41 magnum powders

[lefty_red]

I thought there was alot of different bullets! Damn there is alot of powders! Any suggestions for powder for a 41 mangnum hunting loads with cast and JHP bullets and light plinking with cast?

lefty_red :confused:

[felix]

The 41 mag is a well balanced cartridge, but unfortunately the primer size provides too much umph. This means that all powders tend to ignite on the quick side, making the powders one notch faster than what would be expected. Keep that in mind, and use conservative loads until experienced is gained with them. You can get more velocity with slower powders as usual, but the cost factor goes out of proportion unless you are using heavy boolits. The best compromise is using the surplus WC820 as the mainstay powder of choice, and using the others for optimization when required. ... felix

[KevMT]

Lefty,

Check your mailbox for a PM.

Kev

[RugerFan]

Lefty,
For hunting loads I have had very good luck with IMR 4227, 2400, and H110 pushing bullets weighing 215 (SWC), 240 (Keith), and 255 grains (WFN). I have also heard that 296 is a winner, but haven't tried it yet.

[Lloyd Smale]

wc820 wc820f pr200(aa2)

[C1PNR]

The best compromise is using the surplus WC820 as the mainstay powder of choice, and using the others for optimization when required. ... felix
Felix,
How are you using the WC 820? All I have in my notes is 16.5 gr under the RCBS 41-210-KT SWC. Actually, I don't even have an estimated velocity for that load.

I also have moulds for the 215 & 220 grain boolits. I've been thinking the 210 & 215 GC designs could be moved along pretty quick from my 6" S&W 57. All of them should be real fun hunting fodder. Any ideas for the surplus WC 820 and those boolits?

I know I need a lever in this caliber, too. I've just got to finish off a couple of other projects first.:smile:

[TedH]

I have had the best results in my 41 with VihtaVuori N-110. I believe it is very similar to 2400.

[felix]

Bill, 16.5 grains 820 is fine. Maybe 17.5 depending on lot, and that is what I use. Ted, I have been reluctant to use N110 because of cost. What primer have you been using? ... felix

[TedH]

I was reluctant to fork out 45 bucks for a can of powder for experimenting too. I ended up going in on half a can with a buddy. I initially wanted to try it in a 357 Mag, but found it works great in the 41 also. 296/H110 is still the best in my 44's. N-110 is the cat's meow in the 357's though, head and shoulders above any other powder.
I have just been using CCI 300 primers in the 41. Tried some Winchesters, but could not see any difference.

[7br]

I use WW296 for most of my loading of the .41, Starline brass, and Fed Magnum match primers. Last time out at the range, I shot four groups at 100 that averaged about 3". See this thread

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=5038

For light plinking loads with JBullets, you might try some Tite group. It works great with some Sierra 210 jhp bleams, but doesn't seem to shoot with a darn with cast. I am hoping to get to the range more this year, but the fates always seem to conspire against me.

[Blacktail 8541]

I'm shooting a 225 RNFP with 18.5 grains of little gun and 7.5 grains of universal clays with very good success Winchester large pistol primer and starline brass.

[Larry Gibson]

I thought there was alot of different bullets! Damn there is alot of powders! Any suggestions for powder for a 41 mangnum hunting loads with cast and JHP bullets and light plinking with cast?

lefty_red :confused:

What type of .41 do you have; S&W, Ruger (RH or BH), Rossi, etc.? It makes a difference with the magnum hunting loads both jacketed and cast. Loads that give sticky extraction in DA revolvers just fall out of the Ruger BH. I use 3-5 more gr of H110 with these loads in the Ruger Bisley than in the S&Ws. The Hornady 210 XTP runs 1510 fps out of the 7 1/2" Bisley with excellent accuracy and terminal performance.

With a 210 gr cast 8.5 gr Unique pretty much duplicates the factory LSWC load and is a pleasant load.

For light plinking loads a 210 gr cast over 5.5 gr of Bullseye runs a little over 800 fps (4" barrel) and makes for a fine small game and plinker.

If I use commercial cast bullets for either of the above I wash the hard wax lube off and relube with alox/beeswax and get no leading with improved accuracy.

I like the Lee 410-175-TL (175 gr SWC) over 5 gr of Bullseye. They run right at 850 fps out of the 7 1/2" Bisley. There is almost no recoil or muzzle blast. At 25 yards over sand bags 12 shots wil go into 1 1/2" pretty consistantly. Oustanding small game and plinking load.

Larry Gibson

[9.3X62AL]

Dittoes on Larry's 8.5 x Unique loading for plain-base 210 grainers in the 41 Magnum. This fuel weight has done fine work with about any commercial or home-cast 210 grainer in both a Model 57 x 4" belonging to a friend and in my Blackhawk x 6.5".

I have yet to "step on the gas" very much in 41 Magnum. Right after I got the Ruger, I assembled some 210 grain J-words with WC-820, using Jeff Bartlett's recommendation of H-110 data. The 10% reduction loads at the start were fine, the 5% reduction loads were vigorous, and the 100% loads were.......let's say, "Ruger-specific". It was from this experience I derived the lesson to use AA-9 data with my lot of WC-820, rather than the H-110 comparator that Jeff used. I note that his data now reflects this same information.

[StarMetal]

Deputy Al,

You know I build that custom 260 Rem on my T38 Arisaka action. Well funny, I like the 140 gr bullet too for my 6.5 choice. I push it to that 2700 and more and I use 4895 powder. Won't say the load because it's warmish and a T38 is known for it's toughness. So if the 260 can do it, surely the 6.5 Swede can IN A STRONG ACTION, such as your Ruger, especially since it holds a tad more powder then the 260.

Joe

[lefty_red]

My short barrel Ruger NMBH likes the UNIVERSAL CLAYS 8 grains over my 215 grain CB for plinking.

Been TOO busy to work up a hunting load, but might use WW296.

THanks
Jerry

[ebner glocken]

In a short barrel ruger bh I've got good results with a sierra 170 JHC ahead of 24.0 grains of ww296.....strong but good accuracy I would reduce loads for starting. As far as a good plinker the best results I got was with blue dot and a 215 grain SWC. It's been a couple of years since I've loaded for that 41 but if I remember right those two loads had the same point of impact at 25 yards. I will check on what charge of blue dot I was using

[lefty_red]

Blue Dot has been getting alot of praise as a 41 powder. I might give it a try. My buddy is "loaning" me some WW296, so I've have a few extra $$ to buy another powder.

Jerry

PS is anyone else wondering what the hell is going on with wheel weights and their prices?

[fourarmed]

Lyman lists SR-4756 as their accuracy powder with the 410459 (around 217 gr. with WW), and I have to agree. I tried the starting load of 10 gr. and got excellent accuracy out to 200m. for silhouette shooting. Never even worked on up to the 12.? charge they list as most accurate.

[David R]

What type of .41 do you have; S&W, Ruger (RH or BH), Rossi, etc.? It makes a difference with the magnum hunting loads both jacketed and cast. Loads that give sticky extraction in DA revolvers just fall out of the Ruger BH. I use 3-5 more gr of H110 with these loads in the Ruger Bisley than in the S&Ws. The Hornady 210 XTP runs 1510 fps out of the 7 1/2" Bisley with excellent accuracy and terminal performance.

Larry Gibson

Larry,
Ya think the Blackhawk is stronger than the super redhawk?

David

[Larry Gibson]

Larry,
Ya think the Blackhawk is stronger than the super redhawk?

David

No, but I think both are stronger than the S&W. Well maybe "stronger" isn't the right word. Let me put it this way; loads that cause extraction problems in the S&Ws cause no extraction problems with the Rugers. The cases of the H110 loads I use fall out of Ruger chambers but with the S&W you can barely move them pushing on the ejector rod. However with a pencil you can easliy punch them out of the M57 chambers. I think the extractor and non-polished chambers of S&Ws have a lot to do with it. One of the first M57s with burnished chambers took took the stouter loads much better than later unburnished chambers M57s and 58s. I also had access, as a LE firearms instructor, to reports from police agencies of difficult extraction problems with M58s when used with magnum loads. But we have to admit that the Rugers have a lot more steel in the frames and cylinders.

Larry Gibson

[JOE MACK]

For hunting loads, I've used 2400, H110, W296. Lil' Gun, Blue Dot, and AA#9. For plinking I've tried Universal, Clays, Titegroup, AA #5 and 7, Red Dot, Bullseye, and my favorite, Unique. Seems like each of my .41Magnums like something different as barrel lengths go from an American Derringer to a Marlin. :veryconfu

JOE MACK aka .41FAN

HAVE MORE FUN AND GET THE JOB DONE WITH A .41

[azrednek]

I don't have the selection of 41's that Joe does, maybe I'm showing my age but I had better accuracy using Herco compared to 2400 and Unique with the gas checked 410610 Lyman and various store bought jacketed slugs in my 8 3/8 inch S&W and a 1970's Dakota single action revolver. Sorry I don't have the paticular load handy, it was derived from a generous early 70's manual. If you need the load I'll look for it. Nowadays the majority of my 41 mag shooting are mild loads with the Lee full wad-cutter. If you should come across the now discontinued Lee 240 slug for 41 grab it, it was the most accurate I tried. Unfortunately I left it behind along with some other tools in a hasty exit in a nasty divorce before I could really tweek some good loads.

I have to warn you!! Once you become addicted to the 41 Mag there is no turning back. There is no cure but the symptoms can be treated by horse trading your gun collection away for more 41's. It appears Joe has been seriously addicted but has treated his symptoms rather gracefully with a 41 mag mag Derringer. I must have missed the boat, never knew one existed but all of a sudden I'm going through some serious agony.

[Old Jim]

I like W296 with my monster mammal mangler loads (250gr PB Cast Performance).

Accurate #7 for fun type middle of the road and Titegroup for CAS.

Yes, I run 41s in CAS, even the levergun.

I have a midrange A7/LEADHEAD 230K target in my pocket that I shot with a red dot sight on a 657 at 35 yards that goes a little under an inch. I laminated it because I may never do better.