Buffalo Bore has had numerous requests for an expanding 480 Ruger load. We’ve chosen the Barnes all copper homogenous XPB bullet for this load. This bullet will expand to about .75 caliber when fired into living flesh and bone at expected impact velocities.
A .75 caliber wound hole is deadly on animals that do not require deep penetration because opening a relatively slow-moving revolver cartridge (relative to a 3,000 fps rifle cartridge) will stop deep penetration.
You should get 2.5 to 3 feet of penetration with this load, depending on the bones you hit. That is sufficient for killing animals up to the 500 lb. range for most shot angles and up to 1,000 lbs. if you pick only broadside lung shots.
This load is accurate in all five of my 475 Linebaugh test revolvers and has relatively low recoil due to the light bullet weight. If you are hunting deer, hogs, black bear, or any other game in this size range with a 480 Ruger, this load will have no peer.
- 1530 fps — Freedom Arms Model 83
Note: For shooting very large animals (up to 2,500 lbs.) at any angle, use our hard cast 410 gr. load (item 13C), which will normally penetrate 6+ feet in muscle and bone at expected impact velocities. This bullet is making a .48 caliber hole, unexpanded.
