CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I think either is a fine choice but the .41Mag just 'might' be better suited to handloading to get the most out of it.
+1 on the Bisley.
+1 on the Bisley.
Ruger New Model BlackHawk .41 Rem. Mag: Do I Dare?
- Thread starter meanmrmustard
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LUCKYDAWG13
Member
i have a RBH 44 mag 7 1/2 barrel i have made this the gun that i will learn to
shoot this year. i have had this gun for 15 years or so and up till about 4 weeks ago was new in box. i shot a box or so when i first bought it thats about it. two weeks ago i was at my LGS just looking for some powder and saw a like new in box
ruger NMBH 4 5/8 barrel in 41 magnum $300. looks like i will learn how to shoot
this too
shoot this year. i have had this gun for 15 years or so and up till about 4 weeks ago was new in box. i shot a box or so when i first bought it thats about it. two weeks ago i was at my LGS just looking for some powder and saw a like new in box
ruger NMBH 4 5/8 barrel in 41 magnum $300. looks like i will learn how to shoot
this too
meanmrmustard
Member
Awesome man!i have a RBH 44 mag 7 1/2 barrel i have made this the gun that i will learn to
shoot this year. i have had this gun for 15 years or so and up till about 4 weeks ago was new in box. i shot a box or so when i first bought it thats about it. two weeks ago i was at my LGS just looking for some powder and saw a like new in box
ruger NMBH 4 5/8 barrel in 41 magnum $300. looks like i will learn how to shoot
this too
We will cut our teeth this year.
Although, I have no clue how you shot it once in 15 years. You have great patience.
RealGun
Member
Even with .44 Mag, no differently than with .41, if you could commit to reloading, you wouldn't have to learn the gun shooting full power ammo. Actually, you might find .44 Mag brass harder to find than .41 because of the popularity in rifles.
meanmrmustard
Member
I'll prolly start off with the .44 Special, then work my way up.
Luckily for me, I live 1/2 hour from Graf's.
Deer just ain't that hard to kill. A 180-200 gr 357 mag bullet will penetrate exactly the same distance in deer as any of the other handguns discussed. All the way through. A .053" (41 mag), or even .072" (44 mag) larger entrance hole is irrelevant. A .357 hole is small, even if you double the size, it is still a small hole. The larger calibers allow for heavier bullets that might be an advantage on much larger game where complete pass throughs are less likely. Larger bullet diameter is only a way to get heavier bullets. The diameter of the hole is greatly over rated.
22-rimfire
Member
The reality is that you don't really need that many loads for either the 44 mag or 41 mag unless you're headed to Alaska or big bear territory. But yeah, I have some of the heavy hitters in 41 mag too. Just don't really shoot them often except as a novelty as I don't hunt anywhere there are grizz or Alaska Brown Bear.
I have a 6.5" Blackhawk in 41 mag. I like it and I like this barrel length. You might consider the 6.5" version over the 7.5" version. But for deer hunting, I tend to grab my 8 3/8" M57 or my Ruger SRH in 480 Ruger. Still practicing with my BFR in 480 Ruger too. Yeah. I like this caliber!
You can take this for what you want. I started shooting a 6" Python (357) as my hunting revolver. I was never particularly a good shot with that revolver and I eventually got rid of it to give myself a fresh perspective. With reading, I determined that I wanted a 41 mag and that is when the M57 (8 3/8") appeared. I have always shot the 41 mag better than a 44 mag (and certainly as good as with my 6" Colt Trooper Mark III in 357 (Python replacement)) and feel pretty confident with it. I just need to practice more the last month or so before the season to build my confidence up a bit.
Guns.... I carry a 4" 41 mag revolver (M57 Mountain Gun) IF I am also carrying a rifle. I found that you almost always choose the rifle if you have one with you. Hence, I try to carry the revolver as the primary. That is in part why I went to 480 Ruger.
I got the SRH in 480 because I didn't want to drill and tap my 8 3/8" M57 for a scope. I have a 2x Leupold on the SRH and a red dot on the BFR in 480. It is a 6.5" and plenty. So I take the 41 mag when I don't want to use optics.
For deer and 41 mag, I use Remington 210 gr soft points. With some planning, you can build up a supply of 41 mag ammo so you aren't searching for more ammo. The 44 mag is fine, but the focus on different loads is a waste of time unless you do a lot of shooting. Yes, I have low powered 41 mag loads, solids, and jacketed soft points and hollow points. But I tend to be best with the basic 210 gr whether it be a soft point or hollow point. You hunt with what you shoot the best.
I have a 6.5" Blackhawk in 41 mag. I like it and I like this barrel length. You might consider the 6.5" version over the 7.5" version. But for deer hunting, I tend to grab my 8 3/8" M57 or my Ruger SRH in 480 Ruger. Still practicing with my BFR in 480 Ruger too. Yeah. I like this caliber!
You can take this for what you want. I started shooting a 6" Python (357) as my hunting revolver. I was never particularly a good shot with that revolver and I eventually got rid of it to give myself a fresh perspective. With reading, I determined that I wanted a 41 mag and that is when the M57 (8 3/8") appeared. I have always shot the 41 mag better than a 44 mag (and certainly as good as with my 6" Colt Trooper Mark III in 357 (Python replacement)) and feel pretty confident with it. I just need to practice more the last month or so before the season to build my confidence up a bit.
Guns.... I carry a 4" 41 mag revolver (M57 Mountain Gun) IF I am also carrying a rifle. I found that you almost always choose the rifle if you have one with you. Hence, I try to carry the revolver as the primary. That is in part why I went to 480 Ruger.
I got the SRH in 480 because I didn't want to drill and tap my 8 3/8" M57 for a scope. I have a 2x Leupold on the SRH and a red dot on the BFR in 480. It is a 6.5" and plenty. So I take the 41 mag when I don't want to use optics.
For deer and 41 mag, I use Remington 210 gr soft points. With some planning, you can build up a supply of 41 mag ammo so you aren't searching for more ammo. The 44 mag is fine, but the focus on different loads is a waste of time unless you do a lot of shooting. Yes, I have low powered 41 mag loads, solids, and jacketed soft points and hollow points. But I tend to be best with the basic 210 gr whether it be a soft point or hollow point. You hunt with what you shoot the best.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Nonsense. The .357 works well, if the bullet does its job. Which is the catch, it NEEDS perfect jacketed bullet performance to do its job well. With that perfect jacketed bullet performance comes a compromise on penetration. The bigger cartridges, do not need to expand to kill reliably. Handgun cartridges don't yield very high velocities and as such, can't deliver the shock and tissue destruction a high velocity rifle cartridge can. What they do have is diameter and weight. Both are extremely important. You're applying rifle logic to handguns and that just doesn't wash. The big bores are simply more reliable killers, Elmer Keith figured this out 80yrs ago.
ECVMatt
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I really think the argument boils down to what kind of deer your are shooting at. I would agree that a 125 lbs whitetail can be easily taken with the .357, but a 250 mountain buck might be different. I have lots of friends in TX that hammer deer with the .357 every year, but they deer are small, less than 150 lbs. Since a 250 buck is in the picture, I really can't see going any lower than the .41 Mag, just to be sure, to be sure.
meanmrmustard
Member
We are talking Midwest, cornfed studs here.
Deer, I mean.
Deer, I mean.
RealGun
Member
.357 is actually quite a bit bigger hole than a .30 caliber rifle, the benchmark of deer hunting.
tightgroup tiger
Member
I'll stick with my 41 mag for hunting deer. I only recently bought it but I am so impressed with it that I will leave all my .357 mags at home in favor of it.
I've been shooting .357 magnums hard and heavy for 30 years so this isn't that easy for me to say.
I know a lot of people do hunt deer with a .357 magnum but it wouldn't be my first choice after having the 41 magnum. Much bigger hole and a lot more energy than a .357.
As far as .357 magnum making a larger hole than say a 30-30 or any other 30 caliber rifle, the .357 magnum doesn't hold a candle to the energy of a 30-30.
Neither does a 41 magnum but it comes a lot closer.
I used to be a die hard .357 guy but even after my 30 year history with that caliber, I'm now a 41 magnum diehard. They are accurate as hell, deliver a lot more energy and aren't that hard to shoot.
I think the 41magnum is as easy to shoot accurately as the hunting load .357s are. I'm comparing N-frame Smiths. The 41 has more push and muzzle flip. I'm running my 41magnum 210 gr XTP bullets at around 1400-1450 fps and a .357 could never come close to that kind of energy.
A 41 or 44 would both be a better choice for any general deer hunting unless your a hell of a shot or very close. I'm referring to premium hand loaded ammo not the crap you buy a wallmart.
I've been shooting .357 magnums hard and heavy for 30 years so this isn't that easy for me to say.
I know a lot of people do hunt deer with a .357 magnum but it wouldn't be my first choice after having the 41 magnum. Much bigger hole and a lot more energy than a .357.
As far as .357 magnum making a larger hole than say a 30-30 or any other 30 caliber rifle, the .357 magnum doesn't hold a candle to the energy of a 30-30.
Neither does a 41 magnum but it comes a lot closer.
I used to be a die hard .357 guy but even after my 30 year history with that caliber, I'm now a 41 magnum diehard. They are accurate as hell, deliver a lot more energy and aren't that hard to shoot.
I think the 41magnum is as easy to shoot accurately as the hunting load .357s are. I'm comparing N-frame Smiths. The 41 has more push and muzzle flip. I'm running my 41magnum 210 gr XTP bullets at around 1400-1450 fps and a .357 could never come close to that kind of energy.
A 41 or 44 would both be a better choice for any general deer hunting unless your a hell of a shot or very close. I'm referring to premium hand loaded ammo not the crap you buy a wallmart.
I saw where you decided to buy a Ruger SBH in .44 Magnum.
To answer your above question, however, should you decide in the future to buy a .41 Magnum, there is not a deer out there that will stand up to either factory Remington 210 grains JHP, Winchester 210 grains JHP, or Federal 210 grains JHP.
Good luck on your hunts.
L.W.
meanmrmustard
Member
Thank you.I saw where you decided to buy a Ruger SBH in .44 Magnum.
To answer your above question, however, should you decide in the future to buy a .41 Magnum, there is not a deer out there that will stand up to either factory Remington 210 grains JHP, Winchester 210 grains JHP, or Federal 210 grains JHP.
Good luck on your hunts.
L.W.
I will someday get a .41 mag, as I really like its numbers.
RealGun
Member
I think we know that, but it's not the point, considering earlier posts.
RealGun
Member
I am a .41 owner and fan, but for hunting you don't need to push a deer into the next county with wasted meat.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
What constitutes that? Handguns typically waste a lot less meat than your average high velocity rifle cartridge. Especially with cast bullets.
RealGun
Member
I don't know and don't get what seems like a quibble.
I don't own a Blackhawk but I own guns and buy ammo. These days, if you are not going to reload, buy the most commonly available caliber that fits your needs. Your splitting the difference compromise becomes hair splitting when on a long and empty search for ammunition.
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