the hand and Is I remember you like the rubber hogue on everything. I think those besides be softer are also a bit wider and are for sure wider than the wood that is on there
 
I like the rubber but not really the hogues I prefer the pachmayr presentation grips they are the plain without the finger grooves and thats what I use mostly on my handguns. I do have a set of hogues that came on my gp100 that feel really good to me. I could put these grips on my gp100but I won't take the rubber off. They are really good looking grips but don't belong on a 480.
 
I went to ruger's websight and ordered a set of grips for the alaskan with the sorbathane insert. for the 480. They looked like the best for recoil I could find. We will see when they come in.
 
contender said:
Well, my 480 came to me with the factory stocks off,, and a set of Hogues already installed. I've never bothered to replace the Hogues. The 480 is definately a "heavier" recoiling handgun than most,, but it appears very managable to me. I've had a lot of fun shooting steel at 100 yds with mine,, just because I can!

After watching Lee Ermey (Gunny) do a show on the history of handguns,, and they showed him shooting a lot of different handguns,, I gained a lot of knowledge. The slo-mo video of him shooting the 500 S&W where the recoil caused his skin to "ripple" as he fired it,, was very informative on how recoil affects the body. It made me consider the things I need to do to reduce the recoil effect on my body,, as none of us are getting any younger.
Next,, watch the show "Top Shot" and watch the VERY slo-mo photography of the guns firing,, and the bullet impacts. A good study in trigger control, recoil management, gun reaction etc.
So,, I'll use whatever set of stocks that helps the heavy hitters seem a bit lighter.
Click to expand...

A little off topic, but kinda interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5pVya7eask
 
Tommy Kelly said:
I went to ruger's websight and ordered a set of grips for the alaskan with the sorbathane insert. for the 480. They looked like the best for recoil I could find. We will see when they come in.
Click to expand...

Thats the Hogue tamer and it works wonders.
 
You see he wrote it very small. If the truth be known that's why he let me have it because it was hurting his hand also.
 
Tommy Kelly said:
You see he wrote it very small. If the truth be known that's why he let me have it because it was hurting his hand also.
Click to expand...

To be replaced with a 329PD with boot grips. Wimpy lil bitty light 44.
 
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