.41 Magnum

[Laremm]

Other than "because I live in the USA" What is the advantage of the 41.

I have been thinking about buying one. I own a 357 DW, a 44 DW.

I do own a TC Contender, Glock, two 1911's, a 380, MKII 22.

I dont hunt, and I bought the 44 because I it just had its 50th anniversary and I read too many articles on it. And since its a DW I have to buy all the barrels.

The 41 was originally a police round and was loaded for hunting.

I saw someone makes a 41 special round. Overall how is the round?

[Reed1911]

I enjoy the .41 a lot. It offers pretty close to the same level of performance as the .44 W/W with less felt recoil. That being said, unless you handload it is more expensive even buying economy. I've seen the .41's tend to fetch a little higher price, but I think that is die more to owners asking more and taking better care of them, hence being in better condition. The .41 never made it as a police round, it was built with that idea in mind but very few departments ever took it on.

[rimfire]

I have very interested in a long barreled 41...8" or even 10".  What do they run in y'alls experience?Do you find them to shoot consistent all the way around the cyclinder.

Thanks.

[Reed1911]

Two ways to approach that, either a DW with an 8" factory or 10" custom or you can go with a T/C and get just about any length you want. T/C would be the lower cost option, but it would be a single shot.

[rimfire]

Sorry...should have been more specific.  I already have a T/C 41 and a Ruger Redhawk 41.  Deer are not fond of either, but I have always wanted to try a good large frame DW.

[Laremm]

How do you like the 41 compared to the 44 for hunting?

[rimfire]

Many rate the 41 as the ideal middle magnum for deer.  I know that I have seen no difference in performance on whitetails.  I have only taken 5 with the 41 and 4 with the 44. 

My two current 41s love the 210 XTP in front of a CCI350 primer and 21 grains of H110.  I have also taken a deer with the 170JHC, but don't load that much anymore as the 210 shoots well in both guns and I like the idea of better penetration with it.

[Sweetwater]

All that's been said +1

You won't find a better round for Eastern hunting in a handgun than the 41Mag. You will find different rounds, but not better, and as was said, no difference in the taking of Eastern game. I say Eastern because I grew up in the Northeast, and the 41Mag is plenty. I have lived in the West for over 20 years and haven't succumbed to taking anything larger than Mule Deer with a handgun, and the 41Mag was fully up to that task. I have gotten older and the old eyes don't respond to the handgun sights anymore, so I have returned to rifles for most of my hunting. They are scope-sighted and I prefer not to scope my revolvers. My choice.

Enjoy the 41Mag, or whatever else you choose. It is your choice and all the 40+ calibers work if you do your part.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[kgb]

I'll back up anyone who believes the .41's probably not much different than a .44 or even a .45 when it comes to deer.  From those that have tried it on bigger animals, I haven't heard of it failing, either. 

So far I've only shot three deer with my .41's; an adult buck via Marlin 1894fg and a CCI Gold Dot, adult doe with 657CH and 200gr Speer 3/4 jacket HP, and immature button buck with a 10" T/C and 170gr Sierras.  Think I'll carry 250gr cast this year.

I also have a DW .41 6" Vent, FA M97 with a 7.5" bbl and a Blackhawk that I sent to the factory for a 7.5" bbl.  Any of these will work, but the DW's heavy (what recoil?) and aggravating for me to get to hit POA from a sandbag rest for some reason.  I have a real nice crossdraw holster for the S&W that makes it the best gun for me, and I've found several accurate loadings for bullets from 170gr to 265gr that would all work.  It's easier to pick the gun than the loading for me.

[nodlenor]

I have a .41 Redhawk also. I like it very much. It is a good shooter. I've been pondering the idea of buying a rifle in that caliber to go along with it. I know it won't be a long range shooter but I would like to have one just for kicks.

[Cayoot]

I have a Marlin 1894 FG in .41 Mag (got it used this year).  It is a great companion to my Blackhawk and/or Mountain Gun (both in .41 Mag of course!).

I have to say...it is everybit the accurate laser that my .41 handguns are!

[nodlenor]

If you don't mind me asking Cayoot, how much did your 1894 set you back. That sounds like what I'd like have.

[Cayoot]

I paid $650 plus shipping.  I know it's a bit high, but it is in like new condition and like Roy Rogers said..."They ain't making any more".

It was alot of money, but I'm really happy with the carbine and I hope to have it for another 30 years or so (since I'm only 46).  $650 spread over 30 years doesn't sound so badly.

[Waldo Pepper]

Try a S&W 10 MM 610-3 that is .40 cal has far more bullet options then the 41 has, and when you want to push it past the 41 Magnum have cylinder reamed to 10 mm Magnum and then you really have something.  You have 40 cal, 10mm & 100 Magnum.

[Cayoot]

That's a good looking gun Waldo...and I'm sure that it has some very practical uses...but for me...well, I considered getting a 10 mm revolver, but a short study of a few main line reloading manuals showed me that the .357 will still throw a heavier bullet faster, and the .41 Mag really leaves it in the dust.

Mind you, this is speaking from a handloader/caster point of view...if you are limited to factory ammo only...well, you wouldn't waste your time in a reloading manual anyways.

[Sweetwater]

Cayoot-

Well put!!!! Don't see why so many are trying to weed away at the 41mag following. It's a dedicated, unique group of owners. We are staunch supporters of the 41mag or we would shoot 'what everyone else shoots'.

Keep on shooting those 41mags!!!!

Regards, Sweetwater

[Dand]

I started out with a 41 mag in the mid 1970's when I needed a stout bear deterrent and 44 mags were hard to buy at any price (and the really big 454 etc hadn't showed up on the market). I could get a 41 and get it for $100 to $125 less than a 44 mag. As I have small hands and wrists, figured the 41 might be a better match for me.  I've stuck with them ever since. I like being a little weird and enjoy the 41s - have 5 now including a Marlin.  I've only taken an itty bitty caribou and a few rabbits so far. No aspirations for moose or big stuff if I don't need to. It makes all the noise of a 44 mag - enough to give a couple brown bears second thoughts - thank goodness.  And its followed me a lot of places  where the 300 win mag or 12 ga just were not going to be carried. I have felt much better about carrying it since the really heavy cast and jacketed bullets have become available - Corbon 250-265, Buffalo 265, Federal 250, Cast Performance & LBT 250-265 bullets and recently Uncle Joe's 250 jacketed bullets. It might  not be the case today but early on I could get components cheaper than 44 stuff. Once scored 900 cast bullets for a song as the maker had them in the store for a long time and was eager to find a buyer.  Was kind of funny hauling home 900 232 gr bullets on a bicycle! One of those deals you find when you're not prepared but have to act on the spot.