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Common uses: Hunting, Big Game
| Type | pistol (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 400gr Hornady Custom XTP MAG |
| Muzzle velocity | 1300 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 1501 ft-lb |
| Stored G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.182 |
| Case length | 35.56 mm |
| Overall length | 1.76 in |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1300 | 1501 | -1.5 |
| 50 | 1175 | 1225 | 0 |
| 100 | 1080 | 1037 | -4.8 |
| 150 | 1011 | 907 | -17 |
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Published BCs depend on a reference drag model and stated velocity conditions. A source review does not independently measure a BC. Understanding BC sources
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own firearm.
The .475 Linebaugh is a specialized big-bore revolver cartridge built around driving heavy, large-diameter bullets at moderate velocity for deep, straight-line penetration. It is prized by handgun hunters pursuing the largest and most dangerous game, where its wide, heavy bullets deliver massive momentum and reliable pass-through performance on thick-skinned animals. The tradeoff is severe recoil, limited capacity, and chambering only in a handful of purpose-built heavy-frame single-action revolvers, which keeps it a niche choice for dedicated enthusiasts rather than general shooters. It is a short-range proposition compared to rifle cartridges, and its comparatively low ballistic coefficient means energy and trajectory fall off quickly past close hunting distances. Within its intended role, though, it has a strong reputation as one of the hardest-hitting revolver cartridges available.
The .475 Linebaugh was developed by revolversmith John Linebaugh in the mid-1980s and first widely publicized in a 1988 magazine article. It is based on a shortened .45-70 Government case firing .475-inch bullets, giving a big-bore round that fits in the five-shot cylinder of a properly converted heavy-frame single-action revolver such as those built on Ruger Bisley and Freedom Arms platforms. A big-bore round built for deep penetration on heavy game, it went on to become one of the defining "Linebaugh" chamberings and is offered as a factory loading by makers including Buffalo Bore.
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