480 Ruger Ammo For Sale Online At Smoky Mountains Guns and Ammo

You planned a backcountry trip, not a guessing game at checkout. You want 480 Ruger ammo for sale that you can trust, ship fast, and stack deep. That is why many big-bore revolver hunters buy in bulk from SmokyMountainsGunsAndAmmo.com. When you carry a heavy revolver, confidence matters. Your ammo choice should match that same standard.

One reason this matters: the U.S. has 14.4 million hunters (age 6+), and hunting participation rose about 26% versus the prior national survey. More demand puts pressure on niche calibers.

What is 480 Ruger ammo?

480 Ruger ammo (often written as .480 Ruger) is a powerful, large-bore revolver cartridge built for hunting and hard use. It fires a .475-caliber bullet (about .476″ diameter) from a straight-wall, semi-rimmed case.

History Of 480 Ruger Ammunition

Ruger and Hornady introduced the .480 Ruger as Ruger’s first proprietary cartridge. Ruger positioned it for big-game sportsmen and metallic silhouette shooters.

The design goal was clear. Ruger said the cartridge “splits the difference” between .44 Magnum and .454 Casull. It pushes a 325-grain bullet around 1,350 fps, with roughly 50% more muzzle energy than .44 Magnum (per Ruger’s launch note), yet less recoil than the .454 Casull class.

That “middle ground” is the heart of .480 Ruger’s story. It gives big-bore hunters a practical option when they want more than typical magnum handgun cartridges, but they do not want maximum blast every shot.

Types of 480 Ruger ammunition

Because this is a hunting-first cartridge, most 480 Ruger ammunition falls into a few proven bullet styles:

• Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)

These loads expand and hit hard on medium to large game. The best-known example is Hornady 325 gr XTP Mag, a common reference load for the cartridge.

• Jacketed Soft Point (SP)

Soft points often balance penetration and expansion. For bulk buyers, you will see options like HSM 400 gr Uni-Core Soft Point, including large-quantity packs.

• Hard Cast (Wide Flat Nose)

Hard cast bullets focus on deep, straight penetration. They are popular for tough animals and heavy bones. A well-known example is Buffalo Bore 410 gr Hard Cast LBT-WFN.

• Solid Copper / Monolithic Penetrators

These are lead-free, high-penetration designs. Underwood lists a 300 gr solid copper option around 1,400 fps.

Specifications of the 480 Ruger ammo

Here are the “quick specs” many buyers compare when shopping for 480 Ruger cartridges:

• Bullet diameter: ~.475–.476″

• Case length: 1.285″

• Overall length (max): 1.650″

• Primer: Large pistol

• Max pressure: commonly cited 48,000 psi (SAAMI reference in many summaries)

• CIP Pmax: 3300 bar (European proof standard listing)

These numbers help set expectations. They also explain why the cartridge feels different than ultra-high-pressure revolver rounds.

Design of the ammunition

The .480 Ruger uses a straight-wall, semi-rimmed case built to run in strong revolvers. Ruger developed it around the Super Redhawk platform and marketed it as powerful without “excessively heavy recoil.”

Two design choices stand out:

1. Big bore, moderate pressure. Ruger highlighted strong energy with less recoil than the .454 Casull class.

2. Factory practicality. It was built for production revolvers, not only custom guns. That matters for consistency and availability.

Some shoppers compare it emotionally to “big-bore icons” like .50 AE ammo because the goal sounds similar: heavy impact. Still, .480 Ruger is a revolver cartridge with a different platform reality, and a different supply chain.

What is 480 Ruger ammo used for?

Most owners buy 480 rounds for three core uses:

• Handgun hunting: hogs, deer, and larger game where legal and appropriate. Ruger framed it for big-game sportsmen.

• Backcountry animal defense: Many hunters prefer deep-penetrating bullets for this role (hard cast or monolithic designs). (Always follow local laws and safety rules.)

• Silhouette/specialty shooting: Ruger also mentioned metallic silhouette target shooting in its launch note.

The “why” is simple: you want a heavy bullet that drives straight and carries energy, especially at practical handgun ranges.

Best 480 Ruger ammo

“Best” depends on your goal. Here are common, field-practical picks, using widely listed factory loads:

• Hornady 325 gr XTP Mag

It is the flagship factory load and a common baseline for ballistics. Hornady publishes downrange velocity and energy for it.

• Buffalo Bore 410 gr Hard Cast

This style targets straight penetration. Buffalo Bore lists ~1,200 fps and ~1,311 ft-lb for its 410 gr hard cast load.

• Underwood 300 gr solid copper

Underwood lists ~1,400 fps and ~1,306 ft-lb for its 300 gr monolithic option.

• HSM 400 gr Soft Point (large packs)

If you want to stock up for a hunt camp or a season plan, bulk packaging matters. SmokyMountainsGunsAndAmmo.com lists HSM .480 Ruger 400 gr soft point in a box of 500, which fits a true bulk-buy intent.

480 Ruger ammo Hornady

Hornady’s Custom .480 Ruger 325 gr XTP Mag is one of the most referenced factory loads for the cartridge. Hornady states each round is hand-inspected and built for accuracy and consistency.

Hornady also publishes real downrange numbers (with a 7.5″ test barrel), which helps buyers trust what they are purchasing.

480 Ruger ammo Ballistics

Factory load snapshot

Hornady 325 gr XTP Mag downrange (7.5″ test barrel)