Author Topic: .41 Blackhawk (Read 1905 times)

greenjeans · « **on:** April 28, 2006, 08:32:25 AM »

Just picked up a Blackhawk in .41 mag from Bass Pro Shops. Wanted it for a back-up when deer hunting. Got the 4-5/8" barrel. I don't reload, so any recommendations on factory ammo out there? First time dealing with BP and it was a good experience. Price didn't seem out of line, either. Thanks for the input.

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2006, 09:01:38 AM »

Quote from: greenjeans

Just picked up a Blackhawk in .41 mag from Bass Pro Shops. Wanted it for a back-up when deer hunting. Got the 4-5/8" barrel. I don't reload, so any recommendations on factory ammo out there? First time dealing with BP and it was a good experience. Price didn't seem out of line, either. Thanks for the input.

I've not tried any of these but they are reported good performers;
For hard cast factory stuff Buffalo Bore has 230 and 265s. Feds Fusion 210s.

I have tried these and they are good performers;
PMC 210 JHPs, Speer 210 Gold Dots and plain jane Remington 210 gr SPs.

You really need to reload.

Larry Gibson

mparks · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2006, 09:28:06 AM »

Only factory I've tried was .41 Rem at $30 a box! :eek: Kind of hard to find but I'm sure BPS will carry some kind of factory round.

Has any one mentioned that you need to reload if you own a .41? :lol:

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2006, 12:53:49 PM »

what is this factory ammo people keep telling me about :-D

jimster · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2006, 02:52:48 PM »

I also used to have a 41 blackhawk, but don't have any experience with factory loads out there. Only thing I can tell you about mine is it liked W296 powder for full power loads, but it was a 6.5 incher.
I did shoot a box of factories through it once, it was some reduced lead load by Remington and it leaded my barrel up.
I used to see lots of jacketed soft points in the stores back then, 210 grains. They might have a lot more to choose from these days, that was a long time ago. I agree with Larry about reloading for it, it would open up a whole new world, and save you lots of money.

Argonaut · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2006, 07:47:54 AM »

The first and only time I ever fired factory .41 mag ammo (remington 210 gr. jacketed soft points, i think) the ejector rod assybly flew off the gun. I mean the solder holding the nut that recieves the screw came loose. Ruger fixed it right away of course, reblued the gun for me too. As always (in my personnal experiance) were very prompt. I bought a 220 gr. keith style rcbs mold at a gunshow and I shoot that bullet at about 900 fps. Thats the only load I shoot in my .41 due to carple tunnel syndrome (and they say you go blind).

With so many custom ammo manufacturers today, someone could build you some extra potent .41 mag ammo with a really heavy wide flat meplat, that would hit real hard and keep going. The question is how much do you really want to pay for it?

Learning to reload and getting equiped to reload one caliber using a basic lee press, scale, measure, shell rack, shell holder, and dies isn't too expesive :sniper: . carefull shopping could net you most of the stuf at a gun show, or even garage sale. though you might have to buy new .41 mag diess. BUY CARBIDE ONLY FOR STRAIGHT WALLED PISTOL CARTRIDGES!!!

Sounds like alot, but actually it would only amount to the cost of a few boxes of .41 mag. That they don't carry at wall mart. so you will pay the highest markup in town when you find a box.

crawfish · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2006, 02:31:44 PM »

Quote from: greenjeans

Just picked up a Blackhawk in .41 mag from Bass Pro Shops. Wanted it for a back-up when deer hunting. Got the 4-5/8" barrel. I don't reload, so any recommendations on factory ammo out there? First time dealing with BP and it was a good experience. Price didn't seem out of line, either. Thanks for the input.

IF you must buy commercial ammo for your .41RemMag you cant go wrong with any of the Federal loadings. The bullets they use are first class, a 250g cast from CPBT, the NEW .41 caliber 180g XPB from Barnes and the excellent Speer 210g JHP. There are others on the market but I have loaded two of these bullets and killed deer with them and Im sure the one I havent used (have 5 boxes of those Barnes XPB ready to load) will kill deer just like all the other Barnes bullets Ive use on game.

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2006, 08:56:06 AM »

Quote

Wanted it for a back-up when deer hunting

Backup

?? Heck. Thats my primary deer huntin weapon.

crawfish · « **Reply #8 on:** May 04, 2006, 06:08:12 AM »

greenjeans;

These are three reasons I don't buy commercial ammo, and these aren't the only reasons. Have others but no other Rugers.

greenjeans · « **Reply #9 on:** May 04, 2006, 02:45:38 PM »

Thanks for the replies. Might get into reloading later, but just cant pick up another time consumer right now. Haven't even had time to even go pick up in ammo for this one. Can't find time to shoot what I have right now. Will let you know how this one shoots as soon as I can get out with it. Not too much longer to retirement, I hope, so maybe time will loosen up. Great looking collection, Crawfish.

Old Griz · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2006, 09:40:35 AM »

:cb2:I don't reload yet either, so when I picked up a great S&W M57 4" .41 mag, and I shot several different loads through it to find what shot the best in it. The winner was the 240-gr Winchester Platinum Tip HP. The second place load was also a Winchester, the 175-gr. Silvertips. They just edged out the 210-gr. Federal Classics.

Now all of these worked pretty darn good, and I'd hunt with any of these three, but I'm gonna stick with the Platinum Tips.

Of course, every gun is different, but I'd sure give these a shot (pun intended).

Good luck!

greenjeans · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2006, 01:45:52 PM »

Went out with some Remington 210 gr. SP's this morning and wasw extremely disappointed with the results. Shot only 10 to 25 yards, but could not get decent groups. Would get two shots almost touching and then couldn't find the next on paper. Only ammo I could find last weekend.
Picked up some 175 grain Silvertips this afternoon to try the next time out. Never had a new gun of any kind be as erratic as the Blackhawk was today. If the Silvertips aren't any better, might be time for a trip back to Ruger.

BlkHawk73 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2006, 01:05:55 AM »

Try to keep track of what chamber each round comes from. Perhaps is not the gun persay but a bad chamber. Also, let other's try it also, maybe it could be - gulp - the shooter.

Reed1911 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 15, 2006, 10:31:10 AM »

We are now loading the .41 Mag with 210g Gold-Dots. The cost is 30.05 per box of 50.

greenjeans · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2006, 01:28:51 PM »

Went out with the Blackhawk with the 175 gr. Silvertips and the rest of the Remington 210 gr. softpoints. Not ready to hunt with it yet, but much better than the first time out. Outlined the rear sights and painted front white and was able to pick them up much better. Still need to try some of the ammo you guys suggested, but local dealer doesn't have much in stock right now. Thanks for the help.

RJM · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2006, 04:25:30 PM »

I have shot very very little factory ammo through my .41s but nothing has shot anything less than great. This is my latest Blackhawk...a pre-warning NM...another great shooter....

Bob

LEO · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2006, 10:48:30 AM »

Like most 41 mag. shooters, I have shot very little factory ammo through my 41s, I have 2 handguns and a carbine, yea I am a 41 fan. But I bought a box of PMC 210 grain JHP's on a bargin tabel a while back and they shot real well, also I picked up a box of Federal cast hunting loads a couple of years ago and they did real well also. The only factory ammo I have shot more than just in passing is the Winchester 175 grain silver tip load and I have been pleased with it. I don't use it for hunting so I can't speak as to how it does on deer. I have killed deer and hogs with the 41 using 210 grain cast bullets and the results were entirely acceptable nothing has gone more than a couple of steps and most fell where it was shot, though most shots have been less than 25 yards. But in all fairness to the 41 you must reload for it or buy custom loads.

Old Griz · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2006, 02:35:42 PM »

:cb2: I tried the PMC ammo, too, and it shot pretty well, but I had to pound the cases out of the cylinder. They really expanded! Didn't have any trouble with the other stuff I fired before or after the PMC.

mt3030 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2006, 06:33:13 AM »

I've had good luck with all the Federal factory loads. But due to the short barrel on my Ruger 41, I have gone to 210 gr cast loads @ about 900 fps using Unique. Much less blast!

Wally

Tusker · « **Reply #19 on:** June 20, 2006, 01:24:36 PM »

Here is a NM I have redone to a point. New brass grip frame, steel eject housing, Belt MT base pin--- I load all my own but recoil is a bit stout in this one as it breaks the brass grip screws. I finally had to go to stainless steel. If you can find some factory loaded with Hornaday XTP's you will be in business. I think you will fin 170 grains wil 'get R done', anytime.