.41 Mag Association

I think some earlier widcat cartridges also played a important role in S&W developing the .41 mag. Cartridges such as .40 Eimer aka .401 Eimer special, Gordon Boser's .401 Special and of course Hereter's .401 Power Mag. The last two actually come pretty close to .41 Mag performance.

Herter actually started selling the .401 Power mag 3 years before the advent of the .41 Mag. IMHO Herter's .401 is probably what pushed S&W over the edge to intoduce the .41 Mag so as not to be out done by a mail order company, and I'm glad they did.

 

Absolutely. Whatever the insignificant unknowns were that led to the .41 Magnum...I'm thankful for all of'em. Those factors are responsible for what I consider to be the perfect general purpose revolver cartridge.

 

Love my newly acquired Ruger SS 5.5" 41 magnum Bisley! Had to send it to Ruger to get sights worked on and am eagerly awaiting its return! Dennis

 

Dennis what was wrong with the sights?

BTW look at what I just spotted. To bad that they couldn't make this a regular production run instead of a special run for cabelas.
http://www.hornady.com/store/41-Rem-Mag/

 

Why couldn't you just load your own .41 XTPs for a fraction the price?

 

I do, but for the non reloader/handloader this may be an appealing offering. Plus it would be nice to have another factory loaded offering on the market, it certainly wouldn't hurt.

 

I like the .41 mag. it's not my favorite, but a very good ctg. & deserves much more recognition than it gets.
336A
I've used the 170 Sierra quite a bit for deer. I don't think I'd use it on really big deer or Elk size game, but it's a good performer on med. size deer.
I haven't used it for defense, I don't use handloads for defense & feel it's not a good idea to use handloads for defense. A lawyer thing.
good shooting.
Frank

 

Frank I wasn't about to reload them for defensive purposes, however I did notice that vendors such as Corbon & Bufallo Bore use this bullet. I was contemplating messing around with them but have decided to pass.

Here is a bullet however that is very tempting and the price is right, but where would one find load data for it?
http://www.rimrockbullets.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=160

 

336A
That looks like a good bullet & I'm sure it'd be effective. I can only find data for bullets up to 220grs in the manuals I have, but I'm sure there is some out there. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Frank

 

Shouldn't present much of a problem. Start with 220-grain starting data, maybe reduced 5% and work up. With two bullets so close in weight, the factor that would spike pressure would be the length of the bullet in the case...airspace...instead of such a small difference in mass.

If you can find an old Speer manual that lists the jacketed 220 SWC and compare the lengths behind the crimp groove, you can figure it out. The pictures of the bullets in the manual are actual size, so a comparison would be pretty easy.

 

I would also like to join ˝exclusive˝ .41 Mag Association. Shooting blue Bisley, hoping to get S&W 657. It always amazes me how some folks look down on this cartridge and badmouthing it, without ever firing a single shot. Contrary to that, I do not know any 41 shooter that did not start shooting something else, before became ˝converted˝. What I like about 41 is that I can shoot 220 grain bullet at about 1100-1200 fps all day long. Not so shooting 44-250 at the same velocity, after less than 100 rounds I fell tingling in my hands. And if someone wants top loads, see what’s possible http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41magnum.htm , http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41heavy.htm

Since I just found this thread, my apology for lengthy post, trying to catch up.

It is very wise to reduce loading data whenever getting new batch of powder. That is the reason why more knowledgeable reloaders buy larger quantity at once and work their loads again. However, regarding ˝faster/hotter˝ Alliant than Hercules, I found somewhere that Alliant stated that nothing changed in formula for 2400, but primers became generally hotter, and that is the reason why same old loads using 2400 became hotter. FYI, I do not use 2400, but had the same opinion for number of years that 2400 Allient is faster than Hercules. The bottom line is; ALWAYS USE LATEST RELOADING MANUALS, keep the old ones just as nice memorabilia.

Here is the test that basically supports Alliants claim http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=72355 ;

Couldn't agree more, just optimum balance of revolver's weight, power, flat trajectory and reasonable recoil.

From what I found, this is not ˝we'd have a glut˝, this a fact. I am trying to locate up here (pristine) 657 for few years, nobody wants to sell it, even well used one. Opposite, I found at my local dealers a lot of used 44s. Many times shooters from USA posted that there are a tons of 44 Magnum revolvers on used gun racks, a good chunk of them in pristine condition, basically NIB, with just cylinder or two fired. As for used 41s, it's hard to find one that is not WELL used.

I would suggest move this list on your first post, it's easier to update it. Also, I suggest keep the list open, there are more 41 shooters out there that didn't discover this thread yet.

Cheers, Onty.

 

Onty I would if I could however the edit option no longer exists for me to do that. Besides i found keeping a running count can be a real PITA

BTW I found data for that 240gr Kieth bullet over at Hodgdons

 

There's an actual list?

 

I did put a list together of all who wanted to throw in with the .41 Asscosiation a few pages back. However due to ong work hours it got away from me, anyhow this is open to all .41 Magnum fanciers anyway I don't think a running list is needed.

 

Registration leads to confiscation.

 

Just a stray thought from the past. Has anyone had a Coonan .41 in thier hands? I put money down (full payment) at the SHOT show years ago for one with 5mags. Then they went out of business. Initially tried to get a refund then just gave up.

Cheers,

ts

 

I haven't, my want gun is a S&W mod 58, the original please, but sadly gun funds are at a low. Maybe some day?
Frank

 

Here is some M58 eye candy to hold you over Frank


This is my late Father's service revolver, i also have a pic with his old duty belt. The pic didn't come very well however as I was using a cheapo camera at the time.

 

For you folks that go out in the woods with your .41's how do you carry your extra ammo? I'm trying to find some of the older style police dump pouches but have been unsuccessful.

 

FYI, we are running right now Group Buy (GB) for mould; true Keith, copy of well known H&G #258. Solid FP is already closed, however, if you are fast enough, you might snap few overruns, they always have them. However, GB is still open for Cramer hollow point (HP) that could also cast solid FP, see http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=112772. If you want this one, better hurry, GB could be closed any moment, it's open since April. Good luck.

 

Nice 336A! Maybe one day, it'd be a great carry gun.
Frank

 

Was reading elsewhere about SD .44SPL/Mag ammo which got me thinking. As far as I know the only .41 mag load that could be considered a SD from the big 3 is the Win 175gr STHP. I say considered because Win lists it for use on deer sized game. So my question to you is this, barring the 175gr STHP load what would your ideal .41 mag SD load be.

 

For you folks that go out in the woods with your .41's how do you carry your extra ammo? I'm trying to find some of the older style police dump pouches but have been unsuccessful.

http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=1257&GunID=435

 

Good morning
1 speed loader carried in my upper left shirt pocket. Have never needed to reload even out wabbit / groundhog hunting. But then I get real particular about my shots in Illinois when up there.
Mike in Peru

 

I'd carry a speed loader too but I have a Ruger BH.

W.E.G. thanks for the link. Galco must be awfully proud of that to charge $43. I think I'll just place an order with Simply Rugged for one of they're ammo pouches since they are about half the price. http://www.simplyrugged.com/most-versatile-ammo-pouch/

BTW here is another question for you folks. Has anyone tried using W231 in the .41 mag instead of Unique? Reason for me asking is I tested some .38 SPL loads using W231 and was quite pleased. I only had 5 rounds to test but they seemed to be more accurate than my Unique loads. I also like that it meters so well from my RCBS Uniflow powder measure. But is it even worth the bother?