41 mag. bullet

[jjvw]

I have been using a 41 since the early 70's. first in a blackhawk, now a redhawk and a contender. With the 220 sierra silhouette bullets in the redhawk, I had 3 one shot kills on 150# hogs. The sierra 210 has accounted for over 30 deer, all 1 shot kills at 15 feet to 200 yds. Only recovered 1 bullet. All were pass thru's with a large exit hole with 30 yd blood trails (that's the furtherest any ran). All my loads are under one inch at 50 yds, one inch at 100 for contender, using H110 and Bluedot. I have chased more deer with my rem 700 30-06!

[panman]

When i was an early teen,my grand pa tole me,son,ifin you have a deer standing broadside,shoot just behind the sholder,1/3 up,OR 2/3 DOWN from the top of his back.That has never failed me yet!!
He also said that if it was not broadside,maby just a little,OR a quatering away shot,aim for the sholder on the OTHER SIDE of the deer.It never has failed me yet eather!!.He has killed many of them with a 22lrHe also said he only lost two in all that he hit.Out of a job,and with a family to feed during the depresson he did what he had to do,may god bless him.
I still use the guidence that he stated many years ago,except neck and head shots.as said before.OH yea,i shoot with a 41,and a 357.Knock on wood,i havent lost any yet.I would  and do, stay away from HPs.Soft,or hard cast,a little on the heavy side for cal.bullet, and you will have your animal.Good luck pan.

[GradyL41]

I was not going to say anything but  Guys this is not a caliber failure --just because A bullet does not exit does make it failure necessarily,, a small exit hole does again not mean a bullet failure  that depends on what was done before the bullet exited--My nosler part  in my 25.06 always leaves a small exit hole   I can not speak to anything but fairly large deer around 200# most much smaller-- but I never regardless of the bullet I have used, caught a bullet but twice and both were chest shot and expanding bullets--one was the 170 JHC and both went either to back of the ribs from 55 yards and one just under the in the  hide at the hip at 15 yards -- I have caught  many bullets with my .358 win --not my .41- The .41 is more than fine for deerish animals -- if you do not like the round .41 fine but at least behonest about it--again no clue on larger animals but for deer no problem --bad shooting will be bad shooing with any round
 I hope to go on my first hog hunt this April -- and I will use a .41-- I guess with  LWN gc-- so I will know more for my self then--I have read of many guys taking elk with the 41  as well moose--they claim no problems-- -- I like to experiment so each I year tend to change bullets- on deer for me with one shot kills the 170 has done very well --210 XTP and Gold Dot a 240 LWnGC  from LBT  a 255 LWNGC from Mountain mould and a soft point 285 grain two part hollow point SSK TC bullet  all have worked just fine --I have owned and reloaded for a .44 3 screw Super Blackhawk-- a Ruger .45 colt and a 454 Ruger -- and now nothing but .41's-- with no desire to change-If I did it would be up to a .475/480 class round, would not even look at a .44 or a .454 not because they are not good just no appeal for me If you like the .41 great if you do not great -- I love to hear your stories and experiences just as well --but at least for me for deerish animals the .41 is just fine -- and Paco says for much larger animals too --

[Larry Gibson]

When i was an early teen,my grand pa tole me,son,ifin you have a deer standing broadside,shoot just behind the sholder,1/3 up,OR 2/3 DOWN from the top of his back.That has never failed me yet!!
He also said that if it was not broadside,maby just a little,OR a quatering away shot,aim for the sholder on the OTHER SIDE of the deer.It never has failed me yet eather!!.He has killed many of them with a 22lrHe also said he only lost two in all that he hit.Out of a job,and with a family to feed during the depresson he did what he had to do,may god bless him.
I still use the guidence that he stated many years ago,except neck and head shots.as said before.OH yea,i shoot with a 41,and a 357.Knock on wood,i havent lost any yet.I would  and do, stay away from HPs.Soft,or hard cast,a little on the heavy side for cal.bullet, and you will have your animal.Good luck pan.

Your grandpa was a wise hunter.  He was having you put your bullet through that "soft ball" I was talking about.  That is the best and surest shot.

Larry Gibson

[tommy killtrigger]

Hi guys...to give a summary thru this trek of "is it the ammo or shooter error"...I received a box of Federal Castcore 250 gr. ammo & re-sighted the 2 X scope on the S&W model 57. Ammo grouped at 1 1/2" at 50 yds. Very accurate for me. Now just to get a chance at a shot during the last week of  hunting season. I had a group of 8 deer come thru on Thur. morning at a fast clip. Had a doe stop at 35 yds. facing head on behind two trees a foot apart. She had noticed me and began to get nervous. I took the shot...it entered low center chest. She bounded off 60 yds. and crashed. The blood trail was a foot wide or more for the entire distance she ran. Upon field dressing, it was seen that the top third of the heart was missing , liver cut, exited lower abdomen and thru her back leg. It went length wise thru her. What a wound channel! No more hollow points for me...hard cast and heavy is the ticket. Thanks for each ones advice...hard cast was the answer. Tony!

[drdougrx]

Thanks for that tommy...I may try my 41mag on a boar this April.  I've been shooting Cast Precision 250gr WFNGC over a good dose of H110.  We'll see!!

[Redhawk1]

Thanks for that tommy...I may try my 41mag on a boar this April.  I've been shooting Cast Precision 250gr WFNGC over a good dose of H110.  We'll see!!

My 41 cal is a 410 GNR, a 454 Casull necked down to 41 cal. I use 240 gr. hard cast in it. In all my handguns, all I use is hard cast bullets.

[Sweetwater]

Thanks for that tommy...I may try my 41mag on a boar this April.  I've been shooting Cast Precision 250gr WFNGC over a good dose of H110.  We'll see!!

My 41 cal is a 410 GNR, a 454 Casull necked down to 41 cal. I use 240 gr. hard cast in it. In all my handguns, all I use is hard cast bullets.

Redhawk1 - I'm curious. What is your 410GNR chambered in? I think Lynn's 410GNR is in a Contender, but I'm not totally sure. Been considering something akin in a 1894 Marlin. I have a 41Mag in the Marlin and will be losing it in a couple years when my son finishes college. It for sure will replace the performance of my 40-82! LOL Ideas?

Regards,
Sweetwater

[Redhawk1]

Sweetwater, I had one in an Encore barrel, then I got my Ruger Redhawk 41 Mag re-chambered to 410 GNR.

What a big difference.

[GradyL41]

Sweetwater-- mine is a blue 5.5" Redhawk -- and my son has a 12"braked 41#2 mine is the 44 necked down and his is the 445 necked down -- as for me still no Marlin .41 of course I do have an 18.5"  358 is really great for the woods and it is loaded with 245 flat nose cast at a slooow 2000fps--

[BigMuddy]

Way to Go Tommy!!!!

Way to come back and " git er done", not letting the earlier setbacks stop you. I would say that bullet performed very well and a nice shot too.