WooHoo...One Happy 41mag Guy Here!!

[bigmike45]

I finally found the pot-o-gold at the end of the rainbow.......literally!! Since it was raining around here and I could do nothing to trim the honeydo list, I decided to drive to Austin to the SAXET gun show held at the Crockett Convention Center. I took some old holsters hoping to sell them and pick up another nice IWB for either my Wilson Professional or my Taurus PT-145 and there it was..... a stainless Ruger Redhawk in 41mag & with the 5 1/2" barrel I had been wanting for over 10 years. I have placed ads in every type of publication and on every forum I could find looking for one. I found a few used ones for much more than they were worth to me. This one was new, in the box with all the papers and it was priced right. I now have a companion to my stainless Ruger Redhawk 7 1/2" scoped gun also in 41mag. Woohoo!!
Early Happy Birthday to me!!!!

 

[StrikeEagle]

Congratulations!

Did you haggle at all, just for the sake of form? (While you held onto the gun firmly, of course!)

 

[grendelbane]

Congratulations!

Now you need to keep your eyes open for the classic .41 Mag. Of course I am referring to the S&W Model 58!

Currently, I am looking for a .41 Mountain Gun.

 

[bigmike45]

StrikeEagle,

Yes, I did haggle and walked out with it for $50.00 less than they had on the tag. I started up a conversation with the wife of the seller and kinda got into the part about having two sons in college and a limited spending limit for guns. She nudged her hubby and said "Knock 50 off for this guy....he is one of the good ones".

 

[bearmgc]

Good for you, and Happy Birthday! Its nice to know there's still a few 41 fans out there. Musta been the week for 41mags. I got one on St Paddy's Day, a S&W 41mag Mountain Gun. I had also been on the lookout for one of these. Had to take it out shooting today.

 

[MountainPeak]

I LOVE the caliber!!! It's been my experience that most, that know much about it, do to!

 

[hobbeeman]

Congratulations.

There were a few .41 at the gun show here in Amarillo today, but not a stainless redhawk. That is the gun that I want to begin pistol hunting!

I've got to finish remodeling my wife's bathroom so that I can look in earnest.

 

[Matthew748]

That's a nice find. A year or so ago I got interested in the .41 Caliber. I figured I would march off to the local gun store and pickup a Redhawk in that caliber. Wrong answer, I did not know that they were discontinued. Its kind of on hold now anyway, but I have been mulling over whether I should go the single action Ruger route or save for a Smith & Wesson double action.

Once again, nice find and enjoy that Redhawk!

 

[bigmike45]

Hobbeeman

I started handgun hunting with other calibers but wished I had found the 41mag back then. My experiences have been nothing short of grand using that caliber. A good friend went with me once to his "honey hole", to prove me wrong about the effectiveness of a handgun for hunting whitetails here in Texas. After I harvested a really nice 7 point buck at 73 yards he became a believer.
The deer was running broadside to me, I grunted loudly and he stopped long enough for me to place the crosshairs on his chest and let loose one of my 215gr. Hornady XTP loads. I was already resting against a tree for stability. That particular deer dropped where the bullet hit him. When we got to him and started the field dressing, I found the bullet lodged between two ribs on the opposite side of entry, nicely mushroomed. The impact burst both lungs and the heart looked like it had gone through a blender. The animals body was laying a full 6' behind the trail he was running on. To say the least I was happy with the shot and how quickly and ethically the bullet had done it's job.

The scoped gun is my 41mag Redhawk. Ill post the 5 1/2" gun I just bought when I get my camera back from my son who took it on spring break. Wonder what kind of pictures will be on it when it returns

 

[hobbeeman]

Mike, Thanks for the pictures and the encouraging word.
Question 1. Do you need to scope a hunting pistol? (Have you used any other types of optics?)
2. How do you like the GP101? I presume you use it for a concealed carry.
3. Maybe you should share your son's pictures too?!

I look forward to seeing your new .41, take a pic alongside the other one to show the barrel length differences.

 

[bigmike45]

hobbeeman,

I hunted for several years, using handguns without scopes and it worked ok. I want as much on my side as possible, to minimize the possibility of a bad shot, due to my eyes and iron sights........and this is only my personal opinion. I want a more positive sight system when hunting out at the 75-125 yard ranges. The scope helps me to do that confidently. Please understand that I practice rigerously from about the first of July to Opening Day of Regular Hunting Season here in Texas. I am confidient in my abilities when stepping into the woods. The scope helps in that confidence level. My scope has crosshairs, but a buddy of mine uses a red dot system that he loves. I have even seen a fellow using one of the hollogram sight systems on a hunting handgun. There are some folks I know that shoot as good, with iron sights, as I do with a scope.....I really admire that ability. Inside 75 yards, I am very accurate, and confident in my ability, with an iron sighted gun.

I do really like the SP-101. It is a .357mag, 5 shot, double action only. It was my first carry weapon when I recieved my Concealed Handgun License here in Texas. It has been in the field with me so many times, it's like an old friend. My wife has made that old friend her new friend. It is her gun now and she loves to shoot it. I had to take the picture when she was gone......

I doubt very seriously that any.......provocative pictures will be on the camera when it is returned this weekend. It's not dad he needs to worry about....it's mom.

 

[frankt]

You really got lucky. That is a great one. I have one just like your 7 1/2" with a 2X Pentax scope. I have always been a fan of .41 Mags since I bought my Blackhawk in 1968.

I was luck enough to take a doe at about sixty yards last year with the Redhawk and she fell over in her tracks.

My stepson was offered the gun and scope for $500. He asked me about it and I told him it was a little high but if he wanted it to buy it because they were kind of hard to find anymore. He told his coworker "No Thanks" and one year later the guy got in a jam and asked him to buy it for $300. He bought it and then gave it to me as a gift. He said it was for all the hell he put me through trying to get him raised. Nice Gift!

 

[hobbeeman]

Wow, That is a great story Frank... I think it is a testiment on a job well done that your stepson would think that much of you. Congratulations on both.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Nice Find!

Gotta love the .41. Nice pic's too.