Lindcott Armory Revolver · Not SAAMI standardized
.475 Linebaugh
John Linebaugh's original big-bore revolver cartridge, the direct parent of the .480 Ruger.
- Caliber
- 0.475″ · 12.065 mm
- Introduced
- 1988
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .45-70 Government
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1988
- Type
- Revolver
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- John Linebaugh
- Manufacturer
- Buffalo Bore, various custom
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Rare
- Case capacity
- 55 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:24
- Primer
- Large Pistol
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 50,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 75 yd
- Max range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 30–45 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 1,100–1,400 fps · 18 loads
- Parent case
- .45-70 Government
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .475 Linebaugh ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 12.06 | 0.475 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.80 | 0.504 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 12.80 | 0.504 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 13.77 | 0.542 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.65 | 0.065 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 35.56 | 1.400 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 44.83 | 1.765 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .475 Linebaugh is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 18 active loads across 11 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 18 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy | 400 | LFN | 1,400 | 1,741 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | JHP | 370 | JHP | 1,350 | 1,497 | — |
| Grizzly | Cartridge Co. | 370 | JHP | 1,350 | 1,497 | — |
| Garrett | Hammerhead | 400 | SP | 1,350 | 1,618 | — |
| DoubleTap | Defense | 400 | WFNGC | 1,350 | 1,618 | — |
| Hornady | XTP | 400 | XTP | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy Outdoorsman | 400 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy | 400 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Black Hills | HoneyBadger | 400 | HoneyBadger | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Hornady | Custom | 400 | XTP | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Heavy 440 | 440 | LFN | 1,300 | 1,651 | — |
| Underwood | Hard Cast | 400 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Cor-Bon | Hunter | 400 | Hard Cast | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| Federal | Premium | 400 | SP | 1,300 | 1,501 | — |
| DoubleTap | Hunter | 400 | Hard Cast | 1,280 | 1,455 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .475 Linebaugh
7 models in the database chamber .475 Linebaugh. Browse all →
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Developed by John Linebaugh in 1988 for wilderness and African dangerous-game hunting from a revolver. The .475 Linebaugh requires custom five-shot revolvers — typically single-action conversions of Ruger Super Blackhawks — as no production revolvers originally chambered it. Ruger and Hornady's response was the .480 Ruger (2003), a lower-pressure version for production revolvers. Buffalo Bore and other specialty loaders still produce factory ammunition.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .475 Linebaugh use?
- .475 Linebaugh typically uses a 1:24 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .475 Linebaugh?
- .475 Linebaugh uses a 0.475″ (12.065 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .475 Linebaugh still in production?
- .475 Linebaugh is active; typical availability is rare.
- What is .475 Linebaugh used for?
- .475 Linebaugh is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .475 Linebaugh based on?
- .475 Linebaugh is derived from the .45-70 Government (modified) case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 18 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →