Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Does anyone shoot a 41 anymore?

Maybe someone here can help me:In either my Taurus or Ruger,I cant get as much vel. with my handloads as with fed. fact.I get avg of 1230 fps in taurus with fact. loads,for instance.<P>Rem 210 gr ahead of 17.5 gr of2400 is very consistent,but 1035 fps is the avg.<P>Rem 210 and 20 gr h110 gets me 1130 fps<P>Nos 210 with 20.5 gr of h110 shows 1152 across my chrono.<P>The ruger is fasterwith same loads due to barrel length but still wont equal fact or what the manual shows or what you guys report.I've loaded for rifle and shotgun for 35 yrs but this is my first stab at handgun.<P>Primer in both loads is cci mag.I've tried crimping deeper and have basically what the nosler manual describes in that regard.<P>Any ideas?

Gene....I have never used 2400 but have used a lot of H110/WW296. With 210 grain HP's my guns top out at between 23-24 grains. A 210 Hornady FMJ shoots 1450 from a 5.5" Redhawk with 24 grains. This load is too warm in my 10" Contender barrel but shoots just fine in my 14". I have not tried it in my S&W guns however. Work up slowly in .5 grain steps as each gun and chamber is different. This with WW brass & WW LP primers. Brass, primers and powder lot will make a difference. With the slow burning powders you need a good crimp. I just started using the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die and it works real nice. My second favorite in Lyman. Seems to put a better crimp on than the RCBS. Which Taurus do you have? The titanium??? I would like to buy one some day but will probably shoot the 170 Sierra or the 170 cast bullets from Penn Bullets......Bob

RJM,thanks for responding.I have the "heavy" tracker.I didn't have the chance to handle either one as my dealer had to order one for me.The other day I saw a Titantium in a .45 long colt.I guess I'm glad I got the steel one,but maybe the light ones will hold up ok.<P>I just got back from town where I got some ww primers- they didnt have federal.I'm going to go out and load a few to see if the primers cure my misfires in DA mode.That will give me a good chance to start over with h110 at about 19.5 gr. and work up as you suggest.<P>I was hoping to be able to shoot the same load in the ruger and the tracker, but maybe I cant.Will the crimper you mentioned work in my rcbs press?

Morning Gene.....You really haven't said what these loads are going to be used for. Also is your Ruger a 6.5" or the shorty? The Ruger will probably the higher pressure with less wear on the gun than the Taurus will.<P>If these are for big game hunting and you want expansion the 210's need as high an impact velocity as possible to attain good expansion. I don't even bother with 210's any more except for target shooting. The 170 Sierra can be pushed easily to 1500 fps even in short barrels and expands much better. My guns will take 26-26.5 grains of H110. If you read the Paco kelly articles on sixgunner.com, he uses 800X and gets 1700 fps from his 4 5/8" Ruger. I may try that powder one day but for now I'm happy with 1500+. <P>For a light deep penetrating bullet that can be driven the same speed try the 200 Speer 3/4 jacket HP. 23-24 grains of H110 has been safe in all my guns that includes two M57's. 24 grains is a compressed load and you have to be careful not to distort the nose of the bullet. <P>Most of my shooting now is with the 255 cast bullet from CPBC. 22 grains of H110 gives 1300-1450 fps depending on the gun. There are lots of great cast bullets in .41 from Cast Performance Bullet Comapny, Penn Bullets, Beartooth Bullets and Leadhead Bullets from 170 to 295 grain. Have been shooting that 255 in a TC barrel chambered for .41x.455 SuperMag with 42 grains of AA1680 for a velocity of 2070 with no leading at all.<P>Primers.....the WW are especially formulated for the Ball Powders. The CCI magnums work fine also but use Standard Primers for 2400. The aritcles I have read have all asid the same thing, that there is too much flash with a magnum prmer for 2400. Elmer Keith found the same and always used standard primers for this heavy .357, 41 and .44 loads.<P>As far as I know the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp Die will work in any press. I use mine in a Dillon 450. If you just have a RCBS single station it will work. I don't know about their progressives.<P>Good shooting....Bob

Mornin'BOB,The ruger is the long barrel version,i guess.It is for hogs.The taurus is for carry.<P>The ww primers fixed the misfire in DA problem.I may get into the cast bullet deal someday,but I've got my spare time taken up with rifles right now.<P>There is a wealth of info in your last post and I will get my wife or daughter to print it out for me when they get up.Too windy[ 40mph plus] to shoot today so I'll try some of the loads you mentioned.Much obliged again.GENE.

I've about decided a fella could go crazy with this revolver reloading! you got most of the variables you have with a rifle and then you add crimping, then multiply by six.<P>I loaded a few with different weights of H110 this am and chrono'ed them.I'm going to just concentrate on the ruger for now.<P>I'm getting there,thanks to you.

Gene....So where are you in NC Texas? I lived in Dallas for 11 years. Was a great city to live in. <P>Cast bullets...not me, I prefer to buy them. I stopped casting in 1980 when did several years in commercial reloading. If you are in the Dallas area Mike Rucker of Rucker Bullet Company in Terrell made great bullets.<P>So how did your loads come out? Pistol loading isn't really very hard especially for revolvers. The cases do however need to be all trimmed to the same length at least once. I never had any problem with lengthening .41's but .357 stretched like crazy. <P>I just bought my 6.5" Blackhawk a few months ago and the only load I chrono'd out of it was the 170 grain Sierra. 25 grains of H110 was 1600 fps and 26 grains was 1650. Didn't have any of the 26.5 grain loads but the Redhawk went up 35 fps. I standardized at 26 grains as the 14" and 10" TC barrels only went up 10 fps with the last .5 grains. That tells me the H110 is about maxed out and the extra .5 grains isn't worth it.....Bob<BR>

So Ryan.....You started this post....did you get your own .41 yet??? I got to shoot the Gary Reeder Custom last week but havn't had any time this week to get out. How about any other .41 shooters....share some loads maybe??? Bob

Well Bob, I would own one but at this moment in time I a little strapped for cash. I am going to college, my room mate just moved home, and I am getting married in a year. But, I just got a new job and it looks like it may come this summer. I will probably get a blackhawk because that is what i can afford now. I guess we will see this summer but it looks promising. Thanks, Ryan

Well Bob, haven't been shooting as much as I should. We have been beating back the politicians with their registration bill lately. Let us know haw that Gary Reeder .41 shoots when you get the chance. <P>Talk to you later<P><P>------------------<BR>Rick

Hi Rick.....The Reeder custon Bisley has been shooting well but I stopped using it because the Wolf mainspring hasn't been busting some of the WW caps. Have a full power replacement coming from Brownells this week. Other than that Gary Reeder's work is excellent....Bob

Well, I finally got out to the range today to test the 255 grain CBPC bullets. I started at 18 grains of H110, and worked my way up to 22.5 grains . Velocity started off at 1060 fps average (5 shots) with 18.0 gr and topped off at 1250 fps with 22.5 gr. Primers were starting to flatten at 21.5 grains, and cratered at 22.5 grains. 22.0 grains seems to be the max load. Average velocity of 1230 fps from a 4" barrel isn't too bad. I have alot more work to do developing the loads for these bullets, but it looks really promising. RJM, thanks for the help earlier. I probably would still be thinking, "I should try those bullets", if you hadn't mentioned your experience with them.

Again, my apologies for being so late coming to this forum. Lots of good .41 info! Wish I'd been looking here earlier. Just finished my 255gr. CBPC load development for my SW m57 in 8 3/8. I ended up with 16 gr. 2400 with cci magnum pistol primers. I didn't know about using regular primers with 2400, now I've got a box of 50 loaded. No pressure signs and they shoot less than 1" at 25yds from a rest, no idea about velocity...any guesses? I'm sure I could push it higher, but didn't see the need. This is strictly a close range bear defense load.<P>I stumbled on my .41 by accident, like most of the good things in my early years. Bought it used 22 years ago, and it was old then. I was just 16, and my Dad had to sign for it. It came with Pachmeyer grips and a trigger job, somebody really liked this one. Still shoots like a dream. The only magnum pistol I've ever ben able to hit anything with.<P>John

Shotone....Been a while since I've been over here. I forget, what gun are you using for that load? I haven't had any noticeable primer flattening and went up to 22.5 grains of H110 with the 255 but only got a 10 fps gain and that tells me the H110 is about topped out. Also what cases are you using? I switched over to WW from Remington as I found the Rem.'s would show pressure signs way before the WW would. Also make sure you put a real heavy crip on the bullet. I just bought one of the Lee Carbide Crimp Dies and it works great.<BR>John.....at a guess I would say you are in the 1000-1100 fps range. How is the recoil? In the S&W M57 loads over 1200-1250 will stand the gun up in my hand. <BR>Found a mint M657 4" that I put on law-a-way. Was $395 which is a little higher than I have been paying but this one looks little shot and has slick double action.....and of course I haven't even seen one for sale in a long time......Bob

RJM,<P>I'm shooting a M57 with a 4" barrel. I used new/sized Federal brass and CCI350 primers. I've had a chance to examine the primers in more detail since I posted my findings. I don't think the primers cratered. Upon closer inspection, it looks like some firing debris lodged near the firing pin hole and indented the cases. I've heard CCI has thinner primer cups, but I can't confirm it. Also, extraction of the cases was easy compared to some Bluedot loads I just shot. Finally, the chronograph data showed steady 25 fps increases in velocity per 1/2 grain all the way to 22.5 gr of H110. I may push it a little harder the next time out.<P>A poster on another board swore by the Redding Profile crimp dies, so I bought one. It's supposed to form a great heavy roll crimp and smooth out the case after bullet seating. I've heard good things about the Lee, as well. I'm sure I'll end up trying it.<P>One question for you, what would be the best shot placement for the 255gr bullet on deer? I've heard conflicting advice on this matter. Some say the bullets don't expand in soft tissue, so go for the shoulders or spine for a quick drop. The other thing I've heard is that the bullet meplat is large and it penetrates deeply, mostly through, so a heart lung shot is fine. I, myself, don't know. I've only hunted with rifles, but would like to take the .41 along next season.<P>Thanks for your help.

The ruger 41 mag centenial model was the only gun I ever sold, and I still regret it to this day. Don't ask me why. My redhawk out performs it every way possible but there's just something about owning a selective caliber that apeals to me.

It is so plesent to see so much about my all time like best caliber. I have been a handgun only hunter since an accident in 1989 prevents me from using longguns. My very first hunting pistol was a scoped S/W 657. I killed my first handgun deer with it in 1991. That deer is also my best deer. I traded that 675 in 1993 for my first T/C Contender. I have used only Contenders since. That will change in a few weeks. Like RJM I too had Gary Reed make me up a custom .41. He is making his Kodiak Magnum as a duel cylinder 5 shooter in .41RemMag and .41GNR. I talked to him on Saturday and he told me that my gun will be tested this week and should be in my hand by 30JUL. YAHOOOOO [img]images/icons/laugh.gif" border="0[/img] . I sent him a never fired SBH on 10 FEB so I have been waiting for a while. Even though I have had a .41 hunting wheel gun for 7-8 years I'm not .41 shie. I currently have 3 scoped 14 inch Contender barrel sets in .41. I have a Fox Ridge .41RemMag, a BullBerry in .41RemMag, and one from Gary in his .41 wildcat the .41GNR#2. Ihave had the .41GNR#2 since AUG00 but haven't had a chance to shoot it. I have been under Dr's orders to not shoot anything larger than 22lr until I get check in NOV of this year, 18 months of no shooting is making me nuts. <BR>I have two grown son who have been shooting all the stuff I load for the .41GNR#2. They each killed 300lb+ pigs this year with it. I have been working up loads with 250-280gr GC bullets from CPB and BT using 100/296, 4759, 4227, and 1680.<BR>I really enjoy shooting the .41s'. Even though I have 10 other barrel sets for my Contender frames I usually geab something in .41 to play with and to hunt. Just look at my signature, says it all.<BR> [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

Crawfish...I should have read this post first apparently and also should have know it was you as we did email earlier in the year. So the gun is finally coming...great, and now I hope you are well enough to use it after that little "acciident" you wrote me about. <P>As to where to shoot deer with a cast bullet I have taken two lung shots at close range with Lyman/Thompson style cast SWCs and haven't been happy with the results. Both were close shots and the deer ran a long way. My next try with a cast bullet will be the 255 CPBC bullet at 1400 fps and it will be aimed for the shoulder. 22.5 grains of H110 in my 5.5" gun was doing right at 1350-1400..... .41's forever.....Bob