41 caliber Wildcat? Need an Opinion.

[jumpsteady]

I am interested in having a wildcat built for my Contender. What I am thinking is having something like the 40-44 Woodswalker by SSK or 41 GNR by Gary Reeder built. Both are basically a 44 mag necked down to 41 caliber. This will be used for an all around cartridge in my contender. The specs for both show a 170 grain bullet doing 2100+ fps. What do you guys think?

[Reed1911]

I love the idea. Really, since you'll be doing this on a Contender, you can do just about any wildcat you want for the same rough cost. How about a .45 Colt necked down? or even a .454 necked down? I'm a big fan of the .41 caliber and enjoy it. I'm in the works to convert some cylinders for my Dan Wesson's into a 41/44mag and 41/45colt just for fun.

[KYODE]

why wouldn't ya just do a 414 super mag?

[Reed1911]

For me? I'll be building them on the standard frame. The .414 cylinders are no longer available from DW. I can cut my own no problem, just haven't bothered. Plus I have a .414 and I like playing with 'cats. The DW setup makes it easy.

[KYODE]

no....HIM....in the contender....lol

[jumpsteady]

I have a surplus of .44 mag cases and wanted to use some of them for a side project.

[jumpsteady]

Although I believe that I have talked my self into having a .357 maximum built. I have a lot of .38 special and .357 mag stuff that I will be able to shoot as practice stuff. I have fallen in love with MGM's closable muzzle brake simply for the machine work. Being a machinist that kind of stuff is what I live for. So I think that I am going to pull the plug on the 41 GNR/Woodswalker.

[Redhawk1]

I like the 41 GNR, great round. But the 357 Max is also a great choice.

[Hopalong7]

    I'm sure not one to argue against a 357Max, but I hate to see you drop the 41 idea.  I've been thinking about sending my S-14 41Mag barrel to SSK for conversion to 411JDJ(a 444 necked to 41).  Walt

[Redhawk1]

Another to consider from Gary Reeder is the The .356 GNR, easily equals the .357 Maximum  in a std. length chassis.  Even with 180 gr. Bullets. Hard to tell by looking but the .356 GNR has the same or maybe even a slight edge in capacity over the .357 Max.

The 356 GNR is the sale barrel for the next 2 weeks, and dies are on sale as well. http://www.reedercustomguns.com/sale.htm

[jumpsteady]

Well part of the resason I am dropping the 41 idea, and won't do the .356 GNR is state law concerning case length of cartridges used for big game. If the case does not measure 1.280" or longer then it is not legal. The 41 GNR and the 356 GNR after being necked down are to short. The only execption would be if there is an established, published standard for the case length, i.e. a blueprint, that says it is 1.280" or greater. I can guarantee the the max is long enough. Plus I decided the I wanted a standard cartridge for my first "big" handgun, even though I already have a 10" 44 mag. Thanks to everybody for thier opinions. My next toy will probably be tha 410 GNR, a 454 Casual necked down to 41. Case length won't be a problem then either.

[Redhawk1]

The 356 GNR is the same length as the 44 Mag. It is a 41 Mag neck down. As for the 410 GNR, man I love mine. That is a smoking 41 cal round.

Now there is the 41 GNR #2.  This one is a 445 SuperMag case necked down to 41

[jumpsteady]

The 356 GNR is the same length as the 44 Mag. It is a 41 Mag neck down.

I know that. But according to Gary, the case length after necking down is about 1.272" which is to short according to the law. If there was a drawn published blueprint that said the case length was 1.280" then it would be legal.

[Steve P]

Go with wildcat, but get a fast twist barrel and use heavier 41 cal bullets.  357/44 B&D was one of the first wildcats using 44 mag brass.  I had one of these barrels, but twist was slow so it would not stabilize bullets 180+.  The heavier bullets work better on game, even if pushed slower.  Energy compilation factors, etc etc. A 41/44 JS with short neck using one of Veral's heavy LBT bullets would be ideal for about anything walking the lower 48.  Not much different than a 44 mag, but still different.

Steve

[Groo]

Groo here
 If you use a 10+ inch barrel go with a 411 JDJ  a 444 necked to 41
 mine is a 10 in with open sights and an Arrester break , 210 gr at 2000fps and 300 gr are shootable..
 170 bullets would hit 2200 or more?
 Forming is easy-- size and shoot..
 Ps  The Super arrester break works better the harder you drive it..
 I shoot 210s at 2000 with one hand and a 41 revolver kicks more....

[Dirtmover]

 A 41 mag. in  a 10in contender with large amounts X800 powder would give about the same ballistics. Case resizing with a carbide die makes reloading easy and cases are readily available. 

But, the cool factor comes in to play here, as not everybody has one     and that's what makes contenders so fun.

[sbhg]

Here is a very interesting article on the 40-50Sharps.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell40-50SharpsContender.htm