.41 Mag Association

I don't know what a full load of 4227 is in a 41 Mag.

I do know that, generally speaking, a slower powder has a slower 'recoil impulse'. IOW, the recoil is spread over a greater period of time. Even though we are speaking about milliseconds, it makes a difference.

A noticable difference.

 

Reason I ask is that I’ve shot full house loads in both .357 and .44 mag & the recoil was pretty severe. Perhaps a bit slower powder might be a little better so I’ll give those a try (judiciously of course).

 

Well... I have 10+ pounds of Unique, and less than 2# of IMR4227... you do the math. I'm speaking economics, of course, but when you use twice as much powder by weight, it costs you twice as much, and IMR4227 costs about 20% more per pound than Unique. Yes, IMR4227 works better with a caseful, that's why I said that; I don't know about the recoil impulse... I guess I need to put 3 + 3 in the cylinder and compare the 2.

Apples and oranges.

As far as accuracy, every pistol is different. In my recent experience, the Unique load was more accurate than IMR4227.... but change any of the parameters and you may or may not get a different result.

 

That’s where I get mine too. Since I started powdercoating, I haven’t had half the troubles I used to have with ordinary lube. I can even get great accuracy out of my M1 Garand and cast boolits powder coated.

 

Use a magnum powder in a magnum. A heavy load of a medium burner like Unique will just hurt you.

 

A "full load" of IMR 4227 is compressed.

 

The fireball from a 4" revolver must be impressive.

 

I don't know...to me a heavy load in a fairly light/short handgun hurts regardless of the powder...

My .41 loads generally are either with Unique (6.5-10 grains) or for top-end H110. Rarely shoot H110 loads in anything but longer barrel (5.5-10") revolvers, TC single shots or carbines.

.41 Special loads with Unique:

Guns: Taurus Tracker 4" and 6"

Brass: Starline

Powder: UNIQUE

Bullet/Charge weight/Primer/Velocity 4"/6":

200 Rem JHP/7.0/Fed LP/ 978/1035

230 Keith/7.0/Fed LP/ 894/979

210 SWC-GC/7.0/Fed LP/941/995

200 Rem JHP/8.0/Fed LP/1031 4"

230 Keith/8.0/Fed LP/934 4"

170 MP HP/8.0/Fed LP/1122 4"

180 MP solid/8.0/Fed LP/1136/1186

210 Accurate 41-215V/8.0/Fed LP/1022/1075

Lee 165 WC/6.5/CCI LP/974/1046

200 MP HB-WC/6.5/CCI LP/1020/1060

200 MP HP-WC/6.5/CCI LP/1022/1109

Lee 165 Keith/6.5/CCI LP/867/1046

 

Say what? I shoot 8.0 gr. Unique and consider it a relatively mild load. I realize Unique is not a magnum powder in a pistol. There are powders in between Unique and H110/296 also we know. Those are the ones I’m curious about. I consider my 8 gr. Unique load about tops for Unique for me. I have other powders to burn so might as well use them. Don’t need to beat myself up shooting heaviest loads I can cram into the case all the time. They are fun once in awhile but I get more shooting in using something with a little punch once in awhile and less most of the time. I have a couple of .44’s to shoot big stuff if I want to and a few .32’s for popgun fun. This “new to me” .41 is a pretty interesting caliber. Don’t know why I didn’t realize it sooner.

 

Others have mentioned 9 and 10 gr of Unique. I was shooting Unique in 41 Special but not Magnum. My Magnums are 6 and 6.5 barrels. I had a 4 5/8 and could see the practical side of carrying it but did not enjoy shooting it. That's not to say these guns have to be fed magnum loads, but what niche does it really fill if just an easy going target gun, given choices better suited?

 

That's the niche it fills... an easy going target gun. The end justifies the means. Just because I don't shoot full-house Magnum loads doesn't mean I have to sell it and buy a .38 or a .22LR.

 

Keep it and also buy a ,22 and a .38. Keep things interesting.

 

Been there, done that. I still have my .22 Buckmarks... but, honestly, I haven't fired them in years. For that matter, except for a single .45 Colt revolver, the only revolvers I have are .41's... it's what I like. I've been out of the .38/.357 business for a few years.... I'm just not a big revolver shooter, but I like my .41's.

 

Longshot and HS6 both work extremely well in the 41 mag, and they are both slower than Unique and faster than 2400 or H110.

 

What load data source are you using?

 

Hodgdon Reloading Data Center has loads for both powders in 41 magnum. I've tried many loads with both and have seen consistent good to excellent accuracy in both a 4-5/8" Blackhawk and an 8-3/8" model 57. Loads with 210-235 gr SWCs run 1150-1200 fps. If I want full powered loads I use Accurate #9 or 2400.

 

Kind of like the N-frame 357 Magnum that is only fed 38s.

 

...and if that's your pleasure, why not?

I understand where you are coming from... I had a K-frame Smith... 8 3/8" full lug .22LR pistol for a while. I thought it was the most awkward and ridiculous pistol evarrrr, and sold it about as fast as I bought it. But someone, somewhere, probably has it today and loves the thing because it fits his purpose for it.

 

Maybe you are working too hard at dismissing comments and inferring meaning I did not write. We use our guns independently of anyone's opinion and should not take offense where there is none.

 

Well... I think you and I have had this conversation prior... if I am in error, please accept my apologies.

 

Just curious but how is it going to hurt you? I use a heavy load of Unique in several magnum calibers, proven published data of course. Is it not safe, is Alliant giving us bad data?

 

Thanks Black Mamba. I’m going to try some loads with Longshot this weekend. Pretty narrow band from low to high with that powder I notice. I had planned on trying out some HS 6 and then some Blue Dot.

 

I can see Longshot being good in the .41, while I've never tried it in the .41 I have had very nice results in both 44 Mag and 45 Colt using Longshot.

 

Agree LongShot works well in 41 Mag, 44 Mag and 45 Colt, especially "medium" loads.
In 41 Mag, approx 9.5 gr LongShot with 215 gr SWC - yields approx 1200 fps.
In 44 Mag, around 10 gr with 260 gr LBT - results around 1040 fps.
For a +P load in 45 Colt, 9.5 gr with 275 gr SAA bullet gets approx 950 fps from a M25.
Any data I use, is at your own risk.

 

Faster burners have sharper recoil.