Ruger 41 Mag bullet recomendation

[jake]

I just got a Blackhawk 6 1/2" 41 mag,I plan on hunting deer with it can ya'll give me some advise on this round.I have never hunted with a handgun, but I do shoot them a bit.What kind of scope mounting options are there without drilling and tapping.

Thanks

[ga41]

I have used successfully the Nosler 210HP on wild hogs, I know the SWC hard cast bullets work well from reports on line, a friend who shoots the 41 as well will not use Sierra 210 or 170 on large animals fwiw. Years ago, B Square had a no gunsmith scope mount as I recall

[drdougrx]

If you reload, you have all kinds of options.  I'm using Cast Prescision's 250gr WFNGC over 19gr H110 in mine (have the the same gun as you do).  If you don't reload, I'd suggest some heavy for caliber bullet, maybe an XTP or buffalo bore.  I haven't checked factory loaded stuff though.

[bkraft]

The 210 gr. XTP has worked well for me with 17 grains of 2400, several Ks.white tails and a 150 lb hog. The hog was killed with a Marlin lever gun, but the above load worked well.

[Ak.Hiker]

If you do not handload pick up a box of Remington 210 grain soft points. This load has been taking game for years. Hits about the same as the 240 grain 44 Magnum JSP.

[sixshot]

B Square makes a no drill scope mount as does Weaver, the latest Midsouth catalog shows one, also there's Edge Custom that makes a very nice no drill mount, I have 2 of these on different Rugers.
  I've used the 41 magnum a great deal on game using both the 230 gr Keith slug & the 250 gr LBT WFN, both have worked great for many years, I've never recovered one, even on elk.

Cow elk taken with a 41 maggie & a 250 gr WFN with 9.2 grs of Unique, 74 yds.



Texas Javelina taken with an OM 41 maggie & the 230 gr Keith.



Montana whitetail taken with a Ruger Bisley 41 maggie & the 230 gr Keith, 17 grs of 2400.



Badger taken with the 41 maggie & 230 gr Keith.




Dick

[bkraft]

Hey sixshot, what brand of 230gr. Keith? I tried a leadheads and couldn' get it to shot for me outta my Redhawk. Also with that load of 2400 do you use gas checks? Love the grips on both guns by the way.

[sixshot]

bkraft, I make the 230 gr slugs with an old Saeco Keith style mould, I've used that bullet for many, many years on a lot of game, everything from rabbits & badgers up to and including bull moose. I don't like using GC's, mine are plainbase & cast from air cooled WW alloy, sometimes its necessary to water quench them for some guns. None of my 41 gives me any leading with that 2400 load.
  I make the handgun stocks, those last ones are Holly, they look great on both blued & stainless guns.
  This is a friend of mine with his bull moose, it was taken with one of my softnose cast 230 gr 41 magnum slugs, shot was about 64 yds with a Ruger Redhawk,  one shot as the bull faced us, it was down & out in less than 10 seconds, covered maybe 15 yds, we couldn't find the bullet but it had exited the diaphram & back into the intestines for something like 4 feet + of penetration.
  Never found an animal yet that could tell the difference from this 230 gr 41 slug & a 250 gr 44 slug.



Dick

[bkraft]

Sixshot, thanks for the info. I really appreciate it, gonna do some playing around with the 2400, let you know how it turns out.
Thanks again

[Dand]

Very impressive sixshot!!!  Your photos inspire me. I have used the 250 and 265 gr Corbon ammo and 250 gr Federal Castcore. Only took one animal - very small caribou with the 265 corbon. In that case I might have been better off with a 210 bullet that opened up. Better marksmanship on my part would have helped the most.

Sixshot, have you ever taken any game with the Winchester 240 platinum or whatever it was called. Don't think its on the market any more but I bought several boxes a few years ago.

Also, who made the holster you are showing?

[jake]

Thanks for all your imput, Sixshot you have taken some nice animals with the 41.I can't wait to take mine to the woods for deer.


Thanks Again

[sixshot]

Dand, the 210's in the 41 maggie are excellent on deer size game but if you move up to the bigger stuff the heavy bullets are much better. I use the 230 gr slug & the 250 LBT a lot. Don't believe I've even shot an animal with factory ammo in over 40 years.
  I would think that Winchester ammo you have would be very good on deer & maybe even on hogs. For sure you would get some expansion with them, I'd say give them a try.
  The holster is by Mike Barranti at Barranti Custom Leather, in my eyes he's the finest custom leather maker out there, I have several. Everything he makes is hand stitched & a work of art.

In 2008 I took 11 animals with revolvers & cast bullets, most of them were with the 41 maggie, its every bit as effective as the 44 magnum.

  Here's one of 4 hogs taken, 2 were with the knife.




Wyoming forkhorn muley taken at about 90 yds with my 5 1/2" Bisley 41 maggie, complete penetration using the 230 gr Keith slug.




Another Montana whitetail taken with the 41 maggie on the same trip.



A much younger me with a cow elk taken in the late 70's with a S&W model 57 41 maggie & the 230 gr Keith slug, hit her behind the right front shoulder, you can see the exit hole just forward of the left hind quarter, penetrated about 3 1/2 ft.



Dick

[Dand]

I carry the Corbon 265 in bear country in my S&W 657 Mt Gun. I'm timid to crank up my home loads as high as corbon does.  But I see I need to practice more with my 41s and get them out on the game fields more. Haven't had much luck finding a moose in the last 5 years and don't want to risk losing it to a poor shot so stick with my rifle. If the caribou herd builds back up I'd like to go after them again with the 41 - with enough practice. Don't live in deer / hog country. Have a friend in Montana - maybe I need to invite myself down in deer season.

6shot I'm even more impressed. thanks for sharing.

[COR]

The 170gr Sierra JHC is a great deer bullet (my personal favorite).  I also like the 210XTP's.  Only ever shot deer with them but I have never recovered an XTP, the 170's muchroom really nicely in deer and tend to stay together.

[sixshot]

Dand, I think your 657 with the new endurance package should work fine with the heavy loads from Cor Bon, maybe not a steady diet of them but certainly OK for occasional use when in bear country.

Cor, I've heard a lot of good about the 170 gr Sierra on deer, never tried it myself but it must work, many swear by it.

A very nice bull elk, taken with the Ruger 44 flattop in the old Lawrence shoulder rig, bullet was the 250 gr Keith, complete penetration at about 45 yds.



One of my better muley bucks, taken with the Ruger 44 flattop in the shoulder rig, 250 gr Keith, complete penetration.



My lion, taken at 5 feet with the S&W 357 maggie & the 173 gr Keith.





Dick

[COR]

Dick,
        The 170 even held up well at 41GNR velocities of over 1700fps.  It surprised me when I shot a 300lb hog with one and although it didn't exit,it made jelly out of the lungs and the piggie just kinda circled and fell over.  I know of one bull elk taken with them also but I would not recommend it.

I've learned a lot from fellows like yourself who have "been there, done that" with sixguns.  I love the Elk with the FT44 and the Lawrence leather...priceless and timeless!  I 've followed some of your post on Lee Martin's site (if you could stop hunting long enough) I bet you could pen an outstanding sixgun hunting book. 

[Dand]

Six, my 657 MG was bought used and I don't know if it has the endurance package. I don't do a lot of practice with the Corbon ammo just cause its so expensive and now rare to find. I load Cast Performance and other LBT style bullets to somewhat lower levels for sight-in and practice. Load a lot more 215 cast and now 220 plated (got a batch off GB this winter) for general plinking and practice. I have to say I think my 657 MG is more accurate than my 57 and maybe my Bisley and Red Hawk.

Some time ago I discovered my Bisley really liked the Rem 170 hp they used to make (better than the Sierra 170). Sadly I didn't stock up on that component when they were available.