.41 Magnum recommendations

[Quoheleth]

I just acquired a .41 Ruger Blackhawk and need to get the components for it. I'll be ordering Missouri Bullet's 215 grain .411 bullet. I'm trying to find brass. I've got Universal, AA#5, Bullseye, and Titegroup for powders on my shelf. Using the search feature (it worked!) I have found data for Bullseye, TG, and#5, but most of that info was from posts 2-3 years ago. A bunch of posts were recommending Blue Dot, which I see is no longer recommended for .41 Mag, per the manufacturer.

I'm looking for data recommendations for mild-to-moderate loads (yes, I have the manuals; I'm asking for first-hand experience) to learn my new gun. I'll work up to the more powerful stuff later - probably with 2400.

If I need to get a new powder, I will. I see good things about Unique, AA#9, W296, and of course 2400. Recommendations?

Thanks,
Q

 

[orionengnr]

For target loads, I use W231.
For serious loads, I use 296.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

 

[ChristopherG]

For a moderate load I like 7 or 8 grains of Unique under a standard lswc in my .41 blackhawk. Nice little bump, good accuracy, and no leading. It runs in the neighborhood of 1,000 fps at 7.5 IIRC.

 

[sourdough44]

Universal will work fine for mild to mid loads. Check the Hodgdon website for charge weight info. I'd go win 296/H 110 if you ever want max loads with the proper bullet.

 

[calaverasslim]

I find I am using W231 more and more. I also load the 41 special which is a great plinking/woods round. Both go with W231.

Unique works well but is a little dirtier than 231.

 

[Walkalong]

For light loads... AA #2, W-231. For medium loads... Unique, AA #5, N330/340. For full loads... AA #9, 2400, N110. I would go with any of those three for heavy loads with lead over W-296/H-110.

 

[Quoheleth]

I think I've read here on THR that W231 and Universal are CLOSE (not identical) in their burn rate and characteristics, right? If W231 is good, is Universal also good for the .41?

I know lots of powders WORK for various loads, but some are better than others - there's "good" and then there's good.

Q

 

[ChristopherG]

Whether a powder is 'good' for a given caliber depends on what you want it to do.

W231 is good for .41 mag loads that are essentially target loads. Universal burns just a little slower than W231. If you look at Hodgdon's website you can compare .41 loads for Universal and HP38 (which is W231 packaged under a different label) and see that recommended loads for Universal are just a little heavier and just a little faster. So if you want a pretty mild 'target' load, W231 will do better than Universal. If you want a little more of a bump, vice-versa.

We love to talk about how particular powders 'suit' particular calibers, but the truth is that most every powder in the range recommended by manufacturers will do well with one bullet weight or another in a particular velocity window. For the 215 LSWC you're looking at, and based on hearsay (having no first-hand experience with Universal), I'd bet a 90% of max charge of Universal will shoot accurately and cleanly (Universal has a rep for shooting pretty clean).

 

[Walkalong]

To me, Universal and W-231 do not act the same. I would not consider them "similar". Universal should work well for medium loads in .41, but I have not tired it.

W-231 seems more versatile to me as far as getting good accuracy over a wide range of calibers and bullet/charge weights. Universal seems to work really well, where it works, but doesn't seem as versatile. That is just my limited experience. I did buy a 4 pounder of Universal based on how it did in .40.

 

[Steve C]

I load 7.0grs of W231 behind a 215gr LSWC bullet for general shooting. It's not a powder puff load as the bullet leaves my 4" S&W mountain pistol at 956 fps. Basicly about the same as the old "Police" load. For a little more oomph with the cast bullets 9.5grs of Unique runs them out the same pistol at 1,157 fps.

You should be able to find data for 215 or 210 gr LSWC bullets which is close enough for work up for the powders you have on hand. Hers is some PDF data I've collected.

 

[sebtool]

It's been a few years since I've had time to reload, but 2400 was 1 of my favorite powders for a hunting round. Loaded towards maximum, behind Hornady's 210 gr XTP, the loads have accounted for a few deer! Very accurate as well.