Author Topic: Is the .41 Rem Mag a forgotten cartridge? (Read 2449 times)

LJ Barrero · « **on:** March 01, 2005, 06:31:07 PM »

I will be getting a .41 Mag revolver in the next few days (Taurus Ti, 425 model, 4") I know I went for it based in a 50/50 chance to get a bad revolver, based on the info I've got from the forum. However, I seem to be more worried about the .41 mag caliber than that.
My worry is that it maybe a dying cartridge since there's not much more components to buy at the local store for reloading. Is there any future on this cartridge? How accurate can thjis cartridge be? What would be the best bullet weight for both, jacketed and lead to use this round for deer at velocities in the 1000 to 1200 fps range?

LJB

southern utah · « **Reply #1 on:** March 01, 2005, 07:21:36 PM »

there is a large following for the 41. You find few out on the market for resale. I have some and everyone I now that likes revolvers has a few. S&W is my only choice even of they are a little more. Components are available at Starline Brass, Midway , Midsouth Shooters, Sportsman, etc.....All major bullet manufactures make ammo most being around 210 gr and HPs. I like the 170gr HPs .

Dand · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2005, 08:08:47 PM »

you hang out on the GB forums long and you'll find quite a few of us 41 gunners lurking. Almost seems to me the 41 has gotten stronger in the last few years. Cast bullets from 200 to 265 gr are available and Corbon loads the 250 and sometimes the 265. Federal has a 250 cast core. Speer is offering a load plus the Win 240 and 175, Rem in 210. I think there are others. I reload a lot so I'm not up on the factory loads. I think you'll like it if you get a accurate gun. I have 3, S&W 57, Ruger Bisley, Ruger Redhawk stainless. I'm thinking about a tracker but don't want a ported barrel. There are guys on GB who seem to have a whole closet full of 41s and they aren't selling them either. Enjoy it. Can't speak to deer hunting but I have shot 1 small caribou. I think the 265 Corbons were a bit too much for the small animal. 210 Hornady XTPs would have been fine - the Corbons worked but my shooting was terrible.

Gun Runner · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2005, 09:05:02 PM »

LJ, I'am another 41 fan. Ifin you dont like whats offered in fodder for it, roll your own. Its flatter shooting than the 44 mag and less recoil, more umph than the 357 mag. It's fine for deer at closer ranges. Then you can get the 41 rifle so the pistol can have a companion.

I carry mine in the woods and we have black bear, mountain lions wild pig and every once in a while some stupid 2 legged being. It is capable of stopping any of the above.

Gun Runner

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2005, 12:51:36 AM »

I have not really warmed up to the 41 MAG. I have owned a Ruger Blackhawk and a S&W in the 41 MAG but never held on to them. I just prefer the 44MAG over the 41 MAG. Just to much reloading stuff out there for the 44MAG. And in a pinch you can find the ammo anywhere.

Spyro Andes · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2005, 08:58:16 AM »

I have a slew of hunting handguns... contenders, encores, xp-100, double action revolvers and single actions... 284win, 30-284, 338-284, 416 Rigby, 44mag, 454 Casull, 475 Linebaugh, 500 Linebaugh, 50 Alaskan & etc.

The gun that I seem to take afield the most is a Ruger Blackhawk, with a 4 5/8" barrel, chambered for 41 mag.

In my humble opinion, the 41 mag is a great hunting performer.

With a 250 grain cast built, like a LBT WFN design, the 41 mag is more than enoguh gun for the vast majority of the American hunter's needs.

In fact, I had more 41 Mags in my collection on Sunday than I did on Tuesday.

My nephew's 16th birthday was on Monday. I gave him a call and told him that he needed to come over to the house to get his present. When he got to the house, I told him that he could go through my handgun safe and take any gun he wanted. He has shot most of them and figured that I was he was going to pick my Freedom Arms Casull.

In a rather big shocker, he wound up picking my custom Ruger Redhawk Stainless, with a 5.5" Barrel, in 41 Mag. It was completely worked over by Oglesby & Oglesby around 15 years ago. A real nice set of Jordan Troopers in French Walnut.

Anyway, the 41 Mag is one heck of a cartridge...

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2005, 09:00:57 AM »

It seems to me like making a light load for the 44 mag. makes more sense than buying a 41 mag. for which there is considerably less reloading material available. That's merely my highly qualified professional opinion! NOT!

Tad Houston · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2005, 09:04:14 AM »

I have that taurus tracker Ti. I really like it- very accurate and super light for backup carry when bow hunting. I shoot cast performance 250 gr. lead WFN in it- great close quarters backup for large boar hogs.

pastorp · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2005, 09:57:24 AM »

I like the 41mag, although I don't own one at the moment. I usually develope a load for each gun and pretty much stick to using it, so the absence of a large variety of factory loads and components never bothered me when I did own one. My all time favorite round for a handgun is the 45LC, next is the 41mag. I have killed game up to the size of large mule deer with a 41 and it worked fine. The one round I never did take to is the 44mag, maybe because everyone else has one.

I remember one day along the Tex-Mex border years ago a friend and I were shooting jacks. He was using a SAA in 44special and I a old Police positive target in 22 winchester. After the 3rd or 4th jack he shot ran off I lost all confidence in 44 caliber. The ones I shot rolled over dead. He was a good shot too, so I know he was not just missing them. You could see the fur fly but they just ran off.

Before you try to convince me different let me say my mind is made up no 44's for me. I'll stick with Gods caliber the grand old 45LC.

Regards, Byron " Let the crying begin"

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2005, 10:36:51 AM »

Quote from: pastorp

I like the 41mag, although I don't own one at the moment. I usually develope a load for each gun and pretty much stick to using it, so the absence of a large variety of factory loads and components never bothered me when I did own one. My all time favorite round for a handgun is the 45LC, next is the 41mag. I have killed game up to the size of large mule deer with a 41 and it worked fine. The one round I never did take to is the 44mag, maybe because everyone else has one.

I remember one day along the Tex-Mex border years ago a friend and I were shooting jacks. He was using a SAA in 44special and I a old Police positive target in 22 winchester. After the 3rd or 4th jack he shot ran off I lost all confidence in 44 caliber. The ones I shot rolled over dead. He was a good shot too, so I know he was not just missing them. You could see the fur fly but they just ran off.

Before you try to convince me different let me say my mind is made up no 44's for me. I'll stick with Gods caliber the grand old 45LC.

Regards, Byron " Let the crying begin"

Yea right, a 22 over a 44 Special for jack's. Makes me want to get rid of all my 44 cal's :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :shock: NOT!!!

pastorp · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2005, 11:44:49 AM »

Redhawk1, I'm glad you have come to your senses about this :-D I can only report what I saw. Can't explain it any more than Elmer Keith could explain his observed failures with the 30/06, however I believe he was truthful in stating his observations. Maybe thats why I don't own any 30/06's either. Regards, Byron

De41mag · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2005, 02:45:04 PM »

LJB;

I don't think you can go wrong with a 41. Now, to say that you can go down to your local Wally World and get all the ammo you want is a different story. Most gun shops carry some kind of 41mag. factory ammo.
And that's probably where you are going to get it. But there is an array of bullet weights from 170gr. to 250grs.
Now as far as telling you how good the 41 is, I could take up a lot of space. And so could Crawfish and JOE MACK. Those guys can Really inform you about the great 41. But you have made the choice to buy one, so good luck and good shooting with it. :grin:

Dennis

LJ Barrero · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2005, 06:12:49 PM »

Thank you for the help and information.

Just to clarify, I do own a S&W 629, 5" bbl, a GP100, 6" bbl, a Taurus 218 Bee, 6.5" bbl; and now... soon to be, the Taurus Ti 41 Mag. I also do reload for all my handguns and rifles.

I have read in this forum that if you shoot the heavier bullet with a mild load (about 1100 fps), the pressures are lower and the durability of the gun is better. Is this true? What would be a good mild load for the 240gr or 250 gr cast and for the 220gr jacketted?

LJB

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2005, 12:25:41 AM »

Good luck with the Taurus Ti 41 Mag. But if I got a 41 Mag, it would not be a Taurus. I would go with a S7W. JMHO.

crawfish · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2005, 01:16:15 AM »

Quote from: LJ Barrero

Thank you for the help and information.
Just to clarify, I do own a S&W 629, 5" bbl, a GP100, 6" bbl, a Taurus 218 Bee, 6.5" bbl; and now... soon to be, the Taurus Ti 41 Mag. I also do reload for all my handguns and rifles.

I have read in this forum that if you shoot the heavier bullet with a mild load (about 1100 fps), the pressures are lower and the durability of the gun is better. Is this true? What would be a good mild load for the 240gr or 250 gr cast and for the 220gr jacketted?

LJB

I have the Taurus you will be getting. It is my primary carry gun. I usually have it loaded with a 215g lead flat nose from Star bullets with 6.5g of Bullseye for an easy to control carry round. My 425 has never been hunting due to barrel length restrictions here in NC. I usually grab one of the other dozen .41 caliber handguns I have for that (10 .41RemMag and 3 .41 caliber wildcats). I have been a .41RemMag handgun hunter since 1989 and it wasn't until 1999 that I got something other than that and it was a .41 caliber wildcat. You will hear that the .41RemMag is dead or seriously ill mostly from .44RemMag shooters. IMO they just cant accept the fact that the .41RemMag will do anything the .44RemMag will up to 300g bullets with lest effort, less strain on the gun, less recoil, less pain in the hand and the critters you shoot will be just as dead be they four or two legged. I think that sticks in their craw. I dont shoot 250g bullets in my Taurus. They are a real handful in that 24oz gun. Since I cant hunt with it here in NC I stick to 850-1000fps power level with 170gJHP and 215g lead for carry loads. I enjoy carrying and shooting the 425 and Im sure youll like yours.

Questor · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2005, 03:07:56 AM »

The 41 mag has managed to hang on this long through a series of occasional marketing and magazine efforts to hail its merits. But look around. It's really a specialty cartridge for a niche customer base. Most people who think they need a 41 end up getting a 44 because of the many good reasons for doing so.

wis_sharpshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2005, 05:15:26 AM »

I have a taurus .41 Ti also I love it its light easy to carry and it does't have much muzzle jump. I load for it so i loaded some light loads for target and i have some hot 215gr hard cast for defense rounds. I don't think you can go wrong with this gun.

Jamie45 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2005, 09:21:04 PM »

I think the .41 is coming back because I am seeing more factory ammo available. I also think Taurus is helping that by offering the .41 in something other than a full size (heavy) revolver. Sometimes you just dont want to pack the weight of a full size BH, RH or N frame.

Speer recently brought out a Gold Dot in .41, which by the way, my steel Tracker put 10 rounds in under an inch at 25 yds from a Ransom Rest. It was the best factory performance I have found to date. I started with a Ti but found the recoil too much to handle. The extra 10 ounces in the steel model made a world of difference; it is now my favorite woods packing piece.

JOE MACK · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2005, 11:18:52 PM »

As long as some of us are around, it will still have it's staunch supporters. I've dropped my collection down to 38 firearms in .41Magnum. I sold two NIB blued Ruger Redhawks with 5.5 inch barrels recently. I then picked up Marlins Limited Edition 1894SS41 carbine. My dealer waved it in my face the day he unpacked it. Unfortunately, he knows my main weakness. New .41Magnums will keep popping up now and then just to keep the fans of the cartridge happy. Commercial ammunition can be had from 170grJHC to 265grFNGC stuff. I've got molds for 135grWC to the 300gr SSK type cast bullet. I do believe that we need more double action .41Magnums from S&W. It's really difficult to find them here in Kaliforiastan and when you do, the folks want a premium price. The .41Magnum die off? Never, there's too many people that are very fond of the cartridge! :grin:

pastorp · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2005, 12:32:20 PM »

Joe, Sounds like you've made up your mind what your favorite cartridge is.

Good for you. 38 of em you support your choice with your $$$ too. Regards, Byron

crawfish · « **Reply #20 on:** March 05, 2005, 08:28:15 PM »

Quote from: pastorp

Joe, Sounds like you've made up your mind what your favorite cartridge is. Good for you. 38 of em you support your choice with your $$$ too. Regards, Byron

Lets see Joe's got 38, there are two other posters here that have 17 and 24 can't recall their SN and I have 13 and there are at least a dozen that have one or two so we can account for over a hundred just here. Ive been shooting the .41RemMag since 1989 too old and set in my ways to go mucking about with something that works for me.

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #21 on:** March 11, 2005, 10:38:52 AM »

The 41 mag is one of my favorite and when I'm at my lease I usually have it with me.

S.B. · « **Reply #22 on:** March 11, 2005, 10:54:38 AM »

Quote from: pastorp

I like the 41mag, although I don't own one at the moment. I usually develope a load for each gun and pretty much stick to using it, so the absence of a large variety of factory loads and components never bothered me when I did own one. My all time favorite round for a handgun is the 45LC, next is the 41mag. I have killed game up to the size of large mule deer with a 41 and it worked fine. The one round I never did take to is the 44mag, maybe because everyone else has one.

I remember one day along the Tex-Mex border years ago a friend and I were shooting jacks. He was using a SAA in 44special and I a old Police positive target in 22 winchester. After the 3rd or 4th jack he shot ran off I lost all confidence in 44 caliber. The ones I shot rolled over dead. He was a good shot too, so I know he was not just missing them. You could see the fur fly but they just ran off.

Before you try to convince me different let me say my mind is made up no 44's for me. I'll stick with Gods caliber the grand old 45LC.

Regards, Byron " Let the crying begin"

I'm afraid I have a hard time agreeing that a .22, of any persuasion short of the varmit, rifle calibers, is a better killer of jacks than a .44 special? What was the load he was using? Are you sure he was hitting them solid? Any blood? I'd have to say that even the older round nose, lighter, specials should out perform your .22. Something is missing in this scenario? You may have your mind made up, but I'll stay with .44's, magnums and specials! To each their own?

LJ Barrero · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2005, 03:52:39 PM »

The Taurus model 425 Ti .41 mag is home! :-D

I will be taking it tomorrow to see how it behaves with factory loads (Win 175gr silver tips) and (Fed 210gr). :-)

Next step is to get the reloading parts for reloading .41 mag in my Dillon 550B. :wink:

This revolver is a real beauty. I hope is as durable as Taurus claims to be.

LJB

Dogshooter · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2005, 05:56:24 PM »

I have a couple of S&W's in 41 and have noticed that there is a resurgence in interest in them. Everyone that walks into the local gunshops are asking for them. Would be willing to bet that the shortage and the largescale interest in them will make Smith and Wesson start turning them out again.

LJ Barrero · « **Reply #25 on:** March 13, 2005, 06:36:16 PM »

I tested the Taurus Ti .41 Mag tracker revolver. I did not punch papers but rather killed tin can at 25 yards. Right out of the box tin can MOA accuracy. Both, the 175gr Win Silvertips hp and the Fed 210gr jhp were very strong in the recoil business (not as bad as saying I won't shoot that again; but a little punishing that I would definitely not shoot more than 50 rounds in a sitting. The revolver was as tight as it was new after the shooting. So far, it is a keeper! :grin:

LJB

JOE MACK · « **Reply #26 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:03:08 PM »

I've got a bunch of .41Magnums but have always been hesitant to buy a Taurus due to quality concerns. I may have to pick one up just to experiment but will probably purchase the SS one. I like to shoot and the Ti model might not take the number of .41s I use. Let us know how the titanium model holds up LJB. I just might have to change my mind.

1911crazy · « **Reply #27 on:** March 14, 2005, 11:53:12 PM »

I've always wanted a 41mag but just never got around to getting one maybe soon i will. I wish we had more choices in a double action revolver like in a S&W or Ruger. I would like to own both single action and double action in 41mag. besides my 357mag and 44mag handguns. While its an overlooked caliber because most go to the max or minimum(357mag or 44mag) from the choices we had years ago. I think there's more 41 fans mainly becasue we don't see that many used 41's for sale. I guess the only choice we have for now is the single action ruger in 41mag.
BigBill

If your not knocking down something with a 44mag you better check the load your using or is your barrel bent?(kidding) I use the 44 special rounds for shooting lead cast bullets at paper targets only. The magnum loads are for hunting you can cut back on the magnum load and still have more power than the 44 special so you can manage it well, i think it would give you the killing power your looking for that your missing.

LJ Barrero · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2005, 07:28:58 PM »

Joe Mack,

I think this revolver (the one I got) is well made. I shot the 175gr and the 210gr load (factory loads) and it took it just fine. They feel a little stiff for continuous shooting. I have reload some rounds with 210 gr HP/XTP over 10.0 gr of Blue Dot. That should give me velocities right around 1000 fps. I will find out if it feels more pleasant to shoot than the factory rounds. I will let you know.

LJB

Old Griz · « **Reply #29 on:** March 16, 2005, 07:34:34 PM »

:cb2: LJB, I'm glad you're getting a .41. I just got my first one, too. Sorry that you're gambling with a Taurus. I've been spending some time on the S&W forum--investigating the .41 before I bought it--and there seems to be quite a bit of support for it. I don't think it will die out any time soon. There are just too many of them out there. It may be the caliber that pushes me into reloading however, cuz ammo for it ain't cheap! Then again, I didn't buy it to be a plinker! Hope you enjoy yours, and again, good luck with the Taurus.