One bullet for .41 magnum

[barnfrog]

I'm assembling components to start loading for my new-to-me S&W Model 57, and am trying to decide on bullet choice. Loading for .357 Magnum, I felt I needed a JHP bullet for deer hunting, so I also loaded cast PC bullets for paperwork. But the .41 has a larger meplat than the .357, and therefore the expansion of a jacketed bullet may not be necessary for medium-sized game such as the white-tail deer we have in Central and Eastern New York (200 pounds is a big deer for us). So I'm thinking I could simplify my world just a little bit and load one hard cast PC bullet to different velocities, a lighter one for paper targets and a heavier one for furry ones.

My main concern is maintaining a sufficient level of lethality to hunt ethically. Ranges would likely be 75 yards at the far outside, more realistically 50 yards or less. It would be nice to save the money by not buying jacketed, but they wouldn't break the bank if they were the clearly better choice for killing antlered denizens of the Empire State.

I've done a heap of Googling on this subject, but I'm not really great at choosing the right search words to find what I'm looking for so most of the opinions I've found are sort of tangential and buried in threads that aren't really about bullet effectiveness. Knowing there will be a range of opinions, I welcome all of them.

What say you?

 

[King Medallion]

Been my meager experience to try multiple bullets and loads until you find what the gun likes.

 

[Random 8]

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=16

You might give these a try and have the best of both worlds!

 

[Bronco72]

I have found that I like soft tip bullets when hunting anything larger that coyotes. The hollow points did not give enough penetration. JMHO

 

[eddiememphis]

Missouri Bullet Company makes a coated 215gr SWC that may work for you.

You can buy a sample bag of 100 to try out.

 

[barnfrog]

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=16

You might give these a try and have the best of both worlds!

An interesting option, and not much more expensive than other commercial cast bullets I've seen. Too bad I'd have to wait until June to receive them according to the notice.

 

[barnfrog]

Missouri Bullet Company makes a coated 215gr SWC that may work for you.

You can buy a sample bag of 100 to try out.

I was leaning towards their 225-grain RNFP, which can also be purchased in packs of 100. I'm pretty certain I can find a load for whatever bullet I choose, given the wide variety of powders I have on hand.

The question I'm asking is whether a hard cast bullet of .410" to .411" diameter will lay a deer low as effectively as a jacketed bullet will.

 

[westernrover]

Lead sucks in meat. Barnes XPB in .410"

Lehigh XD

 

[ballman6711]

I would look for something like this if you can find it in a soft point.

Sierra Sports Master Bullets 41 Cal (410 Diameter) 210 Grain Jacketed

SportsMaster bullets are engineered to provide consistent, reliable expansion over a wide range of velocities. The featured Power Jacket insures unform...

www.midwayusa.com

I wouldn't use a hollow point pistol caliber bullet for hunting unless it was necessary.

chris

 

[RKRCPA]

It's hard to beat a plain old Keith SWC. All the accuracy and penetration you could ask for in a time proven design.

 

[lightman]

I shoot a Keith Type SWC in mine weighing around 220 grains. I've not killed anything with it but I have killed enough Deer with SWC type bullets in 357 and 44 that I would be confident with my 41. The bullets that I recovered did not expand but made a nice clean hole. I cast mine with clip-on wheelweight alloy.

 

[Russ57]

"The question I'm asking is whether a hard cast bullet of .410" to .411" diameter will lay a deer low as effectively as a jacketed bullet will."

Maybe not but it will still lay a deer low effectively.

 

[barnfrog]

Lead sucks in meat. Barnes XPB in .410"

Lehigh XD

All-copper is an option haven’t looked at much for this application but am willing to consider. I shoot Barnes TTSXs out of my .243 and they are lights out on white tails.

 

[horsemen61]

Ttrl

 

[westernrover]

Barnes, Federal, and Buffalo Bore all load factory personal-defense cartridges with Barnes XPB because it works. If it didn't work, they would use their own brand or some other brand (Nosler, Swift, Hornady). Notice there is nothing about lead-free for personal defense. It's chosen purely for the fact that it works. Moreover, the XPB is actually a hunting bullet that will work at longer ranges with the muzzle velocities out of a magnum cartridge. Barnes have rebranded them as TAC-XP for personal defense, but they're the same design.

 

[AJC1]

If it's a pistol only loading the Keith swc would be one and done. If a lever is in the mix a rnfp will cover both.

 

[W.E.G.]

A hard-cast SWC should serve you well with that gun.

No need to load anything hot. 1000-1100 fps should be more than enough.

A .41 caliber bullet at moderate velocity, and with good shot placement will kill anything you are going to hunt with a pistol.

Otherwise, if you are just shooting paper, there is no need whatsoever to shoot hot loads in that gun.

I have no interest whatsoever in Gucci bullets to be fired from an N-frame revolver.

If you want to crush the bones in your wrist, there are handguns in stouter caliber that are a far better choice. Of course none of those guns accomplish much more than a 30-30 as far as downrange effect. But they will punish you mightily. In fact, I once had a handgun in 30-30 caliber. It was the MOST MISERABLE recreational shooting experience of my life. I didn't keep that gun very long.

 

[Charlie98]

I would look for something like this if you can find it in a soft point.

One of my favorite bullets for the .41 is (was) the Remington 210grn JSP... I still have about 200 left. One of those over a charge of W296...

Having said that, I don't think you can go wrong with a wide meplat .41 cast, either...

Using Montana Bullet Works page as an example... either the 220grn or 240grn LBT WFN bullets, or the 230grn Keith would be my choice.

Products Archive - Montana Bullet Works

www.montanabulletworks.com

It's hard to beat a plain old Keith SWC.

Quite true.

 

[41 Mag]

So since back in the early 80's I've shot and hunted with bullets of all sorts. Initially I used the Sierra 170gr loaded over 296. Those shot the best out of my 3 screw Flat Top Blackhawk. When I traded that one off and moved to the 7.5" Redhawk I again went through finding the overall best shooter. This go round left me using the 200gr Remington SJHP. It was also loaded over 296 bit not the top end load. I used 20.5gr over a Win LP and had no issues with taking deer and hogs for 20+ years. It just worked.

Nowadays since Remington discontinued selling the components, I have moved to a home cast HP in either a LG or SM hp,
215gr Round Nose Hollow Point bullets 41 caliber

This is probably the MP 411-640. I use a very similar alloy and it has had no issues whatsoever. I can run them top top end loads using Starline brass. They are accurate and hit hard. The nose will roll back and the base will penetrate deep usually stopping just under the hide on a hog or fully penetrating a decent sized deer.

The Sierra line is also available in the 170 and 210gr which are also great as are the Gold Dot if you can fine them. The XTP are a good one but I never got the accuracy I wanted.

 

[StrawHat]

Save the money you would spend on jacketed bullets and go with the lead SWC. Not sure why people think lead sucks for hunting? The lead round ball has worked effectively for hunting for a couple of centuries. I started handgun hunting with the 44 Remington Magnum in a S&W Model 29-2. I used the 429421 (245 grain SWC) over Elmer’s dose of 2400. It worked. My buddy used the 45 long Colt, 260 grain, 454424, over a full charge of black powder. He was getting complete penetration at 950- 1000 fps. I eventually settled down to the 45 ACP, a 240 grain wadcutter bullet at 900 fps as my favorite. Lead works. And it works at mild velocities.

Kevin

 

[Riomouse911]

210-220 gr SWC has been for a long time the gold standard for the .41 Magnum. Plenty of critters have fallen to these bullets over the decades, I think you will like them in your S&W if you are looking for a single all-around bullet style.

My .41’s all shoot the SWC bullets of this weight range well at moderate to upper power levels.

Stay safe.