Author Topic: .41 magnum - 14" barrel (Read 825 times)

T/C nimrod · « **on:** March 05, 2003, 04:29:37 AM »

I'll try a new topic for this info - the server and I are not getting along.

I'll take a 4 shot string measuring .522" out of a .41 mag. - would anyone else? She shot this group for me on Sunday at 50 yards - that would be my one ragged hole I was looking for, now its' over to the 100 yard range for future load testing. I actually was shooting 5 shot strings, but I yanked shot #3 out of the group. Shots #1-#2 and #4-#5 went to the same spot (.522"), #3 blew the group out to 1.02" - so I'm claiming shooter error for that one. The 210 grn Sierra's w/ 20.1 grns. H110 seem to be doing OK at close range. I had to seat the bullet forward at 1.612" +/- .001" and crimp behind the cannelure to get this group. Haven't chrono'd anything yet.

KYODE · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2003, 06:29:30 AM »

:shock:thats some really good shootin. keep us informed. even when you get no replies, we're reading. thats kind of a let down sometime. come in all excited, have to tell someone, the old woman don't give a rats hind end.

nimrod, i'm listening buddy. :lol:

Possum · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2003, 07:59:00 AM »

Maybe I need to hold on to my .41! That's great results. Do you hunt with the barrel? I'm just curious what the range is for deer sized game. I might be interested in that load data.

T/C nimrod · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2003, 08:30:34 AM »

Possum - I'll have to answer that question in the fall. I've had this barrel in the safe for about 7 years now, and finally got around to working on it. I'll be shooting it the rest of the year, working on loads. this is the first straight wall caliber I've worked with in the Contender, which is why I started at 50 yards. I'm hoping for 1"-1.5" at 100 yards w/this barrel. that will probably be max range for it on deer in Pa. Hopefully, I'll let you know - have to find a willing subject for field testing!

Bullseye · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2003, 12:38:09 PM »

I had a S14 41 Mag for a while. I never got it grouping as good as yours so I bought a 10"er and sold the S14 since I like shorter barrels anyway. They both would shoot minute of deer, but neither grouped great until I switched to Win 296 powder at 20 grs, which is just about exactly what you are using. It will now shoot them kind of groups.

As far as hunting deer, I shot 2 within a minute one day with the S14. One fell in its tracks and the other took about 2 steps and I missed the third. I know, I probably should not have shot the whole family, but my family loves to eat deer.

In my opinion they are a great deer gun. Don't sell it unless you are sure you do not want it because they are hard to find, the S14's are rarer than the 10"ers.

41MAG · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2003, 12:47:05 PM »

:biggun: Like my handle says Im a 41 fan.I shoot a 10" contender & a S&W . I cant get eather one to group that good.But I know its me. Maybe I should try a longer barrel it might help.Let us know how the work up goes I might have to change my recipe

Bullseye · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2003, 04:42:22 PM »

Hey 41 Mag,

Do not know what you have tried, but I varied the powder in half grain increments with the Win 296 and it made a big difference in the groups. Might be worth a try if you have not already done this.

I would like to go back to IMR 4227. It was the powder I never got good groups with. It has a whole lot less recoil and noise (ie. velocity) than the 296. I might try varying the powder weight on it in the future since I never did this when I was shooting it before.

T/C nimrod · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2003, 04:55:25 PM »

Bullseye is right on topic! My load ramp started at 18.6 grns H110 and went up .3 grns from there to a max of 20.4 grns. This is published data from the Sierra manual, and I had no signs of pressure at 20.4 grns. It looked for a few rounds that 19.8 grns gave me the tightest group, but when I moved the bullet up to the lands is when 20.1 grns. showed its potential. I've replaced the 2x Leupold w/a 10 x Burris for load work at 100 yards, I'm curious to see how this will affect the previous load ramps. Over the next year, I'll burn through most of the published powder/ bullet combinations till I can find a consistant combo. I'm not the most efficient handloader, but I sure do have fun!!

Crayfish · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2003, 03:02:17 AM »

What kind of velocities are you guys getting out of 14" barrels? I've had an itch lately for a 14" 41Mag, but all of the load data I've seen is for 10"ers. Just curious what you're getting. (I prefer longer barrels, probably because I've always shot them better. I don't find them any more cumbersome to carry than a 10" since I typically use a sling.)

Thanks ... Crayfish

T/C nimrod · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2003, 03:21:05 AM »

I haven't chrono'd anything yet.