Reeder Custom Guns - Another look at the .475/480 vs .500s

Ok, so I am going to play around with my 510 GNR this spring. In doing my due diligence, I have to ask the question, if the 475/480 is that good, then the 500/510 must be that much better, right? In other words, what role does the 475/480 play? I can go from a hot 45 Colt/454, and jump to the 500/510. I seem to recall John Linebaugh worked up the 500L before the 475. Any rationale? I am just questioning the utility of the 475/480 bore in a hunter's tool kit.

...the .475 after the supply of .348 brass for the .500 dried up.

It was Ross Seyfried who chronicled the impressive developments to the masses. We got it much later than those in the know but I'm indebted to those who had the boldness to publish the exciting information. It seemed the .45/70 brass was originally used for the .475 and finally the rims turned down to not interfere with the wheelgun pawl gear. The difference between the .51 and .475 was more equal until the .480 Ruger came out. This provided a boon of jacketed bullets not available to the .51 shooter. That itself is still it's leading bonus in choice, and the easy brass.

I had a .475 and loved it. My gun had a short barrel so I used mostly the LEE cast 400 gr. plain base at around 1150 fps. My gun also had the stock gripframe that just did not work well. Made me bleed many times. Gary finally gunfightered it for me modifying the grip frame and stocks, it was almost magic. That simple modification is highly underrated. I never found anything that would stop the bullet, you just lined it up with a critter's structure and it went straight through. However a .41 bullet will do the same, it's a matter of how big a hole you desire.

I cashed in the .475 and had Gary build me a .510. Jacketed bullets are limited to .50/95 or .50-110 western style express offerings. Usually lighter for bore size and sacrifice penetration for massive expansion. HAWK also makes custom projectiles from soft lead and copper. But there are many suitable cast bullet options, just stay under 450 gr., as we all seem to agree closer to 350 gr. is better. Ditto for the .475/.480.

With .475 you have a wider selection of bullets, brass, and arguably more secure straight penetration. But it impresses only the owner, an animal will never know the difference between the two. Seyfried chose the .475 for his ultimate revolver, shades of Keith's original 1927 article, obviously for dramatic effect but I also think it was a real dream, goal. You need to suit yourself in like fashion or better yet set a longer term goal, get both! The fact remains I traded off my .475 to get a chance to experience the .510 GNR.

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This was a pic from the GunsAmerica add where I bought my very first Reeder Custom .475 LB. It was beastly in this configuration.
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A bit more refined, I've always lusted for Stonecold's .475 American Hunter.
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used the 45-70 cases ... we never turned the rims down for the Linebaugh guns. The cylinders were large enough they did not cause a problem.

I normally ran a 400 gr. bullet around 1150 or 1200. As you say, it would not stop in anything. I shot a running hog in the butt and the bullet came out its mouth and bounced off into the trees.

I used to shoot empty 45 ACP cases out of mine also. You could get them up around 2000 fps.

I bet I can enhance that a bit, aluminum CCI Blazer cases! Open end forward right?! Plus these are Berdan. LOL Finally I found a use for them!

used to the trigger and wait for good weather, he loaded up 45 ACP empty cases backwards in the 475 Linebaugh cases and shot them in his house. I can't remember the velocity he mentioned but he missed a box he was shooting at and it went thru the wall behind the box.
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the end. I'm sorry he's gone.

is rough.

Scotty, it was good to see that picture of my American Hunter on here. I love that one. The grips are just right. I am not shooting it now since the elbow surgery. Was just shooting .22s for a couple of months, but have worked up to 44 Specials now. Hopefully it will get better. I have a 510 and a 475. Very little way to pick which one is best. Either have killed the bears, hogs, and deer I have shot without any real difference. Toss the 480 Ruger into that mix as well.

Better for what? I've heard people complain that the 17 HMR wasn't a good hog gun and a 357 Mag destroyed too much meat on rabbits. So, "Better" is a relative term.

My revolvers range from 17 HMR to 45-70 and 500x1.4". I can't say which is best.

Now favorite is a different story. My favorite revolver cartridge is the 45 Colt. The 44 Special runs a mighty close second.

Still can't tell you which revolver cartridge is "Better "

ABOVE ALL OTHERS IS THE .22. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE.

"...Honey, it's just a .22". I don't know how that developed but it just "IS". They are fat and gluten free, you can have as many as you want, it's good for you. There is always room for another.

context of getting hit by a full cement truck vs an empty passenger bus. Both would cause substantial damage, but one would be more likely to create a greater wound channel diameter and depth. I have a 475L and now the 510 GNR. I'm guessing the GNR will do more ....

Some of the big Nitro Express cartridges didn't do so well. It appears that the larger bullets didn't penetrate so well due to larger diameter.

I'm not sure how that carries over into revolver rounds. Surely, there is some crossover with the various 475 and 500 calibers.

But, consider this. There is .035" difference between the two bullet diameters. The difference between the 44s and 45s is only .023" different. Since those two have survived well over 100 years, surely we have room for the 475s and 50s.

I seem to be "mellowing" and my 475L and 500JRH may become safe Queens.....as my 510 GNR promises to do all that I could ever need/want. Had been considering a 5 shot Redhawk 480R, but...why?

378GNR, and various smaller caliber Encores (I do have a 510GNR revolver that I carried in Alaska for 8 years) that Gary built for me.. I also have 375 H&H Mag,45-70, 300 Win Mag, 308's etc rifles. ALL of the above cartridges have taken a hog or deer with one shot, bam flop. The older I get the less my hands and wrists stand up to recoil and the more I revert back to rifles with less kick to my shoulder. (It ain't doing that great either). I guess my point is (if I am making a point at all,,, LOL) is shoot whatever you are comfortable with and can shoot well. As for the difference between the 500 and the 475, get one of each, can't go wrong that way......

It all comes down to wants and desires and freedom to choose and have fun experimenting. Stuart listed why the .475 came about (fear of no supply of brass for the .500 Linebaugh).

Put any over .40 hole in something in the right place and it’s dead and can’t be any more dead. My biggest thumper right now is a .475 Linebaugh and I know without a doubt I could take it anywhere in the world and kill any animal.......does that stop me from wanting to add a .500 or .510 bore? Of course not! Or even add a .45 since I skipped from .44 to .475? Nope I still want that too.

It’s all good fun and need basically doesn’t come into question at all, we are so spoiled with guns and bullets and powder available to us.

My first big bore was a 475 by Gary...Then I started back wards 44 sp then 45 LC then up to 500 L back to a .480...Liked the 500 L with lower pressuers and the 45 Lc for mild to wild on either round. Hunted anything from chipmunks to Yacks with all of them. In the end its what you like and want to feed...I now have 3 500Ls and 3 45 Lcs in different con figurations...Doing away with all the others,moved on. Love the 22s an 32s as I have gotten older...enjoy the journey an experiment...

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