Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .41 Mag 215 lead SWC loads

I have a box of Missouri Bullets 215 grain lead SWC bullets for my .41 Magnum but am having a somewhat difficult time finding a lot of data for it. I did find some data on the internet that indicates 16 grains of 2400, 9 grains of Unique, and 6.5 grains of Trail Boss. Do any of you have any suggestions on moderate but firm loads for these bullets.

I have been loading 21.5 grains of H110 behind 210 grain Hornadys but would like to settle on a load with lead bullets for general shooting.

8.0 grains of Unique is what I have been shooting for 30+ years...950 fps in a 4" barrel. Duplicates the velocity of the original 210 lead Police Load...

I use 23 grains of H110 with the Hornady 210 jacketed..rounds drop right out of the S&Ws and primers nice and round....

bob

If that don't work, you need to reconsider what you're doing with it.

Im using 6.5gr of Titegroup with a 215gr LSWC and was shocked when I shot it over my chrono and was getting right at 1200 fps out of a 4" model 57 with light recoil and great accuracy.

18 grains of 2400 with 210s is what I shoot. No signs of excessive pressure and the rounds are not as sooty as when I tried 110 or 296. Accuracy is great.

I think I am addicted to the .41 now.

http://stevespages.com/410p_2.html

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/41data.htm

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41heavy.htm

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41magnum.htm

For several years my go-to load for .41 Magnum was 16.0 grains of 2400 under an LBT 220 grain WFN, both gas checked and plain base. It got almost exactly 1200 fps from a 6 �� Blackhawk. The plain base did not lead with my alloy and revolver dimensions but at that speed it could produce leading in another revolver. But I liked it because it was relatively mild and superbly accurate.

IIRC that was the starting load listed in the Hornady manual for their 210 grain XTP. 2400 is a very good powder for loads in the 80% range or there abouts since it maintains its ballistic uniformity and accuracy even when loaded down 20 or 25% from max. I have seen that well behaved property across the board in the .357, .41, .44 Special and Magnum and the .45 Colt.

I use 18.5 of H110 and a 410459, 220gr. with a heavy roll crimp, Its a mild load and very accuate in my 57s. I tried bumping it up a bit but the end result didnt change that much. the 200yd rams didnt seem to go down any better with the hotter loads than they do with the mid range load. I am working with the WC820 and its close to the same results but a tad cheaper.

I also experienced the sooty syndrome, and found that the heavy crimp lessened it alot. Mixture adjustment I guess, got a better burn. I also tried different bullet lubes, ended up with the harder consistency ones instead of the alox /javelina formulas. less burnt residue to remove.

Stay with a Flat base cast bullet, never got the accuracy with the bevel base styles that I have achieved with the Keith designs.

I looked up Missouri Bullets and found a 215 gr Keith. Specs were Brinnel 18, so its a magnum capable hard cast. I have been shooting 18 - 20 Brinnel hard casts in my 41 Blackhawk for about 15 years now.
Use your load for the 210 XTP, back it down for comfort, or shoot it just the way you do the XTPs. The hardness of these wont lead up the barrel even at full mag velocitys, Well I should say under 1400 FPS, after that put gas checks on them for best results.

Swifty

With my 215 grains SWC hard cast bullets, I've been using 8.5 grains Unique in my S&W 57 6" bbl., for years. I get 985 +/- FPS, chrono.

I've shot completely through a medium size Mule deer at about 85 yards +/-, and through-'n-through a large Black bear at about 15 yards.

Works just fine for me.

As Bob said, 8.0 grains Unique also give plenty of "ooomph!"

L.W.

I like 2400 in any magnum revolver load. 296/110 will usually give a bit more energy, but 2400 isn't as finicky.

Based on how well it worked in .44 mag full power loads, I'd give Lil'Gun a try; Hodgdon does have data for it, in the .41 mag online.

I was real happy with HS-6 for mid range loads. Cna't remember if it was 9 or 11 grs, but it was real pleasent to shoot, velocity was around 950.

Today I chronographed some 215 grain SWC loads with 8 grains and 9 grains of Unique. The 8 grain load was measured at a little over 1,000 f/s and the 9 grain load was measured at around 1,100 f/s. The 210 grain Hornady JHP load of 21.5 grains of H110 was also just a bit over 1,100 f/s but had a great deal more muzzle blast.

Notropis, what handgun and barrel length were you using??

Thanks.

L.W.

That is a little "odd"....

From your velocities with Unique I am guessing you are using a 6" or 6.5" barrel...yet your H110 velocities are way below what they should be. 23 grains of H110 in a 6.5" barrel gets in the 1400 fps range in my guns. 21.5 should be in the 1200s... Make sure you really put a max crimp on both Unique and H110 loads as without adequate bullet pull with Unique you will get "unclean" burning and with H110 you'll have what looks like little black ball bearing all over the bore. A heavy crimp and Winchester LP primers are Magnum primers from other makers lessen that.

I load my H110 loads so that the base of the bullet contacts the powder to eliminate all air space. This gives the cleanest burn, max velocity and lowest shot to shot Standard Deviation using this powder. If I don't want a Max load I use another powder like SR4756...

Bob

I was shooting an old pinned/recessed M57 with a 4 inch barrel. I was surprised the H110 loads were not faster. I might try some 2400. I started with H110 because it seemed that the loading data for 2400 was all over the board from the different sources. The H110 seemed to max out at about 22 grains from most sources. I generally use H110 in .357 Magnum loads and 2400 in bigger stuff. I used WLP primers most of the time. The cases are crimped about as heavily as the dies will allow.

9 grains Unique with 215 SWC lead 1117, 1077, 1100, 1117

8 grains Unique with 215 grain SWC 1039, 1002, 1079, 1048

21.5 grains 210 XTP Hornady 1185, 1145, 1115, 1101

The velocitys as posted for the load using unique arent that far off for a 4" barrel. Powders I have used in the 41 range from Red Dot, unique, and W296. You might be over belling the brass, had this happen to me on a set of dies. The belling die was mis cut, going to deep in the brass. My favorite 41 mag is AA #9. mild to Hot loads are no problem with it.
Good luck

Swifty

Looked up data and the closest I have is:

From a 6" S&W:
21.5/296/200 Speer/1243 (296 and H110 are the same powder)
23.0/H110/210 Hornady/1350
23.0/H110/210 Hor. Sil./1375
Federal 210/1350
Remington 210 SP/1310

All these rounds were chroned on the same day...

Add 10 grains of bullet weight to Load #1 and subtract 2" of barrel and you are in the 1100s...

When I use H110 there is no air space left in the cartridge. Your loads show a 84 fps spread...mine are usually 20 or under.

I rarely use H110/296 in 4" barrels...just too much wasted powder burned past the end of the barrel...that is the muzzleblast you are getting...

Just found an old entry from 1984...4" M57/210 Hornady/23 grains/H110/1250 fps. I show the exact same velocity from the same gun and bullet with 13 grains of SR4756 which is much faster burning and much less muzzleblast.

Bob

I've shot 17 gr/2400, Std primer, Remington cases, for many years through my three M57s. It shoots great in all. I played with many different powders, but always have come back to 2400. As others here have said, it's less tempermental and really accurate. I also load 17.5 w/ 210 gr. jacketed bullets; they print to the same POI to 50 yards.