Author Topic: .41 mag for hunting (Read 9825 times)

Autorim · « **on:** September 07, 2008, 05:12:44 PM »

Does anyone have any experience loading the .41 mag for hunting? I have never owned are fired one, but I am tempted by a Ruger Bisley Stainless setting in a store near here.

Thanks,

Autorim

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2008, 05:45:05 PM »

The 41 Mag is a very good round, I used it to take deer and a few hogs. I reloaded 220 gr. hard cast bullets in mine. I never found a single bullet, all went through all the deer and hogs I shot.

I have since sold my 41 Mag, my smallest hunting handgun is a 45 Colt.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2008, 12:22:21 AM »

I've used mine on javelina, hogs, and deer, utilizing the Sierra 210 JHC. Works well.

nodlenor · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2008, 02:19:34 AM »

I use the 41 Mag loaded with 210gr Hornady XTPs pushed by 20gr of Win. 296. Works great for me.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2008, 02:35:36 AM »

redhawk hit it on the nose. Its a good hunting round. Maybe not a great hunting round but a round that will take care of bussiness. I to would recomend a good hardcast 220 grain or heavier swc or lfn or wfn. The jacketed bullet will work on deer but so will the cast and the cast will work much better on bear, pigs or anything larger then a small deer. personaly i prefer a 44 or 45 but loaded correctly the 41 will get the job done.

Quote from: Redhawk1 on September 07, 2008, 05:45:05 PM

The 41 Mag is a very good round, I used it to take deer and a few hogs. I reloaded 220 gr. hard cast bullets in mine. I never found a single bullet, all went through all the deer and hogs I shot.

I have since sold my 41 Nag, my smallest hunting handgun is a 45 Colt.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2008, 05:13:18 PM »

I have taken a number of deer with the .41 plus two 41 wildcats- the 220 Lyman 410459 - does well but the meplat is a little small for me- an LBT LWNGC of 240 gr also did well - the entrance holes tended to curl back out toward me-- --I have also taken a 5pt with a 170 which went in about 20" -- front chest to the back of the ribs- last the 210 XTP has also done well --I like the 170 just remember it is tuffer than it looks but still needs good placement--like not trying to shoot a deer in the butt and expect to get all the way to the the lungs and heart. I do not really know how much it will go through --may test it with wet news print to see. I like the Keith style with a little larger meplat- and the LWNGC and the XTPs -- I have a number of other bullets and have taken deer with others but these are my current likes-- I tend to go with a good cast bullet since I make my own-- I do not know if you are interested in powders- but H110/296 --AA#9 -- are always good as are many others-- I quite content with my .41s

Ladobe · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2008, 08:39:25 PM »

My favorite 41 was a Herter's 401 Power Mag that I took a bunch of costal hogs, black bear and blacktails with when I lived in CA in the 60's-70's, and black bear when I moved to the Rockies. Never should have let someone talk me out of that Herter's a few years ago. Did take a few mule deer bucks with the Old Model Ruger Blackhawk 41 MAG I had as well. Worked fine for that.

DennisB · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2008, 03:58:08 PM »

Great caliber, for sure. More importantly, you have a stainless Bisley 41 sitting in a store nearby? Please tell me where so I can beat you to it!

coop2564 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2008, 09:06:56 AM »

I'm using 210 gr rem SP with 20.5 H110 and rem case CCI mag primer. I've shot a about a dozen hogs and 2 whitetail all went through and exited.

Autorim · « **Reply #9 on:** September 11, 2008, 05:14:38 PM »

I brought the Stainless Bisley home with me today - .41 mag.- 5.5 inch Accusport - NIB. Also bought a bunch of Win. brass and Nosler 210 grain HP. I have most any powder I will need and lots of primers. I am going to order some of the WFNGC bullets for the .41, .44 and .45. My .45 Bisley is now with Alan Harton for trigger, front sight and other work.

I used to cast, but now prefer to buy and spend that time shooting or something more fun. Thanks for the input.

Autorim

GradyL41 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2008, 03:33:01 PM »

For me part of the fun is casting and getting all things ready- I can make HPs or soft points--or just normal wdww-- but I know the commerical bullets work well too and I have some of them

S.B. · « **Reply #11 on:** September 15, 2008, 06:53:32 PM »

You neglected to say, hunting what?

GradyL41 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 16, 2008, 03:21:12 AM »

You neglected to say, hunting what? You are right never metioned that -- I assumed Deer

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:57:52 AM »

I've used the .41 Magnum for years ever since I had a M28 converted back in the mid '70s. I've had several M57s also with 4 & 6" barrels along with a 4 5/8ths Ruger NMBH. I've small hands and the N frame S&Ws hurt my hand with magnum loads so I traded those off. The Ruger was fine except i wanted at least a 6" barrel for hunting. I found the cartridge quite adequate on deer and elk finding little noticeable difference between it and the .44 Magnum. This was with shoulder shots using hard cast bullets and 170-210 gr jacketed. The Remington 210 SP and the XTP both performed quite well. My favorite .41 now is a Ruger BH Bisley with 7 1/2" barrel (stumbled on to it while looking for the 6', bought it and never looked back). I push the 210 XTP right at 1450 fps with H110. The 170 HC at 1650 fps is deadly on small deer and coyotes.

For cast I shoot the Lee TL410-175-SWC over 5 gr Bullseye at 860 fps for small game and plinking. The Lee TL410-21-SWC (use a lot of these as the 6 hole mould really drops 'em fast!) 7.5 gr Unique for the mid range equivelent load. This is a good 'all around" fun load. The RCBS 41-210-SCW is my "magnum" cast bullet and I drive it to 1300 fps with excellent accuracy. I could drive it faster but I use the XTP for hunting. The Bisley still wears iron sights and I carry it quite comfortable in an Uncle Mikes shoulder holster. It has become my favorite hunting revolver although the 50th Anniversary .44 with a 6 1/2" barrel is catching up to it pretty fast in popularity with me. The .41 does the job nicely though.

Larry Gibson

Autorim · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2008, 03:20:39 PM »

Yes, I would be hunting deer. Just inquiring about .41 loads in general also as I have never loaded for this caliber. I did shoot the gun Sunday with 210 Noslers and 7.0 grains Unique. My Midway shipment arrived today and I have some 215 LaserCast SWC bullets to try.

I posted an inquiry on the Smith and Wesson forum and 7.0 grains of Unique with 210-240 grain bullets is a load that is used by lots of .41 shooters as a mid range load. For hunting most shooters seem to push upwards of 1200 fps.

Thanks for the input. After handling the .41 along with the .357's , .44's and .45's it almost seems that the serious handgun calibers start at the .41 and go up.

Autorim

Dand · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2008, 06:49:47 PM »

Nice gun Auto - several years ago I passed up a chance at a stainless bisley since I have a blued one - that was a foolish move. Now have a stainless Redhawk, 657MG, 57, and still the Bisley all in 41. The MG goes out in the woods with me a lot when I feel I need to be wary of bears, loaded with 265 Corbons or similar. But I haven't taken any game with it. Have taken 1 very small caribou with the redhawk and 265 Corbons. My shooting was poor and it took a few shots but he went down every time I hit him. Trouble was I was whittling him around the edges until I got one thru his shoulders. In that case I had too heavy of a bullet. I have taken rabbits with the 57 and 210 cast in front of a mild load of Unique. Very fun and just punched a nice neat hole in them. I have a scope on my Bisley but may take it off. I shot it better without. But since I acquired the stainless guns the blued ones tend to only go to the range on nice days.

Good luck and be sure to tell us how you do when you get out to hunt. Love my 41s.

COR · « **Reply #16 on:** September 24, 2008, 05:42:26 AM »

210XTP
21grs w296
Win LP Primer

Deer will not go far if you do your part...Don't shoot them in the shoulder if you want anything but hamburger left...that bullet will just plain tear up a shoulder. I also shoot a 230SWC at 1100fps that kills deer too.

S.B. · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2008, 04:28:50 AM »

It's one of my favorite pistol calibers. Haven't done much with my current one but, have bought and cast and loaded some of the Lyman 410459s and things look very promising for this bullet in my future? 1000-1100fps looks like a good place to load them to. I'm using Unique powder and Fed. LP primers. Way below what some here load this caliber to but, works for me. I shoot these out of a S&W no dash 57 and don't want to take the chance of doing any damage to this gun. I had an older OM Ruger with the 6&1/2" tube but, regretably traded this for a Redhawk.

sigbbred · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2009, 05:36:40 AM »

http://www.potfire.com.au/plist/p47-36413.htm

I found one "down under". Just a tip for anyone who is willing to import it.

deerchaser · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2009, 09:11:49 AM »

I just purchased a NIB SBH hunter in 41 mag. My load is 210 XTP over 21.5grs of H110 and cci 550 primers. Love it so far.

chg · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2009, 09:36:08 AM »

The .41 is a good caliber. I've owned a few over the years, still have a M57 that shoots so well. The only limitation to the .41 is the choices of bullets available. Just is not the choices like the .44 and .45 calibers. My favorite is Lyman's 410459.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2009, 11:58:06 AM »

Since this has come back around-- I took does Christmas day - my 41/44 AA#9 and the 255 WLNGC two shots two kills

jjvw · « **Reply #22 on:** January 21, 2009, 08:14:01 AM »

I been using the 41 since it came out. originally a blackhawk, than to a redhawk and a 14"tc. I'm using H110 with the 220 sierra silhouette bullet for hogs and elk, and the 210 and 170 for deer. With good shoot placement, the tc extends the range to 150-175 yds. The red hawk w/ 2x scope to 125, 75-100 ironsighted.
I use cast bullets for messing around but prefer the sierras for hunting. Nothing has run more than 30 yds, The only bullet recovered was a 210 out of the tc at 205 measured yds, head on into the chest. We found it under the skin after going the complete length of the body. Witness said it just stood there like- "I'm dead, now what do I do" and collapsed in a heap with a thud he could hear 100 yds away.
I wouldn't use it for for moose at all or elk or bear over 75 yds but for deer it's perfect. Less recoil, lighter weight and I doubt any deer knows the difference between the 41 and 44. Some will say that the bullet selection is poor but if you can't do it with the available bullets, You shouldn't be doing it!!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #23 on:** January 21, 2009, 08:22:11 AM »

my favorite 41 load is a 230 swc with 8.5 grains of unique. It will handle any hunting chores the 41 is good for.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 21, 2009, 04:06:35 PM »

While I have owned .44's and .45 Colt and .357 All I ever manged to kill with has been the .41 and that is all I have now The 220, 230 Keith do well - the XTP and the Gold dot also do well- In the LBT style which I think is what you prefer-(wln? ) LBT LWN gc 240 gr .320 meplat and the LWNGC 255 -.33 meplat- both have performed very well for me again on deer-- all we have in West Tenn. I won't mention light bullets as I remember you do not care for them -- I read your postings always....powders-- Unique Herco 800x have all worked well with both light and heavier loads with cast -- which about all I shoot--2400 will work -- the kings of course are 296/H110 - I use mostly 296 and also a lot of AA#9 in my 5.5-6" the xtp or Golddot will go 1380+ - the 220-230 (mine are all 230) will do the same and more if wanted- the 240 was 1360 and the 255 was 1300-- 305gr was 1250 out of 4 5/8 Bhawk and 1300 in longer barrels-- an 285 SSk mold I have will go 1360 in the longer barrels and 1280 -1300 in shorter--I have shot deer with most all of these-- and caught 1 240 that went through several inches of water before hitting the escaping wounded doe shot by a friend -- I have shot bucks in the chest and have the bullet exit the hip -- and of course broadside or lessor angles --right on through--

S.B. · « **Reply #25 on:** January 21, 2009, 05:34:04 PM »

GradyL41, Are you shooting these loads out of a Blackhawk?
Steve

Sweetwater · « **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2009, 07:19:18 PM »

Autorim-

That Lasercast 215gr swcwith 7.4gr of Unique will cloverleaf with my Stainless Bisley Blackhawk @ 1050fps. It also likes 16gr of WC820 for some real "smack" with that same bullet! Close to 1300fps.

W296 will push an LBT style 250gr Cast Performance in the 1350fps arena with 19.5gr and CCI350 primers.

I really like that surplus WC820 and have worked up loads for a 44mag as well as the 41mag. There is data available, but you have to dig for it. It flows like sand through an RCBS Uniflow powder measure and is virtually dead on for accuracy once the measure is properly adjusted.

Nearly 30years with the 41mag and the last couple years I've ushered in a new affair with a 45Colt - also a Bisley Blackhawk, only blued. My wife has taken a fancy to the 45, so I guess I'll continue sharing my company with my 41's!!

Regards,
Sweetwater

gl411 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 22, 2009, 04:21:08 AM »

some of them I have moslty no I have 2 Redhawks-- and a DWA
The 305 at 1250 was a Blackhawk
The 1300+ with the 280 grain bullet was a Blackhawk-- using SSk data max was 19 gr 296-- 41,250 presure ? anyway I used 18 grains
22gr of 296 230K blackhawk I would have to look at my records so these are off my head
may I ask why you ask?

Autorim · « **Reply #28 on:** January 22, 2009, 01:54:11 PM »

I have tested Nosler JHP, Montana WFNGC, Mt. Baldy Keith and Lasercast SWC in the Bisley so far. I have fired 70 shots in 5 shot groups with Unique, W231 and Trail Boss. All test firing is at 20 yards from a sand bag rest.

My smallest group is 1.25 inches and my largest is 2.25 inches. With my 70 year old eyes, this is about as well as I can shoot with any handgun.

This .41 mag Ruger Bisley Acusport is one of the most consistent and inherently accurate handguns I own. I think I can stuff nearly anything in it and do well.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #29 on:** January 22, 2009, 08:05:08 PM »

Autorim-
That sounds like great shooting, at any age!! Not a deer is safe, if it should wander into your sight path!!

I have one recorded load (for my 1st 41mag Blackhawk) that actually shot into 0.75 inches off sandbags at 50 yards - 27 years ago. Not sure I can see a target half that good anymore. Practice does make a tremendous difference, and I don't do enough of that anymore. We are looking to buy a place and one of the requirements is that it will not be offensive to the neighbors to have a shooting range off the back deck. That's the one vice I intend to take into my retirement. (We live in North Idaho).