41 Magnum

[mmcnx2]

Anybody actively shoot a 41 Mag?

I'm looking for something out of the ordinary and reloadable round that is available in a new or like new gun.

Have a 45 Auto revolver, a 38 special auto, a 357 Mag auto due in next week and a 38 super auto. Also have a 9mm revolver on order that according to S&W will show up about a day after hell freezes over. So what next?

[Eric Marleau]

My Ruger .41 mag. Blackhawk is my favorite magnum revolver. My hunting reloads are deadly for deer, and my target reloads are extremely accurate.
Great caliber.


Eric

[dupa]

i have a S&W 57-2 in 41 mag.. I was looking for something different when i picked it up and i'm glad i did. I have no complaints about it, it's smooth and accurate and so far has done everything i've asked it too. I made a chest holster for this next deer season specifically for this gun (and for a lefty).. I plan to break it in the right way this fall. i haven't picked up the reloading components for it yet, but that's in the works.

[azonesolutions]

Had a S&W 58 which I replaced with a Taurus Titanium Tracker. Great gun for BWCA and such.

[Seismic Sam]

Got a Tanfoglio GT-41 which shoots 41 Action Express, which can approach 41 mag stats. Swap out a barrel, a recoil spring, and mag, and your 9mm is a 41 Mag lite. Neener neener neener...

[crbutler]

.41 mag for some reason seems to be a bit more accurate guns than the .44.

They both recoil about as much, they both have about the same bullet SD offerings, and they are both very effective up to medium game hunting wise.

They are both also pretty much overkill in their factory variants as far as self defense. The original "plan" with the .41 Mag was a LE load that is roughly between a .40S&W and a 10mm in power (much lighter than factory) and the full power stuff for hunting, but it never caught on with LE for various reasons.

The most accurate handgun I own is a .41 mag S&W performance center gun that I can get 1" groups at 100 yards with off the bench. None of the ones I have had has had any problems with accuracy. But they weigh about what a .44 mag weighs, the ammo is less common, and if you want to go after really big game, the .44 is a better mousetrap.

The .41 AE was an attempt to make a lighter, shorter 10mm also, basically, 10mm on a 9mm frame, and given that Sam is the only one who has one, well, you can see how popular THAT was.

[Lumpy]

They are both also pretty much overkill in their factory variants as far as self defense. The original "plan" with the .41 Mag was a LE load that is roughly between a .40S&W and a 10mm in power (much lighter than factory) and the full power stuff for hunting, but it never caught on with LE for various reasons.

Two questions: first, is .41 magnum overpowered even with hollowpoint ammunition? Second, could you cut down a magnum case to make a .41 Special?

[Holland&Holland]

They are both also pretty much overkill in their factory variants as far as self defense. The original "plan" with the .41 Mag was a LE load that is roughly between a .40S&W and a 10mm in power (much lighter than factory) and the full power stuff for hunting, but it never caught on with LE for various reasons.

Two questions: first, is .41 magnum overpowered even with hollowpoint ammunition? Second, could you cut down a magnum case to make a .41 Special?

Why would you cut it down? Why not just download it?

[Lumpy]

Why would you cut it down? Why not just download it?

Didn't know you could do that- shows what I know.

[crbutler]

As above, it is easy to download the round.

Even with hollow points, the full load ammo will overpenetrate from a SD perspective.

As to cutting it down to make .41 special, that is how one makes a .41 special (which is a wildcat cartridge) a .41 colt is dimensionally different, how much so, I don't know.

[mmcnx2]

Been looking around and notice Ruger makes the Blackhawk in 41 mag. Anybody shoot the blackhawk revolver and have an opinion on then compared the S&W revolvers.

[Eric Marleau]

I reload a beautiful range load with cast bullets and IMR 4227 powder.

For hunting, I use HP/XTP bullets and H110 powder.


Eric

[Lumpy]

As to cutting it down to make .41 special, that is how one makes a .41 special (which is a wildcat cartridge) a .41 colt is dimensionally different, how much so, I don't know.

According to Wikipedia's List of Handgun Cartridges, the .41 Colt and some other 40/41 cartridges are officially .401 caliber (10.2mm) while the .41 Special and Magnum are .410 caliber (10.4mm).

This is a pretty good starting point reference.

[Snakeman721]

Been looking around and notice Ruger makes the Blackhawk in 41 mag. Anybody shoot the blackhawk revolver and have an opinion on then compared the S&W revolvers.

I can't say anything about S&W as I don't own any but I LOVE my Blackhawk revolvers! I have a few in .357 and .44 mag...built like tanks, very accurate, nice triggers straight from the factory. Been thinking about getting a .41 mag but with the other calibers I already have.....hmmmmm.

[crbutler]

As to the blackhawk, it has the SAA style "plowshare" grip. Some folks like that and claim the gun spinning in your grip eats up recoil (Elmer Keith being one of them...)

I can see where this is coming from, but personally prefer the S&W DA revolver style grip which does not move.

If you like the spin in your hand sensation and thinks it helps your recoil tolerance, you will like the .41 in a Blackhawk. For me, the SAA style grip speeds speed shooting with a single action gun, but is a detriment to fine accuracy. Take your choices...