Reeder Custom Guns - I remember reading the development progress in G&A

WB
I remember reading the development progress in G&A
Thursday, January 04, 2018, 08:36

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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Another look at the .475/480 vs .500s - Dave H., 2018-01-04, 06:49
- Dead is dead - Zach, 2018-01-04, 09:42
  - 500vs ??? - Frank Simon, 2018-01-04, 16:58
- Dave, I have 510GNR, 475LB, 410 GNR, - Larry Fry, 2018-01-04, 08:53
- Dave, I'm really careful about using the term "Better"... - Huey, 2018-01-04, 07:01
  - "Better" is a relative term, yes, I was thinking in the - Dave H., 2018-01-04, 13:02
    - Understand and have pondered the same things... - Huey, 2018-01-04, 13:15
      - Oh I think we do have plenty of room... - Dave H., 2018-01-04, 13:26
  - THE BEST CARTRIDGE IS EASY TO NAME. THE ONE WHICH STANDS - JT, 2018-01-04, 07:57
    - Plus they don't count in your collection total - WB, 2018-01-04, 08:39
- From what I understand, Linebaugh developed... - Stuart in GA, 2018-01-04, 06:58
  - I remember reading the development progress in G&A - WB, 2018-01-04, 08:36
    - .475 American Hunter - Stonecold, 2018-01-04, 11:40
    - In the early days I made all my own brass - Jim Taylor, 2018-01-04, 10:11
      - I remember you telling me that tale... - WB, 2018-01-04, 11:24
        when I sent the Jurras Memorial to Lee Jurras to get - Gary Reeder, 2018-01-04, 13:55
        Oops! Sounds like Lee was a real character til - ChrisG, 2018-01-04, 14:53
        yep, losing 3 good friends in a short period of time - Gary Reeder, 2018-01-04, 17:12