Thinking about a .41

[Freezer]

  Either Midway or Shooting Times did a feature on the .41 today.  Either the Outdoor Chanel or VS.  Basically the knock down power of ans trajectory of a .44 with the recoil of a 357.  Sounded darn fine to me.

[Sweetwater]

Why did I buy a 41mag Blackhawk in 1980? Because I shot a 44mag SBH and the rubber grips raised a welt in the web of my hand. Since then, I've owned several old and new model Blackhawks in 41mag as well as a Marlin rifle. The 14in Bull Barrel on my Thompson Contender thumped me pretty good with some 304gr cast SSK bullets and stiff charges of W296 in the 41mag. That made me think it might be the heavier bullets I didn't like, but then I load 335gr CPBC bullets in my 45Colt Bisley Blackhawk at 1100fps and, no, I don't want a steady diet of them , but I don't get welts on my web either. My 5.5in Bisley 41mag will send a 215gr cast bullet a bit over 1500fps. CorBon 250gr will go just over 1400fps, and Federal 250gr are right at 1200fps. CPBC 250gr will go over 1500fps, but I generally load them to 1300fps. My 225gr Keith type run about 1200fps and my little 212grRNFP from Lyman stays around 950fps for fun stuff.

I'm sure there are some things the 44mag may do better. My preference is for the 41mag and lately leaning towards the 45Colt. (Probably because I ignored the 45Colt for all these years.) The 41mag may get my vote simply because it's the underdog - and they always get my support! In addition to the aforementioned weapons, my shooting stable includes 257Roberts, 32WSpcl, 356W, 38-40, 38 S&W, 40-82, 6.5x55, 8x57 and a couple more normal numbers - 308W and 30-06, plus assorted 22rimfires.

In a Hunting Handguns article dated 1985, Frank Petrini labeled the 41mag, "The Dependable Hunting Cartridge". His Opinion.

Shooters generally do better when they have a weapon they can control and build confidence with. The 41mag and now the 45Colt have allowed me to conrol and build confidence with them. The 44mag didn't give me that opportunity, and non I've fired since have done anything to change that opinion. Years ago I shot IHMSA and had golden opportunities to shoot what others brought to the match. The finest memory was a clean run on the pigs at 100 meters with a Freedom Arms 454Casull. Happy to have done it, and happy to pass it back to it's owner; never craving to do it again. My wrists don't need that kind of punishment on a regular basis.

My 41's fit me and fullfill my handgun requirements. I tip my hat to my brethren who choose otherwise. It is a choice.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Cayoot]

  Either Midway or Shooting Times did a feature on the .41 today.  Either the Outdoor Chanel or VS.  Basically the knock down power of ans trajectory of a .44 with the recoil of a 357.  Sounded darn fine to me.

Well, I wouldn't agree with them on that.  The recoil is definitely different that  .357.  It is heavier, but not as snappy.  The .357 has a recoil characteristic that is all it's own.

I was at the range yesterday with my .41 Mag Blackhawk (6 1/2 inch barrel), my .44 Dan Wesson (8 inch barrel), and my chronograph.

Now this comparison is not apples to apples, because I was not at the range trying to compare which gun is better, (they are both great calibers, but the guns are very very different).  I was only trying to develop a comfortable deer load for each gun.

Both the .41 and .44 loads were built around 250 grn lead SWCs that I cast myself.

Both were tested with 2 different loads.

The .41 was tested with Unique powder and H-110, while the .44 was only tested with Unique.

According to the chrono printer tape that I attached to each target, the velocities were as follows (all groups were under 2 inches at 25 yards, which is as good as I can shoot, so accuracy was not a factor)  12 shots for each load:

.41 Mag -6 1/2 inch barrel Ruger Blackhawk

250 grn Keith SWC on top of 8.4 grains of Unique - Avg Velocity was 1071 fps, extrema spread was 55 fps and STD was 19.89 fps

250 grn Keith SWC on top of 19 grains of H-110 - Avg Velocity was 1295 fps, extrema spread was 71 fps and STD was 28 fps

Recoil was comfortable with both loads.  The first load (8.4 grns of Unique) is a good plinking and general carry load.  It was very efficient in the use of powder.

If I'm going out specifically for hunting, where I might be shooting 60 yards or more, I'll carry the H-110 load.

.44 Mag - 8 inch Dan Wesson


250 grn Keith SWC on top of 11.5 grains of Unique - Avg Velocity was 1159 fps, extrema spread was 71 fps and STD was 21 fps

This is a nice load, but remember I'm shooting  1 1/2" longer barrel and using 3.1 grains more of powder (compareing my Unique loads in both guns) to push the 250 lswc at only an average of 87 fps more velocity.

Clearly the .41 is more efficient and more economical to shoot, and with the bullet shapes and weight being the same, but the .41 having a slightly smaller frontal area, I believe that I will get much more penetration with the .41.

As far as recoil goes, well the Dan Wesson is a very heavy gun, so recoil was really, really light.

250 grn Keith SWC on top of 12.5 grains of Unique - Avg Velocity was 1211 fps, extrema spread was 90 fps and STD was 25 fps

This will be my Hunting Blind load for the Dan Wesson.  It would be good out past 60 yards and Recoil is very light.  However, the Dan Wesson in my configuration is too heavy to carry around all day (for a guy with a bum foot and hip).

I use the Ruger for walking and hunting while scouting, I use the Dan Wesson (or my 7 1/2 inch Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt and scoped) for hunting from a blind.

I also have bullets that I cast for the .41  Mag that go up in weight to 285 grns that I push to the low 1,300 fps.  IMO, that is enough for anything I would ever hunt, including elk and moose. 

However I really enjoy shooting a 250 grn SWC at 1,100 to 1,300 fps the most in all my big bores.  The recoil is fun but not punishing and I don't develop a flinch. I can shoot this load all day with out developing any bad habits or getting tired. The blast is not so loud as to get old after a box of ammo, and the bullet hits the targets very hard out at 100 yards (the distance of our range).

I have to say though, the .41 mag will get the most velocity out of a grain of powder, with the same power level as all the others (of the three big bore calibers that I own), and so is the most economical for me to shoot.

More velocity than 1200 fps out of a 250 SWC of any caliber that I have will only accomplish a deeper hole in the dirt bank or tree that is behind the deer.  Any of these will go completely through the deer, and once you are through, well more power is nothing at all.

Plus, like I said before, I like walking the path less traveled.  That's why I really like my .41s

[Cottonwood]

Tomorrow I am getting my hands on a blown Taurus Tracker .41 mag.  The shooter was using Winchester factory ammo, and was not hurt as the top strap and cylinder blew.  Normally I would not post about this, but I am going to take pictures and post them.  As I told him, I don't blame Taurus for the blow up, but the ammo he had purchased and the QC.

I have never owned a .41 magnum handgun, but I would not feel undergunned with one either.

[Dand]

Hey Montana can you share as many details as possible on this blown gun?  I have a little stock of Win ammo - the 240 gr silver tip, some 170 (5?) grn Win and maybe some older  210 gr loads.  I'd sure be interested in what happened and why.  My 41s are SW, Ruger and Marlin but I'd really hate to damage any of them. Will be packing a 657 MG with 265 gr Corbons next week during a moose hunt.  Not for moose but more for a gun to have in the tent at night or while packing and skinning.