[sgt127]

Just re-entered the cult like world of the .41 mag. Found a nice clean, slightly holster worn M58. (I have a virtually brand new nickel one that was my first duty gun in...um...1978 or so) But, this one I can carry and play with again. Whats the general opinion from the .41 crowd as the best defense round for this thing? Not reloading yet, may start back up. I see the Federal 250 GR Hard cast looks like a pretty good load if you fear attack by Feral pigs/mountain lions/brown bears/buicks. Pretty ferocious loading. Something a bit more urban perhaps? And a bit cheaper? Thanks.

[Nightcrawler]

Winchester Silvertips. 175 grainers, loaded to about the same power as Winchester's 10mm silvertips. Pretty mild for .41 Magnum, but still over 600 foot-pounds of energy.

Georgia-Arms makes 210 grain JHP ammo that leaves the barrel at about 1300+ feet per second (the old Highway Patrol load), and packs quite a whallop.

GA also makes a 210 grain LSWC at 1100 FPS, if you want something more mild.

[caz223]

Not much else to say, for two-leggers, the silvertip is about all there is.
For hunting, there is a much wider base on which to decide from.
For hunting, or recreational shooting, reloading is almost a must.

[1badmagnum]

19 grains wc820(h110)
under silvertips or golden sabres,or gold dots.

[ChristopherG]

When Bill Jordan & Elmer Keith cajoled gun & ammo makers into creating the .41, they wanted the service load to be a 200-215 gr SWC at around 1150 fps; so the Georgia Arms load is pretty well on the money as far as the minds of the designers go. Similar loads that I've assembled have been fun to shoot, too, and lots cheaper than silvertips. The 1300+ fps 210 JHP load is certainly overkill, and significantly slower for follow-ups than the SWC load. I'd try the Winchester & GA SWC loads and see how they feel and shoot in your 58. Actually, I'd get into reloading in a hurry; shooting .41, you'll recoup your costs in no time, and get to really use this caliber.

[einnor1040]

I shoot a 215gr LSWC on top of 19gr of H110 in a S&W 657 with a 3 inch barrel. It's a very good load.

[45crittergitter]

For defense against smaller things (not big bears, etc.), The hands-down best load is Remington's 170 gr SJHP, IMHO. Does an honest 1600 fps from my 6" Smiths. I think that load is discontinued. :banghead: Cor-Bon has a similar 170 load, and the Silvertip is also good, but much slower, about 1250 in my gun.

You can handload 170's to about 1600 with around 26.5 grains of H110.

Warning: This is the loudest thing I have ever experienced!

[sgt127]

Gee. I forgot how nasty the recoil is from full house 41 mags in this 58. The Federal stuff was flattening primers and flowing back into the firing pin hole a bit. I think I'll check out the Georgia Arms "standard load". I always remember the Rem. 210 gr lead semi wadcutter was fun to shoot, but leaded alot.

[ChristopherG]

You probably won't have the same leading problem with the GA that you did with the Remington; I think the Rem load was a swaged bullet, whereas the GA is a hardcast w/ a Brinell rating of 18. They oughta be good to at least 1200 fps without leading in a barrel that fits 'em.

[WESHOOT2]

For social shooting the R-P 170g is tops.
Silvertip is very good, too.

[oscar]

Since your question stipulated SD, I would say the Silvertip.

[M58]

1. silvertips
2. ProLoad
IMHO

[JOE MACK]

:scrutiny: Hmm... if one uses only factory loads for self-defense I'd go with the Winchester Silvertips, Corbon 170s, or Buffalo Bore 170s. All are pretty controlable double-action. RKBA!