Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Cast loads for the 41 Mag

I picked up a nice 6 inch model 57 yesterday and I would like to shoot lead through it. My main intentions for these loads will be a soft load for plinking and practice, and a heavy load for deer. What do you guys think is the way to go if your using cast bullets? Thanks.

Jeff

The original Remington and WW 210gr lead swc police loads were loaded to about 1000 fps and leaded like a sob. The bullets were really soft. If you are going to cast your own Lyman and RCBS both have 210 plain base molds, I have both and with a wheelweight mix I can get 1000-1100 fps with accuracy and Unique.Guy needs to step up to slow burners like 2400,H110,and 296 for more velocity. If you choose to push them faster than 1100 or so you also need a harder alloy like #2 or lino. I use the slow load I told you about and when I want faster I load slower powders and JACKETED BULLETS. Lyman used to make a gas check mold but 410 cal gaschecks are out of commercial production. Go To Cast Boolitts web site if you need to buy tooling to make your own.Maybe Lazer cast or one of the other custom bullet caster will make you a plain base hard alloy bullet the can be shot faster without problems? Magnum Man

I have been shooting the S&W41 mag for 40 years.I use an H&G #253 lfn 220gr or lyman 410459 swc.8 grains of Unique for 900fps from a4" barrel and metal is straight wheel weights cast and dropped in cold water.They can easily be driven to 1250 or1300 fps without leading.My son shot the H&G end to end through an Ohio doe DRT.

I've been loading for the .41 a long time, three M57s, initially thought as you are articulating. These days, however, I've settled on one load for everything - 215 gr hard cast (commercially bought) or 210 gr. JSP, Rem or Starline brass, std primers, 17 gr. 2400 (for the hard cast bullets), 17.5 for jacketed bullets. These hit the same POI at 50 yards, are wonderfully accurate, very effective.

For large game, I'd use the hard cast exclusively.

I shoot air cooled wheel weight cast in mine and try to keep them around 1200-1300.
For jacketed bullets I shoot the 170 grain Sierra.

Several years ago I tested every heavy cast bullet I could find for the 41 magnum. My goal was to decide what weight and style my guns liked and have a mold made. I used a 61/2" Ruger BH and a 4" S&W 57. I still have the Ruger but regrettably traded off the S&W. I shot nine different bullets from 250 to 295 grains with three different powders. I shot them all at 25 yards through a Ransom Rest. I confirmed my belief that the old myth that the 41 magnum would not shoot heavy cast bullets well, is indeed false. Most shot into tiny little groups and the heaviest of the bunch, the Penn 295 grain truncated cone shot extremely well in both guns. It was a bit heavier than I wanted and ended up with a 265 grain WLN LBT mold. I have used that bullet for many years now although I have not had the opportunity to take any big game with it. It does go with me as my bear protection when I don't carry a rifle.

I also have the Lyman 410459 and used to have the Lyman 410610, a 215 grain gas checked bullet. Either would make a fine whitetail bullet cast from wheel weights. They both shoot well in my Ruger. In fact I have only found one cast bullet that did not shoot reasonably well, a 260 SWC from BRP (don't know if they are still in business). It is not a reflection on their bullet. Their bullets were very consistent and beautifully cast but neither gun liked them for whatever reason. Both guns did show a preference for the weight forward design of the LBT style bullets.

I tend to prefer the heavier bullets and if I were in your shoes I would most likely try several cast bullets of various designs and then have one of the many excellent mold makers turn out a mold for the bullet you like best. Just a note from my personal experience. I would never bother to have gas check mold made again for a handgun cartridge. My LBT mold was cut for gas checks at my request, (I wasn't experienced enough yet to know better). They really are a waste of time and money on a handgun round IMO.

After I had finished testing all the heavy bullets at full throttle loads I used the remainder to try some mild loads. I found all the bullets that shot well with full house loads shot well with light loads. The 41 "Special" level loads are a joy to shoot and do a number on coyotes called in close. Not much fur damage and not much fight left in the coyote after receiving a 265 grainer at 750fps.

Accurate Molds has some excellent bullet designs and are really good to deal with. They made a mold for my 400 Whelen, allowing me to request two different weights in the same mold. I got a brass mold from them and it is a thing of beauty. They have a 41-240 and a 41-250A that I really like the looks of, as well as some lighter and heavier bullets of various designs.

Good luck with your 57 and your cast bullet adventures.

Mart

I like 215-220gr cast bullets for small game/target plinking and use the 210XTP for deer hunting. I only use 2400 and find it quite suitable for any need. 10grs get about 850-900fps with the cast bullets, and 20grs gets 1500fps with the XTP. 17grs sends a 245gr Cast SWC out the barrel at 1350fps, and that isn't even a top load for that weight.