Hunting with 41 mag rifle

[Gryffydd]

I based my numbers on Paco's article that I posted earlier. He was getting 1900+fps with 270gr bullets.
My ballistic calculator on my phone only had 250gr bullets in .41, so that's what I went with. I think the BC was .220

 

[W.E.G.]

I looked at a "Paco" article.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41heavy.htm

...the 41 is an excellent caliber heavy loaded. Marlin has made a run of the their octagon barreled 41 mag leverguns again so we have a perfect companion piece to the handgun. Any time you can push a 270 to 300 grain cast bullet at 1800 plus fps and 1900 to over 2100 foot pounds of muzzle energy from a small carbine length rifle, you’re in lion country power.

Does he actually say he ran a load that hot, or is he just theorizing?
I call B.S.

If he actually did it, I notice he does not mention his load recipe.
I've got a feeling the powder manufacturers would not endorse a load that hot.

Until there is better evidence, I'm more comfortable with John Taffin's data. I must point out, the data is for .44 magnum (not .41 magnum). However, the bullet weights are comparable. The Cor-Bon load being a notable exception, I would otherwise be surprised to see proof that you can pick up 300 - 400 fps, using similar weight bullets, by reducing the bore size 0.019 inches, and using commonly-available components.

http://www.sixguns.com/range/Mlntrpr.htm

 

[Gryffydd]

It's really not all that amazing. Look at the velocity gains in the .357 magnum in a rifle--something that's well documented. If the .357 can push a 158gr bullet to ~1500fps in a revovler and 2000fps in a rifle, then 2000fps in a 250gr bullet from a .41 mag rifle is well within those same levels of relative performance.

 

[Asherdan]

Let me throw a little actual use data at you fellas about the 41 mag...

Checked with my buddy and he's using the 210g Speer DCHP Gold Dot with a max charge (per Hogdgon) of H110 to get right up on 1850 fps. I'm using the 240g XTP w/ 2400 to get 1762 fps out of my Marlin 1894 44 mag. Here's how they stack up when each is set up for a +3/-3 point blank...

1894 44RM

Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy     
  0 yds   -1.50 in  1762 fps  1654 fpe  
 25 yds    0.78 in  1681 fps  1507 fpe  
 50 yds    2.28 in  1604 fps  1370 fpe  
 75 yds    2.96 in  1528 fps  1245 fpe  
100 yds    2.72 in  1457 fps  1131 fpe  
125 yds    1.43 in  1390 fps  1029 fpe  
150 yds   -1.01 in  1327 fps   939 fpe  
175 yds   -4.65 in  1269 fps   858 fpe  
200 yds   -9.63 in  1215 fps   787 fpe

1894 41 mag

Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy
  0 yds   -1.50 in  1845 fps  1587 fpe 
 25 yds    0.72 in  1752 fps  1431 fpe 
 50 yds    2.22 in  1662 fps  1288 fpe 
 75 yds    2.94 in  1576 fps  1158 fpe 
100 yds    2.80 in  1493 fps  1040 fpe
125 yds    1.70 in  1415 fps   934 fpe
150 yds   -0.54 in  1344 fps   842 fpe
175 yds   -3.96 in  1278 fps   761 fpe 
200 yds   -8.70 in  1217 fps   691 fpe

Both are great rounds in a handy levergun, within their limits. For me that's always been 150 yards.

 

[ForneyRider]

Good luck finding a 41 Mag Marlin 1894 FG or S model. They stopped making them and the Gunbroker guys price them accordingly.

I shoot a 41 mag Ruger Blackhawk. Load data in Nosler book is 1650fps with their 210gr JHP and H110. I also really like the Remington 210 JSP for loading.

Recoil kept knocking my scope loose on my Blackhawk with B square mount. I recommend the Hunter Bisley or Hunter Super Black Hawk versions with Ruger rings.

Remington 210gr JSP, Winchester Silver 175gr and Platinum 240gr are great factory ammo. Federal makes a big 250gr lead round.

I think Sierra makes a 170 JHC that should fly out a 20in lever rifle.