Backpacking .41 mag

[Moe]

 I just picked up a 41 Taurus Tracker SS 4 inch ported. Shot about 50 rounds out of it. Works fine, carry's real well. Don't know if you could shot 5000 rounds out of it or not, but for a carry gun you don't need to...

[Dand]

I found a 657 Mountain Gun. Test fired it today with about 80 rounds from 180 gold dot hand loads, 215 cast, 210 Horn and Nosler to 250 Fed cast core and 265 Ammo Smith (Kenai Alaska loader). 

I shot the best with the 265 load!  I think this gun will work for my back packing needs. Its noticeably lighter than my 4" 57 to carry but feels the same to shoot.

I found in bright sun on snow with a lot of shadows, I was having trouble finding the front sight - my front and rear sights are all black.  Any recommendations on easier to see sights?  Most of my revolvers have a read front. 

I'm wondering about tritium sights as this will also be my tent gun while out hunting or camping.

[S.B.]

On my model 63(stainlees with red insert) I couldn't see at all. Had Dave Clements mill it off and put a partridge front sight on. Very easy for me(59 years old) to see.

[PeterCartwright]

I know it's quite a bit heavier, but Ruger's new 4" Redhawk (.44 mag.) would be a handy gun for this purpose.

[Couger]

After many years of hiking with each other, my wife wants me to get a handgun to take along for protection..  We have never had a problem, but the entering grizzly bear habitat signs are getting to her.  I also have been carrying bear spray for a couple of seasons, but she still would feel better if I had a pistol.  I have TC contender in .41, 30-30, 45/.410, 375 Win but no revovlers.  I want to go with a .41 because I already handload for that and have some dandy 265 grn LBT cast bullets using H110 that I love to shoot Black bears with.  What I am looking for is a reasonably lightweight revolver that can still handle some pretty stiff handloads (no use just making the bear mad).  Any opinions or help are appreciated.

Why are you just now worried about carrying "real protection" in grizzly country!!?

OTOH, everywhere I've read about hard cast bullets used by knowledgable shooters say that stout loads will adequately handle ursis horribilus.  Hope you're not forced to, but it will beat the hell outa "spray."

[S.B.]

Couger, are you sure about this?

I too vote for the S&W Mountain Gun, I am one of the luck few to own one and absolutely love it.

My only bitch with the Mountain Guns are that they are round butted. Seems like I have a hard time getting used to this configuration of grip style?

[RJM]

I have most forms of .41 Magnum and find it much more pleasant to shoot with full loads than .44 Magnum or the heavily loaded .45s.

If you don't mind blue over stainless one can still find the M57 Mountain Guns on GunBroker.com for in the $500s. Also if you are looking for a nice used M357 I saw one today at Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, Maine, 207-439-2700...ask for the gun room. It was $560.00 I believe..well under wholesale.

The Taurus Titanium Tracker is a very nice gun but your 265s won't fit the cylinder when crimped in the standard groove. For that matter once you touch off a full load 265 in the M357 you may want to tone things down a little.

Bob Makowski

[S.B.]

Stainless steel has it's advantages, in bad weather conditions, and they far out weigh the disadvantages at least to me.

[baitwaister]

Why are you just now worried about carrying "real protection" in grizzly country!!?


As I said in the beginning, so that my wife would still like to go hiking with me.  I am not worried-she is. 40+years in the backcountry with only two grizz encounters.  No pistol no wife on hikes.  I actually like hiking with my wife and want to continue to do so.  It also gives me a chance to buy another toy with her blessings.

[S.B.]

The best reason of all.

[SingleShotShorty]

When kicking around my lease my favorite carry gun is a 41 mag Ruger Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel. I fell in love with the 41 many years ago and to the life of me can't figure out why it is not more popular.

[S.B.]

DON"T FORGET THE PEPPER SPRAY.  I have hunted in several areas where big bears are frequently seen, most of the guides in these areas recommend using a pepper spray before using a gun.  
And always remember, try to position yourself with the wind to your back.  The pepper spray will also do a job on you if the wind blows it back in your face.  Course, the bear may not eat you if you are covered with it...........

Yes, from what I gather on this subject, Bears love the taste of human with pepper spray seasoning, he he?
Check on the "Hunting Alaska" forum about the recommendation of pepper spray? Better you carry a pistol loaded properly.

[SingleShotShorty]

For a backpacking .41 Mag., I recommend the Ruger Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel.

I have to agree, I carry my Blackhawk 41 most of the time when I kicking around my hunting lease. You just can't hardly beat a 41 mag, no matter what Mfg.

[S.B.]

If you don't mind blue over stainless one can still find the M57 Mountain Guns on GunBroker.com for in the $500s. Also if you are looking for a nice used M357 I saw one today at Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, Maine, 207-439-2700...ask for the gun room. It was $560.00 I believe..well under wholesale.

 

Bob Makowski

I  just got an email from my oldest son, in Ma., he told me he bought a new bow, last year up at Kittery's Trading Post, small world isn't it? He was very impressed with this store.
Do you, by chance, know the name of the owner of this store?

[west]

I had a ranger tell me once to carry mixed load, fmj/sp/fmj/sp. Makes sense I guess.

Never had to shoot one cuzzin I don't eat them.

Ever seen the cartoon where the character is so scared they run in one place? That really does happen, just ask my girlfriend a few times and she will "fess-up" thats what she did, I had to grab her jacket and get her off that one spot and movin toward the truck.

[S.B.]

SingleShotShorty, Ken ONeill & others,  I think you've probably got the best single action pistol made, for packing. My personal tastes go with the shorter barreled version.