.41 Mag Association

[Bush Pilot]

Gary Reeder claims the 170gr Sierra is the best available game bullet for the .41Mag. Don't know for sure and don't care for Reeder in general but he's killed a lot of critters with it.

What size game? I'd hesitate to shoot anything larger than deer with a 170 gr bullet.

 

[336A]

^^^^+1 A 170gr bullet is a little to light for my liking even for deer. I'm sure it can be and has been done but I'd be very cautious with the shot angle. I know that Win rates their 175gr ST as deer capable too, but IMHO it falls in the catagory as the above and certainly wouldn't be my first pick.

 

[Audiodoode]

Has anyone messed around with the 170gr bullets from Sierra? It seems as though it would make a decent SD bullet for the .41 mag.

Yes, indeed!
It's what I use to handgun hunt deer and also for targeting, and it does the trick.
It's also what will be used for self defense, should the need arise.
I'm not afraid of recoil, but I don't go looking for new ways to reintroduce myself to old, bad habits either (flinching).
For that reason, I love the 170 gr. Sierra semi-jacketed H.P.'s.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Bump...

 

[336A]

Bump

 

[336A]

Hello again folks I have a quick question for you. I was reading over the real guns articles that I posted a link to in one of my earlier posts. In the article he stated that his BH had had no wiggle at full lock up so I decided to check mine. Here is my question for those of you that own Rugers are your revolvers bank vault tight at full lock up? I checked mine and the cylinder has just a ever so slightly weeee bit of movement. What are the members Rugers like here? and is this something that will cause me issues down the road?

 

[roger460xvr]

I love my 41.magnum ruger newmodel blackhawk..........

 

[thodge]

336a, I have a SBH and I checked mine and have a wee bit of play side to side and forward and back. I too do'nt know if this is any concern. I bought mine a couple months ago new. I have had problems finding my sweet load. I have been playing with AA#9 and this gun does not like it. Bullets all fly low to the left. Bought some Honady 41 XTP's factory ammo from Cabelas, good price @ 20.99 for a box of 20, at least they would hit the target. I've just loaded some test rounds using H110 and will to to the range tomarrow and test the H110 loads.

 

[RX-178]

I may not be a member yet, but a S&W Mountain Gun in .41 Mag is on my short list of handguns I want in the future.

It's right behind a .460 Rowland handgun (either XD or 1911), and ahead of a 10mm (either Witness Hunter or Fusion Longslide)

 

[336A]

Thodge, I've recently come to learn that that wee bit of movement is nothing to be worried about. I'm surprised that AA#9 isn't doing well for you as I've heard a lot of good things about that powder. I have found that 18.5gr of 2400 with either a Sierra or Hornady bullet to be quite accurate in my .41 BH.

 

[scramasax]

delgue,

The only problem with the .41m is it only comes in an N frame. My carry wheelgun is a model 58 with a 3 1/2 md 57 barrel custom. The work was done by C&S. They cut and installed the 57 bbl, Mcgivern front sight, action job, cylinder locking ball on crane, Hard chrome. Just wished I could have gotten a mg bbl to put on it. Sighted in for WinST 175.

My ideal wheelgun to carry in town would be a five shot l frame size .41spl.

Cheers,

ts

 

[thodge]

336a, Glad that the cyclinder wiggle is not an issue for us. Went to the range today and shoot the h110 test loads. Loaded 3 rounds each from 19.8gr-20.2gr. The 20.2gr load gave me the best group @ about 2 1/4". I have loaded more from 20.3gr-20.5gr and hope one of these will tighten the group. I am disappointed that aa#9 is not working, really wanted to use this powder and alot cleaner than h110, it does work good in my Colt 357 though. H110 does seem to give a bit more recoil than #9 does.

 

[336A]

I have a small amount of H110 that I've been using for my .44 Marlin levergun. I haven't used it in my .41 at all as 2400 seems to do what I need doing in the .41. Once I use up the H110 I'll be switching over to 2400 for my .44 levergun loads as well. Hope you find a good load with H110.

 

[230therapy]

S&W Model 58

I was firing Speer 210 grain DCHP rounds. They are very stout, but not painful like 44 Magnum. The stocks were terrible and allowed the back of the triggerguard to smack my knuckle. Herrett Stocks should tame it and improve my terrible accuracy. This gun is begging for 170 or 210 grain SWC's flying at 900 FPS...those should be fun.

 

[Leanwolf]

May I join?

I only have two .41s: a S&W 57, 6" barrel I bought new in 1980, with Deacon Deeson Skeeter Skelton Bear Hug grips I got from Deacon in 1985, and a Marlin 1894S carbine in .41 Mag. I bought new in 1987. Great combo for out in the boonies.

I am a firm believer in 8.5 grains of Unique behind a 210/215 grains SWC, and 18.0 grains of 2400 behind a 210 grains JHP. From the Marlin, you should see what that load will do on a coyote at about 60 yards.

L.W.

 

[Dave Workman]

I have three .41 Magnums...

a Model 57 S&W vintage 1979-80 and a pair of Ruger Blackhawks, one with a 6 1.2-in bbl and the other with the 4 5/8-in bbl.
I've killed two deer with the longer Blackhawk, and once took 2nd place in the Elmer Keith long range handgun shoot near Spokane with the Smith.

I shoot a 210-grain Nosler JHP ahead of 19 grs of H110 or 17.5 grs of 2400. Great load!

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
Been popping LP caps in caliber .41´s since 1981 and happy to do so.. Only thing better than a .41 mag is the 414 Super Mag !
Mike in Peru

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
Started reading through the post here for the .41 Mag Assoc. Any bullet weight the so called 44 Mag (.43 mag) will shoot accurately the .41 mag will also do. You need to step out of the old "Police Load" mentality and start thinking about this being a Large bore magnum revolver. I shoot up to 280 grainers in my Dan Wesson 8". 240 grainers in my Rugers. Other brands get 210´s or less as they are what they are.
Granted I cast my own & learned a long time ago that the experts generally repeat the the same line of dribble they read years ago that the masses think is written on stone. But the .41 mag will handle 240 grainers without any problem and are by far a better hunnting bullet than any 170 grainer will ever be.
Mike in Peru

 

[whalerman]

What is your feeling on the availability of factory ammo for the 41 Magnum? We read all kinds of things about how it will be phased out. Is this a caliber that will be hand loaded only in the near future?

 

[partricp]

I have a nickel plated model 57 with an 8 3/8 inch bbl. She likes 215 gr lswc at about 1100 fps when drilling holes in paper and the 250 gr federal cast core factory loads have worked well on deer and black bear.

 

[1911Tuner]

You need to step out of the old "Police Load" mentality and start thinking about this being a Large bore magnum revolver.

Why? Except for hunting, protection against large animals on a nature hike, and metallic silhouette, there's really no need for the romp'n'stomp that we know the .41 Magnum is capable of.

It's rather like a Corvette. The driver spends more time negotiating traffic and cruising the interstate than pegged out.


The "Police Load" can be duplicated...actually bested...with a 210-215 grain cast SWC and 7.5 grains of Unique. It's accurate...pleasant to shoot...it doesn't beat up the gun or the shooter, and it's not exactly a weak sister. Stepping up to 8.5 or 9.0 grains lends it a bit more authority, beating the standard .45 Colt by a good margin, and is well-suited to general purpose when the need for full power isn't anticipated.

 

[Walkalong]

I shot some "mid-range" .41 Mag loads (210's at 900ish) Saturday at the range. Lots of fun, and still plenty of power for many tasks.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Probably for most people shooting paper is all they ever do with a .41 mag so I can understand why a 210 grainer at 900 fps is more than adequete. But someone who is looking for a load to knock down 50 pound steel rams at 200 meters or punch through the shoulders of a 350 lb. piggy or go after bear, panthers (that Illinois Dept of Cons. say do not exist) and critters that just might take offense at your being there, then you will be rather happy to know the .41 is not the "little cousin" to the mighty .43 mag (oops so called 44 mag) but a full power smasher that will get the job done.
I have no dought mild loads are fun to shoot as I do that very often. But do not be deceived into thinking the .41 mag cannot make a 265+ grainer sing downrange & put a crushing wallop on any critter you should choose to hunt.
Mike in Peru

 

[1911Tuner]

But do not be deceived into thinking the .41 mag cannot make a 265+ grainer sing downrange & put a crushing wallop on any critter you should choose to hunt.

Something that we're all well aware of.

Me? I started my tenure with the .41 over 30 years ago...and I've done some things with handloads that woulda probably given me a case of the vapors if I'd known the actual pressures that I was playing with.

 

[Walkalong]

Just because a caliber can be loaded to two different power levels, both of which are useful for different things, doesn't mean either one is useless. Not everyone needs full power for whatever hunting they do, while some need all they can get. Some people swear by the .44 Mag at lower than max levels as well. Here in the woods many shots on game are quite close where max power isn't that big of a deal with good shot placement, and some people use less than max hand gun loads for hunting, but I still use rifles for hunting, so what do I know. I do not hunt much. It is more just quite time with nature for me, but if a deer sneaks up and taps me on the shoulder asking to be shot, well, OK. The meat is always welcomed by someone, including charity.

Maybe one day I will try it with a handgun. The shots are certainly close enough at times.