Too Slow '90
Bearcat
Are these popular hunting guns? A friend has one in a satin grey that he is considering selling but he does not know the value. There does not seem to be much in the way of recent info on them.
Super Redhawk 480 Popularity
- Thread starter Too Slow '90
- Start date
shorty500m
Bearcat
great caliber that due to marketing stragety by ruger and hornady never got the attention it deserved. the SRH while a great gun wasnt my choice and sold mine to finance building a 5shot custom on Bisley
OP
Too Slow '90
Bearcat
How can he find the value? Not none sale to compare.
Either of you have a local FFL / retailer with a price guide?
There's 6 "Ruger 480"s on Gunbroker for sale right now. None have bids, including the one priced at $599 with no reserve if that tells you anything.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Revolvers/BI.aspx?Keywords=ruger+480
There's 6 "Ruger 480"s on Gunbroker for sale right now. None have bids, including the one priced at $599 with no reserve if that tells you anything.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Revolvers/BI.aspx?Keywords=ruger+480
bigboredad
Blackhawk
Sounds like I need to visit gunbroker
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Iron Mike Golf
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2010
- Messages
- 945
That sounds like the price a couple of years ago when CDNN had them as closeouts.
Not sure if it was marketing strategy as much as timing, but that desreves some of the blame too. The .480 was brought back, 'by popular demand" which is why Ruger re-introduced it last Febuary. However, the lack of making it a priority to get some produced has no doubt cooled off the interest of anyone interested in it. (me being one of those people). I know part of the reason has been the crazy market, but I can only ignore the fact that I could have ordered a BFR in .475/.480 and had it by now, many many times.
Wizzard, your post is right on the money but I still think that the 480 is one of the best hunting calibers out there. While the original marketing left it sort of looking for it's place in the order of things between the 44mag and 454/.475 L it really is a fantastic caliber.
In it's factory loaded form, it is just a hair better than the 44M but handloaded up to it's potential it leaves the 44M in the dust and overlaps with the 475 on all but top end loadings. I think if there would have been factory loadings that were a little hotter than the Hornady 325gr XTP stuff, the 480 would have been a much better seller.
As far as the lead time, no question, with our current administration the manufacturers have cranked up production but did it on those firearms that have the greatest public appeal. The big bore revolvers sort of got pushed to the bottom of the pile. The good news is that the new Ruger facility in NC will initially be producing only Redhawks and I would imagine Super Redhawks, so hopefully production will start catching up with demand.
In it's factory loaded form, it is just a hair better than the 44M but handloaded up to it's potential it leaves the 44M in the dust and overlaps with the 475 on all but top end loadings. I think if there would have been factory loadings that were a little hotter than the Hornady 325gr XTP stuff, the 480 would have been a much better seller.
As far as the lead time, no question, with our current administration the manufacturers have cranked up production but did it on those firearms that have the greatest public appeal. The big bore revolvers sort of got pushed to the bottom of the pile. The good news is that the new Ruger facility in NC will initially be producing only Redhawks and I would imagine Super Redhawks, so hopefully production will start catching up with demand.
Thanks Redline. You don't have to sell me on the potential of the .480, I'm a believer!
Funny though, I always think of it as between the .460 and .500 because that's about the time they all were introduced but I think you may be correct putting it between the .44 and .454/.475.
Funny though, I always think of it as between the .460 and .500 because that's about the time they all were introduced but I think you may be correct putting it between the .44 and .454/.475.
smith1961
Blackhawk
wizzard said:
Perhaps it should be thought of as a .475 "special" or .475 "short' LOL!
Jim Puke
Hunter
I have never owned one, but when CDNN had them on closeout several years ago, I came close.
If you look around on the handgun hunting forums, there is much love for the .480 and one of those may be a good place to get an idea of the value.
If you look around on the handgun hunting forums, there is much love for the .480 and one of those may be a good place to get an idea of the value.
smith1961 said:Perhaps it should be thought of as a .475 "special" or .475 "short' LOL!
I agree that the 480R is really just a 475 special but unless you are a serious gun nut, the concept of a "special" or "short" brings the connotations of an underpowered cartridge like a "22 short". While those of us who know better could really care less what you call it, the masses I believe would look unfavorably on such a name. Ruger also wanted their name on the cartridge.
What destined the 480 to relative obscurity was that the 475L, 460 S&W and 500 S&W showed up on the scene at about the same time. The 460 posted some pretty astounding ballistics for a revolver and those "bigger is better" junkies flocked to it like moths to a light bulb. The 480 became sort of the underpowered runt of that bunch.
I put the 480 in the same category as a 41 mag. Great cartridge with excellent ballistics that lives in the shadows next to it's big brothers based solely on a physical aspect of the cartridge as opposed to a performance one.
The reason there is "much love" for the 480 is that it seems to be an inherently accurate cartridge. Ruger did a bang up job in the production of the 480 Super Redhawks and I don't think I have ever heard someone say that they had accuracy or quality issues. I know that my 2001 production 480 SRH is simply scary accurate for a revolver, capable of some pretty astounding 100 yard groups.
Fair price for a used one I would say right around $575-$600 if it was in good condition and had the scope rings. Probably $550-$570 without the rings.
98Redline said:smith1961 said:Perhaps it should be thought of as a .475 "special" or .475 "short' LOL!
I agree that the 480R is really just a 475 special but unless you are a serious gun nut, the concept of a "special" or "short" brings the connotations of an underpowered cartridge like a "22 short". While those of us who know better could really care less what you call it, the masses I believe would look unfavorably on such a name. Ruger also wanted their name on the cartridge.
What destined the 480 to relative obscurity was that the 475L, 460 S&W and 500 S&W showed up on the scene at about the same time. The 460 posted some pretty astounding ballistics for a revolver and those "bigger is better" junkies flocked to it like moths to a light bulb. The 480 became sort of the underpowered runt of that bunch.
I put the 480 in the same category as a 41 mag. Great cartridge with excellent ballistics that lives in the shadows next to it's big brothers based solely on a physical aspect of the cartridge as opposed to a performance one.
The reason there is "much love" for the 480 is that it seems to be an inherently accurate cartridge. Ruger did a bang up job in the production of the 480 Super Redhawks and I don't think I have ever heard someone say that they had accuracy or quality issues. I know that my 2001 production 480 SRH is simply scary accurate for a revolver, capable of some pretty astounding 100 yard groups.
Fair price for a used one I would say right around $575-$600 if it was in good condition and had the scope rings. Probably $550-$570 without the rings.
Yup. Smith & Wesson won the marketing game as the .480 Ruger couldn't boast being the most "powerful" or fastest. However, having used all of the aforementioned rounds in hunting situations, the .480 makes the most sense. JMHO.
mohavesam
Hawkeye
I'm not sure what "popularity" has to do with effectiveness as a hunting revolver... There were thousands produced and usually a few offered on auction sites, so it is not "rare" yet. They are not cheap. And they are NOT for the beginner. They are not plinking guns. They are not obsolete by any measure.
and it is THE namesake cartridge for Bill Ruger himself. In that, the 475 Special (oops, 480 Ruger) is probably much like the 41 Rem Magnum - often called obsolete, "has no purpose", "cannot do what other cartridges do", blah, blah, blah.
The 480R and the different guns it is/has been available in are known by handgun hunters as an excellent round, easily outclassing the 44Mag without the brutal and violent recoil of the 475L, 460 S&W, 500S&W, etc.
I have a few.
and it is THE namesake cartridge for Bill Ruger himself. In that, the 475 Special (oops, 480 Ruger) is probably much like the 41 Rem Magnum - often called obsolete, "has no purpose", "cannot do what other cartridges do", blah, blah, blah.
The 480R and the different guns it is/has been available in are known by handgun hunters as an excellent round, easily outclassing the 44Mag without the brutal and violent recoil of the 475L, 460 S&W, 500S&W, etc.
I have a few.
bigboredad
Blackhawk
I'm with MaxP on this it makes the most sense and the difference between the ..475 and the .480 is so close that it's almost negligible. The srh is freakishly accurate and anyone that can handle the .44 mag can handle the .480. I'm sure Ruger doesn't offer it in a 5 shot is they don't feel it is necessary and I'm pretty sure they know a lot more about it than I do
smith1961
Blackhawk
t-reg said:
Probably because it wouldn't offer much over the NM Blackhawk in .45 Colt, loaded hot with hard cast bullets.
I think the 480 Ruger is a good cartridge. It uses a pistol primer instead of a rifle primer. It can be thought of as a counterpart to the 475 Linebaugh, like 44Spl to 44Mag, 45 Colt to 454 Casul. I believe it balances the power and the recoil. It's more powerful than a 44Mag but has less recoil than a 454 Casul. I've seen stats that show it approaches a 454 Casul at the low end of that cartridge's power when the 480 is loaded to it's max potential.
smith1961
Blackhawk
hangnoose said:
You might laugh hangnoose, but I only shoot/use/hunt/carry/collect three calibers; 16 gauge, .41 magnum and 6.5x55 Swede. What else would anybody need?
Oh sure I got a Savage 77E in 12 gauge, and some .357/38 and 45 revolvers. Heck I even have one semi-auto .40 caliber duty pistol. But the three above mentioned step-children are my favorites! 8)
smith1961 said:
I think you missed the mark on that guess. Ruger is conservative, they always take into consideration the worst possible thing that can happen. Like somebody putting a 475 in it and having issues. Not saying I agree with that thinking but I firmly believe that's where they come from. I recently bought a BFR 475 and I'm going to have some things done to it, and when I get it back I'm going to shoot mostly 480's in it. Or at least 480 power cartridges out of a 475 case. It's a great caliber.
sixshot
Buckeye
The 480 is a fantastic caliber thats manageable by anyone who can handle 44 maggies. I shot my bull moose with a SRH 480 just like you mention. One shot at 45 yds & he was down & out, took maybe 15 steps, walking like a drunk!
A friend borrowed it & whacked a bull bison in Montana with it, also one shot, he said the hind legs kicked the belly when he dropped.
I sold that one & had Alan Harton build me a custom 5 shot gun & another friend shot his bull moose with it, one shot & down it 30-40 yds. All 3 were with cast slugs & all exited. This was with a 370 gr cast slug over 21 grs of 4227. Easy on the back end & deady out the front!
Dick
A friend borrowed it & whacked a bull bison in Montana with it, also one shot, he said the hind legs kicked the belly when he dropped.
I sold that one & had Alan Harton build me a custom 5 shot gun & another friend shot his bull moose with it, one shot & down it 30-40 yds. All 3 were with cast slugs & all exited. This was with a 370 gr cast slug over 21 grs of 4227. Easy on the back end & deady out the front!
Dick
montegomx70
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2012
- Messages
- 384
how much does a box of 480 shells go for?
i wish ruger would make satin grey avialable across the redhawk line.
i wish ruger would make satin grey avialable across the redhawk line.
montegomx70 said:
You can get a similar looking finish from aluminum oxide blasting. Also easier to repair the finish if you happen to ding it.
Personally, while I really like the Redhawk, and I do own one, I wouldn't feel that bad if they did away with it and beefed up the SRH offerings. I would love to see the Talo exclusive Toklat become a standard issue configuration, maybe even knocking the barrel back to 4.2"
Bob R
Single-Sixer
How much do factory rounds go for? Very good question. I have a pair of 480R Super RedHawks, and I have never fired a factory round through either of them.
As was said above the 480R is in the same recoil range as a 44 Mag shooting heavy hunting ammo. I can not tell much if any difference between a 44 Mag 310 grain Hammer Head and my 480R with a 375 grain of 400 grain lead bullets. The 44 may even have a little sharper recoil.
The Super RedHawk set up with a 30mm UltraDot is a (deer/hog/elk/moose) killing piece of machinery. You have no surprises, Big Drain Hole in one side, and out the other from about any angle.
The 480R is easy to reload for. Reloading you have options. You can load speers Deep Curl, or XTP's in 325 and 400 grain for hunting if you wish to shoot jacketed bullets. A couple gas checks and a little #9 shot and you have some serious snake medicine.
I have been casting the 400 grain Lee bullets which are pretty impressive for a few years now. I will be using a bullet of my own design this deer season. I designed a 375 grain bullet mold made by Mountain Mold Company for my Super RedHawk. The bullet has a 70% Meplat, takes a Hornady gas check, and has a good size grease groove, as well as taking bullet lube ahead of the gas check. I have a couple hundred cast up, sized, and lubed with Blue Angel ready to go.
To me the 480R offers plenty of power for all North American Big Game, in a package that you can shoot without unmanageable recoil. The Hogue Tamer Grips are a real big help with recoil management also. I find the 480R to be at my maximum end of recoil tolerance. If I moved up to anything that kicked much harder, I would probably develope a flench.
As far as ammunition being available down the road. I have enough cases on hand to keep both of mine running the rest of my life. Anyone who buys one should start putting back a few bags of Starline or Hornady brass. I also recommend anyone buying a 480R get into reloading. It is way more enjoyable for me to shoot at penneys a shot instead of $1.50 to $2.50 a shot for factory ammo.
Plenty of useable power.
Manageable Recoil.
Easy to Reload for.
Whats not to Love?
Bob
As was said above the 480R is in the same recoil range as a 44 Mag shooting heavy hunting ammo. I can not tell much if any difference between a 44 Mag 310 grain Hammer Head and my 480R with a 375 grain of 400 grain lead bullets. The 44 may even have a little sharper recoil.
The Super RedHawk set up with a 30mm UltraDot is a (deer/hog/elk/moose) killing piece of machinery. You have no surprises, Big Drain Hole in one side, and out the other from about any angle.
The 480R is easy to reload for. Reloading you have options. You can load speers Deep Curl, or XTP's in 325 and 400 grain for hunting if you wish to shoot jacketed bullets. A couple gas checks and a little #9 shot and you have some serious snake medicine.
I have been casting the 400 grain Lee bullets which are pretty impressive for a few years now. I will be using a bullet of my own design this deer season. I designed a 375 grain bullet mold made by Mountain Mold Company for my Super RedHawk. The bullet has a 70% Meplat, takes a Hornady gas check, and has a good size grease groove, as well as taking bullet lube ahead of the gas check. I have a couple hundred cast up, sized, and lubed with Blue Angel ready to go.
To me the 480R offers plenty of power for all North American Big Game, in a package that you can shoot without unmanageable recoil. The Hogue Tamer Grips are a real big help with recoil management also. I find the 480R to be at my maximum end of recoil tolerance. If I moved up to anything that kicked much harder, I would probably develope a flench.
As far as ammunition being available down the road. I have enough cases on hand to keep both of mine running the rest of my life. Anyone who buys one should start putting back a few bags of Starline or Hornady brass. I also recommend anyone buying a 480R get into reloading. It is way more enjoyable for me to shoot at penneys a shot instead of $1.50 to $2.50 a shot for factory ammo.
Plenty of useable power.
Manageable Recoil.
Easy to Reload for.
Whats not to Love?
Bob
CraigC
Hawkeye
Yeah right. The .480 is a significant step up from the .45Colt and .44Mag.smith1961 said:
It is entirely unfair and short-sighted to characterize the .480 as a ".475Spl". The .38Spl and .44Spl run at half the pressures of their magnum offspring. The .480 runs at 48,000psi and the .475 runs at 50,000psi. Big difference.
Not even close.98Redline said:
smith1961 said:
I would buy one in a heartbeat. I love my 480 Ruger SRH, it is very accurate with nice 400 grain Speer Gold Dots. I ran into a deal on the bullets ages ago ($150 for 500) and I'm starting to run out.
