41 mag design and powder?

[JSH]

What design and weight are you guys having luck with?
I am thinking no less than a 240 and no more than around250-65?
Will go custom more than likely.
As to a plinking or medium load I think I am just going to go with the lee and save some$$ unless I would run across a mold cheap.
Powders I am open to suggestions for plinking and hunting loads.
Jeff

[Tatume]

Hi Jeff,

What gun? It makes a difference. Diameter is easy, the factories hold chamber throats to 0.410" consistently, so 0.411" will be plenty. The big thing is length. In a Ruger or S&W you can load long bullets, in a Freedom Arms M97 you can't.

As far as powders go, anything that works well in a 44 Rem Mag will work well in a 41 Rem Mag. Look for H110/W296, AA #9, 2400, & Unique to give good performance. I run a 240 grain bullet at 1150 fps with Unique, and use 2400 and H110 for full power loads.

As for design, I like the LBT WFN and a semi-wadcutter, both 240 grains.

Take care, Tom

[JSH]

A 2003 SW657.
I figured as much on powders. But it never hurts to ask.
Is there still issues with lilgun or did they get that resolved.
Jeff

[HATCH]

I use 220 grain FPRN magma mold. 8.5 grains unique.
its not the fastest load out there but it is a decent load.
I go with the FPRN (flat point round nose) because I have a lever gun in 41 mag too.

[dmize]

1 thing I have heard about and found out for myself with a 260 RD bullet and a healthy dose of H110 in my Bisley Blackhawk is you will probably need a taller front sight.

[littlejack]

Hey Jeff:
For decades, my go to boolit has been the Lyman 410459. It shoots very good in my 1972 S&W 57, and did also in my 1968 Ruger BH that I sold a few years ago. Those boolits took two deer years ago with light plinkin loads. I loaded 8 grains of Unique for years. Both deer were about 50 yards, and the slugs went through with ease.
Now for the heavies, I bought a NEI 300 grain mold here a few months ago. No real reason, just got bored.
I load a good dose of H110 for the push. These loads shoot better than I can see, but haven't done that much experimenting yet.
I started using H110 for max loads decades ago, and never got my fill. Never tried any lil'gun though. Never found the need to
change.
Regards
Jack

[**oneshot**]

I've had great success with 210gr SWC from Saeco over aa#9, herco, and 2400. Seeing that you want a heavier boolit, check out Accurate Molds. Tom has a few designs at the weights your looking for.

[MGD]

Depends on the use.
For Pinking and Target H&G 255 175 gr Wadcutter at 750 fps
For Action pistol shooting Lyman 410426 240 gr RN at 850, also fun out of marlin rifle
For Hunting long range target Lyman 410459 210 gr Semi-wadcutter at 1200 fps
Because I can LBT style LFN 255gr at 1400 fps
get the molds to cast the bullets you will use.

[Scharfschuetze]

One of my old service pistols is a S&W Model 58 with a 4 inch barrel and fixed sights. I generally load to duplicate the old "Police Load" of a 210 grain SWC at about 900fps. My loads shoot a harder bullet as the original factory loads used a swaged bullet.

To do that, I use the RCBS 41-KT-210 mold which throws a great SWC boolits from COWW alloy that shoots just a little below the point of aim. I use Unique powder and any LP primer that's in the queue and either Winchester or Remington cases. Accuracy is outstanding when the boolits are sized to .410 with NRA 50/50 lube and a moderate crimp. Velocity is about 850 fps. The 41 seems pretty easy to achieve good results with a multiplicity of components with good accuracy, lack of leading and good impact energy and penetration.

For high performance loads I use all of the above except that I fill the case with H-110 powder for about 1200 fps. With this load I usually ensure the lead alloy is about Lyman #2 in hardness. It also shoots well, no leading and hits just above the point of aim at 25 yards.

I haven't tried the heavy boolits that you are proposing as the "Police Load" has performed admirably for plinking, qualifying or when dropping injured livestock. It's also flat out deadly on jack rabbits and vermin and holds quite well out at a hundred yards.

[sixshot]

I have 3 loads for my 41 maggie's, the first one is my favorite & I've used it since 1967, its 17 grs of 2400 & a 230 gr Keith slug from an old Saeco mould, I've taken lots & lots of game with it, including elk. My everyday load is 8 grs of Unique with the same bullet. My heavy bullet load is a 250 gr LBT over 9.2 grs of Unique & I've taken elk with it, complete penetration & exit, dead elk!

Dick

[Groo]

Groo here
What you going to do with it???
There is a design [410-640 I think] from 45 2.1 that is a 175 gr silvertip replacement that is a cramer mold and goes 190 about in solid.
An Mihec that goes about 220 solid and 200 hp[ not for short cylinders!!!]
IMHO---- Many are overly impressed with bullet weight and over load the gun for the target.
What can you not do with a 200 to 220 hard cast bullet?????
If you NEED more and can stablize it, try a 295 gr ...[ Penn can send you some to try]
Sorry , I just don't see the need for heavies often .
P.S. And I have a full set of SSK Ram slammers,,, 357-205gr/41mag-295gr/44-320gr/and 454-340gr.....

[GLynn41]

the normal mag powders work well--2400 AA#9, H110 etc- light loads--Herco--unique AA#7 etc bullets--220-230 Keiths are good-- as is a 250-260-- I have an SSk 295 but rarely use it--- these others are more than enough-- I have killed deer and a boar with these bullets they are fgood

[kweidner]

I have tom's 220k. Fantastic boolit. 9gr of unique out of any barrel for my DW and it shoots better than me. Took 2 deer with that one last year. DRT. I prefer the 6". Just had over the summer 2 custom bbls made. a 6" and an 8. The 8 is scary accurate. So accurate I have yet to even put the 6" on. Coated with HT, they are hard to beat.

[JSH]

I am not going to fool with a gc design. IMHO conventional handgun cartridges can do just fine without them. Especially if one pays very close attention when inspecting them.
I think I will just go with a lee mold with regular lube groove. Spend a bit more when I decide what to do on the other end.
The weight thing. It seems to me with working on several different pistolas that the heavier than standard shoot better for me. 32-20 in my black hawk likes a 140. The 357s have a taste for 180s. The 44 seems to like 265-300. These are all hunting loads but perform well through out a fair range of pressures and velocities.
Jeff