.41 Magnum vs. .45 Colt

[Charlie98]

Bullet selection and availability is just so much greater with the 44 that I still think it's a better choice.

I won't argue the point, but in reality, how many bullet choices do you need? In the 30-odd years I've been reloading the .41, I've never had a problem finding components. For most .44 bullets, there is a .41 counterpart... the XTP, the Gold Dot, the Silvertip, etc, etc, although I'll grant the 'availability' part has been an issue as of late. Sourcing cast .41 bullets has never been a problem.

Funny story... right when the shelves were stripped bare a few years ago, I went into the local Cabelas just to window shop. The handgun bullet aisle was just about stripped bare... all that was left on the shelf was a busted open box of Extreme 9mm, 2 boxes of LaserCast 32-20 bullets... and a single box of .41 XTP's.

 

[gwpercle]

I prefer the 41 magnum . Mine is a model 58 S&W with fixed sights . I was worried about the fixed sights but have discovered ...for some strange reason , the 41 magnum groups all bullet weights from light to heavy very close to it's POI ... and it's really sort of strange . Elmer Keith even made note of this unusual phenomena when shooting the first S&W model 57 he was presented with .
Also all the tolerances on my revolver are correct barrel measures .410" , throats measure .4105 , cylinders are tight , forcing cone not oversized or undersized . It is the most accurate revoler out the box I've ever owned / shot ... the accuracy with just about any load, cast bullet and powder ... is spooky good
The 45 Colt gets cursed with some odd cylinder / throat sizes / forcing cone sizes / barrel dimensions that make accuracy near impossible ... some are OK and can shoot well but some can be cursed .
I'm a 41 Magnum Man to the hilt !
My avatar is my model 58 S&W
Gary

 

[jag1954]

The input here has been excellent and for the record, if I could keep but a few revolvers, both of my aforementioned S&Ws in .41 Mag and .45 Colt would be 2 of my keepers.

 

[420Stainless]

I think both are great. About the only real difference is that the .41 Mag can send hollow points further down range at effective velocities if that is desired. I have no experience, but my understanding is that a standard pressure hard cast .45 Colt wadcutter will take down most anything. If you’re not a reloader, you can buy cowboy action loads for the .45 whereas softer loads are not often available for the .41. Ammo for both are enormously expensive and brass is hard to come by right now.

 

[Onty]

I think both are great. About the only real difference is that the .41 Mag can send hollow points further down range at effective velocities if that is desired. I have no experience, but my understanding is that a standard pressure hard cast .45 Colt wadcutter will take down most anything. If you’re not a reloader, you can buy cowboy action loads for the .45 whereas softer loads are not often available for the .41. Ammo for both are enormously expensive and brass is hard to come by right now.

Yeah, 454424, with its 255-260 grains and .320-.330" meplat dia at 1100 fps will go right through any animal in North America. And according to Terry Murbach, heavier bullet in 45 Colt just isn't required. However, same bullet weight, at same velocity, with same meplat dia in either, 41 Magnum, or 44 Magnum, will have exactly same effect as 454424 from 45 Colt. See discussion here https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...un-hunting-another-view.903836/#post-12255542 .

Regarding statement (41 Magnum) "brass is hard to come by right now", website from Starline indicating same for 44 Magnum, as well as for some other calibers. Same problem at Graf & Sons, Midsouth and others. The truth is that 41 Magnum brass has never been in every shop as 357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, 45 ACP, etc. In that respect, some patience is required, sooner or later 41 Magnum brass will be available. Years back, when I purchased 41 Bisley, old dogs told me to act immediately, so I ordered 1000 Starline cases. Due my foolishness, I sold that revolver, but brass is still here, waiting for another 41 Bisley.

 

[Charlie98]

so I ordered 1000 Starline cases

Back in 1992, I bought a 1000 lot of RP brass from Midway... still using that brass today. It's nice not to have to worry about brass...

 

[Onty]

I won't argue the point, but in reality, how many bullet choices do you need? In the 30-odd years I've been reloading the .41, I've never had a problem finding components. For most .44 bullets, there is a .41 counterpart... the XTP, the Gold Dot, the Silvertip, etc, etc, although I'll grant the 'availability' part has been an issue as of late. Sourcing cast .41 bullets has never been a problem.

I agree! When talking about 41 Magnum, all I (would) need is something 180-220 grains, SWC, TC, LBT, whatever works best for plinking and target shooting. For serious business, LBT 255-265 is the way to go. Here is 265 grains from MP Molds https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-413-265-wnfp-41-cal-hollow-point-mold-multichoice/ , available as plain base, with gas check and HP:



BTW, I just noticed that you are from McKinney, TX, and there is Adriatica Village. I think that developer went through my neck of woods (and rocks) and after looking centuries old towns and villages, he got idea for Adriatica Village. Looks beautiful!

 

[CraigC]

I won't argue the point, but in reality, how many bullet choices do you need? In the 30-odd years I've been reloading the .41, I've never had a problem finding components. For most .44 bullets, there is a .41 counterpart... the XTP, the Gold Dot, the Silvertip, etc, etc, although I'll grant the 'availability' part has been an issue as of late. Sourcing cast .41 bullets has never been a problem.

Funny story... right when the shelves were stripped bare a few years ago, I went into the local Cabelas just to window shop. The handgun bullet aisle was just about stripped bare... all that was left on the shelf was a busted open box of Extreme 9mm, 2 boxes of LaserCast 32-20 bullets... and a single box of .41 XTP's.

Depends on the application. I've needed and used quite a few .44 bullet that have no .41 counterpart.

Yeah, 454424, with its 255-260 grains and .320-.330" meplat dia at 1100 fps will go right through any animal in North America. And according to Terry Murbach, heavier bullet in 45 Colt just isn't required. However, same bullet weight, at same velocity, with same meplat dia in either, 41 Magnum, or 44 Magnum, will have exactly same effect as 454424 from 45 Colt. See discussion here https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...un-hunting-another-view.903836/#post-12255542 .

All due respect to the late Terry Murbach but there are a few critters in North American I'd want a heavier bullet for. I think his comment that there is simply no reason for anything heavier than 300gr is also untrue. Or maybe could be taken out of context.

 

[Charlie98]

BTW, I just noticed that you are from McKinney, TX, and there is Adriatica Village.

They are finally building it out... after a majority portion of it sat for about 15 years. It should be nice when it's done. I live about 2 miles from Adriatica; my wife worked at the Starbucks there for a while.

Depends on the application. I've needed and used quite a few .44 bullet that have no .41 counterpart.

If you are talking about sheer weight, you are correct. For sheer mass, the .44 or .45 can't be beat... but, honestly, if a .41 265grn gas check LBT can't get it done, at equivalent velocity, you need a rifle anyway.

 

[Onty]

If rifle is too cumbersome and handgun is the only option, I'll pass all those 44's and 45's 300+ grains bullets, and go straight to .500 with 440 grains bullet. If I get lucky and right numbers are on my ticket, a custom 500 JRH Bisley, followed with 41 Magnum Bisley, will be on the top of my list.

 

[CraigC]

.. but, honestly, if a .41 265grn gas check LBT can't get it done, at equivalent velocity, you need a rifle anyway.

I disagree completely. A 265gr .41 doesn't have the SD of a 300gr .44 bullet. There's a world of capability beyond that with the .44Mag and .45Colt. They do their best work with 330-360gr bullets. The .41 doesn't have the capacity for such heavyweights. After taking dozens bovines (as a group) up to 2500lbs with all manner of heavy sixgun loads, it became clear that some were much more suitable to critters like Cape buffalo than others. There's nothing I wouldn't hunt with a copper/bronze solid out of a .44 or .45 but I'd leave the .41 at home. All a rifle is going to add is range.

 

[Dave T]

Craig,

Interesting dead bovine you have there. Care to elaborate?

Dave

 

[NeroM]

I disagree completely. A 265gr .41 doesn't have the SD of a 300gr .44 bullet. There's a world of capability beyond that with the .44Mag and .45Colt. They do their best work with 330-360gr bullets. The .41 doesn't have the capacity for such heavyweights. After taking dozens bovines (as a group) up to 2500lbs with all manner of heavy sixgun loads, it became clear that some were much more suitable to critters like Cape buffalo than others. There's nothing I wouldn't hunt with a copper/bronze solid out of a .44 or .45 but I'd leave the .41 at home. All a rifle is going to add is range.]..

AGREE - 45 Colt and 41 Mag may not be optimal choices for large bovines; also perhaps plains game, moose, elk and the big bears, etc...
Though, surely many have been harvested with these chamberings.

However for the deer size game, hogs, etc. that we most commonly hunt - a 45 cal 250-255 gr bullet at 900-1000 fps has proven to be
a pragmatic and effective game getter for almost 150 years - hopefully it can continue to be for another 150.

 

[CraigC]

Craig,

Interesting dead bovine you have there. Care to elaborate?

Dave

Back in 2017 (been that long???) I went to Hondo, TX for what was known as the 3rd annual "bovine bash". There was a group of us that gathered to test handgun bullets on big critters. I took two big water buffalo with the .44 SRH that year, using the Grizzly Punch bullet factory loads. I took a big longhorn bull the year before using the Beartooth 355gr WLN at 1250fps. You'll probably notice multiple bullet holes in one of my buffalo, we don't just shoot them once and let them go bleed out. We push them to get as many bullets into them before their blood pressure drops to nothing.

https://sixgunner.proboards.com/thread/233/3rd-annual-holiday-bovine-bash

We also dig through them to recover as many bullets as possible.



The spoils of my three trips to Hondo.

 

[Charlie98]

I disagree completely. A 265gr .41 doesn't have the SD of a 300gr .44 bullet.

You'll notice I mentioned that the .41 can't keep up if absolute bullet mass is a factor. I also wasn't thinking of an animal as big as you have there, so I will defer to your experience.