480 Ruger Ammo For Sale

Sturm, Ruger, & Co. partnered with Hornady to introduce the .480 Ruger in 2003—the first and, thus far, only ammunition cartridge bearing the Ruger name.

It is a unique big-bore caliber designed to be used in a large, high-power revolver. In its standard factory load, the .480 Ruger features a .475-inch diameter bullet that weighs 325 grain (gr). Although the bullet’s diameter is 0.475 inch, it was deemed the .480 Ruger to avoid confusion with the much higher-pressured (and parent case) .475 Linebaugh. This bullet sits in a semi-rimmed, straight-walled casing that measures 1.285 inches in length, just a little shorter than the above-mentioned .475 Linebaugh. The cartridge has an overall length of 1.650 inches.

Unlike other ammunition on the upper end of the big bore cartridges, the .480 Ruger isn’t a hot load. While powerful, the ammo is not a Magnum and wasn’t designed to be. The .480 Ruger uses a large pistol primer and has a maximum pressure set by SAAMI (the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) at 48,000 pounds per square inch (psi).

When it comes to the performance of the .480 Ruger, the cartridge doesn’t disappoint. With its factory load, the 325 gr bullet can travel faster than 1,350 feet per second (fps) with a muzzle energy of up to 1,300 foot-pounds (ft·lb). At 100 yards, the lead’s still moving at 1,075 fps with an energy level of 835 ft·lb, which is rather impressive for such a heavy bullet.

480 Ruger Ballistics: Chart of Average 480 Ruger Ballistics

The .480 Ruger will likely never become as popular as the .44 Magnum, or even the other big bore revolver calibers like the .454 Casull. But for shooters who want an effective handgun hunting caliber with manageable recoil, the .480 Ruger is well worth considering.

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

Written by

Molly Carter