Saw something interesting today.

I bought a .41 Magnum a couple of weeks ago and loaded 50 rounds of ammo for it the other night. I was using 220-grain JSPs (half jackets) over 8.2-grains of Unique. This afternoon my son-in-law and I took the gun and those loads down to the local gravel pit to try them out. We took turns shooting at a chunk of 2X4 on a hillside about 40 yards away. After shooting all 50 rounds, as we walked over to inspect the damage I found 2 of my bullet jackets lying in the snow about 15 yards in front of the target. Obviously, at least two of those Speer JSPs had shed their jackets well before reaching the target.
I know the Speer manuals warn against going below minimum listed loads when using those half jacket jobs due to the possibility of leaving a jacket stuck in the barrel. But I didn’t know until today that those half jackets might fall off after the bullets are already in flight.
Has anyone else seen that happen? I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed except for the fact we have snow on the ground here. It didn’t seem to hurt the accuracy too much - with 50 rounds we tore that chunk of 2X4 all to pieces.

I had that problem with REM .357 125 grain bullets shedding their jackets.
Seen 2 guns blow up due to that.
UMC JHP ammo loads with those bullets (They are also available as components.), I found I didn't have confidence in it, so I switched to magtech (When I didn't have time to load my own, or when I wanted to shoot with someone, they didn't have ammo, and I didn't want them shooting my hot reloads.).
As far as .41 mag goes, I'm DEATHLY afraid of jacket problems, and I only use XTP-HPs.
They don't shed jackets.
The nosler and speer 220 half jacket designs I only played with a few times, didn't see anything that would make me switch back from XTPs, so that was that.

It didn’t seem to hurt the accuracy too much - with 50 rounds we torethat chunk of 2X4 all to pieces.

I'd think this is quite unlikely

Are you sure you didn't hit the target/backstop and parts of the bullet bounce back??

I think redneck2 has it...we find jacket material all the time like that.

I would think that you would notice shedding a jacket off the bullet BEFORE it hits the target.


D

I used to shoot at a big metal swinger at long ranges when I lived with my parents oh so many years ago.

About 10 yards in front of the target there was so much splatter that my dad wouldn't mow there for fear of wrecking the mower.

***EDIT***
But it was obviously splatter, you couldn't mistake it for jacket loss, or anything else.
***EDIT***

I don't care for the Speer half jacketed bullets myself, but it's possible they are shedding the jackets, since they're swaged, similar to a large gas check. At any rate, the jacket would act as a sabot and if it did come off near the target, it wouldn't have that much affect on the accuracy, since you were measuring in "minute of 2x4". On paper, it might have a small affect of an inch or so, but as I mentioned, it would still act as a sabot. The longer the distance, the more deflection there would be, but at most handgun ranges up to about 25 yards, I doubt it would be that noticeable.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Yeah, but the two little copper cup looking things I found lying in the snow about 15 yards in front of the target weren't "pieces" of jacket material that had bounced back after the bullet had already struck the target. They were the entire Speer half-jackets from 2 of the 50 bullets we had just sent downrange. Except for the rifling marks and the fact their bases are darkened from the burning powder, they look new.
"Minute of 2X4" is sure no way to tell just how much the accuracy was affected. Heck, we actually only hit that board (it was about a foot long) maybe 15 times. But we were close with every shot and that's not bad for me - off-hand, at 40 yards with a 4" barrel.
CAZ, you said with the .41 Magnum you are "DEATHLY afraid of jacket problems." Can I take that to mean that .41 Magnum bullets are more prone to shedding their jackets than other caliber bullets? This is the first .41 Magnum I've ever owned, or even fired for that matter. And 2 of those 50 bullets shed their jackets on their way to the target. Yet I've used Speer half-jacket bullets in 38 Specials and 357 Magnums for years and have never noticed a problem like that. Then again, I don't remember firing those 38 and 357 loads over snow where it was easy to spot a couple of copper bullet jackets lying there.

There is nothing to be afraid of with the .41 Magnum. I carried a 6 1/2" Model 57 for most of my career as my duty weapon. It's a hell of a handgun and even better round. I think the problem is with the bullet design. As I mentioned above, I'm no fan of the Speer half jacketed bullets. It's been around a long, long time, but still it's just a half jacket with the lead core swaged into it cold. There isn't any adhesion between the lead and the jacket, and only friction holds it together. The jacket's sole purpose is to keep the lead from bearing on the barrel, so that higher velocities can be attained without the fear of leading the barrel.

The best bullet for handloading the .41 that I've found is the Hornady XTP JHP. The bullet is well made and accurate. I prefer full loads of Winchester 296 for my handloads in this caliber and for factory rounds, you won't go wrong with Winchester Silver Tips.

Change bullets and realize the full potential of this caliber.

Part of your problem is that snow stuff. That's the stuff you have to shovel after it hits the ground, right? I prefer our rain. After it hits the ground, it just sort of takes care of itself...............

Hope this helps.

Fred

Thanks Fred. I will stay away from those half jacket jobs from now on. I picked up a box of .41 caliber, 210-grain Hdy XTPs this afternoon. A good buy too - $6.00.
Yep, I had to shovel that white stuff out of the driveway 3 times last week. My 57 year old back is starting to complain. But the good news is, Idaho's 10 year drought is probably over. They said on TV that Idaho already has 135 percent of normal annual snowfall this year and this is only February.

Sharps Shooter,

I never had good luck with the Speer Half Jackets in the .41, but the XTP's were great. If you can get them for $6.00 a box, you should buy all you can get before the price goes back up. That's cheaper than wholesale for that bullet.

I know what you mean about 57 year old backs. Mine's almost 5 years older than that and wishing it was 57 again. You guys could use the moisture. The last time I was over that way, it was pretty dry.

Fred

Agreed. XTPs are by far the best jacketed .41 you can get.
I'm paying over $12.00 a box, and it's worth every penny.
.41 is no more likely to shed jackets than anything else, but it's the highest intensity magnum I own.
I tend to load .44 a little slower, I HOT load .41 mag. It likes it.
I do load lesser loads, for snubbies, small frames, and lazy days.
But the blackhawk and 657 are always full throttle, and they do their best work there.