.41 Mag Association

gunhacker

Very nice! Really like your .41 Mag collection, especially the customized Blackhawk!
 
One of the 3" Lew Horton's converted to .41 Special would be a hoot!

I shot the 7.5" Redhawk today, DA, 2 handed, with a MBC 215 gr coated SWC over 8.2 gr Unique.

It was hitting like a laser at the abbreviated 15 yards I was shooting at (The four lowest flyers were 100% caused by an anticipatory flinch at various times:cuss:). The only negative was that I had a few light strikes firing DA.

I called Ruger when I was done and I'm going to send it back to the mother ship in New Hampshire to have it examined. :(

Stay safe.
Redhawk range .jpg
 
I’ll even nod acceptance for a .411 JDJ or .414 Supermag owner... if one of those Unicorns can be found...:)

Oh, if you are sending a gun back to the factory for repair and it’s as old as my Redhawk (Shipped in 1990), pay for the $30.00 shipping label up front from the manufacturer.

Today Fed Ex was going to charge me $219.87 to ship this box with the gun (weighing under five pounds) from Ca back to New Hampshire without one! :what: Eww-scray at-thay! I walked out and called Ruger in the parking lot.

Stay safe.
 
I would vote for it - there are darn few .41 fans out there...... :thumbup:
Well i don't actually own any of those calibers i listed, however if i could find a 41 Avenger barrel for my SR1911 i would probably buy it, although i did get to chat with the legendary Lee Jurras about 7 years ago.
 
Fast forward to about 2009 and I decided that I would like to get back into reloading. I found a .Blackhawk in .41 Mag fairly cheap and a friend told me that he would GIVE me some dies and a scale if I did get it. BAM! SOLD. so I played with it for a little while and ended up moving to Colorado Springs to be with my Sister whom I had lost touch with for 22 years. At this point I have about 2000 hard cast 215gr SWCBB a box of CCI 350 primers, 500rds of starline brass (new) and several powders, (Unique, Blue Dot, AA#9, H110, and 2400.) I load 8gr of Unique for plinking at the range, but would like to pick the brains of you fellas about a home defense load, I would like to get some Sierra 170gr JHCs and load for velocity, as 20 foot accuracy shouldn't be a problem.

So there is a little bit of the story, any nuggets of wisdom are highly appreciated.

Welcome to the Cult....

As to the 170 Sierra, if you want top end, work up to 26 to 26.5 grains of H110.... Have to check my data but 26.0 from a 6.5" Blackhawk is running in the 1600s...almost 2100 from 20" carbine... It is a tough bullet and excellent for deer. Garry Reeder of Reeder Custom Guns has killed a ton of medium game up to cow elk with this bullet...

Bob
 
Well...found this most interesting thread again as I've bought two, new to me .41's. The first, a 3-screw Ruger BH with a 4-5/8" bbl., showed up locally and I paid the asking price as I've missed the one I sold enroute to Vietnam back in '70. It's in nearly new condition, without box (no problem there as I'm a shooter), and loves both the RCBS 215 LSWC at 0.411" with 7.5 gr of Unique, 7.0 of 231, or 8.0 of Herco, making nice little sub-2" clusters at 25 yds.

The 2nd, is a Marlin 1894S in .41; built in '87 and a joy to shoot. I screwed up my courage, then paid the price for it. Without box, it's in almost new condition with just a minor stock scratch at the grip.

Loading Hornady's excellent 210 gr XTP with 17 grains of Accurate #9 gives me a little better than an inch for the first 4 shots at 50 yds, with a Williams Fool Proof receiver peep mounted. Looking fwd to deer season in a cpl of months here in KY so I can give it a try on our local whitetails here on the farm.

I've cast Lyman's 410459 for years, sizing them to 0.410" and when cast from WW's +2% Tin, they've worked wonders in my 6" M57 (pinned & recessed) and a more recent Ruger Flat Top 6-1/2" BH. Too, that same bullet in a NM BH given to my #2 son is equally accurate. Sub-2" gps are the rule from rest if I'm having a "good eyes" day and the sun's behind me.

And surprise, surprise...that same Lyman 410459 when left unsized at 0.412" and lubed with 50-50 does equally well at 50 yds. And no leading after 25 rounds on a 92 degree day. It's a single shot, however as it won't feed through the action...no problem when plinking but leaves it short for hunting purposes.

That's about it for now...I'll try to add some pics and a more thorough range report as I shake down the two new guns and maybe an update on the old ones as well. Here's a try at a pic of the 3-screw.

Best Regards Rod

Edit: 9/19/19, added pic of my 1894S with a Williams FP mounted. A nice combination if you have the eyes for iron sights. Groups are running ~2" or less at 35 yds with Hornady's 210 XTP backed by Acc #9. The RCBS 41-215 LSWC is a bit better running closer to an inch at the same range. Since the work up for the above, I've removed the receiver sight and replaced it with a Leupold Alaskan 7/8" 4x scope to see what that'll do for groups. At 73 yrs old, my eyes aren't fully up to peeps and irons any more. Rod

41-3-screw.jpg
IMG-E6944.jpg
41-3-screw.jpg
 
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Nice! I have my 1894FG set up, basically, the same way... with a Williams. I even swapped the stock and lever out for a straight-grip (just cause I couldn't ever find an original C-model.) Just FYI, if you like heavies... the Cast Performance 250 gas check over H110 would do any job you ask it to... I don't shoot a lot of those, but they are a favorite. Granted, that XTP is no slouch, either...
 
NICE guns Rob.... I've had several of the shortie Rugers but right now the only BH I have left is a 1977 vintage NM with a 6.5" barrel....

As to the Marlin 1894S....have had one since the 1990s and it is a great shooter. Have been shooting either a 210 JHP with 22-23 grains of H110 or the 255 Cast Performance with 22.0 of H110. For whatever reason "target" velocity loads just are not very accurate in my rifles.

Saw a very clean S&W 57 on GunBroker a few weeks ago...6" blue from 1974 with the original grips. Opening bid was $599.00 so I put a joke bid in of $655.55 knowing I was never going to get it... No one else bid till the last hour of the auction when two bidders went right up to $651.00 and quit... Gun was in real nice shape but had a minor headspace problem so a couple of days after I got it brought it over to my favorite Smith smith who was trained as a LE armorer at the factory. He liked it so much and had been looking for one so I sold it to him for what I had in it... I didn't really need the gun as I had an identical one made in 1964...

Bob
 
That was a fairly cheap price on the M57. The seller probably was not aware of the headspace issue.
 
Good price RJM, my own M57 went back to S&W in '77 or '78 for a chip in the muzzle on its 8-3/8" bbl. While it was there, I had them replace the long tube with a 6'er. Glad I did as it's about the longest I can carry, even in a 'tanker' type of holster here on the farm. Too much off and on machinery of one sort or another, not to mention the horses.

As to the 1894, I like its handling so far. I have 4 other Marlins so I'm not surprised. This one was bought to match up with my revolvers and will usually be carried with comparable mid level revolver loads. The RCBS bullet (41-215), drops at 0.412-0.413" from my mold which suits the Marlin to a tee, but is 0.002" oversize for the Rugers and Smith. I'm trying to find a happy spot where the same load'l work both ways. To date, 8.0 gr of Herco does well in each gun, but the bullet sizing continues to be a challenge. Best regards, Rod
 
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Update: Using the 1894S Marlin: Accurate #9 continues to work well at 17 grains with Hornady's 210 XTP (velocity estimated at 1654 fps by Quickload)...I'm using Win LP primers and have trimmed the brass to a uniform length for a more consistent group. The trimming seems to have cut group size down to some extent.

You may have noted the saddle ring on the 1894 in the pic previously posted. I got it from Beartooth Mercantile...it's a drop in replacement for the cursed "safety" found on Marlins of late. I have one on my 1894CS and my son's 1894 Cowboy .44 as well. Add's a bit of old west bling to the carbine I think, and my one consession to "looks" on a lever action...old school, donchaknow...

Earlier today, I switched powders to current production 2400 and tried the 17.0 grain load again With that 210 gr XTP.. Not chrono'd, but bullet impact at 100 yds is 2" higher than with #9 and 17.0 grains indicating higher velocity. Recoil seems a bit more, but with no primer indications of undue pressure. Groups at a measured 35 yds from my porch rail seating, ran less than 1/2" for 5 shots on a 90 degree day...this with a 4x Leupold 7/8" Alaskan scope mounted. I have a number of railroad tie plates, roughly 8"x15" mounted at 50, 75 and 100 yds out from our porch which make for great fun shoots with friends. Using a rest with only my left forearm steadied by the rail (ie. not a bench rest by any means), 3 shot groups at 75 yds on the plate were less than 2" and slightly greater at 100. I may have found my deer load for this upcoming season....Quickload estimates this combination for my 20" bbl. at 1667 fps...more than enough for KY whitetails inside 100 yds I'd opine.

The Marlin continues to amaze me with its accuracy. The action and trigger are smoothing up and I've not had to tweak the fore end cap nor the front band for barrel heating problems, even after 5-6 shots in 90+ degree weather. Too, those stout 210 gr JHP's smack the steel tie plates with some authority, but still do not dimple them as a .30-30, .308 nor .30-06 bullet would.

I'll try to post some pics of my home/farm range and targets manana. Best Regards, Rod
 
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I've got 2# of 2400 to try in the .41 against IMR4227, my current carbine favorite. I'll be curious to see...

That's interesting the differences you felt between #9 and 2400. I don't have any experience with #9 directly.
 
2nd Update to my posts #1464 & #1469. Charlie: 2400 is definitely faster than an equal weight of Acc.#9. I'm using Bartlett's 820, said to be equivalent to canister grade Accurate #9. In my testing, it has proved to be very similar, but without pressure testing equipment, all I can go on is chrono data. 2400 (in the aforementioned 17.0 grain load with Hornady's 210 XTP) is also a bit more accurate than #9 (820) in my 1894S. Groups run about 1/2" smaller at 55 yds in my testing.

Also, I took delivery of 100 pieces of Starling .41 Special brass this morning and tried Taffin's load of 6.0 gr of Unique in the above pictured Ruger 3-screw with 4-5/8" bbl (Post 1464). That powder charge with Lyman's 410459 PB LSWC sized and lubed at 0.410+"; gave me less than 3/4" for three 5-shot groups from 12 yds while using a modified Weaver Stance. (two-handed, unsupported). That's outstanding with my 73 yo eyes, the best that I can do with any handgun. Leading was non-existant, and I'm estimating the muzzle vel. at ~900 fps...(as reported by Taffin). Really an outstanding load...for general toting around the farm here in KY.

HTH's & Best Regards, Rod
 
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A few loads I have chronographed through a Marlin 1894S and a Ruger BH 4 5/8"...

Factory:

Federal 210 JHP
Ruger: 1345 fps
Marlin: 1705 fps

Remington 210 JSP:
Ruger: 1300 fps
Marlin: 1780 fps



Reloads:

13.0 gr/SR4756/210 gr. Hornady TC
Ruger: 1305 fps
Marlin: 1540 fps

7.0 gr./Winchester 231/210 gr. Hornady TC
Ruger: 870 fps
Marlin: 935 fps

23.0 grains/H110/210 gr. Hornady JHP
Ruger: 1355 fps
Marlin: 1850 fps


26.5 gr/H110/170 Sierra JHC
Ruger: 1480 fps
Marlin: 2100 fps
(I standardized on 26.0 as my TC Contended was stiff at 26.5. Only lost 10 fps from the carbine and 24 fps from the Ruger)

Bob
 
ps...and my new Model 57 didn't last long. Had a slight headspace problem. Brought it over to my old time Smith smith who talked me out of it... Since I have a 1964 just like it I was glad to make a friend happy...
 
Got to shoot it this morning...and it shoots good... About 13" low with the 250s...have an appointment next week to have the front sight cut down to bring the POI up to the POA...
 
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