.41 mag in saa

[Arthur Morgan]

You gain effectiveness with bullet weight. Not velocity. The short cylinder of the Callahan precludes much over 300gr. The cylinder is only slightly larger than their SAA. In short, I'd rather have the length for heavier bullets than diameter for more pressure. In other words, I'd rather have a 330gr at 1000fps than a 240gr at 1400fps or a 300gr at 1200fps.

I thought the Callahan had a cylinder length of 1.698" vs the original Vaqueros 1.703" I might be wrong as I know you know more than me, but surely if that's true that .005 shouldn't matter. Or should it? Are SBH cylinder a little longer at that?

Edit: I did some research on both and the Vaquero measurement is pretty spot on but, I've found 2 different measurements for the the Callahan, 1.75" and the aforementioned 1.98" with some saying the chamber are recessed and some saying its not

 

[CraigC]

Your Callahan cylinder length probably includes the rim, as it has recessed case heads.

I don't have a whole lot loaded but here's a .44Mag case loaded with a proper 250gr Keith bullet.

Callahan:


Ruger Bisley Vaquero:

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Your Callahan cylinder length probably includes the rim, as it has recessed case heads.

I don't have a whole lot loaded but here's a .44Mag case loaded with a proper 250gr Keith bullet.

Callahan:
View attachment 962600

Ruger Bisley Vaquero:
View attachment 962601

Awe I see and it looks like the rear clearances are to tight to fit a proper cylinder, bummer

 

[Charlie98]

I had some true Keith 220grn bullets, loaded them up thinking nothing of it... but what I found was they were just a hair too long for my Marlin 1894, just a bit longer than the traditional bevel base 215grn SWC pattern bullet I was used to. I had to muzzle up and give the lever a little 'love jiggle' to get the cartridge all the way back on the carrier before it would lift. That would be these bullets...



OTOH, I have some of the Cast Performance 250grn gas check bullets... they load and cycle lickety-split. Even with the large meplat, I've never had problems with them... and if I was carrying a .41 as my defensive weapon, this is what I would carry in it.



I never had a chance to measure the OAL's compared to each other... so I have no idea, but even limited to a shorter cylinder, I don't see any reason to give up bullet weight.

 

[RKRCPA]

The 250gr wfngc fit just fine in my mid-frame Flattop 41 magnum Blackhawk, kick like the proverbial mule, but they fit. The Keith bullet is too long for the shorter cylinder of the mid-frame.