41 bullet for deer

[c mac]

I've got a new SW 657 with a 7.5"barrel. I loaded some 170gr sierra bullets with 25gr of H110@1530fps. They shoot real well. About 2" at 50 yds. with a red dot. I shot one into duct seal and it expanded real well . I'm afraid that if it hit bone that it would go into a million pieces. I was thinking about a partion bullet. I'd like to keep the flat shooting of the 170 but I'm open to ideas. Any ideas?
c mac

[JOE MACK]

c mac,

I'd save the 170's for javelina and varmints. For deer, go with a 210gr.JHP like the Hornady XTP, Nosler's bullet, Speer's semi-jacketed, or the Remington. Winchester hasn't come out with their platinum-tip ammo in .41Magnum yet, so no telling if or when the bullet will be sold as a component. If the deer are large in your area, you might try a heavy cast bullet with a large meplat for good tissue destruction. Good luck and tell me how the new 7.5" 657 does. I haven't added on to the collection yet as I've spent my mad money on a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in .41Magnum. Must have more...more .41s... RKBA! :-D

[Larry Gibson]

c mac

Joe Mack has given some good advice.  I have been using a .41 mag since the mid '70s.  The Sierra 170's work well on deer but my experience with them has been from 4" barrels and at not near the velocity one gets from the longer barrel.  However for some years I have had a Ruger Bisley with 7.5" barrel.  Have used both the 210 XTP and the Remington SP at 1450 fps.  Bullet performance has been excellent through deer shoulders out to about 100 yards.  There've been no problems on deer, except from the deers perspective.

Larry Gibson.

[Graybeard]

Winchester has now announced the introduction of a 240 grain Platinum Tip round for the .41 Mag. Should be a real hard one to beat.

GB