Author Topic: 41 Mag to 405 Win?  (Read 655 times)

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Offline DanL

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« on: August 19, 2003, 02:02:08 AM »
Could a 14" 41 mag barrel be rechambered to 405 Winchester?  I believe the 405 Win bullet diameter is 411, and I know some of the cast bullet manufacturers offer .411 and .412 diameter slugs.   Just curious, I don't know what kind of pressures the 405 uses but I vaguely recall reading that it is in the mid 40,000s, like 44,000 or something.

I know Reeder makes a few wildcats based on the 405 case, lately I've been wondering if the 405 itself (or some slight variation on it) wouldn't make a nice, wrist-snapping TC round.  And Gary's in Africa for a couple of weeks so I thought I'd ask here...
Dan

Offline Nate C

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41 - 405 win
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2003, 12:37:51 PM »
For an Encore:  You betcha.  Hang on.

For a Contender/G2:  Nope, but if you want more power check out a 414 Super Mag (41 mag lengthened similiar to 357max or 445 respectively).

Hope this helps.

Offline STLContender

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2003, 02:19:16 PM »
Actually...the 405 has been chambered for contender barrels..SSK does it...or has in the past...Dont know if they still do. As for the bore diameter..i think it is .411"...but wouldnt swear to it. :D
Hit em hard!!

Offline PJ

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2003, 05:23:33 PM »
The 405Win is .411 diameter

Offline Nate C

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411...
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2003, 05:55:53 PM »
The 405 is .411 and the 41 is .410 I think it still might be close enough to work with cast bullets, if you sized 'em down.

Offline kciH

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2003, 11:07:15 PM »
As has been stated here already, the .405 is .411, and the .41 is .410.  The .001 in bullet diameter will make no real difference unless you are dealing with pressures that are well in excess of what is suggested to start with.

Ever shoot .358 bullets in a .357 bore?  The difference makes no difference, unless, and I quote Hodgdon tech support here, as well as P.O. Ackley "the pressures involved are enough where the gun is about to come apart already"

That said, I think the recoil would probably be unpleasant.  Good luck with your project.

Offline T/C nimrod

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2003, 02:25:33 AM »
My heart bleeds for yet another .41 Mag out of circulation. Have you considered a nice Shilen barrel, brand new, never fired by any one else, cut to your specs.? I'm from the "Save the .41 Foundation" can ya tell?

Besides I need another .41 for a JDJ caliper I've had my eye on!  :-D

Offline DanL

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2003, 10:05:41 AM »
TC Nimrod, I was going to buy a new barrel and do it on that, I figure if they see 41 mag sales that'll be good even if I'm going to mess with it like I'm thinking about.  8)

I've wondered if this wouldn't be better suited to the Encore.  I know that some Contender rounds go pretty high in the pressure department but they tend to be smaller calibers like the 223.  More steel, etc. I suppose.

I injured my shoulder a couple of years ago in a motorcycle crash and can't shoot large caliber rifles anymore, so all my big bores are handguns.  Amazing how accustomed you can get to a big kick out of a handgun once you realize it is not physically painful (like a rifle pounding your shoulder is.)  I had to sell my 45-70 lever gun, but my unported 45-70 TC remains one of my all-time favorite barrels.  14" barrel topped with a good solid scope, the 454 SRH kicks way harder!  :eek:  

So if I'm going to do this it seems I'll either have to get 405 dies that crimp .001 tighter than normal to accomodate .410 bullets, or else become a "regular" with a supplier who can make me 411 casts so that the 405 dies will grip the bullet properly.

I'm assuming that a cast bullet slightly larger than the barrel diameter will work okay - ???  Or will that increase pressure beyond all reason and force me to get an Encore? (There are worse excuses!  :-D  )

Any and all advice greatly appreciated, and I guess a lot of this will depend on the opinion of whoever I get to make this barrel for me, but I'd like to have as much of this thought out as I can before I approach someone...
Dan

Offline kciH

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2003, 10:16:07 AM »
DanL,
cast bullets are usually .001 over bore size to start with.  This helps to ensure a optimal seal of the bore to prevent leading/gas cutting.  I would go for the Encore in this instance.  The additional weight might be a good thing.  Why chamber the questionable stuff in a Contender when you've got a safer platform that is more suitable?  I like the contender better than the encore for my purposes, but my really powerful handguns are bolt guns so I don't worry about the strength issue.

Offline Big Gun

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41 Mag to 405 Win?
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2003, 05:50:58 AM »
DanL, I posted a question about the 405 win in an Encore pistol on this forum about 6 weeks ago.  It would be worth it for you to search through the old postings and find it as there were some interesting responses to my question.
Contenderize 'Em