reloading 41 magnum at 41 special levels

[svo]

I am wanting to get into 41 magnum/special as my next caliber. I am hoping to load full wadcutter and wondering what i am missing if i use 41 magnum cartridges to load these.
need your experience and insights here
thank you

 

[ATLDave]

I don't know exactly what "41 special level" is,* but I will say that I have shot a lot of 210 and 215 grain .41 bullets over a charge of 8 to 8.5 grains of Unique. That's a very common download for the .41 mag.

I haven't seen the need to get actual 41 special brass, since my .41-bore gun is an N-frame.

*By which I mean I don't have load data for it - I'm familiar with the concept.

 

[Charlie98]

Ah! ...the nebulous .41 Special...

Dave is right... just download any reasonable charge to the velocity or recoil you want and call it a day. Unique is my favorite as well, but there are a good number of powders that would work. Don't overthink it...

 

[mdi]

Know nothing about the 41 Magnum, but FWIW; I have used Special data in Magnum brass for my 38 Special/357 Magnum and 44 Special/44 Magnum many many times and I have never stuck a bullet in a barrel. The listed velocities for Special load data in Special brass will be higher than Special load data in Magnum brass...

 

[Starter52]

6.0 grains of Red Dot with a 210 grain plated bullet. My .41 target load for a decade. Easy on me and easy on my Model 57.

 

[Bill M.]

I load 215 jacketed bullets with with HP38 or 215 coated semi wad cutter with Trail Boss for mild loads. Both loadings are okay but I have gotten my best accuracy from the faster loads with Lil Gun. Not sure why. Mostly I shoot this gun with the Trail Boss/coated bullet loads. Where do you get full wadcutters in .410?

 

[Charlie98]

6.0 grains of Red Dot with a 210 grain plated bullet.

Actually, RedDot was what I was thinking of, in lieu of Unique, which can be a little dirty at moderate load levels.

 

[ATLDave]

in lieu of Unique, which can be a little dirty at moderate load levels.

Yeah, but it's a nice clean dirt!

No crunchy kernels or anything.

 

[Walkalong]

I make a download .41 Mag load with True Blue.

 

[RealGun]

I have a 41 Special conversion, 3" GP100 by Clement Custom and use mostly Power Pistol. The 7.4 loading in 210-215 works for either plated or lead. 8.0 is used with XTPs. The heavy XTP load is 13.0 A2400, which I don't enjoy shooting, although I otherwise enjoy shooting magnums in appropriately sized guns. I have a 41 Magnum Blackhawk too, so mostly reserve the heavy stuff for it.

 

[Airman Basic]

I came across a #14 Little Dandy rotor for, if I remember correctly, 7.2 grains of Unique. Most accurate round in several 41s I've owned. Just 'cause that's what it throwed, and it was easy to shoot.

 

[Charlie98]

Yeah, but it's a nice clean dirt!

No crunchy kernels or anything.

No... nothing like IMR4227 or AA5744! Unique is just a little bit of dirty clean fun, that's all... or would it be clean dirty fun? Oh, nevermind...

 

[svo]

thank you all

 

[Random 8]

I don't know exactly what "41 special level" is,* but I will say that I have shot a lot of 210 and 215 grain .41 bullets over a charge of 8 to 8.5 grains of Unique. That's a very common download for the .41 mag.

I haven't seen the need to get actual 41 special brass, since my .41-bore gun is an N-frame.

*By which I mean I don't have load data for it - I'm familiar with the concept.

I run this same load and yes, it's a good clean dirt, but not as bad as low pressure .357. I'm currently using the 215 Missouri SWC, have also used the Berry's plated bullet in this weight. Have tried HP 38 and H-6 but didn't get the accuracy of the unique. I'll have to try that red dot load posted above as I stock that powder for shotgun loading.

I think the concept behind ".41 special" is to sell you new brass based on some largely theoretical advantages to a lower case capacity. If the .41 mag was commonly fielded in top of the line Bullseye pistols, one might see it. Doubt you'd notice a difference in a box stock revolver though, other than you might be able to hit target velocity with a slightly lighter powder charge. Might be useful to segregate mild target loads from full power loads.

 

[ATLDave]

I think the argument for .41 special is that it fits in an L-frame or GP-100 frame.

 

[RealGun]

I run this same load and yes, it's a good clean dirt, but not as bad as low pressure .357. I'm currently using the 215 Missouri SWC, have also used the Berry's plated bullet in this weight. Have tried HP 38 and H-6 but didn't get the accuracy of the unique. I'll have to try that red dot load posted above as I stock that powder for shotgun loading.

I think the concept behind ".41 special" is to sell you new brass based on some largely theoretical advantages to a lower case capacity. If the .41 mag was commonly fielded in top of the line Bullseye pistols, one might see it. Doubt you'd notice a difference in a box stock revolver though, other than you might be able to hit target velocity with a slightly lighter powder charge. Might be useful to segregate mild target loads from full power loads.

41 Special moves you to a different selection of powders plus a lighter bullet and less recoil. You could relate it directly to a discussion of 44 Special versus 44 magnum fired in a 44 Magnum gun.

 

[Hondo 60]

I load mine to 41 Special levels all the time.
LSWC 210-215gr.
About 900 fps. (Trail Boss - worked up to about 5.9 gr)
My OAL is about 1.585 - a little shorter than Hodgdon's

Hodgdon says: Trail Boss 4.5 - 6.5 OAL 1.600

Hornady XTPs 210 go a bit faster

 

[horsemen61]

Ttrl

 

[RealGun]

I think the argument for .41 special is that it fits in an L-frame or GP-100 frame.

While allowing 6 rounds of "big bore", 40+ caliber.

 

[Charlie98]

I think the argument for .41 special is that it fits in an L-frame or GP-100 frame.

If they actually came out with a 6-shot L-frame .41SPC, I would actually be on board for it, it doesn't seem like the L-frame .41MAG is ever going to come to fruition.

 

[ATLDave]

If they actually came out with a 6-shot L-frame .41SPC, I would actually be on board for it, it doesn't seem like the L-frame .41MAG is ever going to come to fruition.

I think it'd be cool. My understanding is that there are gunsmiths who currently do it as a conversion.

 

[Charlie98]

I think it'd be cool. My understanding is that there are gunsmiths who currently do it as a conversion.

Well... I don't like the concept that much... $$$

 

[Charlie98]

There is also the issue of cost... .27 for .41SPC brass, vs .21 or thereabouts for .41MAG brass, etc, although low power SPC loads would let it live forever, or until it work hardens.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

I have a 41 Special conversion, 3" GP100 by Clement Custom and use mostly Power Pistol. The 7.4 loading in 210-215 works for either plated or lead. 8.0 is used with XTPs. The heavy XTP load is 13.0 A2400, which I don't enjoy shooting, although I otherwise enjoy shooting magnums in appropriately sized guns. I have a 41 Magnum Blackhawk too, so mostly reserve the heavy stuff for it.

Have you posted a photo of your GP100? Sounds interesting, especially since it has a six round capacity.

 

[RealGun]

Have you posted a photo of your GP100? Sounds interesting, especially since it has a six round capacity.

Post #146 about a year ago.