My favorite .41 mag and some thoughts...

[mattw]

I cast many bullets for .41 mag. I cover from 200 to 275 grains, gas check and non-gas check. I do have a favorite for general shooting, the Saeco #411. This bullet has shot well with every powder that I have tried from Unique to H110 Data to H110. I tried 2400 for the first time this weekend behind that bullet, I decided that I would start at 16.0 grains. I loaded 6 and fired them at 25 feet, ragged 1 hole group! So, I loaded more and tried them at 25 yards and they shot extremely well... So, I stopped at that load and loaded 200 more!

[Clay M]

I love 2400 in all the magnums..
I have also had good luck with N 110 .It is very promising in the 41 mag.
Needless to say it is very hard to find.For cast bullets in the .41 mag I like the 2400..
The beautiful thing about 2400 is you can reduce to loads .
It is the only powder I use in the 500 S&W.

Now why did I buy that gun??..I can't give you a reasonable answer on that..
except I wanted it..

[osteodoc08]

My favorite caliber to be sure. I love my 41 maggies. With my scoped Redhawk, I can get 1-1.5" groups at 50 yards consistently. I agree, 2400 is a great powder (but a touch dirty). For general plinking I love 231, but find myself using Longshot more and more. For all out, 296 is my choice, but I rarely NEED to hang it all out. My favorite mold besides the 410459 and its clones is easily the Accurate 411250V. It is a great weight and I achieve phenomenal velocity and accuracy with that boolit without signs of high pressure.

[mattw]

I do not have the Accurate 411250V and would like to, that is a size and profile that I would really like to try. I have the 275 LBT and like it, but full house with H110 Data powder is kinda rough on me and the gun. I also shoot the LBT 230 WFN, lead log. Very accurate and performs at all speeds so far. That gun has had a lot of work done to it to support my love of hand cannons. It has a double ball crane lock and has had the cylinders hone and trued and the timing is spot on. I was lucky enough to know Tom Kilhoffer during his days of working on Smith revolvers and have had several modified by him. One of my other favorites is a 625 5" with rib ports that I shot pins with for a few years. I shot 250 grain 45 ACP's with it.

I am planning to purchase a Chrony Beta Master, so I can more accurately catalog load data. When I was working with a good buddy who was a commercial reloader I had access to an Oehler 35P and wow considering it was 18 years ago that that was great. I just can't justify the cost of one now.

[GLynn41]

been .41 nuts since the 70s-- I use mostly AA#9 burn rate like 2400, which I have not seen in a while-- I use 17-18 grs. -- also use in my tracker-- with hulls cut back to .115 - and 12-13 gr of AA#9 --boolits are 210 cast HP - Lyman 410459 --and 230.411 Saeco Keith in my .41s'//also have a .41 GNR, .41 #2 GNR, .410 GNR--

[osteodoc08]

been .41 nuts since the 70s-- I use mostly AA#9 burn rate like 2400, which I have not seen in a while-- I use 17-18 grs. -- also use in my tracker-- with hulls cut back to .115 - and 12-13 gr of AA#9 --boolits are 210 cast HP - Lyman 410459 --and 230.411 Saeco Keith in my .41s'//also have a .41 GNR, .41 #2 GNR, .410 GNR--

I LOVE AA#9 in the 41's for near top level loads. Burns clean and meters well. I burned through almost 4# of it last year in the 41 and need to find some more.

[mattw]

I have not tried AA#9, working with a commercial reloader many years ago... I purchased 8 pounder after 8 pounder of a canister powder called H100 Data. Same look and feel as H110 but a slightly faster burn rate. So, reduce loads by 10% or work up from that point. Allows for better case fill and has always been very consistent and accurate, like a good roll crimp as well.

Thanks for the feedback, I may have to try it.

[Clay M]

The Vihtavouri N110 is extremely good in the .41 mag.,but I only have like two
pound ,and no real hope of getting any more soon..

[azrednek]

I haven't put my 41's through a crony but I've experimented with numerous powders. I've got the best shot to shot accuracy with HERCO. One of our Cast Boolit board pioneers and surely missed, Felix. Swore by HERCO in his 41's. I generally load my 41's about 80-90% of max. With the exception of the discontinued Lee 170gr full wad cutter light loaded plinkers with Bullseye. HERCO is my stand by for 41 mag. I've also had good luck several years ago using 2400 with the Lee 240 SWC. The load with 2400 is likely a bit faster but the results on paper are identical to HERCO.

For numerous years my 41 cal castings were from straight clip-ons. With the clip-on supply tightening up. I've been using a 50/50 mix with pure. Pure derived from stickys or roof flashing. Accuracy has suffered but it could be related to ageing eyesight and my shooting hand being nowhere near as steady as it was 10 years ago.

[osteodoc08]

Speaking of light boolits, what's everyones favorite powder for light plinking loads. I've been using 231, but am willing to try somethign else. I have the MP mold that cast a 175gr hp boolit. Forget the mould number.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

my plinking load for my NM / BH 41 Magnum 5 gr of RedDot under the lee 195gr boolit
134935

[azrednek]

As I mentioned in my previous post Bullseye is my favorite for plinking loads. Not only 41 mag but I also use a 4.0 or 5.0 gr charge of BE for plinking loads in all my big bores. Red Dot as mentioned by Luckydawg also works equally as well.

It is unfortunate Lee discontinued their 41 mag as well as the 44 and 45 full wadcutter molds. The clean round holes punched paper are ideal for casual plinking.

[sixshot]

I've been shooting a 41 maggie since the late 60's & taken a lot of game with that Saeco #411 230 gr. Keith style bullet using 17 grs of 2400. Deer, elk, antelope, feral hogs, javelina & lots of small game have been taken with that one load. Not max but its always exited, even on elk. My buddy used it on his bull moose, one shot.

Dick

[375supermag]

Hi...

I've been shooting a couple of .41Mag revolvers for quite a few years with good success.
I have a ruger Blackhawk and a S&W 57 in .41mag and they are among my favorite handguns.
I shoot commercial cast 215gr LSWC and Hornady 210gr HP/XTPs in both revolvers with excellent accuracy.

After some years, the best groups have come with the following loads:
215gr LSWC 8.2gr Unique
215gr LSWC 17.0gr 2400

Hornady 210gr HP/XTP 19.2gr 2400
Hornady 210gr HP/XTP 21.7gr 296
Hornady 210gr HP/XTP 18.5gr AA#9

I shoot a lot of the Unique LSWC load as my general purpose load. When I want a bit more power I use the LSWC with 17.0gr of 2400.
I mostly use the Hornady 210gr HP/XTP with 19.2gr of 2400 when I decide to carry a JHP-type bullet. It provides ample power and good accuracy.
I have very little AA#9 left and do not use it much, but will probably pick up a couple of pounds if I ever see some on a dealers shelf again.
296/H110 is useful for full-power loads, but I dislike it because of the small window of recommended charge weights. Very little flexibility, but it usually does provide a powerful and accurate load in most calibers I have used it in. I just wish it were useable across a larger range of charge weights. I do have several pounds of 296/H110 on hand, just in case.
I do usually load several hundred rounds of JHP loads with 296/H110 across each of the magnum handgun cartridges every shooting season. They do have utility and it is nice to always have some full-power accurate loads available should I stumble across an enraged grizzly bear or Tyrannosaur Rex in the back yard.

All kidding aside, I do carry full-power loads using 296/H110 in my magnum revolvers when hiking in the northern mountains of Pennsylvania.

[Shooter6br]

Matt what bases are on your 657? I have a 6in 657 (1980) like to someday get it drilled and tapped. Rick

[mattw]

The base has been on there for years... I is steel with a weird silver coating. May be an old Leupold or an old Weaver. It has never worked loose or had any other problems. It is a 3 mount hole base. There was a guy here a while back that was selling some really good looking older weaver cross bar rail bases that still allowed for the use of factory sights. They mounted to the base in matching cut outs. I have lost his info, he indicated he would get back to me with one more forsale. They looked great, he indicated they were 10-15 years old stock. I wanted one bad!

[Shooter6br]

Thanks.. My 657 is pre factory tapped