Much of the captured equipment, was incorporated into the Wehrmact, especially vehicles. Many of the trucks used during the invasion of Russia in 1941 were of French manufacture, & would continue to be produced in occupied French factories until liberation. German use of captured/confiscated equipment would become standard practice, & continue until the end of the war. In fact German use of foreign equipment was already under way before the war started.
The Wehrmact already utilized much first class equipment taken from Czechoslovakia whenever they occupied that country in 1938–39,especially weaponry such as the 38t tank, the ZB 26 & ZB 37 MGs,as well as optical instruents. The excellent Belgian made FN Browning “Hi Power” pistol continued in production in occupied Belgium throughout most of the war & large numbers were issued to the German military, especially the Waffen SS.
Not only vehicles & weaponry, but captured stocks of clothing were also utilized. Czech Army helmets were re-issued to German civilian organizations such as air raid wardens & the Fire Police. Kriegsmarine personelle, especially U Boat crews were often issued with British Army battle blouses,taken from large British stocks captured in 1940. French Army tropical shirts captured in 1940 saw widespread service by the Afrikakorps in North Africa as well. Even food was requisitioned, much taken after the fall of Tobruk in 1942. Canned British corned beef & canned fruit being especially prized.
A lot of Russian artillery was utilized by the Germans, the 76mm M1936 F22 anti tank gun for example, as well as captured T 34 tanks & small arms throughout the war on the Eastern Front. In North Africa, the Afrika Korps used captured British vehicles in large numbers. When Italy left the Axis in 1943, the Germans seized much Italian military equipment including vehicles, aircraft, & especially large stocks of cloth for the manufacture of uniforms. Much of the German weaponry used along the “Atlantik Wall” in France was of Czech, French, & Russian manufacture, even Polish machine guns were utilized. Germany received a second infusion of French equipment whenever it occupied the the remainder of France from Vichy in 1942.
Spare parts for vehicles, & as the war progressed, fuel, would become a problem for certain vehicles over time, but many vehicles ( as well as some aircraft, such as the Ju 52, & Fiesler Fi 56 “Storch”) continued to be produced in factories in occupied countries such as France & Czechoslovakia until the end of the war. Ammunition for captured weaponry could be produced in German factories, or sometimes the weapons converted to German calibers.
Captured British Battle Blouse taken from captured British stocks in France in 1940, & reissued to U Boat personelle, has removable German buttons, & German insignia added. (Collectors Weekly)
The excellent Belgian made 9mm “Hi Power”pistol. Large numbers were confiscated by the Germans after Belgium’s surrender in 1940. Large numbers continued to be produced in Belgian factories & issued to the German military. (Simpson Lmtd)
German soldier with Belgian Browning Hi Power 9mm pistol.
French M29 Light MG. Many of these weapons captured in 1940 were issued to German rear area security & Police units in Russia & Yugoslavia for use against partisan units.. (Rock Island Auction)
German soldier manning French made Hotchkiss MG along the Atlantic coast. (Bundarchv).
Renault AHR trucks. Not only did the Germans utilize captured trucks, they continued to manufacture the vehicles in the Renault factory in occupied France.
Captured Soviet T 34.
Captured British Ford truck, North Africa.
Waffen SS “M 43” field cap made from Italian military “Trikot” cloth . Large stocks of Italian cloth were seized by the Germans, after the Italian armistace in 1943, including camouflage, & used by the Germans in uniform manufacturing . (Collectors Guild)
Waffen SS officers wearing tunics & trousers made from Italian Army camouflage clothing material, large stocks of which were seized after the Italian armistace in 1943.
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The 358 is SUPERIOR to the 308, NO CONTEST.
For years, the big bore single-action sect wished/prayed/threatened Ruger for a factory 5-shot shooter. When Ruger released their 5-shot Super Redhawk in 2003, single action loyalists took notice. This was the seed single-action fans were looking for.
Big bores are naturals for cast bullets. Tank uses slugs cast from
Lee Precision, MP Molds, and RCBS to name a few. The .480 Ruger
is simply shortened .475 Linebaugh brass (on far right).
New Cartridge
The .480 Ruger cartridge was born in 2003 for the above mentioned 5-shot Super Redhawk. Single-action shooters were licking their chops at the five-hole cylinder, thinking if they can do it for a double-action blaster, why not a single action? The rumor mill speculated a chambering in what else, the .480 Ruger, a .015” shorter version of John Linebaugh’s famous .475 Linebaugh.
Traditional single-action shooters are a patient lot, eventually getting what they wanted … 12 years later. Ruger finally released a 5-shot Bisley.
Ruger’s biggest bore to date, the .475 Ruger leaves a
mighty impressive impression when looking at it.
Double Trouble
Ruger went above and beyond our wildest dreams by releasing not one 5-shot Bisley, but two big bore boomers — the .480 Ruger and .454 Casull. Yowzers!
Now we had fitting 5-shot factory-made knuckle-busters in two tried and true top performers.
Having a source for factory affordable, big bore 5-shot single-actions chambered in two powerful cartridges, in what was a once a custom or semi-custom proposition, was a blessing for working men and women wanting 5-shot shooters in a single-action wheelgun.
Factory fodder can be had from Buffalo Bore and Hornady.
The Influencer
Jason Cloessner, vice president of product development at Lipsey’s, a large Ruger distributor, is why these 5-shot wonders exist. Cloessner has the uncanny ability to persuade and bargain with Ruger, and other manufacturers, to have them tweak their products for special “Lipsey’s Exclusives” — which we all love. It’s fun being different, eh?
The reason Cloessner’s successful is because he’s a true gun guy, like us. He knows what we want before it ever crosses our mind. It’s a simple formula. But he’s responsible for finally persuading Ruger to produce the 5-shot thumb-cockers.
Tank’s Barranti Leather NW Hunter shoulder rig is just
the ticket for carrying his .475 Ruger Bisley when hunting.
Torture Test?
In June 2015, I bumped into Jason Cloessner in Raton, NM and he was grinning ear to ear. He told me there were some pilot guns needing to be shot for a durability test and needed help — but there was a catch involved.
I was to fly down to Baton Rouge, shoot free ammo on prototype pistols, while eating Cajun food for a couple days and flying back home. Sounds like a dream vacation, right? Except Cloessner wanted 5,000 rounds of ammo shot through Ruger’s newest Bisley.
Now, I love shooting but in the two days, my sidekick Doc Barranti and I had to shoot, we only managed 2,500 rounds between us. We’d shoot those guns so hot you needed gloves from burning your hands. The Lipsey’s staff finished out the final rounds.
The guns held up and Lipsey’s received their first order of Ruger 5-shot Bisley’s in .480 Ruger and .454 Casull a few months later. Santa, along with my loving wife, left both Bisley’s under the tree that year. I know, I’m spoiled rotten.
Unique and HS-6 powders will serve you well for .480 Ruger handloads.
Molds from Lee Precision or MP Molds will provide you with quality bullets.
Handloads
One of the perks from the .480 Ruger torture test was the mounds of spent brass Cloessner divvied up among the hardcore handloaders at Lipsey’s, as well as some for Doc and me.
As far as handloads go, I have two favorites using home-cast bullets from Lee Precision and MP Molds. The Lee is a 400-grain LFN design, and the MP Mold is a 385-grain HP, having dual crimp grooves, for either .480 Ruger, or .475 Linebaugh. Powders include Alliant Unique and Hodgdon HS-6.
The loads are simple, providing satisfying results. Ten grains of Unique with the Lee slug runs at 919 fps, while the MP Mold HP runs 971 fps. These are easy recoiling loads, accurate and will knock down just about anything needing it. The Hodgdon HS-6 load is 14.3 grains, with the Lee bullet going 1,096 Fps, while the MP Mold HP goes 1,162 fps.
Lee Precision also makes a dandy 325-grain wide flat nose gas-checked mold allowing one to shoot lighter bullets. Loaded down, it’s great for range practice. Step it up and it’s a dandy whitetail bullet. Ten grains of Unique gives over 1,000 fps. Want slower speeds? Eight grains run about 900 fps. For a faster load try 14.3 grains of HS-6. It clocks at 1,140 fps.
Lastly, RCBS makes a 400-grain “Keith” style bullet and the same data for the 400-grain Lee slug can be used for it. It scratches the nostalgic itch for a traditional SWC slug when one feels like honoring ol’ Elmer. My cast bullets are powder coated and sized .477” with Lee push-thru sizing dies.
The .475 Ruger gets its roots from the .475 Linebaugh.
The Guns Themselves
Ruger did an exceptional job on these 5-shot Bisleys. The Bisley grip-frame is a favorite for many when shooting heavy recoiling guns. The grip provides you with more to hang onto while dispersing recoil over a wider area of your hand. Recoil seems to come straight back in your hand, rather than flipping up like plow-handled single-actions. It’s a knuckle-saver for sure.
The 6.5” straight taper barrel adds weight for balance, while lessoning felt recoil. The base pin has a locking setscrew to prevent the base pin from launching under recoil. The cylinder is unfluted for good looks and extra weight. I added a custom front sight from Shane Thompson to my gun.
There’s no need to spend a lot of money on bullet
molds with these Lee Precision gems.
Final Synopsis
Ruger hit a homerun making the 5-shot Bisley a factory option to the millions of working men out there by providing us with what was once a custom-built gun. It makes a 5-holed single-action obtainable for those getting a thrill shooting large diameter hunks of lead. Now, Jason Cloessner just needs to persuade Ruger to make a .500 Ruger. Maybe then big bore aficionados will be able to sleep at night … for now.
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S&W 625 JM 45acp
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