Any .41 Magnum Fans?
- Thread starter Lead Farmer
- Start date
- Status
ralphtaff
Member
i have a .41 used it for 38 years would not have any thing else. the recovery time is faster then the .38,.357,.45, or the .44 mag. my shooting on the tactacal range sure showed me what for so the .41 is the winner. i could sure use some data on the 195 grain cast bullet. the new books do not have it in them.
W.E.G.
Member
For my 41st birthday (a long time ago now)
FredT
Member
Learned something new tonight. I did not know that the .357 Mag is a better man stopper than the .41 Magnum. It is a good thing that I still have Dad's fine stainless Security Six.
I am still gonna keep my stainless 7 1/2 inch .41 Redhawk, the 6 inch S&W 57 and the extremely accurate .41 cal. 4 5/8 three screw Blackhawk.
I do have to confess that the 14 inch .41 Mag TC barrel became a .41 GNR II.
Nice site here!
Tomcat47
Member
Hail, Hail To The Mighty .41 Magnum
Love This Caliber.....!
S&W Model 57
Desert Eagle...Auto ... Fun Fun Fun
Thompson Contender Super 14
Still want to buy a Marlin Lever Action in .41 Mag.....
I seen a ballistics test against .44 Mag and the .41 had more penetration than the .44 mag. which comes in perfect in hunting enviroment.
Love This Caliber.....!
S&W Model 57
Desert Eagle...Auto ... Fun Fun Fun
Thompson Contender Super 14
Still want to buy a Marlin Lever Action in .41 Mag.....
I seen a ballistics test against .44 Mag and the .41 had more penetration than the .44 mag. which comes in perfect in hunting enviroment.
41 Mag
Member
I have had one for going on 25+ years now, in fact it was the very first handgun I purchased. It was a beautiful 3 screw flat top which I held on to until I found the Redhawk I swapped it for.
Since then I have shot every bullet weight I could get my hands on, and while I do admit to having 2 - .357's a 44 and a 454, the 41 does it all just as good for anything I am going to shoot.
As for the pre-mentioned not as good as, I cannot say this has been the case I have found. Using standard handloads, I have found it is easily as good or better in most cases than the lighter or heavier calibers. Using the 200gr Remington SJHP, over a mid velocity load of .296, I have not found myself feeling a bit underpowered.
With the 170's as mentioned if that don't stop the BG then you need something way bigger, and bumping up to the 250gr cast, it penetrates like a bunker buster. This said it does it with a very easily manageable recoil, when compared to a similar load from other calibers.
Since then I have shot every bullet weight I could get my hands on, and while I do admit to having 2 - .357's a 44 and a 454, the 41 does it all just as good for anything I am going to shoot.
As for the pre-mentioned not as good as, I cannot say this has been the case I have found. Using standard handloads, I have found it is easily as good or better in most cases than the lighter or heavier calibers. Using the 200gr Remington SJHP, over a mid velocity load of .296, I have not found myself feeling a bit underpowered.
With the 170's as mentioned if that don't stop the BG then you need something way bigger, and bumping up to the 250gr cast, it penetrates like a bunker buster. This said it does it with a very easily manageable recoil, when compared to a similar load from other calibers.
If you want to shoot your gun and have a it in very useful calibre, there is no gun IMHO that has optimum balance of power, recoil and gun weight as 41 Magnum in Blackhawk or S&W 57/657 without underlug. I personaly have Bisley with 7,5 barrel and like it more than 357, 44 or 45. If you are silhouette shooter, 41 Magnum is the top choice. Excluding 4 inch and shorter 38/357 as predominantly self defence revolvers, any sturdy 357 revolver with 6 inch barrel is basically the same weight as 6-6,5 inch Blackhawk or 57/657. As an outdoor gun, 357 is the best when loaded with 180 gr bullet and full load using slow burning powder. This is formidable combination, but where 357-180 stops, similar bullet weight and velocity in 41 is just a fairly moderate load. When I go on the range, I like to have the load that is powerful enough, yet not punishing for hands, and found that 200-220 gr at 1100-1200 fps is just that. And as a result, I can shoot all day long without fatigue. I tried 250 gr from 44 at same velocity, and found that after less than 100 rounds I feel bit tired with tingling in my hands.
Somebody might point to plinking loads from 41 Magnum? Not my cup of tea, for plinking I use to shoot 22LR. On top of that, loads at about 800-900 fps are not enough flat shooting on distances beyond 50 meters. Heck, if I want such loads I will just go with 40 S&W.
Now, if you want top load, take 260 gr or heavier slug with large meplat, use full load of slow burning powder and such load will kill cleanly anything smaller than grizzly. If I want more than 41, I will skip even 44 and 45, and get 480/475, or even better, one of those 500 revolvers. Nothing wrong with 44 and 45, but those larger bores could lunch heavier bullet with even larger meplat. Recently, I found information that Linebaugh is now making almost all his big bore in 500, just few 475.
Back to 41; yes, factory ammo is pricey. However, if you want to shoot, you have to reload. If you reload, you need reloading components, and in that respect loaded round is just cent or two more expensive than 357.
BTW, if you are looking for quality 41 mould, here is the post about group buy (GB) for H&G #258 http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=565425
Regards, Onty
Somebody might point to plinking loads from 41 Magnum? Not my cup of tea, for plinking I use to shoot 22LR. On top of that, loads at about 800-900 fps are not enough flat shooting on distances beyond 50 meters. Heck, if I want such loads I will just go with 40 S&W.
Now, if you want top load, take 260 gr or heavier slug with large meplat, use full load of slow burning powder and such load will kill cleanly anything smaller than grizzly. If I want more than 41, I will skip even 44 and 45, and get 480/475, or even better, one of those 500 revolvers. Nothing wrong with 44 and 45, but those larger bores could lunch heavier bullet with even larger meplat. Recently, I found information that Linebaugh is now making almost all his big bore in 500, just few 475.
Back to 41; yes, factory ammo is pricey. However, if you want to shoot, you have to reload. If you reload, you need reloading components, and in that respect loaded round is just cent or two more expensive than 357.
BTW, if you are looking for quality 41 mould, here is the post about group buy (GB) for H&G #258 http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=565425
Regards, Onty
Last edited:
I'm setting in front of my computer, trying like the dickens to figure out how a 125g 357 Mag is a better man stopper than a 41 Magnum (pick any load you want). Can someone please explain this? It makes no sense to me and I'm not a 41 fan...not a detractor either.
Dave
Dave
W.E.G.
Member
The differences are miniscule.
Easily explained by errors in sampling and reporting.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Well, like some other's I'm a use-to-be owner of a 4" Smith & Wesson
model 57-1; but one day, I got a wild hair up my a$$ and traded it
straight up for a nearly worn out 4" nickel S&W model 29-2. Its just
a damn shame, considering I only paid $185 for the S&W model 57-1
new in the factory supplied mahogany box~! Now, I don't own either
one of these two guns~!
model 57-1; but one day, I got a wild hair up my a$$ and traded it
straight up for a nearly worn out 4" nickel S&W model 29-2. Its just
a damn shame, considering I only paid $185 for the S&W model 57-1
new in the factory supplied mahogany box~! Now, I don't own either
one of these two guns~!
jimmyraythomason
Member
I feel your pain AlaDan!
dgvc63
Member
Eyeing a blue 6" S&W 57 as my go to big wheelie... 4" ruger service six is the carry wheelie...
Bush Pilot
Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2007
- Messages
- 2,393
I would sell a friend's kidney before selling one of my 41s. Just when I think there's a favorite 41 I change my mind.
mes227
Member
wad
Member
Here is a Dan Wesson model 41.
230therapy
Member
Crazy Carl
Member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2008
- Messages
- 121
Count me in. Got a 5.5" Bisley BH & LOVE that gun. Thinkin' a SBH Hunter or 657 "Classic Hunter" is next on the list.
Goin' out Saturday to test a few loads for hunting season. Did up 5 different batches with from 16.9gr to 18.2gr of 2400, under 215gr Dardas LSWCs. Oughtta be fun.
Goin' out Saturday to test a few loads for hunting season. Did up 5 different batches with from 16.9gr to 18.2gr of 2400, under 215gr Dardas LSWCs. Oughtta be fun.
msjayhawk
Member
Got a Taurus 416SS6 Raging Bull. Incredible gun! Smooth action and kick up is not bad due to the ports. Absolutely love it. It completes my collection. I will not use the 44 much after this (S&W), will probably sell it to a friend. 1,320 ft-lbs with Buffalo Bore and a 6.5" barrel. 750-1050 with factory loads. Shot 3" group of 6 out of the box at 25 yards...
The new modern me. .22 WMR 12" Savage Striker Bolt-Action Pistol (small game), .327 Fed Mag 4" carry, .41 Rem Mag Taurus for all other needs
-Msjayhawk
The new modern me. .22 WMR 12" Savage Striker Bolt-Action Pistol (small game), .327 Fed Mag 4" carry, .41 Rem Mag Taurus for all other needs
-Msjayhawk
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Unless you're fond of Blackhawks. Then, the .41 makes perfect sense. Lighter than a Super Blackhawk for easy packin' with comparable recoil in the top-end loads...which are only necessary under certain conditions.
Technically, a lot of things are "better" than others. Like my old pal Yogi once said:
"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice...they ain't."
Given good bullet placement and bullet construction at adequate power levels, the buck or the boar hit well by the .41 will go down swearin' it was a .44 that got him.
Based on...what data? Marshal and Sanow's book?
Given the large number of shootings involving the .357 and the small number involving the .41 Mag...most of which were taken with the "Police" load...it's little wonder that the .357 came out on top. If we hypothetically use a light-for-caliber 170-grain JHP at 1450 fps for the .41 Magnum, and collect a comparable number of shootings, those results might be very different, and the same can be said of the 180-grain pill in the .44
It's mostly about placement anyway...not caliber and velocity/energy figures...assuming all else is equal, like body size/type...mental state...drug and/or alcohol involvement, etc.
Many of us...including me...have owned, shot, and lived with all three. Some of us have found the .41 Magnum to be the near perfect balance of power, trajectory, recoil, penetration, and effectiveness. Personally, after having used them all extensively over the years...I can't see a real need for a .44 Magnum other than the ability to use heavier bullets for maximum penetration on large or dangerous animals. How often and how many of us spend a lot of time in big bear country?
In the final analysis...in a comparison between the .41 and .44 magnums...assuming that both are loaded to their potential...there isn't enough rear-world difference to flip a coin over, and any advantage that one holds over the other is pretty much of no consequence.
Between the .41 and the .357 the advantage goes to the .357 because it's chambered in smaller, lighter guns. That's a concern for concealed carry...but anything else is moot.
Missionary
Member
Good evening Yep another caliber.41 mag shooter since 1981. Sadly I cannot have one down here in Peru.
Mike in Peru
Mike in Peru
I have two 41 mags, one a 6" model 657-3, and a 657-4 Mountain Gun. I let a very pristine blued 6" pinned and recessed model, complete with the presentation case and all tools get away from me last year, that I regret very much. I bought it for a great price, and for some reason found the urge to sell it. I hope to remedy that situation someday. I really like the cartridge. wyatte
41 Mag
Member
1911,
I find your post to be right on the money. Having had Redhawk's in both calibers for over 20 years I can say I have put them both through the wringer as far as loads and hunting goes. The 44 has a tiny bit of advantage with the availability of heavier bullets, but as mentioned that's about it.
I have used them both on deer and hogs, and over the past dozen or so years the 41 has gotten more service than the 44. Either will do the job, but the 41 does it so much more smoothly. I load the Remington 200gr SJHP over a mid range load running right at 1300fps from the 7.5" barrel and out to 100yds it will do all I need it to on deer hogs or yotes.
Also like you mentioned, with a 170 or even 200gr bullet I doubt very seriously that any BG would disagree that you were using an ineffective caliber or load.
I find your post to be right on the money. Having had Redhawk's in both calibers for over 20 years I can say I have put them both through the wringer as far as loads and hunting goes. The 44 has a tiny bit of advantage with the availability of heavier bullets, but as mentioned that's about it.
I have used them both on deer and hogs, and over the past dozen or so years the 41 has gotten more service than the 44. Either will do the job, but the 41 does it so much more smoothly. I load the Remington 200gr SJHP over a mid range load running right at 1300fps from the 7.5" barrel and out to 100yds it will do all I need it to on deer hogs or yotes.
Also like you mentioned, with a 170 or even 200gr bullet I doubt very seriously that any BG would disagree that you were using an ineffective caliber or load.
- Status