Anyone loading 41 mag revolver with plated bullets

[Iroquois]

Loading plated bullets ( Rainier 220gr FPRN) for target loads is new for me in my Ruger 41 mag SBH. Anyone have any experience loading and shooting these? Any powders that you favor over another? Looking forward to everyone’s comments.

 

[Walkalong]

I have shot the X-Treme 210 Gr bullet at 1050 to 1100 FPS in .41 Mag using True Blue with good results. Others will work as well. Unique, Universal, AA #5, HS-6, N340, Blue Dot, and other similar powders should work. What powders do you have. I use jacketed for full power .41 Mag, but coated would work well for either full power or medium power loads.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I've loaded a lot of light loads with cast bullets and both light and heavy loads with coated.
Most have been 200 to 215 grain bullets. I remember using red dot with cast 200gr, 6 or 7 grains I think but don't take my word for it. I've used Unique also and H110 for heavy loads.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I've actually used Titegroup for plinking loads with both plated and lead loads in 41s.

 

[Iroquois]

I have shot the X-Treme 210 Gr bullet at 1050 to 1100 FPS in .41 Mag using True Blue with good results. Others will work as well. Unique, Universal, AA #5, HS-6, N340, Blue Dot, and other similar powders should work. What powders do you have. I use jacketed for full power .41 Mag, but coated would work well for either full power or medium power loads.

Walkalong: I have Unique, Universal and Blue Dot on hand. I’ve loaded some Hornady 210gr XTP with IMR4227 for a hunting load with great results. I’m really looking for a target load. Thanks .

 

[Iroquois]

I've loaded a lot of light loads with cast bullets and both light and heavy loads with coated.
Most have been 200 to 215 grain bullets. I remember using red dot with cast 200gr, 6 or 7 grains I think but don't take my word for it. I've used Unique also and H110 for heavy loads.

Drunkenpoaxher: I really considered using H110 for working up a hunting load, but went with IMR4227. I have never tried Red Dot. How’s the accuracy with your cast 200gr? Thanks.

 

[Iroquois]

I've actually used Titegroup for plinking loads with both plated and lead loads in 41s.

Bush Pilot: I’ve never used Tightgroup, maybe I need to try it!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Drunkenpoaxher: I really considered using H110 for working up a hunting load, but went with IMR4227. I have never tried Red Dot. How’s the accuracy with your cast 200gr? Thanks.

My 41 mag is a SBH also. Its very accurate with everything I've tried. Used Red Dot because I had a bunch of it. Unique would be more versatile for low to mid range loads. I hear many prefer Universal over Unique but I've never tried it.

 

[Iroquois]

My 41 mag is a SBH also. Its very accurate with everything I've tried. Used Red Dot because I had a bunch of it. Unique would be more versatile for low to mid range loads. I hear many prefer Universal over Unique but I've never tried it.

I have a lot of experience with Universal in 357 with Speer 148gr HBWC target loads and it works great. I do want to try some Unique and I believe that is where I will start, because I have some on hand. Have you hunted with your SBH and if so what were the results? Thanks for the sharing your thoughts.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have a lot of experience with Universal in 357 with Speer 148gr HBWC target loads and it works great. I do want to try some Unique and I believe that is where I will start, because I have some on hand. Have you hunted with your SBH and if so what were the results? Thanks for the sharing your thoughts.

I have taken a few deer with it. Use 210 grain XTP's mostly, I did take one with a moderate load with cast 200 grain bullet. All deer have gone down quickly but all have been double lung shots. I have some coated bullets loaded with heavy charges of H110. I might try them tomorrow.

 

[Iroquois]

I have taken a few deer with it. Use 210 grain XTP's mostly, I did take one with a moderate load with cast 200 grain bullet. All deer have gone down quickly but all have been double lung shots. I have some coated bullets loaded with heavy charges of H110. I might try them tomorrow.

That’s good performance. Hopefully you’ll have an opportunity tomorrow. I have some 210 XTP loaded but haven’t had an opportunity to see how they perform. Maybe that will change before the season ends.

 

[Charlie98]

My standard load for my .41's is any 215grn cast SWC over 9.0grn Unique, I've been loading that for close to 25 years. I did load some of the 215's with IMR4227, and they performed very well out of both my rifle and pistols... I was shooting it out to 600yds! I'll load jacketed bullets with Unique or W296, depending on what I want them to do.

As far as the other powders mentioned, I've used TiteGroup in lighter .44SPC and .45Colt loads, but not the .41, same with Red Dot.

 

[Hondo 60]

I've actually used Titegroup for plinking loads with both plated and lead loads in 41s.

Yup me too.
I've tried Universal & it worked OK.
More accurate with Titegroup
Accurate #5 gave highest velocity, but also highest felt recoil.
I won't be reloading 41 mag with A5 again

 

[Walkalong]

Walkalong: I have Unique, Universal and Blue Dot on hand.

Then you are set. I would try Unique and/or Universal for a midrange load, and Blue Dot for close to full power.

If you just want a very light target/plinker then the powders mentioned (Titegroup & Red Dot) will work well, along with other fast powder.

 

[Iroquois]

That’s all great information. Thanks everyone.

 

[Charlie98]

This may be old news, or outdated news... but Alliant issued a warning about using BlueDot in the .41 specifically, and the .357 with certain bullet weights. I have used BlueDot in the .41 years ago (the only pound of it I ever bought) and didn't find any advantage with it. That being said, I don't know why 'no .41' but it's OK in the .44, but the warning is/was out there.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

This may be old news, or outdated news... but Alliant issued a warning about using BlueDot in the .41 specifically, and the .357 with certain bullet weights. I have used BlueDot in the .41 years ago (the only pound of it I ever bought) and didn't find any advantage with it. That being said, I don't know why 'no .41' but it's OK in the .44, but the warning is/was out there.

I think the warning was due to some old published data that Alliant wasn't comfortable with. Their web site still lists a 44mag load of 16 gr Blue Dot and a 200gr JHP. I find it hard to believe that < 2/1000 smaller diameter could make it a dangerous load.

 

[ATLDave]

I have shot a fair number (including some yesterday!) of .41 mag rounds with a 210 grain xtreme plated over 8.0-8.5 grains of Unique. These are thumpy enough to let you know you are shooting a big-bore revolver round, but far from full magnum level. I believe they roughly approximate the .41 mag police (as opposed to hunting) load in terms of recoil.

 

[Iroquois]

I think the warning was due to some old published data that Alliant wasn't comfortable with. Their web site still lists a 44mag load of 16 gr Blue Dot and a 200gr JHP. I find it hard to believe that < 2/1000 smaller diameter could make it a dangerous load.

I have read the same warning concerning Blue Dot in all 41 mag loads and I believe in 125gr 357 loads. I have lined through those loads in all my reloading manuals. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Iroquois]

I have shot a fair number (including some yesterday!) of .41 mag rounds with a 210 grain xtreme plated over 8.0-8.5 grains of Unique. These are thumpy enough to let you know you are shooting a big-bore revolver round, but far from full magnum level. I believe they roughly approximate the .41 mag police (as opposed to hunting) load in terms of recoil.

ATLDave: Great info. Are you roll or taper crimping your plated bullet rounds?

 

[ATLDave]

Mild roll crimp. As I have written in other threads, I have recovered a few of these fired rounds from clay banks and found no damage to the plating that appears related to the crimp. One of these days, I will try to take and post some decent photos to illustrate.

I'm not a bullseye shooter, so I'll never be able to tell you the difference between a load capable of 2" versus 4" at 50 yards... I can't produce either of those with a laser gun, much less something with recoil and mechanical limitations! But I have yet to notice any problems arising from putting a mild roll-crimp on the xtreme .41's... nor, for that matter, on their 158 gr SWC .357's. I am not trying to drive either at real magnum velocities, though.

 

[Walkalong]

I taper crimp, but if the roll crimp is not damaging things or hurting accuracy..........

 

[Iroquois]

I taper crimp, but if the roll crimp is not damaging things or hurting accuracy..........

Walkalong: I will try a light roll crimp, pull the bullet and inspect for damage. I see you respond a lot on this forum giving sound advice. I’m sure it is appreciated by all and myself. Thanks.

 

[Iroquois]

Mild roll crimp. As I have written in other threads, I have recovered a few of these fired rounds from clay banks and found no damage to the plating that appears related to the crimp. One of these days, I will try to take and post some decent photos to illustrate.

I'm not a bullseye shooter, so I'll never be able to tell you the difference between a load capable of 2" versus 4" at 50 yards... I can't produce either of those with a laser gun, much less something with recoil and mechanical limitations! But I have yet to notice any problems arising from putting a mild roll-crimp on the xtreme .41's... nor, for that matter, on their 158 gr SWC .357's. I am not trying to drive either at real magnum velocities, though.

ATLDave: Thanks for the feedback. It’s appreciated.

 

[Iroquois]

Well, I was going to start loading some Ranier 220gr FPRN today. I decided to check and see if they would go through the throat of my cylinder, I always do this with every bullet I reload. What I found was that none of the bullets would go through. I tried tapping them with a wooden dowell but still no luck. I believe I am not going to load these. I think a few things will happen. 1). It may build up excessive pressure in the chamber trying to send it through the throat. 2). If the bullet makes it out through the throat I have some concerns if the plating would start to peel off coming out and into the forcing cone. Has anybody experienced this? What are your thoughts. Thanks.