Next project .475 Linebaugh

[Scott Tschirhart]

In the back of my safe I have a Ruger No.1 chambered in .475 Linebaugh.

I really should shoot it more.

I decided to talk to the son of an old friend about a revolver to go with the rifle. I’m thinking a fixed sight 4 5/8 inch octagon barrel with a dovetail front.

He suggested a build on a small frame Ruger New Vaquero and he went over the math. This ought to be a heck of a handy little popper. 435 gr LFN over 20 gr of H110 will go around 1000 fps.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Something like this:

[Scott Tschirhart]

Here’s the donor gun.

[GunnyMack]

That's how John Gallagher and I started my 44 special Single Six!
I need to shoot my 44 special more!!

[Walt]

Do you think the barrel extension will be thick enough for the .475?

[Scott Tschirhart]

Do you think the barrel extension will be thick enough for the .475?

Absolutely. The cylinder frame needs to be opened up for a longer cylinder though.

[Walt]

Well, that will eliminate at least a portion if not all of the barrel extension so lack of wall thickness should be of no concern.

Will the new cylinder length allow the true dimensions (COAL) of a .475 or will it be more like a .480 Ruger?

[Scott Tschirhart]

It will accommodate full length and full house .475 Linebaugh rounds.

But your crimp must be a good one!

[JimT]

Scott .. You probably have this but I will post it just in case ...

475 Linebaugh
Hodgdon's Powder Co. did the pressure-testing of the .475 Linebaugh. Their pressure data along with loading data is in their handloading manual. All the pressure tests and velocities were recorded from an 8" pressure barrel, using Starline brass and Winchester Large Pistol primers.

385 gr. cast LRNFP .476" diameter c.o.a.l = 1.810"
TiteGroup
7.0 gr.
23,700 psi
854 fps

11.0 gr.
51,700 psi
1130 fps

​385 gr. cast LRNFP .476" diameter c.o.a.l.= 1.810"
H- 110
27.0 gr.
45,300 psi
1435 fps

30.0 gr..
55,000 psi
1566 fps

H-4227
25.5 gr.
41,700 psi
1342 fps

28.0 gr.
51,100 psi
1456 fps

420 gr. cast LRNFP .476" diameter c.o.a.l.= 1.810"
H-110
25.0 gr.
36,700 psi
1304 fps

27.0 gr.
49,600 psi
1424 fps

H-4227
24.0 gr.
37,100 psi
1243 fps

26.5 gr.
51,800 psi
1379 fps

[GunnyMack]

On my Single Six I had to open the cylinder window to fit the larger 44 special cylinder. I didn't have to open it front to back. Actually made 2 cylinders, the first we got the walls a bit too thin for safety sake.
I did have to open the loading port for the larger diameter special case/ rim.

The factory 32 cylinder I turned into a shifter knob for my Jeep.

[Walt]

Will, several years ago I sent a New Frontier back to Colt because the chambers and chamber throats were all of varying sizes. They returned the old cylinder and I gave it to my friend who owned a Jeep at the time who used it as a shifter knob.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Scott .. You probably have this but I will post it just in case ...

Thanks Jim,

You might recall that I ordered and paid for this project 15 years ago.

I’m told that I may have a gun by January.

So I am not in a hurry.

Best regards,

Scott

[JimT]

Good things come to those who wait.

[Scott Tschirhart]

True enough my friend.