41 Magnum

[3Spaniels]

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.

Perhaps I am misreading the above statement: It leads me to think the .40 S&W as well as the 10mm cartridges were made before the .41 Remington Magnum.

The .41 Remington Magnum was introduced in 1964, the .40 S&W was introduced in 1990 and the 10mm was introduced in 1983. And the venerable Herter's .401 PowerMag was introduced in 1961 predating the the trio and getting the .40 +or- cartridge development going again in my lifetime.


As for the .41 Magnum in general, it is a sound Magnum powered handgun cartridge that spits a bullet that is only .019" (about 3 sheets of newsprint) smaller than the touted .44 Remington Magnum. It shoots flatter, uses less powder, creates as much noise, and is very accurate. I used to have a S&W Model 57 w/8 3/8" barrel and it would make 5 shot groups off sandbags with open sights at 100 yards under 2 inches c to c. With my advancing age and eyes I doubt that feat could be duplicated today. it was slow to draw from a holster for any quick shot needs.

The Black Hawk is my preferred handgun in this cartridge with over sized grips for my somewhat large hands.

[crbutler]

You are misreading it.

The LE loading was roughly 900 FPS with a 210 grain bullet.

Ballistically its between the .40 SW (180-900) and the 10mm auto (200-1200).

Yes, it was developed back in '60's with a lot of input from one Elmer Keith. The point is that the old LE loading is about what the .40SW ended up being as the understanding is that full up magnum loads don't work for LE use for multiple reasons. I would not be surprised that the same logic that came up with this LE load was used to come up with the .40 SW.

The LE loading is a pussycat to shoot in a full size revolver.

The magnum loadings are essentially identical to the .44 magnum.

[OldmanFCSA]

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

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


Eric

EXCELLENT CHOICES for both uses - sure wish I had never sold my BlackHawk 41 Mag.

A Ruger Super BlackHawk grip frame on a 41 Mag BlackHawk made for a more controllable handgun.

[Ironbear]

And the .41 Action Express was specifically designed to replicate the .41 Magnum LE load in 9mm sized, semi-auto pistols... and was totally obliterated by the arrival of the .40 A&W!

[Seismic Sam]

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.

Yes, only old, funky men who hang out at the EFFEN Gopher bar own a 41AE. In the context of the time at which it was invented, however, it was a unique solution to a pressing problem:

Six shooters simply did not have the capacity for a growing level of urban combat, and the 9mm was viewed as too small for good stopping power. Enter Evan Whildin, who invented the 50 AE, and he created a 41 caliber case with a 9mm rim that allowed you to turn a 9mm into a 41 Mag lite with a mag, barrel, and recoil spring change. The 10mm was about to get rejected by the FBI because it hurt the widdle wrists of some FBI agents. At the time, it was a unique solution. Once the 40 Short & Weak was born, the 41AE was as dead as a doornail. It is a FUN caliber to shoot, and has the power to do NEARLY everything a 41 mag can.

[hopkins]

I picked up a .41 mag. bbl for my TC Contender. It is my second favorite TC bbl after the 45-70 which is a total hoot. I consider the .41 to be the gentleman's magnum as it is nicer to shoot. more accurate, and just as effective as the .44 mag. The only real drawback is that the range of factory loads and reloading bullets is smaller. I would give up my .223 and .357 bbls before my .41 bbl. Not that I am giving up on any of them.