Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 41 mag handloads

I decided to start loading my 41 for an early doe season coming up and wanted to know how what my expected results would be. I've never loaded for any revolver before, just rifles. I 'm using Hodgdon HS-6 and 210 Gr. Sierra JHC. I am starting at 10.6 and going to work up to 11.8 grains,per Hodgdon Manual. I am using HS-6 because it is what I have on hand, I know there are probably better powders, but its what I have. I will be limiting shots to about 40 yards. Will this load work adequately for the intended game. Thanks

Should, can't see why it wouldn't. You know what velocities you are getting?

I haven't shot them yet and I don't have a chrony. Manual says 1186 @ 10.6 Gr and 1321 @ 11.8 Grs, so somewhere in that range I assume.

What barrel length?


Chrony results also would be interesting. One just never knows the velocity produced in his firearm until he gets test results. For example the Hodgdon's #26 manual says that 11.5 gr of HS-6 (max load) produces 1084 fps from a Ruger 5 inch barrel.

I am sure that your load will be quite lethal on a deer at the 40 yds you mentioned. But one could gain a bit of velocity and knock down power with a slower powder like H110.

Sometime in the future you might be interested in reserving the HS-6 to 900 fps practice loads and acquiring some H110 to make hunting loads.

My 7.5 inch Ruger Hunter model SBH produces 1450 fps with 210's and H110. My favorite bullet is the Hornady 210 XTP. Shooting into water has shown it to hold together well, and expand well at the above mentioned velocity. And it has proven to be, by far, the most accurate bullet I have worked with in this cartridge.

For practice shooting and plinking, I use the 210 gr Berry's bullet http://www.berrysmfg.com/ or the 210 gr Nosler seconds from Shooter's Pro Shop. They may usually be acquired for about half the price of Hornadys or Sierras.

We have a great bunch of 41 mag fans here. I have learned a lot from them since I purchased my SBH. A search of the handgun forum for "41 magnum" should yield a wealth of information.

youll be AMAZED at how effective a revolver is if you can shoot accurately,and that accurate shot placements critical to success, just be aware that game seldom reacts the same as game hit with a high velocity rifle, your much more likely to get a few short runs and a few game animals that don,t seem to be instantly impressed, that doesn,t mean the games going any place or won,t drop shortly, if you think of a revolver as an extremely effective bit of archery equipment youll get the basic idea.
get that velocity up in the 1250fps or higher range with good accuracy and youll have a very effective combo

Here are some favorite loads I have worked up for my various .41 Magnums over the past few years. The 18.5 grain load of Alliant 2400, 210 Sierra JHC, FED 155 primer in a Starline case is the only load that I have that works and groups perfectly in BOTH my Ruger NM and my Marlin M1894.

1.) 4-5/8" Ruger NM Blackhawk, 16.0 grains 2400, 215 LSWC, Rem 2-1/2, WW case, 1120 avg fps, nice mid-range lead bullet load.

2.) 4-5/8" Ruger NM Blackhawk, 18.5 grains 2400, 210 Sierra JHC, FED 155, Starline case, (MAX in this revolver).

3.) 20" Marlin M1894FG, 18.5 grains 2400, 210 Sierra JHC, FED 155, Starline case, 1685 avg fps (Not MAX in the Marlin, but shoots great in carbine & revolver).

4.) 4-5/8" Ruger OM Blackhawk, 17.0 grains 2400, 210 Sierra JHC, FED 155, Starline case, 1098 avg fps (MAX in this OM revolver).

Had at least five .41 Magnums covering 4" and 6" Model 57's and 6 1/2" and 4 5/8" Blackhawks.

Settled on a load of 16 grains of 2400 with a Fed 150 and my cast 220 grain WFN. This is a mild load, IIRC one manual listed it as a starting load with 2400. But this got almost exactly 1200 fps in my 6 1/2" BH and about 1150 in the shorter barrels.

It was uniformly accurate in all the .41's it was tried in. You can easily take the .41 higher but this was a great day in day out load with good trajectory and was very easy on the shooter.

This load also works well with any commercial cast 215 SWC although you may get some leading depending on your throat dimensions and the bullet composition. If so just load the last 5 or 6 rounds of the day with a jacketed bullet to clean it out.

Thanks for the post! I recently got a Ruger BH, but have not gotten the chance to shoot it yet. I have dies and a first run of reloading supplies. Looking for good loads too!

For deer hunting purposes I favor the Hornady XTP in my .41 magnum and .44 magnum revolvers. I've never recovered one. From the looks of the wound channels they open fast but not too wide and go where they're supposed to post impact. Accuracy is exceptional. For deer hunting I load them over 19.5 grains of H-110. I would agree with the other posters that you should get some H-110 or 2400.

OK, I already have H-110 and W-296 for 44 mag.

The Hornady manual says 22.7 gr of H110 is max with the 210 gr bullet at 1400 fps from a 6 inch Smith.

The Hodgdons #26 says 21 gr of H110 is max with the 210 at 1450 fps from a six inch Ruger.

Nosler says 20.9 gr max of H110 will push their 210 to 1650 fps, but that is from a ten inch barrel.

And Sierra says 20.1 gr of H110 is max with their bullet at 1250 fps from a six inch Smith.

My tests indicate that the 170 gr Sierra is much more frangible than the 210 gr XTP. I have not worked with the 210 gr Sierra, but greater frangibility might explain the lower velocity listed with it.

I really, really like the 210 XTP over 21 gr H110. It also shoots well from the Marlin carbine, but kicks just a bit in the rifle.

I have owned a 4" 57, 6" 657, 4 5/8 OM ruger, and currently have 2 657s so I have had 5 also Jim, all shot well, most common load was 20.1, 20.5 and 21 grains of H110. Just loaded up some a couple of days ago, the Rem 210 JSPs have done very well as have many other jacketed and a few cast, but I have a LOT of XTP's I bought many years back and I hope to take a deer with one. One is a Classic Hunter which I may keep scoped the other original 657 design fluted short lug, also both pre-lock (both have 2x Leupolds) and shoot better than I can....around 2-2.5" at 50 yds.

Took a deer with a 29 using a 240/1050fps w/10 or 10.5 unique. I never enjoyed that 44 when I used Keith loads 2400, too much blast, recoil, fire...in evenings, and alot of smoke. The Unique made the gun so much more pleasant and took a doe for me at very close range lung shot. Later owned a couple of 629 4" and made some hits on milk jugs filled with water at 100 and 150 yds offhand about 10 years back. A witness later said, what were you using a 6"? I said no, and he said I shot better than most using a rifle....that was then. 200 grain Noslers 4 grains off max using 296.

My experience over the years taught ME that for me, a mid range load is so much more pleasant...I do load full loads in 41 and can do ok, but the 44 mag is more gun than I want/need, when loaded to the hilt, and I know first hand, and so do many that a 40 plus cal bullet, 200 gr or +, going 1000 fps or better, is deer medicine to 50 yds with a decent hit, so I vow if/when I ever may shoot a 44 mag again, it will be downloaded, and a midrange bullet/load ie. 210 silvertip at 1200 would be a good place to start.

Rest assured a 41 cal loaded mid range is fine on closer shots, loaded up in longer bbls they can be effective to 100 yds and more on deer with placement (applies to any round).

I settled on Universal Clays in lieu of Unique, etc. as it is 1) much cleaner burning, as is H110/W296 vs 2400, and 2) it meters so much nicer thru measure. Dropped about 1.5 grains vs a load of Unique to equal velocity. SO, 8-8.5gr of U. Clays under a 210 grain, in 41 mag, or 9-9.5 gr under a 240gr in a 44 mag are a good place to start. For deer where 50 yds is your long shot, they will get it done, with complete pass thru likely the norm.

I am sure the OP using HS-6 will do just fine. One recommendation, just get out and practice ...often.

It's funny. I just did some chrono'ing with a 7.5" 657. I have two loads that I've tried so far. One utilizes WC 820 (Surplus powder similar to H110) and Hodgdon Lil' gun. The WC 820 load is firing a 210 gr Hornady XTP, the Lil' Gun is using a 235 gr Truncated cone Bear creek Moly coated lead bullet. Here is the data I have. I was doing the averaging thing and did not take detailed notes other than average velocity.

Bullet - Hornady 210 HP-XTP
Case - Winchester new
Primer - Remington Large Pistol
Powder - WC 820
Powder weight - 19.9 gr
Average Velocity of 5 rounds - 1323 fps

Bullet - 235 gr Bear Creek Moly coated lead Truncated cone
Case - Winchester 1x fired
Primer - Remington Large Pistol
Powder - Hodgdon Lil' Gun
Powder weight - 18.0 gr
Average Velocity of 5 rounds - 1315 fps

I was not loading for accuracy nor did I bench rest the rounds to check for accuracy, yet, but I can tell you it was somewhat of a handfull, even with the 7.5" tube. Whether it would be adequate for your use or not, I couldn't tell you. I hope this helps.. at least in a small way. Personally, I'd not use HS6 for a large case like the 41 magnum. It would probably be economical, but I tend to like powder that fills the case to a higher capacity like these two I picked. YMMV.

My standard hunting .41 mag load is 21.0gr H-110 under a 210 XTP. I like Federal Magnum primers when I can find them But do use winchester as well.

I would personally choose Magnum primers or Win primers, w/slow powders like H110/W296 but never chrono'd to know....I'd suspect more consistency.

Just returned from a Wyoming mule deer hunt yesterday, I took a nice fork horn buck at 66 yds with my Ruger 41 Bisley. From my 5 1/2" barrel I get 1325 fps using a 230 gr Keith & 18 grs of 2400, standard primer, mixed brass. The buck was facing me straight on & the shot hit him just left of center, nicked the shoulder, went through one lung & the top of the heart, exited the diaphram into the guts & exited in front of the right hind quarter, he was alive 4-5 seconds & ran maybe 50 yds. My alloy is straight wheel weights. This combo works great & we've used it up to bull moose size with one shot kills.


Dick

Idaho1945,

Congrats on the buck and great shooting!

nice shooting! What mould was that you're useing?

Congratulations Idaho1945. That is good shooting especially with open sights.

The mould is an old Saeco 4 cavity that I've had for many, many years, drops them right at 232 grs from WW alloy, I've taken a lot of game with them, deer, elk, bear, feral hogs, javelina. My hunting buddy took his bull moose with one of them last fall, 63 yds, one shot out of his Ruger Redhawk. The bull was down & out before we walked up to him, very impressive. The shot was straight on, I'll try to post a photo of the moose tomorrow.

Dick