.41 Magnum / 41 Special Load Data Center

[littlejack]

I agree Bob.
I wasn't trying to undermine your technique, just giving another opinion.
My go to 41 magnum load these days is 9 grains of Herco under the Lyman 410459, cast with ww+2%.
Regards

[RJM52]

I understood that...no problem at all...

I went trough my cast boolit collection and in comparing them with known loads believe that for the Lyman bullet touching the base of the bullet on top of the powder would be about 22-23 grains. Next time I'm loading .41s I'll check for sure.

With this method I determine what is about max, back off 10% and then increase the charge .5 grains at a time till I reach the powder space max.

[GLynn41]

Over the years my 410459 would do it best at the 22 gr of H110. I do not remember the velocity.
My first deer with a handgun was the 410459 and 20 gr of HH110 at 50 yards, it went through the chest, the heart and out, with the deer running about 50-60 yards. MV was 1200 fps with a 225 gr bullet. So the extra 2 grains may not be needed. I personally like my cast to impact at 1100fps if I can. So the heavier charge would extend the 1100fps cut off some. I am not recommended these charges but the have worked me since the 70's

[JSH]

Actually just tagging in to get on page 41.
Picked up an FA 41 mag, the Blackhawk Hunter is going to find a new home.

[littlejack]

Glen, over the year's I've played with that 20 grain load of
H-110 and the the 410459. Recoil is very manageable, good accuracy and hits hard. I've read posts about folks preferring the .43, (aka the .44 magnum) over the .41 magnum. All I can say is; If that load won't stop what you're wanting to stop, I wouldnt bet my life on the .43 magnum. Lol

[littlejack]

JSH
Congratulations on the FA 41 mag purchase.

[RJM52]

Great...and which model and configuration did you get....

Back in December I found a good deal locally on a 6" Model 83 with a round butt and 3# trigger job, LNIB. I already have a 6" square butt but was looking for a round butt with a 4.75" barrel...so I bought this one and after test firing it had my dealer ship it to FA for shortening about three weeks ago. Today FA called my dealer and is shipping the gun back tomorrow...hopefully it will be here on Monday...

[Buckdane]

With this sickness ever end? I have 3 S&W 57's (4", 6-1/2", 8-3/8") and a Henry Big Boy. Now I added a OM Blackhawk (4-5/8").
I feed all of them with my only handload of a RCBS 41-210-SWC (WW) over 8.0gr Universal. Never checked it,but must be close to 1000fps load.
Wouldn't mind adding a 18" Contender barrel to the group for a "Woodsman's" companion piece.

[GLynn41]

Littlejack, for years I used Herco in my .41s with cast and I liked it at 7 gr to 12+ gr. Also used
800x in my .41s. I currently have a lot of HS6 --sooo for a while it will be my
powder until I use it up which at around 10 gr per round and 2 pounds it will be a while.
Glad we are on page 41 too

[RJM52]

Buckdane...8.0 is my standard load with a bunch of different .41 bullets and clocks 950+- from a 4" barrel depending on the bullet....so all your guns should be between 950 and 1075 fps...

Picked up the new to me FA 83 with the shortened barrel last night....

[littlejack]

I do like the Herco, sho-nuff. It burns cleaner for me than Unique, especially with the heavier slugs. I never tried 800X, but looks like it may sling boolits a little faster on the high end than Herco. And yes, that two pounds of powder is gonna be around a while.

[littlejack]

Buckdane, you got a family to feed. Lol

[littlejack]

That's a couple of real sweet revolvers.

[littlejack]

Good morning members.
Well, I've been at it again. Decided to use up what was left of my stashed heavy weight cast .41 boolits. Years ago, I bought the SSK design, played with it some, but never did clock it.These particular slugs weigh in right at 300 grains sized and full of grease. Alloy was ww+2%. Powder and charge were H-110 at 18 grains, in R-P cases. COL was 1.690. This slug set down just above the powder charge, with no compression. Average of ten shots fired, revealed 1133 fps with a SD of 11.48. Later in the day, after clocking the loads, I went to the 50 yard target range. I'll have to admit, they shot better than I had expected. Five shots with no yaw, grouping at 1.6". My 57 has a 2X Leopold on board. I realize, only 5 shotsdoesnt make an average set in stone, but it gives me something to look back on and grin.
Next, was some older Lyman 412174 slugs. I had bought this mold years ago on (fleabay) Looking in the Ol' Buffalo Bullet Mold Tables (Lyman) , I thought that particular bullet, sized to .410, would be a decent choice for a medium/heavy weight slug for the .41 magnum. These moulds are as scarce as hens teeth, and not cheap. But, I found one and bought it. (That makes me the winner, right?) Lol. I believe this particular mould was for the old 40-60, and or the 40-75.
Fast forward to yesterday. I had only 17 boolits left, so I loaded 6 a'top 20 grains of H-110, Chrony'd at 1162 fps. Here again, I believe the seating depth of the bullet in conjunction with the H-110 powder charge (air space) has a definate effect on the velocity. Compare the 18 grains of H-110 under the 300 grain SSK, and the 20 grain charge, under the 260 grain 412174. The extra 2 grains of powder and 40 grains lighter slug only gained 29 fps more velocity. The extra 2 grains of powder didn't take up that much more space, but the shallower seating depth of .375 of the 412174 allowed for more air space. These boolits were crimped just above the top driving band. I also had loaded 7 rounds with 17.5 grains of 2400. These 6 Chrony'd at 1196.
With only 4 rounds left for group, the 50 yard results were 4 shots in 2.5" with three in 1.13" These were the 20 grain load of H-110. Yep, I'm grinnin again.
All the cases ejected with no problems. Primer pressure signs were all over the place, even with the 7 grain loads of RedDot last week under the 410459. Some were flatter than others in the same batches some not. I use Federal 150, and 155. That's is the biggest reason I do not rely on primer condition for reading pressure. I seen factory loads, rifle and revolver show "supposed" pressure signs.
Regards

[RJM52]

Nice report Sir... I had never even noticed that Lyman bullet before and had to go look it us to see what it looked like...a nice big flat point...and 260 grains you say....nice...

Bought some of the SSK 300s from Penn Bullet many years ago. They are still offering them....a very accurate bullet. I had used the the suggested load of 19.0 grains of H110 but decided if I ever loaded any again it would be 18.0. Did use them in a Bellm Custom .41/.445 SuperMag and got right at 2K fps from a 14" barrel...they hurt to shoot in a Contender...next time I'm going to try the G2 frame...

Am running 19.0 grains of H110 with a 300 grain bullet from Mountain Molds. It runs 1250 from a 5.5" barrel...not a round one wants to fire from a standard 4 5/8" lightweight Blackhawk...

[littlejack]

Sounds like you like the big boys. They are definately interesting, but unless I was trying to stop something big, four legs and dangerous, I'll be sticking with the 410459 with either Herco or 2400. I had some of the 410459 loads with me yesterday. They were stoked with 19.6 grains of 2400. I used them on a 16" gong at the 200 yard range. It was very easy to hit once I got the holdover established.
In an emergency, I do have the 6 hole Ranch Dog mold.
Regards

[RJM52]

Compared to the standard weight .41s I don't shoot a whole lot of the 250s and up... They are only used in the two 5-shot SAs I have and they really only get shot a couple of times a year or a little more if I am hunting with them that season...

DA guns get 165s-220s....

[littlejack]

Yep, that's the reason for me thinning the herd
of the the heavy weights. That leaves me more room to cast and stock up with bunches of the 220's. I'm almost out of the H-110, but have a couple jugs of 2400. That powder drives the 220's plenty fast and accurate to hit that 200 yard gong. Lol, I'm grinnin again.

[RJM52]

Took the shortened 83 out to the range today and got it sighted in with 250s...

One load was 9.0 grains of Unique behind an Accurate 41-250F which should be in the 1100 fps range..

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=41-250F-D.png


...and the Accurate 41-250L, which is for leverguns but is an excellent overall design... This one was 22.0 grains of H110 and is running mid-1400s from a 5.5" barrel..

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=41-250L-D.png


Very happy with the snubbed barrel..

[bigtee]

Has anyone had problems expanding their 41 Special cases? I have read and searched this thread but can’t find any information on my problem. I have Lee and RCBS dies, neither will expand my brass, it bottoms out before expanding. I have some 190 grain (.411) GT bullets that I want to load for the special but I’m stuck right now. I can’t even expand enough for a .410 Speer bullet.