.41 Long Colt smokless?

[Vin4570]

I've just aquired a Thunderer in .41LC and put a few FFG loads through it with 200gr. cast. Has anyone had experience loading .41 with smokless powder (like Trail Boss). There isn't much data I can find for reloading.
Cheers, Vin4570

[rintinglen]

I hesitate to list this data, because it is over 50 years old, but from the Lyman CBH #1. Use it at you own risk.
Boolit 386-177 196 grain Heel Base Boolit 3.0 grains Bullseye = 700 fps 5.0 grains unique = 890 FPS
Boolit 386-178 200 Grain hollow base boolit 3.0 grains Bullseye = 700 fps 5.0 grains Unique = 880 fps
I haven't seen any data for this cartridge in years, though I believe there was an article 6 or 7 years back in Handloader magazine.

My only experience with the 41 colt was in an Army Special, cerca 1978. I had the devil's own time finding ammo for it. I finally tracked down two boxes in a San Diego Pawn Shop at a pretty step price. I shot up one, was severely disappointed in the lack of accuracy and sold gun and remaining shells at the next Great Western Gun Show.

Were it my Thunderer, I'd go no higher than 4.0 grains of Unique. IIRC, the standard load for the 41 LC was a 200 grain bullet at 730 FPS.
I used to have a 386-178, which cast about .390. I gave it to a friend who had purchased a Thunderer since I had no use for. As I under stand it, the 386-177 was supposed to cast a heel based boolit of full bore diameter, .401, while the Hollow base 386-178 was supposed to cast at .386.

[.22-10-45]

Unlike the Single Action Army revolvers..these early Colt dbl. actions were never proofed for smokeless..even if made into 20th century. I have a .41 Thunderer..and those cyl. walls are paper thin! It's your gun to do as you wish..but I value my precious body parts to take a chance with smokeless!

[StrawHat]

Do a search for Harry O, he has lots of info on the 41 Long Colt.

[mrcvs]

If you must shot your revolver with Smokeless Powder, although I wouldn't...

Here is a load that has worked well for me in an old (c. 1897) Colt 1895 revolver. I had some 187 grain bullets, and was using 3.3 grains of Bullseye. I also reloaded using a 200 grain bullet with 2.8 to 3.0 grains of Bullseye. I have no idea where the 187 grain bullets came from, but the 200 grain bullets were purchased from Western Bullet Co. (.387 200 grain HB RM, Lyman 386178).

I would stick to the black powder, and probably go with FFFg instead of FFg.

[mrcvs]

And, here is a good link:

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=41%20Long%20Colt&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Source=

[mrcvs]

Further research reveals that most authors feel that Bullseye provides the best accuracy with regards to smokeless powders in the .41 Long Colt. MAXIMUM load is 3.5 grains Bullseye.

[mikeym1a]

My copy of the Ideal manual #34 (1942 vintage) lists several someless loads, however, 2 of the powders are now obsolete. However, it does list a charge 3.0gr of Bullseye, 200gr boolit, for a MV of 715fps.

[StrawHat]

Found it.

http://harryo.sixshootercommunity.org/

[Blackhawk Kid]

Just stick with the FFG loads. The Thunder wasn't made for smokeless. My cousin loads for his Thunderer on a single stage press and weighs each load. Black powder doesn't work in powder measures. Be safe and build your loads by hand. BK

[StrawHat]

...Black powder doesn't work in powder measures...

That will be news to a lot of folks. Why wouldn't it work in measures? It has been used in measures since at least the middle of the last century. Correction, the middle of the 19th century.