TikkaShooter
Member
The .44mag is only 2/100" bigger than the .41. It coulda been a contender. One big reason the .44mag took off is Dirty Harry.
Courtesy Dirty Harry, I remember when the Model 29 in 44 mag was well past $400.
The .44mag is only 2/100" bigger than the .41. It coulda been a contender. One big reason the .44mag took off is Dirty Harry.
That and it's a more capable cartridge, chambered in the same sized guns. At the top end, the .44 walks all over the .41. Just like the .475 walks all over the .44.The .44mag is only 2/100" bigger than the .41. It coulda been a contender. One big reason the .44mag took off is Dirty Harry.
In case the 44 Magnum is a bit much for a given person or application...the same reasons the cartridge and gun were introduced to the police. Personally, I wanted to try one, thinking caliber should really start with a 4, and was hooked. I also have a 44 Magnum which has its place too, but I had the 41 first.If you own a .41 mag it is a good capable gun that deserves to be shot and is suitable for hunting with...If you don't already own one...why would you ever buy one?
Seems to me that .41 Mag is almost... obsolete, and that anything the .41 could do, the .44 could do it better.
Timing had nothing to do with it, LE's didn't start switching en masse until the late 80s and last I checked the .41 came out in the mid to late 60s.The biggest problem with the .41 is it came out at the wrong time. When it came out LE was transitioning to autos so it never became as popular as it could have.
About 10 years ago I came close to purchasing a .41 S&W but decided to pass as I already have .44's and the .41 is pretty close in performance.
there's no reason to buy a .41, not when .357 or .44 will do what you need.
If it were more popular so people wouldn't have to reload it to shoot it without spending a fortune and there were more guns available for it, sure, .41 would be great. It's not even as popular as .327 or .500 S&W is, so not much chance it will ever make a come back.Like most anything, it can be looked at from two or more different directions. I like to think there is absolutely no reason to buy a 44 or 357 when a 41 will do what you need.
Not to hijack the thread. Anyone shot the Charter Arms Pug in .41 mag? Looks like a handful.
Nice write up. Those are some stout loads from those snubbies.I have a Charter Arms .41 mag Pug (23 oz) and a Taurus Titanium 2.5” .41 Magnum (21 oz)
Here are some chrono results from the Charter 2.5”. Labradar results at the muzzle and 55 deg f (45 deg f for the last two).
180gr Barnes ….… 1,195 fps (21 es)
230gr HSM …….… 1,145 fps (28 es)
230gr Underwood .. 1,263 fps (18 es)
250gr Grizzly …….. 1,169 fps (4 es)
210gr Fed Swift A Frame .. 1,191 fps (1 es)
210gr Grizzly Punch …….. 1,239 fps (20 es)
Grizzly Punch is a bit too long to function reliably in either. Pulled three of the facory bullets. The factory rounds were loaded with 22.0gr of powder that looks exactly like H110/W296.
Resized two cases and loaded one with 20.5gr of the factory powder (w/factory primer) and one with 20.5gr H110 (w/CCI350) and reseated the bullets to an OAL of 1.581”.
Loaded the third bullet in a starline .41 special case primed with CCI350 and 18.0gr of the Grizzly factory powder from the original cartridge. Crimped in the bullets crimp grove it’s OAL was 1.528”.
Chronographed the following in the 2.5” Taurus Ti Tracker. LabRadar 35 deg F.
150gr Underwood Leghigh Xtr Defender …. 1,342 fps
210gr Punch – 41 Special 18.0gr H110 …. 1,149 fps
210gr Punch – Reseated 1.581” Factory … 1,115 fps (no discernable diff between powders – (ES - 20 fps)
250gr WFNGC Grizzly Cartridge factory …. 1,159 fps
215gr SWCBB HiTec, 6.8gr Univ Deep Seated and crimped over front dr band …. 839 fps.
The 250gr WFNGC Grizzly is a handful in both guns as is the 230gr Underwood. Overall, the Taurus recoils a bit less than the Charter. The Charter recoil reminds me of shooting similar loads thru a S&W M329 Ti/Sc 44 mag. The 215gr SWC over 6.8 univ is easy shooting recoil wise.
In my hands, both guns shoot quite high at 25 yds with heavier loads.
Here are the two guns:
View attachment 879603
FWIW,
Paul
The .41 has never shared the popularity of the .44 and as such has never had the presence on ammo shelves as its bigger brother. That said, it is a fine round, though it is a bit “less” than the .44 Mag. On really big game I have never been that impressed with the .44, even less so with the .41.
With the magnum load, sure, but that .41 Mag looks like the perfect candidate to use in a .41 Special role and had a .41 like the size of that Charter existed back in the 60s, had a 4 inch barrel, and the correct ammo used, that would have found its way into every LEO's holster.Not to hijack the thread. Anyone shot the Charter Arms Pug in .41 mag? Looks like a handful.
So what pistol caliber would be best for deer hunting under .44 mag size?
Nothing wrong with the .41 Mag!
Maybe I misunderstood your quote but I thought it said not impressed with the .44 mag and even less impressed with the .41 mag?
Nice looking deer! What gun? Nice shot!View attachment 879661multiple picture upload
41 mag put this one down at 125 yards yesterday.
210 grain Swift A-Frame poked a hole clean through him with a high shoulder shot... can't see the entrance in the picture but its there, the exit was about the size of a nickel on the other side.
Bang flop.... dead before he hit the ground.
I can't imagine a 44, or even a 454, doing much better for this.
Nice looking deer! What gun? Nice shot!
"Rare" doesn't matter, because if liking this cartridge, you will be loading your own anyway. Reloading supplies, dies, etc. for 41 are not "rare", if simply buying on line and saving the riding around locally to no avail.I think a lot of people start out on a 357, jump up to a 44, and then start eyeing 454, 460, 480, and 500.
41 is a rare cartridge IMO and I personally had a few revolvers before I became aware of it... namely my 357 & 44. I want to keep climbing higher for even louder, bigger, etc. Not grab a middle cartridge.
I just mean you only know what you know, I already had a 357 and a 44 before I heard of 41 on this forum. I've never seen a 41 anywhere but online."Rare" doesn't matter, because if liking this cartridge, you will be loading your own anyway. Reloading supplies, dies, etc. for 41 are not "rare", if simply buying on line and saving the riding around locally to no avail.